Agriculture and Allied Sectors

31. What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane produc

What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative’?

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  • Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
  • Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
  • There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
  • The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

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1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 4 only
2, 3 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2014
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The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) reduces seed cost by using single-budded setts, facilitates effective drip irrigation due to wider spacing, and increases the scope for intercropping in the wide inter-row spaces. Statement 3 is incorrect as SSI promotes reduced use but doesn’t entirely eliminate chemical fertilizers.
SSI is an agro-ecological approach to sugarcane cultivation that focuses on ‘more with less’ – more cane production using less seed, less water, and less land. Key practices include the use of single-budded setts or seedlings transplanted after raising them in a nursery, wider row spacing, and promotion of drip irrigation and organic manuring.
The advantages listed in statements 1, 2, and 4 are well-documented benefits of the SSI method compared to traditional sugarcane cultivation. Statement 3 is a common misconception or overstatement; SSI encourages integrated nutrient management, which includes organic sources and efficient use of inorganic fertilizers if needed, aiming for significant reduction rather than zero application.

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32. Which of the following grants/grant direct credit assistance to rural

Which of the following grants/grant direct credit assistance to rural households?

  • 1. Regional Rural Banks
  • 2. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
  • 3. Land Development Banks

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
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Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Land Development Banks (or their successors within the cooperative structure) are financial institutions that provide direct credit facilities to rural households for various purposes like agriculture and rural development activities. NABARD, on the other hand, is primarily an apex institution providing refinance and support to banks and other financial institutions, rather than direct credit to individual households.
RRBs were established to cater to the banking and credit needs of the rural population directly. Land Development Banks (part of the cooperative credit structure) focus on long-term agricultural finance, also providing credit directly to farmers (rural households). NABARD functions as a refinancing and supervisory body for rural credit institutions.
While NABARD is crucial for the rural credit system, its role is mainly at the wholesale level, channeling funds to the retail institutions (like RRBs, Cooperative Banks, and sometimes commercial banks) which then disburse direct credit to the ultimate borrowers (rural households).

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33. Using the code given below identify the type of farming on the basis o

Using the code given below identify the type of farming on the basis of given characteristics :

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  • 1. The produce is consumed entirely or mainly by the family who work the land or tend the livestock.
  • 2. If a small surplus is produced, it may be sold or bartered.
  • 3. It is generally small scale and labour intensive with little or no technological input.

Code :

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Extensive farming
Intensive farming
Subsistence farming
Commercial farming
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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The correct option is C) Subsistence farming.
The provided characteristics describe farming primarily aimed at meeting the needs of the farming family. Producing mainly for self-consumption, selling or bartering only a small surplus, using small-scale, labour-intensive methods with little technology are all hallmarks of subsistence farming.
– Extensive farming is characterized by large land areas and relatively low inputs of labour or capital per unit area. Output per unit area is low, but total output can be high.
– Intensive farming is characterized by high inputs of labour or capital per unit area on relatively small plots to maximize yield per unit area.
– Commercial farming is undertaken with the primary objective of selling the produce in the market for profit, rather than for self-consumption. It often involves larger scale, higher technology input, and specialization.

34. ‘Operation Flood’ is also popularly known as

‘Operation Flood’ is also popularly known as

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the Green Revolution
the White Revolution
the Blue Revolution
the Yellow Revolution
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
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‘Operation Flood’ is the program launched by India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1970 to create a nationwide milk grid. It transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world’s largest milk producer. It is popularly known as the White Revolution.
Operation Flood adopted a cooperative strategy, empowering farmers through village-level dairy cooperatives. Dr. Verghese Kurien is known as the architect of Operation Flood and the White Revolution in India.
The Green Revolution is associated with increasing agricultural production (especially food grains like wheat and rice). The Blue Revolution relates to the increase in fish and aquatic products. The Yellow Revolution is associated with the increase in the production of oilseeds.

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35. The price declared by the Government every year before the sowing seas

The price declared by the Government every year before the sowing season to provide incentives to the farmers is called

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buffer price
issue price
minimum support price
fair sustenance price
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
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The correct answer is C) minimum support price.
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the price set by the Government of India for certain agricultural produce, to protect the farmer against excessive falls in farm prices during bumper production years. It is announced by the government before the sowing season for certain crops, providing a price guarantee and acting as an incentive for farmers to cultivate those crops. The idea is to ensure a minimum profit for the farmers and encourage crop production.
Buffer price (A) is not a standard term in this context, although related to buffer stock operations. Issue price (B) is the price at which food grains are distributed from the government’s buffer stock (e.g., through PDS), determined after procurement. Fair sustenance price (D) is not a recognized term in this context.

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36. In which of the following states high yielding varieties of food grain

In which of the following states high yielding varieties of food grains were introduced as part of the first phase of Green Revolution (1966-72)?

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  • 1. Andhra Pradesh
  • 2. Tamil Nadu
  • 3. Punjab
  • 4. Haryana

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1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
1 and 2 only
3 and 4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
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The first phase of the Green Revolution in India (around 1966-72) primarily focused on areas with assured irrigation facilities to maximize the impact of High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of wheat and rice. The initial thrust was on wheat in the northern plains. The states that were major beneficiaries and participants in this first phase, particularly for wheat, were Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Western Uttar Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu also saw introduction of HYV rice, but Punjab and Haryana were central to the *initial* success story, especially in the 1960s. Therefore, among the options provided, Punjab (3) and Haryana (4) were definitely part of the first phase’s core focus areas for the introduction of HYVs.
The initial phase of the Green Revolution in India (1966-72) primarily targeted well-irrigated areas in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, focusing on HYVs of wheat.
The success in wheat production during the first phase was remarkable, leading to increased food grain availability and reducing India’s dependence on imports. Later phases expanded the focus to other crops and regions.

37. Which of the following goods are included to estimate food inflation i

Which of the following goods are included to estimate food inflation in India?

  • 1. Wheat
  • 2. Paddy
  • 3. Tobacco
  • 4. Sugar

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1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
1, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
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Food inflation in India is typically estimated using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) sub-group called ‘Food and Beverages’. This group includes various food items. Let’s examine the given options:
1. Wheat: A staple food grain, definitely included.
2. Paddy: The raw form of rice, a staple food grain, definitely included.
3. Tobacco: A non-food item (comes under ‘Pan, Tobacco and Intoxicants’ in CPI), not included in food inflation estimation.
4. Sugar: A processed food item (comes under ‘Sugar and Confectionery’), definitely included.
Therefore, items 1, 2, and 4 are included in estimating food inflation, while item 3 (Tobacco) is not.
Food inflation metrics like CPI Food and Beverages track price changes for items meant for consumption as food. Non-food items like tobacco are excluded.
The CPI Food and Beverages group covers a wide range of items including cereals and products, meat and fish, egg, edible oils and fat, fruits, vegetables, pulses and products, sugar and confectionery, spices, non-alcoholic beverages, and prepared meals.

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38. Growing two or more crops in the same field but in different rows is

Growing two or more crops in the same field but in different rows is called

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Crop rotation
Inter cropping
Alternate cropping
Kharif cropping
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
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Inter cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field, often in a definite row pattern. This differs from crop rotation, where different crops are grown sequentially in the same field over different seasons or years.
Inter cropping aims to maximize yield per unit area by making use of resources that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop, and can also help in pest and disease management.
Examples of inter cropping include growing rows of legumes between rows of a cereal crop or planting shorter duration crops alongside longer duration ones. Crop rotation helps in maintaining soil fertility and breaking pest cycles. Alternate cropping is not a standard agricultural term. Kharif cropping refers to the monsoon season cropping cycle in the Indian subcontinent.

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39. Suppose the price of mangoes increases from ₹ 50 per kg to ₹ 75 per kg

Suppose the price of mangoes increases from ₹ 50 per kg to ₹ 75 per kg. Due to this, the demand for mangoes declines from 100 kg to 50 kg. Which one of the following is the price elasticity of demand for mangoes?

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4
3
2
1
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
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The correct answer is D) 1.
The price elasticity of demand (Ed) can be calculated using the point elasticity formula. Using the initial point:
Price (P1) = ₹50, Quantity (Q1) = 100 kg
Price (P2) = ₹75, Quantity (Q2) = 50 kg
Change in Quantity (ΔQ) = Q2 – Q1 = 50 – 100 = -50
Change in Price (ΔP) = P2 – P1 = 75 – 50 = 25
Ed = |(ΔQ / Q1) / (ΔP / P1)| or |(ΔQ / ΔP) * (P1 / Q1)|
Ed = |(-50 / 100) / (25 / 50)| = |-0.5 / 0.5| = |-1| = 1.
Using the formula |(ΔQ / ΔP) * (P1 / Q1)| = |(-50 / 25) * (50 / 100)| = |-2 * 0.5| = |-1| = 1.
Using the final point (P2, Q2) would yield Ed = |(-50 / 25) * (75 / 50)| = |-2 * 1.5| = |-3| = 3. However, the standard calculation from the initial state is typically preferred unless using the midpoint formula (which would yield approx 1.67, not an option). Given the options, 1 is the result of the standard point elasticity calculation from the initial price and quantity.
Price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in price. An elasticity of 1 means the demand is unit elastic, where the percentage change in quantity demanded is equal to the percentage change in price.

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40. Arrange the following varieties of silk in India in their order of dec

Arrange the following varieties of silk in India in their order of decreasing production:
1. Muga
2. Eri
3. Mulberry
4. Tasar
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3-2-4-1
3-4-2-1
2-4-1-3
2-1-4-3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
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The correct option is A) 3-2-4-1.
Silk production in India involves four main varieties: Mulberry, Eri, Tasar, and Muga. These are categorized based on the type of silkworm that produces the silk fibre. The order of decreasing production volume in India is generally Mulberry, followed by Eri, then Tasar, and finally Muga.
– **Mulberry silk** is the most common type, accounting for the vast majority (around 80-85%) of total silk produced in India. It is produced by the silkworm Bombyx mori, which feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves. It is widely cultivated across various states.
– **Eri silk** is produced by the silkworm Samia cynthia ricini, which feeds mainly on castor leaves. It is primarily concentrated in the North Eastern states, particularly Assam. It is known as the ‘poor man’s silk’ and is also called Ahimsa silk as the moth is allowed to emerge from the cocoon. It accounts for the second-largest production share (around 10-15%).
– **Tasar silk** is produced by silkworms belonging to the Antheraea species, which feed on leaves of trees like Arjun, Asan, and Sal. It is mainly produced in tribal areas of states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, etc. Its production share is smaller than Eri (around 5-10%).
– **Muga silk** is produced by the silkworm Antheraea assamensis, which feeds on aromatic leaves of Som and Sualu plants. This silk is unique to Assam and is known for its golden yellow colour and durability. Its production is the lowest among the four varieties due to its localized nature and specific feeding habits of the silkworm.
Thus, the decreasing order of production is Mulberry > Eri > Tasar > Muga.

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