80. Which of the following is included among India’s sunrise sectors?
[UPSC CDS-I, General Knowledge — 2026]
(A) Manufacturing sector
(B) Food-processing sector
(C) Textile sector
(D) Services sector
Answer: (B) Food-processing sector
Explanation: Food processing is considered a sunrise sector because demand for processed food, value addition, cold chains and export opportunities are expanding. It connects farm producers with manufacturing and logistics while generating employment and reducing losses of perishable agricultural products.
79. With reference to the Industrial Revolution, consider:
1. Power-driven machines replaced much handicraft production.
2. Industrial nations relied on other countries for raw materials.
3. Factory machinery enabled large-scale production.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CDS-I, General Knowledge — 2026]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Mechanisation displaced many traditional hand-production methods, while factories made mass production possible. Industrial powers increasingly imported cotton, minerals and other raw materials from overseas markets. Consequently, all three statements correctly describe important economic changes associated with industrialisation.
78. Regarding the National Rail Plan and Kavach, consider:
I. The National Rail Plan targets a future-ready railway system by 2028.
II. Kavach was developed jointly with Germany.
III. Kavach uses track-mounted RFID tags.
Which statements are incorrect?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2025]
(A) I and II only
(B) II and III only
(C) I and III only
(D) I, II and III
Answer: (A) I and II only
Explanation: The National Rail Plan envisages a future-ready network by 2030, rather than 2028. Kavach is an indigenously developed automatic train-protection system, although it uses internationally familiar safety technologies. RFID tags are indeed deployed alongside tracks, making only statements I and II incorrect.
77. Consider:
I. State governments cannot frame rules for concessions concerning minor minerals.
II. The Central Government can notify minerals as minor minerals.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2025]
(A) Both correct, II explains I
(B) Both correct, II does not explain I
(C) I correct, II incorrect
(D) I incorrect, II correct
Answer: (D) I incorrect, II correct
Explanation: Under the Mines and Minerals framework, states have rule-making authority over the grant of minor-mineral concessions. The Central Government can determine which minerals are classified as minor minerals through notification. Therefore the first proposition is false, while the second is true.
76. Consider:
I. Brazil produces more ethanol than the United States.
II. Corn is the main US ethanol feedstock, while Brazil chiefly uses sugarcane.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2025]
(A) Both correct, II explains I
(B) Both correct, II does not explain I
(C) I correct, II incorrect
(D) I incorrect, II correct
Answer: (D) I incorrect, II correct
Explanation: The United States has produced more fuel ethanol than Brazil in recent years, making the first assertion incorrect. US plants principally process maize, whereas Brazil relies heavily on sugarcane. Feedstock differences reflect each country’s agricultural production structure and energy policies.
75. Match each organisation with its Union ministry:
1. National Automotive Board–Commerce and Industry;
2. Coir Board–Heavy Industries;
3. National Centre for Trade Information–MSME.
How many pairs are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2025]
(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None
Answer: (D) None
Explanation: The National Automotive Board relates to Heavy Industries, and the Coir Board operates under the Ministry of MSME. The National Centre for Trade Information relates to the commerce administration, not the MSME ministry. Thus every ministry pairing given in the question is incorrect.
74. How many of the following are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board:
crude-oil production;
petroleum refining/storage/distribution;
marketing and sale of petroleum products;
natural-gas production?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2025]
(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) Only three
(D) All four
Answer: (B) Only two
Explanation: The PNGRB principally regulates specified midstream and downstream petroleum and gas activities, including transportation, distribution and marketing. Exploration and extraction of crude oil and natural gas belong to the upstream domain. Consequently, two listed activity categories fall under its regulatory remit.
73. A steel plant established with Soviet collaboration in 1964, obtaining water and hydropower through the Damodar Valley system, is which plant?
[UPSC NDA-I, General Ability — 2025]
(A) Bhilai Steel Plant
(B) Bokaro Steel Plant
(C) Rourkela Steel Plant
(D) Durgapur Steel Plant
Answer: (B) Bokaro Steel Plant
Explanation: Bokaro was developed in Jharkhand with Soviet technical assistance and is connected with the Damodar valley’s industrial-resource network. Rourkela had West German assistance, Durgapur British assistance and Bhilai Soviet assistance but a different location, distinguishing Bokaro from the alternatives.
72. Which pair is correctly classified as heavy industry?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 13 September 2025 Shift 2 — 2025]
(A) Sewing machines and paint brushes
(B) Shipbuilding and automobiles
(C) Electric bulbs and fuse wires
(D) Watches and paint brushes
Answer: (B) Shipbuilding and automobiles
Explanation: Heavy industries use substantial fixed capital, machinery, energy and raw materials to manufacture large or capital-intensive products. Shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing fit this description. Watches, brushes and electrical consumables typically fall into relatively lighter manufacturing categories with smaller product scale.
71. Assertion: The 1956 Industrial Policy divided industries into Schedules A, B and C.
Reason: The schedules distinguished areas of state, mixed and private-sector participation.
Which option is correct?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 16 September 2025 Shift 1 — 2025]
(A) Both true, and Reason explains Assertion
(B) Both true, but Reason does not explain Assertion
(C) Assertion true, Reason false
(D) Assertion false, Reason true
Answer: (A) Both true, and Reason explains Assertion
Explanation: The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 distinguished activities reserved for the state, those allowing private participation alongside state leadership, and the remaining private-sector industries. These differing ownership and developmental responsibilities explain why the policy introduced three industrial schedules.