UPSC Prelims 2023 · Question 34 of 97
UPSC Prelims 2023 question on Arable Area India China
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2023
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicAgriculture Geography
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
Consider the following statements:
1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. Only two
Verdict
Only statements 1 and 2 are correct → Option (b) Only two.
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – CORRECT: India has about 156 million hectares of arable land while China has about 120 million hectares. India has more arable area than China.
Statement 2 – CORRECT: China's irrigation cover is 41% of cultivated area, while India's is 48%. So the proportion of irrigated area is more in India compared to China.
Statement 3 – INCORRECT: China's productivity in most crops is 50 to 100% higher than India's. China's fertilizer consumption in 2016 was 503 kg/ha of arable area compared to just 166 kg/ha for India. The average yield of food grains in China was 6321 kg/hectare while India's was 3479 kg/hectare in 2021.