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Q73 (IAS/2014) Economy › Agriculture & Rural Economy › Agro-based industries Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. Maize can be used for the production of starch. 2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel. 3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

All three statements are correct. Maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that include starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries[3]. This confirms that Statement 1 is correct regarding starch production from maize.

Maize has many uses including food-crop, animal fattening, cornflakes, and alcohol distilling[5], which validates Statement 3 about alcoholic beverage production. Additionally, crops grown to obtain liquid energy such as ethanol and alcohol include sugarcane, potato, maize, and tapioca[6], further confirming maize's use in alcohol production.

For Statement 2, the documents explicitly mention oil as one of the industrial products derived from maize. Since maize oil can be extracted and oils are commonly used as biodiesel feedstock (similar to other crop oils), this statement is also correct. Therefore, all three statements are accurate, making option D the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  3. [3] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  4. [4] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
  5. [5] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
  6. [6] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > 16. Energy Crops > p. 13
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Q. Consider the following statements : 1. Maize can be used for the production of starch. 2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock fo…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Resource Utility' question. UPSC moves beyond 'Where is it grown?' (Geography) to 'What is it used for?' (Economy/Application). If a crop is a global staple like Maize, assume it has massive industrial versatility. The answer was sitting plainly in GC Leong and Majid Hussain.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is maize (corn) used commercially to produce starch (corn starch)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
Presence: 5/5
“It is cultivated in about 8 million hectares under a wide range of agro-ecological situations. It contributes nearly 8% in the national food basket. In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that include starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, flm, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc. Maize is cultivated throughout the year in diferent parts of the country for various purposes including grain, fodder, green cobs, sweet corn, baby corn, pop corn etc.”
Why this source?
  • Directly identifies maize as a basic raw material for thousands of industrial products and explicitly lists 'starch' among them.
  • States maize serves industrial purposes in addition to food and feed, implying commercial-scale processing.
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
Presence: 3/5
“(a) Maize originated in America as Indian corn. The corn is ground to make maize mcal (Mealie), but is not good for bread-making. (b) Has many varieties. Dent is soft maize, and flint is hard maize. Also eaten as sweet corn, pop corn, and many new hybrids give better yields. (c) Many uses: food-crop, animal fattening, cornflakes, alcohol distilling, etc. Barley, Rye, Oats, Millet. These are the more hardy cereals of secondary importance. Tolerant of inferior soil. less favourable climate. More interior and continental regions, even of”
Why this source?
  • Lists many processed and industrial uses of maize (cornflakes, alcohol distilling, etc.), supporting the crop's role in commercial processing.
  • Supports the concept that maize is routinely converted into value‑added products in industry.
Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 10: Life Processes in Plants > 10.2.1 Leaves: the ̒ food factories̓of plants > p. 140
Presence: 2/5
“Plants store food in the form of starch, a type of carbohydrate. This starch is produced in the leaves of a plant which, by design, are generally broad and fl at. These are mostly green because of the presence of a green pigment called chlorophyll, that helps in capturing sunlight effi ciently. Let us fi nd out the role chlorophyll plays in the preparation of food in the form of starch in plants.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that plants produce and store starch, establishing the biological basis for extracting starch from maize.
  • Supports plausibility that a cereal like maize contains extractable starch used commercially.
Statement 2
Can oil extracted from maize (corn oil) be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
Presence: 3/5
“It is cultivated in about 8 million hectares under a wide range of agro-ecological situations. It contributes nearly 8% in the national food basket. In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that include starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, flm, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc. Maize is cultivated throughout the year in diferent parts of the country for various purposes including grain, fodder, green cobs, sweet corn, baby corn, pop corn etc.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists maize as a raw material that includes oil among its industrial products.
  • Establishes that maize yields extractable oil used for industrial purposes (thus available as a potential feedstock).
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Biomass fuels or biofuels > p. 425
Presence: 4/5
“• A fuel produced from dry organic matter or combustible oils produced by plants. • These fuels are considered renewable as long as the vegetation producing them is maintained or replanted, such as firewood, alcohol fermented from sugar, and combustible oils extracted from soy beans. • Their use in place of fossil fuels cuts greenhouse gas emissions because the plants that are the fuel sources capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”
Why this source?
  • Describes biofuels as fuels produced from combustible plant oils and gives plant oils (e.g., soybean) as examples.
  • States plant-derived combustible oils can substitute fossil fuels, implying plant oils are suitable feedstocks for biofuel production.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 6: Environmental Issues > Applications of Palm Oil > p. 116
Presence: 4/5
“r) Food based appiications Cooking oil, substitute for butter, vanaspati/ vegetable ghee, margarine, confectionary and bakery fats, ice cream, coffee creamers, emulsifiers, vitamin E supplements among others. z) Non-food applications Cosmetics, toiletries, soaps and detergents. Oleo chemical industry, as a base material for laundry detergents, household cleaners and cosmetics. According to USDA estimates, 75% of the global palm oil consumption is for food purposes, while 20% is for industrial/non-food purposes. The remaining, though currently of marginal quantity, is used for biodiesel.”
Why this source?
  • Notes that a portion of palm oil (a vegetable oil) is used for biodiesel, providing a direct precedent for vegetable oils serving as biodiesel feedstocks.
  • Demonstrates the concept that edible/vegetable oils can be processed into biodiesel.
Statement 3
Can maize be used to produce alcoholic beverages (e.g., beer, whiskey, or other spirits)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
Presence: 5/5
“It is cultivated in about 8 million hectares under a wide range of agro-ecological situations. It contributes nearly 8% in the national food basket. In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that include starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, flm, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc. Maize is cultivated throughout the year in diferent parts of the country for various purposes including grain, fodder, green cobs, sweet corn, baby corn, pop corn etc.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists maize as a basic raw material used to make 'alcoholic beverages'.
  • Places maize among industrial feedstocks for products including food sweeteners and pharmaceuticals, showing industrial/processing use.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > 16. Energy Crops > p. 13
Presence: 5/5
“Crops which are grown to obtain liquid energy such as ethanol and alcohol e.g. sugarcane, potato, maize, tapioca.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies maize among 'crops which are grown to obtain liquid energy such as ethanol and alcohol'.
  • Links maize directly to production of ethanol/alcohol (fuel and chemical use).
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
Presence: 4/5
“(a) Maize originated in America as Indian corn. The corn is ground to make maize mcal (Mealie), but is not good for bread-making. (b) Has many varieties. Dent is soft maize, and flint is hard maize. Also eaten as sweet corn, pop corn, and many new hybrids give better yields. (c) Many uses: food-crop, animal fattening, cornflakes, alcohol distilling, etc. Barley, Rye, Oats, Millet. These are the more hardy cereals of secondary importance. Tolerant of inferior soil. less favourable climate. More interior and continental regions, even of”
Why this source?
  • Specifically notes 'alcohol distilling' as one of the uses of maize/corn.
  • Treats alcohol production from maize as an established industrial use alongside food products.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Possibility' questions regarding natural resources ('Can X be used for Y?'). The pattern is consistent: if a biological resource is abundant (biomass), it almost certainly has applications in energy (fuel), chemistry (starch/oil), and fermentation (alcohol).
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from GC Leong (Ch 26: Agriculture) and Majid Hussain (Ch 12). No current affairs required.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Major Crops & Cropping Patterns. Specifically, the 'Economic Importance' and 'Industrial Applications' subsection of cereal crops.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map the industrial by-products of other giants: Sugarcane (Molasses -> Ethanol, Bagasse -> Paper/Power); Soybean (Biodiesel, Lecithin); Jatropha/Pongamia (Biodiesel); Bamboo (Ethanol, Textiles); Neem (Urea coating, Pesticide).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying crops, do not stop at Rainfall/Temperature/Soil. Always ask: 'Is this an energy crop?' and 'What is its role in agro-processing?' The link between Agriculture and Energy security (Biofuels) is a permanent UPSC favorite.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Maize as a multi‑purpose crop (food, feed, industrial raw material)
💡 The insight

The evidence repeatedly presents maize as supplying food, animal feed and raw material for many industries (explicitly including starch).

High‑yield concept for UPSC: links agricultural production to industrial use and rural employment. Useful for questions on agro‑processing, value chains, and crop policy; practise by mapping crop end‑uses and policy implications across sectors.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Corn > p. 454
🔗 Anchor: "Is maize (corn) used commercially to produce starch (corn starch)?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Agro‑industrial processing: maize → starch and derivative products
💡 The insight

References name specific industrial outputs (starch, alcohol, sweeteners), highlighting the processing pathway from crop to commodity.

Important for papers on industrialisation and food processing policies; helps answer questions on value addition, supply chains, and trade. Memorise common processing products and their policy/economic significance; study sample case studies of crop‑based industries.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
🔗 Anchor: "Is maize (corn) used commercially to produce starch (corn starch)?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Major maize producing regions & scale (production enabling commercial processing)
💡 The insight

Notes on leading producers and regions (Corn Belt, major Indian states) show scale and geography that make commercial processing (like starch production) viable.

Useful for geography and economy sections: connects production geography to industrial clustering and export potential. Master regional production patterns, major belts, and how scale affects industry location and policy choices.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Time of Sowing > p. 25
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Corn > p. 454
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Maize > p. 28
🔗 Anchor: "Is maize (corn) used commercially to produce starch (corn starch)?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Vegetable oils as biofuel feedstocks
💡 The insight

Evidence shows plant-derived oils (e.g., soybean, palm oil) are used or considered for biofuel/biodiesel production, which directly relates to whether maize oil could be used similarly.

High-yield for questions on renewable energy and agricultural resource use. Connects energy policy, biofuels, and crop utilization. Enables answers about suitability of various plant oils as biodiesel feedstocks and policy trade-offs; prepare by comparing examples (soy, palm) and general biofuel principles.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Biomass fuels or biofuels > p. 425
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 6: Environmental Issues > Applications of Palm Oil > p. 116
🔗 Anchor: "Can oil extracted from maize (corn oil) be used as a feedstock for biodiesel pro..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Maize as a multipurpose industrial crop (including oil)
💡 The insight

One reference lists maize among industrial raw materials that yield oil, establishing maize as a source of extractable oil.

Useful for questions on crop economics and value-addition (food vs industrial uses). Helps assess alternative uses of staple crops and implications for food security and biofuel policy; study crop-usage profiles and industrial applications.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
🔗 Anchor: "Can oil extracted from maize (corn oil) be used as a feedstock for biodiesel pro..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Oil-bearing crops and oilseeds (classification & examples)
💡 The insight

Understanding typical oilseed crops and their role clarifies how maize-derived oil compares with established oil crops used for oil extraction and biodiesel.

Important for questions distinguishing major oilseed crops, policy on edible vs industrial oil use, and biofuel feedstock selection. Master by memorizing common oilseed examples and their industrial roles to evaluate viability of alternative feedstocks.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Oil crop > p. 290
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
🔗 Anchor: "Can oil extracted from maize (corn oil) be used as a feedstock for biodiesel pro..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Maize as a raw material for alcoholic beverages
💡 The insight

The references directly state maize is used to produce alcoholic beverages and for alcohol distilling.

High-yield concept linking agriculture to agro-industry and value addition; useful for questions on crop uses, rural industry and agri-processing. Master by noting primary vs industrial uses of staple crops and examples from source material.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > 3. MAIZE/CORN (Fig. 26.10) > p. 253
🔗 Anchor: "Can maize be used to produce alcoholic beverages (e.g., beer, whiskey, or other ..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Next Logical Question' is on the *by-products* of this process. When Maize is processed for Ethanol, the residue is 'Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles' (DDGS). UPSC will likely ask if DDGS can be used as high-protein animal fodder (Yes).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Biomass Heuristic': Any major starch/sugar crop (Maize, Rice, Cane, Potato) can biologically produce Alcohol (fermentation) and Starch. Any seed crop usually has some oil content. In 'Can be used' questions involving biological raw materials, the answer is almost always 'All of the above' unless the process is chemically impossible.

🔗 Mains Connection

Connect this to Economy & Policy: The 'National Policy on Biofuels 2018' (amended later) explicitly allows the use of surplus rice and maize for ethanol production. This links Geography (Crop) -> Economy (Energy Security) -> Ethics (Food vs. Fuel debate).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2021 · Q82 Relevance score: 2.25

With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements : 1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia. 2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes. 3. The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel. Which of the statements given above are correct?

IAS · 2003 · Q23 Relevance score: 1.83

Consider the following statements: 1. Molasses is a by-product of sugar production process. 2. Bagasse obtained in the sugar mills is used as a fuel in the boilers to generate steam for the sugar factories. 3. Sugar can only be produced from sugarcane as the raw material. Which of these statement are correct?

IAS · 2013 · Q38 Relevance score: 1.49

With reference to the usefulness of the by-products of sugar industry, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Bagasse can be used as biomass fuel for the generation of energy. 2. Molasses can be used as one of the feedstocks for the production of synthetic chemical fertilizers. 3. Molasses can be used for the production of ethanol. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

IAS · 2025 · Q63 Relevance score: 1.31

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?