In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with…

Answer: (a) pesticides in agriculture

Carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos are toxic insecticides used on crops. They feature in the Government of India's lists of pesticides that are banned or restricted because of their harm to health and to birds, fish and bees.

• ✓ (a) All four names appear in the Ministry of Agriculture's list of banned and restricted pesticides. Methyl parathion was banned by an August 2018 order, and phorate and triazophos were barred from manufacture and import from 1 January 2019, with use to end by 31 December 2020.
• ✗ (b) Food preservatives are additives regulated under food-safety rules; none of these four is a preservative.
• ✗ (c) Fruit ripening is done with ethylene-releasing agents or, illegally, calcium carbide. These chemicals are insecticides, not ripening agents.
• ✗ (d) Moisturisers in cosmetics are humectants and emollients; these four are toxic to humans and have no cosmetic use.
• • Since then The Government's list of pesticides banned for manufacture, import and use, updated to 1 October 2022, includes methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos; carbofuran appears as a banned 50% SP formulation.

Remember · Carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos are hazardous agricultural insecticides, banned or being phased out in India.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error