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UPSC Prelims 2025 · Agriculture · Crops and Where They Grow
Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022-23:
- India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
- More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India.
- Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India.
- (a) I and II only
- (b) II and III only
- (c) I and III only
- (d) I, II and III
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) I, II and III
Production share, variety count and the State list are all from Spices Board data — nothing in the three statements is exaggerated.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT India grows about three-quarters of the world’s turmeric and has over 60% of world trade (Spices Board).
2. ✓ CORRECT Over 30 varieties — Lakadong (Meghalaya, very high curcumin), Erode, Sangli, Alleppey and more.
3. ✓ CORRECT These four lead production; Maharashtra (Sangli, Hingoli) is now the top State.
The idea
In 2023 the government set up a National Turmeric Board to push exports towards $1 billion by 2030.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Drops III — usually because Kerala (Alleppey turmeric) or Andhra feel like the big growers. Today’s output is led by Maharashtra (Sangli) and Telangana (Nizamabad).
(b) Drops I by treating “largest producer AND exporter” as an absolute-word trap. Here it holds: India grows ~75% of world turmeric, so it dominates trade too.
(c) Drops II because “30+ varieties” sounds inflated. Each belt has its own — Lakadong, Erode, Salem, Rajapuri, Alleppey — which is why GI tags keep coming.
The trap
The “absolute words are usually wrong” rule. It is a good rule for policy statements, but not for a real No. 1 fact — check the fact before applying the rule.
🔒 Turmeric: India No. 1 producer and exporter · 30+ varieties · Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, TN · National Turmeric Board (2023).
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