UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why does India need climate- resilient agriculture?

Q1. Which one of the following best describes 'Climate-Resilient Agriculture' (CRA) as articulated in the recent (2025-26) Indian policy discourse?

  • A. A farming approach that integrates biotechnology, bio-inputs, soil-microbiome science and AI-driven analytics to sustain or improve productivity under climate stress.
  • B. A parametric crop-insurance regime that compensates farmers for yield losses attributable to extreme weather events.
  • C. An export-promotion strategy that channels traditional Indian millets into carbon-deficit international markets.
  • D. A statutory Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime confined to crops grown in notified rainfed districts.

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): 1. NMSA is one of the missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), whereas NICRA is a network research project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). 2. Both NMSA and NICRA were launched in the same year, namely 2011. 3. Unlike NMSA, NICRA undertakes district-level risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture using IPCC protocols. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. NMSA is one of the missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), whereas NICRA is a network research project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
  2. Both NMSA and NICRA were launched in the same year, namely 2011.
  3. Unlike NMSA, NICRA undertakes district-level risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture using IPCC protocols.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project as reported in the latest (2025) PIB update, consider the following: 1. NICRA was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2011. 2. Under NICRA's risk atlas, 310 of 651 predominantly agricultural districts are classified as climate-vulnerable. 3. The first Climate Resilient Villages under NICRA were established in 2008, ahead of the project's formal launch. 4. Of the vulnerable districts, 109 fall in the 'very high' vulnerability category. Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. NICRA was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2011.
  2. Under NICRA's risk atlas, 310 of 651 predominantly agricultural districts are classified as climate-vulnerable.
  3. The first Climate Resilient Villages under NICRA were established in 2008, ahead of the project's formal launch.
  4. Of the vulnerable districts, 109 fall in the 'very high' vulnerability category.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. Which one of the following is the flagship network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) dedicated specifically to district-level vulnerability assessment and on-farm demonstration of climate-resilient technologies?

  • A. National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)
  • B. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
  • C. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
  • D. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)