UPSC Prelims 2009·GS1·economy·economic sectors and development

In the context of alternative sources of energy, ethanol as a viable bio-fuel can be obtained from

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. APotato
  2. BRice
  3. CSugarcaneCorrect
  4. DWheat

Explanation

Sugarcane is the primary source for ethanol production because it contains high amounts of fermentable sugars. In the sugar manufacturing process, molasses is produced as a byproduct, which can be easily fermented and distilled to create ethanol. While starches like potato, rice, and wheat can also be converted into ethanol, they require an additional complex step to break down starch into sugar first. Sugarcane remains the most commercially viable and widely used source for large scale bio fuel production, especially in countries like India and Brazil.
economy: In the context of alternative sources of energy, ethanol as a viable bio-fuel can be obtained from
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