UPSC CSE 2025 · PYQ · Agriculture / Biofuels and Ethanol Production · medium
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.
Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
B.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
C.Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
D.Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct✓ Correct
Explanation
Statement I is incorrect: the United States is the world's largest ethanol producer, accounting for nearly 55% of global ethanol output, while Brazil is the second-largest producer (about 25-30%). Statement II is correct: the US predominantly uses corn (maize) as feedstock due to its abundant cultivation in the Midwest, whereas Brazil primarily uses sugarcane because of its tropical climate and well-established sugar industry, making sugarcane ethanol more energy-efficient than corn ethanol.
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