Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Improved Basmati rice varieties are bred to combine premium grain quality (aroma, length, elongation ratio) with reduced crop duration and lower water footprints.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
1. Pusa Basmati 1121 (developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi) is a landmark aromatic rice variety.
2. It holds the world record for the longest slender grain after cooking, and exhibits excellent elongation.
3. Because of its significantly shorter field duration (about 135-140 days) compared to traditional tall Basmati varieties (which take over 160 days), it saves up to 30 % of irrigation water.
4. This combined trait of high water productivity, extreme high yield, and high premium value makes it celebrated as a major water-saving, high-yielding aromatic variety.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct option is 1, which corresponds to Pusa 1121.