Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Efforts are on to bring in better methods of pest control, such as pesticides based on plant products.
Reason (R): After the green revolution, heavy use of chemical pesticides contaminated food products, soil and water bodies.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): Efforts are on to bring in better methods of pest control, such as pesticides based on plant products. — True. Pesticides from plant products, such as neem, are one such method.
Reason (R): After the green revolution, heavy use of chemical pesticides contaminated food products, soil and water bodies. — True. The frenzy for chemical pesticides contaminated food and polluted soil, water bodies and ground water.
Why R explains A?
The harm done by chemical pesticides created the problem. Better methods of pest control were brought in to meet this challenge. So the harm in R is the reason for the efforts in A.
NCERT (2026-27): “7.5 Strategies for Sustainable Development … Biopest Control: With the advent of green revolution, the entire country entered into a frenzy to use more and more chemical pesticides for higher yield. Soon, the adverse impacts began to show; food products were contaminated, soil, water bodies and even ground water were polluted with pesticides. Even milk, meat and fishes were found to be contaminated. To meet this challenge, efforts are on to bring in better methods of pest control. One such step is the use of pesticides based on plant products. Neem trees are proving to be quite useful. …” |