UPSC Civil Services 2020 Prelims General Studies Paper I

The production of pulses, its imports and political implications have been in news over the past few years. So, this question was not unpredictable.

Option 1 is correct. Black gram is one of the important pulse crops grown throughout India. The crop is resistant to adverse climatic conditions and improve the soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. During kharif, it is cultivated throughout the country. It is best suited to rice fallows during rabi in southern and south-eastern parts of India.

Option 2 is incorrect. Gram/ Chickpeas is the most grown pulse in India with 40 percent of the total pulse production in India. It is followed by Tur/Arhar and Green Gram.

Option 3 is also incorrect. Since pulses are low water requiring crops, there is gradual increase in the production of pulses in the Rabi season in all the pulse producing states. Rabi pulses in fact contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production.