With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:At present, the r

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Question

With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: B — 2 and 3 onlyStep-by-step Solution:Statement 1: Incorrect. The government administers fertilizer prices through subsidies. Urea is under statutory price control (New Urea Policy, 2015). Phosphatic and potassic fertilizers have Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) — the government fixes the subsidy, and MRP is determined by companies but within a regulated framework. ✗Statement 2: Correct. Ammonia (NH₃) is produced from natural gas (via the Haber process) or naphtha. India’s urea plants use natural gas. ✓Statement 3: Correct. Sulphur is a by‑product of oil refining and gas processing. It is used in the wet process to produce phosphoric acid for fertilizers like DAP (di‑ammonium phosphate). ✓Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 only): Statement 1 false.Option C (2 only): Statement 3 also correct.Option D (1,2,3): Statement 1 false.Key Concept: India is the world’s second-largest consumer of fertilizers. Urea is the most consumed. The government provides subsidies to keep prices affordable. Natural gas shortage has led to the revival of some naphtha‑based plants. Sulphur recovery is also a pollution control measure in refineries.

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