UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Agricultural growth slows down to 3.5% in 2025-26

Q1. With reference to the decadal (FY 2015-16 to FY 2024-25) growth performance of the agriculture and allied sector, as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2025-26, consider the following pairings of sub-sector and average annual growth rate: 1. Crop sector — 3.5% 2. Livestock — 7.1% 3. Fisheries and aquaculture — 8.8% 4. Overall agriculture and allied — 6.4% Which of the above pairings is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Crop sector — 3.5%
  2. Livestock — 7.1%
  3. Fisheries and aquaculture — 8.8%
  4. Overall agriculture and allied — 6.4%
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q2. With reference to the Economic Survey 2025-26 and its comparison with the previous edition, consider the following statements: 1. While Economic Survey 2024-25 had reported the average agricultural growth at about 5% over FY17-FY23, Economic Survey 2025-26 reported Q2 FY26 growth of agriculture and allied sector at 3.5%. 2. The decadal growth of agriculture and allied sector during FY16-FY25 (4.45%) was identified as the highest across any comparable decade. 3. Agricultural GVA growth in the first half of FY26 (3.6%) was lower than that in the first half of FY25 (2.7%). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. While Economic Survey 2024-25 had reported the average agricultural growth at about 5% over FY17-FY23, Economic Survey 2025-26 reported Q2 FY26 growth of agriculture and allied sector at 3.5%.
  2. The decadal growth of agriculture and allied sector during FY16-FY25 (4.45%) was identified as the highest across any comparable decade.
  3. Agricultural GVA growth in the first half of FY26 (3.6%) was lower than that in the first half of FY25 (2.7%).
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In the context of the Economic Survey 2025-26, the Advance Estimates of production of major agricultural crops (Kharif and Rabi) that feed into the Survey's assessment of agricultural growth are released by which one of the following?

  • A. National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Q4. As per the Third Advance Estimates released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare for the agricultural year 2024-25, the total foodgrain production of India was estimated at approximately how many lakh metric tonnes (LMT)?

  • A. 3322.98 LMT
  • B. 3422.50 LMT
  • C. 3539.59 LMT
  • D. 3647.05 LMT

Q5. As per the Economic Survey 2025-26, which one of the following sub-sectors recorded the HIGHEST average annual growth rate during the decade 2015-16 to 2024-25 within agriculture and allied activities?

  • A. Crop sector
  • B. Livestock
  • C. Fisheries and aquaculture
  • D. Forestry and logging