UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India’s Resilient Production Systems in Agriculture
Q1. The Final Estimates of production of major agricultural crops (including the record 2024-25 foodgrain figure) are officially 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, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
- C. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
- D. NITI Aayog
Q2. In the official 2024-25 production data, the term 'Shree Anna' refers to which one of the following?
- A. High-yielding hybrid wheat varieties
- B. Millets (nutri/coarse cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi)
- C. The basket of pulses including chickpea and moong
- D. Fortified rice distributed under the public distribution system
Q3. With reference to PM-KISAN and the related farmer-welfare architecture, consider the following statements:
1. PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year released in three equal instalments through Direct Benefit Transfer.
2. PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana provides an old-age pension to enrolled cultivators.
3. PM-KISAN is implemented by the Department of Rural Development.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year released in three equal instalments through Direct Benefit Transfer.
- PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana provides an old-age pension to enrolled cultivators.
- PM-KISAN is implemented by the Department of Rural Development.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, what is the maximum insurance premium share (as a percentage of sum insured) payable by a farmer for Rabi food and oilseed crops?
Q5. Under PMFBY, the balance of the actuarial/bidded premium (after deducting the farmer's share) for most states is shared between the Centre and the State in which one of the following ratios?
- A. 50:50
- B. 60:40
- C. 75:25
- D. 90:10
Q6. Which one of the following is the single largest item in India's APEDA agricultural export basket?
- A. Basmati rice
- B. Non-basmati rice
- C. Marine products
- D. Spices
Q7. In the context of India's agri-export basket, the figure '20.4% in FY25' refers to the share of which one of the following?
- A. Processed food products in total agricultural and allied exports
- B. Basmati rice in total cereal exports
- C. Marine products in total agricultural exports
- D. Organic produce in total horticultural exports
Q8. Which one of the following institutions was recognised as the 'Global Centre of Excellence on Millets' during the International Year of Millets, 2023?
- A. ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad
- B. ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
- C. ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal
- D. ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi
Q9. In the Union Budget 2026-27, the allocation of about ₹1,30,561 crore was made to which one of the following?
- A. Department of Rural Development
- B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
- C. Department of Food and Public Distribution
- D. Department of Agricultural Research and Education
Q10. With reference to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) framework, consider the following statements:
1. MSP is fixed for 22 mandated crops on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
2. CACP reckons the A2+FL cost as the basis for return, while C2 is used as a benchmark reference cost.
3. The '1.5 times the cost of production' principle announced from 2018-19 is computed over the C2 cost.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- MSP is fixed for 22 mandated crops on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
- CACP reckons the A2+FL cost as the basis for return, while C2 is used as a benchmark reference cost.
- The '1.5 times the cost of production' principle announced from 2018-19 is computed over the C2 cost.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Which one of the following best describes the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)?
- A. A centrally sponsored scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector launched in 2014-15
- B. A central sector crop-insurance scheme for fruit and vegetable growers
- C. A scheme exclusively for creating cold-chain and food-processing infrastructure
- D. A minimum-support-price programme for horticultural produce