UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Marginal hike for agriculture leaves farmers unhappy
Q1. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, whose 22nd instalment was released in March 2026, is implemented by which one of the following?
- A. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
- B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
- C. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
- D. Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the 22nd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme released in 2026:
1. It was released on 13 March 2026.
2. Approximately ₹18,640 crore was transferred to nearly 9.32 crore farmer families.
3. The instalment was released by the Prime Minister from Guwahati, Assam.
4. More than 2.15 crore women farmers were among the beneficiaries of this instalment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was released on 13 March 2026.
- Approximately ₹18,640 crore was transferred to nearly 9.32 crore farmer families.
- The instalment was released by the Prime Minister from Guwahati, Assam.
- More than 2.15 crore women farmers were among the beneficiaries of this instalment.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. Which one of the following accounted for the single largest scheme-wise allocation within the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in the Union Budget 2026-27?
- A. PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi)
- B. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
- C. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme
- D. Bharat-VISTAAR
Q4. Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI-based digital platform to provide farmers with advisories, weather information, market prices and grievance redressal, was formally proposed under which one of the following?
- A. Union Budget 2024-25
- B. Union Budget 2025-26
- C. Union Budget 2026-27
- D. National Mission on Natural Farming, 2023