In July 2023, a new variety of urea was launched by the Prime Minister of India at Sikar, Rajasthan. What is the name of this new variety of urea ?
- (1)Urea Silver
- (2)Urea Gold
- (3)Urea Platinum
- (4)Urea Diamond
Answer
Why
Correct — option (2), Urea Gold.
On 27 July 2023, at Sikar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Urea Gold. The Prime Minister's Office described it as "a new variety of Urea that is coated with Sulphur".
A PIB Jaipur release of 26 July 2023 had announced that the Government of India approved the proposal for launching Sulphur Coated Urea (SCU) under the name "Urea Gold".
At the launch, the PMO release said Sulphur Coated Urea "will address sulfur deficiencies in the soil" and called it "more economical and efficient than neem-coated urea". It added that the fertiliser improves nitrogen use efficiency, reduces fertiliser consumption and enhances crop quality. These are the Government's statements at launch.
The idea to remember: Urea Gold is sulphur-coated urea, launched by the Prime Minister at Sikar on 27 July 2023.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Urea Silver — "Urea Silver" is not the name in the PMO and PIB releases on the Sikar launch; the sulphur-coated urea was named Urea Gold.
The releases compare Urea Gold with an earlier variety, neem-coated urea, saying the new fertiliser is more efficient in nitrogen use.
- (3)Urea Platinum — "Urea Platinum" is not what the Government launched at Sikar on 27 July 2023; the new variety was Urea Gold.
The same programme dedicated more than 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras to the nation, which the PMO describes as one-stop centres for farmers' needs.
- (4)Urea Diamond — "Urea Diamond" is not the name of the urea launched at Sikar; the PMO release names it Urea Gold, coated with sulphur.
At the same event the Prime Minister released the 14th instalment of PM-KISAN, about ₹17,000 crore, to farmer-beneficiaries.
Concept
Urea is a nitrogen fertiliser; it contains about 46% nitrogen. Coating the granules changes how the fertiliser behaves in the soil and can add a second nutrient.
Sulphur is a plant nutrient needed, among other things, to make certain amino acids and proteins. A sulphur coating therefore supplies sulphur along with nitrogen.
PIB Jaipur's release of 26 July 2023 said SCU has better nitrogen use efficiency than neem-coated urea, and that it would reduce water pollution and salt index, avoid soil compaction, and improve crop quality and yields.
RPSC's 2023 syllabus lists "Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Animal Husbandry with special reference to Rajasthan." under Science & Technology, and "Major Current Events and Issues of Rajasthan, India and International Importance." under Current Affairs.
The Sikar programme bundled several announcements for farmers and for Rajasthan, including new medical colleges at Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Sirohi, Sikar and Sri Ganganagar.
In his address the Prime Minister also recalled that the Soil Health Card scheme was launched in Suratgarh, Rajasthan, in 2015.
Key facts
- 27 July 2023, Sikar: the Prime Minister launched Urea Gold, a variety of urea coated with sulphur.
- PIB Jaipur, 26 July 2023: the Government of India approved launching Sulphur Coated Urea under the name "Urea Gold".
- The Government said Urea Gold addresses sulphur deficiency in soil and is more efficient than neem-coated urea.
- The same event dedicated more than 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras and released the 14th PM-KISAN instalment of about ₹17,000 crore.
- It also inaugurated five medical colleges and laid foundation stones for seven more in Rajasthan.
Source: Prime Minister's Office release, 27 July 2023.
Study next
Common traps
- Picking another metal-sounding name. The sulphur-coated urea launched at Sikar was named Urea Gold.
- Taking Urea Gold for neem-coated urea. Its coating is sulphur; neem-coated urea is the variety the Government compared it with.
- Writing the stated benefits as measured results. The releases list what the Government said the fertiliser would do at the time of launch.
A question can ask the name of a newly launched fertiliser, where it was launched, or what it is coated with.
A question can also ask about other announcements made at the same event, such as PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras or a PM-KISAN instalment.
Related PYQs
UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 here once that paper is published on this site.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
'Urea Gold', launched at Sikar in July 2023, is urea coated with
- (a)neem oil
- (b)sulphur
- (c)zinc
- (d)boron
Answer(2) — The PMO describes Urea Gold as a new variety of urea coated with sulphur. Option (1) describes neem-coated urea, the variety it was compared with; options (3) and (4) are not Urea Gold's coating. - practice — not a real PYQ
At the Sikar event of 27 July 2023, how many PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras did the Prime Minister dedicate to the nation?
- (a)More than 1.25 lakh
- (b)12,500
- (c)1.75 lakh
- (d)2.5 lakh
Answer(1) — The PMO release says more than 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras were dedicated. Option (3) is the number of additional Kendras the Prime Minister said would be set up before the end of the year; options (2) and (4) match neither figure.