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CSAT 2017 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2017 · Question 48 · Reading comprehension

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding biopesticides?

Passage—7

Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to kill infesting insects. The consumption of pesticides in some of the developed countries is touching 3000 grams/hectare. Unfortunately, there are reports that these compounds possess inherent toxicities that endanger the health of the farm operators, consumers and the environment. Synthetic pesticides are generally persistent in environment. Entering in food chain they destroy the microbial diversity and cause ecological imbalance. Their indiscriminate use has resulted in development of resistance among insects to insecticides, upsetting of balance in nature and resurgence of treated populations. Natural pest control using the botanical pesticides is safer to the user and the environment because they break down into harmless compounds within hours or days in the presence of sunlight. Plants with pesticidal properties have been in nature for millions of years without any ill or adverse effects on the ecosystem. They are easily decomposed by many microbes common in most soils. They help in the maintenance of biological diversity of predators and the reduction of environmental contamination and human health hazards. Botanical pesticides formulated from plants are biodegradable and their use in crop protection is a practical sustainable alternative.

CSAT 2017 · Q48

Reading comprehension Easy

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding biopesticides?

  1. 1.They are not hazardous to human health.
  2. 2.They are persistent in environment.
  3. 3.They are essential to maintain the biodiversity of any ecosystem.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) 1 only

Botanical pesticides are described as safer to the user, breaking down into harmless compounds and reducing human health hazards, so statement 1 fits. They break down within hours or days, so they are not persistent, and the passage never calls them essential for biodiversity.

  • ✓ 1. They are 'safer to the user', break down into 'harmless compounds' and reduce 'human health hazards'.
  • ✗ 2. The reverse: they break down within hours or days; it is synthetic pesticides that are persistent.
  • ✗ 3. They 'help in the maintenance' of the diversity of predators; 'essential' for 'any ecosystem' is far stronger than the passage.

Remember · Watch for statements that transfer a property of one of the two things compared to the other — persistence belongs to synthetics here.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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