What is the correct sequence of the States in descending order in the production of sugarcane in 2013?

For the 2012-13 season, which is the 2013 production year in most data tables, the order is Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana. Option B gives exactly this sequence. UP leads on the strength of the Indo-Gangetic canal and tube-well irrigation, while Maharashtra's Deccan belt has high yields and a dense network of cooperative sugar factories.

• A is wrong because it puts Karnataka ahead of UP and Maharashtra, which does not match the 2013 volumes.
• C is wrong because Haryana is a mid-sized producer, not the largest, and it cannot top the big three.
• D is close but wrong because it places Karnataka above Maharashtra, while Maharashtra was clearly ahead in 2013.

The core concept is the regional concentration of sugarcane in the Indo-Gangetic belt and the western and southern peninsula, and the difference between cane production and sugar recovery. This links to the GS III agriculture and agro-processing syllabus, including cooperative sugar mills, ethanol blending and the sugar decontrol debate. Maharashtra has overtaken UP in some recent years, so check year-specific data before generalising.

Trap: aspirants memorise UP as the top sugar producer and then choose the option that looks plausible without checking the second and third positions.