Consider the following statements:

1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Arable land (% of land area) in China and India was reported at 11.5% and 51.8%, respectively, in 2023, according to the World Bank’s Development Indicators.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Although India possesses a large area of irrigated land, China has developed more extensive irrigation infrastructure and irrigates a greater share of its arable land. Consequently, the proportion of irrigated land relative to total arable land is higher in China than in India.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• China produces much more from each hectare of land than India does.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Hard