Which of the following is NOT applicable to sugar industry?

Which of the following is NOT applicable to sugar industry?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Sugar industry runs throughout the year equally

Sugar is made from sugarcane, a farm crop that is harvested in one season of the year.

Option (1) Weight losing raw material — Applicable to the sugar industry. Sugarcane is a weight-losing crop. Only 9 to 12 per cent of it becomes sugar, and its sucrose starts drying after harvest, so mills are set up in the cane growing areas.

Option (2) Maharashtra produces more than one third of total sugar production in the country — Applicable to the sugar industry. Maharashtra is the leading sugar producer, with more than one-third of India’s sugar.

Option (3) Sugar industry runs throughout the year equally — Not applicable to the sugar industry. Sugar is a seasonal industry. The mills depend on sugarcane, which is available only in its season, so they cannot run equally all year.

Option (4) Agro-based industry — Applicable to the sugar industry. It is the second most important agro-based industry in the country.

Note: This question is taken from the pre-rationalised NCERT book. The latest edition (2026-27) does not have this part. An extract of the pre-rationalised NCERT book is given below for the benefit of students.

Pre-rationalised NCERT: “Sugar Industry … The sugar industry is the second most important agro-based industry in the country. … Sugar industry is a seasonal industry because of the seasonality of raw materials.”

“Location of the Sugar Industry … Sugarcane is a weight-losing crop. The ratio of sugar to sugarcane varies between 9 to 12 per cent depending on its variety. Its sucrose content begins to dry during haulage after it has been harvested from the field.”

“Maharashtra has emerged as a leading sugar producer in the country and produces more than one-third of the total production of the sugar in the country.”