UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre pushes States to speed up farm scheme fund release

Q1. Which one of the following is the flagship Central Sector direct income support scheme for landholding farmer families in India under which ₹6,000 per year is transferred in three equal instalments through DBT?

  • A. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
  • B. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
  • C. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
  • D. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

Q2. PM-KISAN is officially categorised as a 'Central Sector Scheme'. Which one of the following statements best describes a Central Sector Scheme in the Indian budgetary classification?

  • A. It is fully funded by the Union Government and implemented directly by Central agencies or through States as implementing partners, with 100% Central financing.
  • B. It is jointly funded by the Centre and the States, typically in a 60:40 ratio, and falls under the Concurrent List.
  • C. It is funded by the States and only monitored by the Centre, with the Centre providing technical assistance.
  • D. It is a scheme funded by a finance commission grant earmarked for sectors in the State List.

Q3. With reference to the exclusion criteria notified under the PM-KISAN scheme, consider the following categories of persons: 1. Serving or retired officers of Central or State Government in regular employment in Group A or Group B posts 2. All persons who paid income tax in the last assessment year 3. All small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to one hectare 4. Former and present holders of constitutional posts Which of the above are correctly identified as excluded categories under the PM-KISAN scheme?

  1. Serving or retired officers of Central or State Government in regular employment in Group A or Group B posts
  2. All persons who paid income tax in the last assessment year
  3. All small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to one hectare
  4. Former and present holders of constitutional posts
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. PM-KISAN, in the context of which the Union Government has recently urged States to speed up beneficiary verification, is implemented at the Central level 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, through the DBT Mission
  • D. Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution