From the following States of India, which was the largest producer of Rice in the year 2021-22?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, West Bengal. West Bengal has been India's largest rice-producing state for many years running, including 2021-22 — its share of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta gives it reliable monsoon rainfall and lets farmers grow rice across three cropping seasons (aus, aman and boro) in a single year, pushing its total output above every other state's.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Punjab is a top state for wheat and for rice YIELD (output per hectare) thanks to assured irrigation, but its much smaller area under paddy keeps its total rice output well below West Bengal's.  (b) A significant Ganga-plain rice grower, but its total output trails the leading rice states.  (c) A fast-growing rice producer after expanded irrigation, but its total volume remains smaller than West Bengal's.

Concept: India's rice output is concentrated in states with abundant water — high rainfall, river deltas, or extensive irrigation. West Bengal's lead comes from growing rice in three seasons a year (aus, aman/kharif and boro) across the fertile Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, giving it the largest total rice output of any Indian state.

State PCS 2024 Q76 — Economy PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2024 Q76 — Economy PYQ with Answer