UPSC Prelims 2020 question on National Policy Biofuels

Analysis

Under the National Policy on Biofuels, 'bioethanol' is defined as ethanol produced from biomass such as sugar containing materials, like sugar cane, sugar beet, sweet sorghum etc.; starch containing materials such as corn, cassava, rotten potatoes, algae etc.; and, cellulosic materials such as bagasse, wood waste, agricultural and forestry residues or other renewable resources like industrial waste.

For Ethanol Production the following raw materials may be potentially used: B-Molasses, Sugarcane juice, biomass in form of grasses, agriculture residues (Rice straw, cotton stalk, corn cobs, saw dust, bagasse etc.), sugar containing materials like sugar beet, sweet sorghum, etc. and starch containing materials such as corn, cassava, rotten potatoes etc. Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice etc. which are unfit for human consumption, food grains during surplus production are also allowed.

From the given options:
- Cassava (1) → starch-containing material → YES
- Damaged wheat grains (2) → damaged food grains → YES
- Groundnut seeds (3) → NOT listed as raw material for biofuels
- Horse grams (4) → NOT listed
- Rotten potatoes (5) → starch-containing material → YES
- Sugar beet (6) → sugar-containing material → YES