Which one of the following statements about the location and characteristics of the sugar industry in Peninsular India is not correct?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of the geographical and economic factors that shape the sugar industry in India, particularly in the Peninsular region. Peninsular India includes states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where climatic conditions differ significantly from those of the Gangetic plains in North India. Knowing where mills are concentrated, and what advantages the region enjoys, is a frequent theme in exams on Indian geography and economic development.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The focus is specifically on the sugar industry in Peninsular India, not the whole country.
- Four statements are given about yield, sucrose content, length of crushing season and location of mills.
- You must identify the statement that is factually not correct for Peninsular India.
- It is assumed that you know the broad distribution of sugar mills between the west and east coasts of the Peninsula.

Concept / Approach:
The key to this question is to recall the comparative advantages of Peninsular India in sugarcane cultivation. Due to its tropical climate, Peninsular India has a longer, cooler dry season suitable for cane maturation, leading to higher sucrose content and a longer crushing season. Also, irrigation and better farm practices raise yield per hectare. However, most of the major sugar mills in Peninsular India are clustered in the western part of the Peninsula, especially in the river valleys and plateaus of Maharashtra and northern Karnataka, and not mainly along the east coast. By contrasting each statement with this core idea, we can identify the incorrect one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Peninsular India enjoys a tropical climate with a long, cool, dry season suitable for sugarcane ripening. Step 2: Because of these conditions, sugarcane in the Peninsula generally gives higher yields per hectare and higher sucrose content than in the sub-tropical North. Step 3: The favourable climate also allows for a longer crushing season, as cane can be supplied to factories over more months each year. Step 4: Remember that most Peninsular sugar mills are concentrated in western Maharashtra, northern Karnataka and adjacent regions, not mainly along the east coast, making the statement about east coast location incorrect.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick mental map of India helps to verify the answer. Leading sugarcane and sugar-producing districts such as Kolhapur, Satara, Ahmednagar, Belagavi and parts of coastal and interior Karnataka all lie closer to the west coast. There are comparatively fewer large sugar mills along the east coast of Peninsular India. In contrast, the other three statements match standard textbook descriptions: the Peninsula has better yield and sucrose and a longer crushing period than the North. This cross-check confirms which statement does not fit the known pattern.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is correct, not incorrect. Peninsular India does record relatively high yield of sugarcane per hectare because of its favourable soil, climate and irrigation facilities. Option B is also correct: cane grown under tropical conditions in the Peninsula generally has higher sucrose content than cane grown in sub-tropical North India. Option C is likewise correct, as mills in the Peninsula typically have a long crushing season, often 160–200 days, compared to a shorter season in the North. Only option D misrepresents the actual pattern by wrongly placing most mills along the east coast, so it is the incorrect statement that must be chosen as the answer.

Common Pitfalls:
A common trap is to focus only on the word “Peninsular” and assume that since the Peninsula has a long coastline on both the east and west, plenty of mills must exist along both coasts. Another mistake is to think in terms of sugar exports through eastern ports and therefore imagine many mills near them. Students also sometimes confuse “Peninsular” with “eastern coastal plains” more broadly. Remember that Peninsular sugar mills are heavily clustered in western and central parts of the Peninsula, not mainly on the eastern seaboard, so reading the option carefully is crucial.

Final Answer:
The statement that is not correct about the sugar industry in Peninsular India is the claim that most of the mills are located mainly along the east coast. Therefore, the correct answer is “Most of the sugar mills in Peninsular India are located mainly along the east coast.”