• Drying Kinetics and Equipment in Agricultural Processing:
• Statement (I): Majority of the drying of agricultural produce fall under falling rate regime. $\implies$ Correct.
• Cereal grains, pulses, and oilseeds dry almost entirely in the falling-rate drying period, where internal moisture diffusion governs drying rate rather than surface evaporation.
• Statement (II): Spray dryers are commonly used for liquid foods. $\implies$ Correct.
• Spray drying atomizes liquid feeds (milk, coffee, fruit purees) into a hot gas stream to produce dry powders in seconds.
• Conclusion: Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct (Option 1).

Correct option: (1) Both Statement (I) and Statement (I) are correct

• Objectives and Functions of Blanching:
• Blanching is a mild hydrothermal pre-treatment (hot water at 85–95°C or steam) for fruits and vegetables:
• Inactivation of enzymes: Inactivates polyphenol oxidase, catalase, and peroxidase to prevent browning and nutrient loss.
• Softening of tissue: Expels intercellular air and softens cell structure to facilitate packaging into cans.
• Cleaning of raw material: Removes adhering surface dust and reduces initial microbial load.
• (B) Killing of pathogenic microbes: Blanching does not achieve commercial sterility or complete destruction of spores; full thermal processing is performed later.
• Conclusion: Major functions include (A), (C) and (D) only (Option 3).

Correct option: (3) (A), (C) and (D) only.

• Glazing in Rice (Paddy) Milling:
• Glazing is a finishing process in polished rice production where milled rice grains are treated with a mixture of glucose and talc or paraffin in a glazing drum to impart a glossy, translucent sheen and protect against insect attack.
• Glazing is exclusively associated with Paddy (Rice) processing.
• Conclusion: Related to Paddy (Option 1).

Correct option: (1) Paddy

• Absorber Plate Function in Flat-Plate Solar Collectors:
• Operating Mechanism: The absorber plate (typically copper or aluminum coated with a spectrally selective surface like black chrome, having high solar absorptivity $\alpha \ge 0.95$ and low thermal emissivity $\epsilon \le 0.10$) intercepts incoming solar radiation through the transparent glazing cover.
• Thermal Conversion: It converts incident radiant photons directly into sensible heat, conducting the thermal energy into riser tubes carrying heat-transfer fluids (water or antifreeze glycol).
• Conclusion: To convert solar energy into heat (Option 2).

Correct option: (2) To convert solar energy into heat