UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Agriculture Ministry reviews farmers’ losses amid adverse weather conditions

Q1. With reference to the recent reforms in India's crop insurance ecosystem, the 'Weather Information and Network Data System (WINDS)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A network of Doppler Weather Radars established by the India Meteorological Department for tracking cyclones over the Bay of Bengal
  • B. A nationwide grid of block-level Automatic Weather Stations and panchayat-level rain gauges to augment hyperlocal weather data for crop insurance
  • C. A satellite-based ocean state forecasting system operated by INCOIS for marine fisheries advisories
  • D. A digital portal that disseminates IMD's medium-range forecasts to State Disaster Management Authorities

Q2. At the central level, the procurement of wheat at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the Rabi Marketing Season is undertaken primarily by which one of the following agencies?

  • A. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
  • B. Food Corporation of India (FCI)
  • C. National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF)
  • D. Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC)

Q3. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), what is the maximum premium (as a percentage of the sum insured) payable by the farmer for notified Rabi food grain and oilseed crops?

  • A. 1.5%
  • B. 2%
  • C. 2.5%
  • D. 5%

Q4. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) vis-à-vis its predecessor and subsequent restructuring, consider the following statements: 1. PMFBY, launched in 2016, replaced the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified NAIS (MNAIS). 2. Following the 2020 revamp, enrolment under PMFBY has been made voluntary for all farmers, including those availing crop loans from financial institutions. 3. The maximum premium payable by a farmer for annual commercial and horticultural crops under PMFBY is capped at 2% of the sum insured. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. PMFBY, launched in 2016, replaced the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified NAIS (MNAIS).
  2. Following the 2020 revamp, enrolment under PMFBY has been made voluntary for all farmers, including those availing crop loans from financial institutions.
  3. The maximum premium payable by a farmer for annual commercial and horticultural crops under PMFBY is capped at 2% of the sum insured.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3