Previous Year Question

Khatauli is a major sugar industry centre located in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. The sugar mill operated by Triveni Engineering & Industries Limited is located here and was considered Asia's largest sugar mill in the UPPSC 2016 examination. This mill is situated in a major sugarcane-producing region of western Uttar Pradesh.

The Sugarcane Crushing Capacity of the Khatauli Sugar Mill was recorded at approximately 16,000 Tonnes Cane per Day (TCD). This means that the mill has an installed capacity to process approximately 16,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane in a single day. Based on data from the National Sugar Institute for 2013, it was considered the largest sugar mill in terms of crushing capacity.

In sugar manufacturing, the juice extracted after Crushing sugarcane undergoes processes such as Purification, Evaporation, and Crystallization. These processes produce Sugar Crystals. The major By-products of this industry include Bagasse, Molasses, and Press Mud. Bagasse can be used primarily for energy generation, Molasses for producing Ethanol and other products, and Press Mud for preparing organic manure.

Important Examination Fact: A dispute regarding this UPPSC 2016 question reached the Allahabad High Court. In its judgment dated 9 December 2016, the Court accepted the expert opinion based on National Sugar Institute data and upheld Khatauli as the correct answer. The determination of the largest sugar mill was based on Sugarcane Crushing Capacity, not actual Sugar Production in a particular year. This is a historical examination answer and does not establish that the mill continues to rank first in Asia at present.