Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
Show answer
Answer: A. Sugarcane needs very large amounts of water, roughly 1500-2500 mm over its long growing season, much more per unit of output than sunflower, pearl millet or red gram. So it is the least water-efficient crop listed.
Watch for: Least water-efficient means the thirstiest crop; sugarcane is the classic example.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because sunflower needs much less water than sugarcane.
- C. Wrong because pearl millet is a hardy, drought-tolerant crop.
- D. Wrong because red gram (arhar) is a dryland pulse.
Source to check: FAO Crop Water Information: Sugarcane (1500-2500 mm per season); NCERT Class 10 Geography, Chapter 4 Agriculture
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.