In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) Saltpetre
(b) Rock phosphate
(c) Coking coal
(d) All of the above
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- Potassium nitrate, also known as saltpetre, is not utilized in the production of steel.
- Rather, it finds applications in the production of fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants, and fireworks.
- It has been used as a food preservative since the Middle Ages and is a key component of gunpowder (black powder).
- On the other hand, rock phosphate is primarily used in fertilizer production and has no role in steelmaking.
- It is worth noting that India imports coking coal, which is an essential ingredient in steel production, with a requirement of 0.8 tonnes of coking coal to produce one tonne of steel.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
