UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Government of India and IFAD launch new eight-year strategy with Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) from 2026 to 2033 to strengthen rural economy
Q1. As per the latest Governing Council, how many member states does the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have?
Q2. In the context of the India–IFAD partnership framework launched in 2026, what does the acronym 'COSOP' stand for?
- A. Country Strategic Opportunities Programme
- B. Cooperative Strategy for Output and Productivity
- C. Country Operational Sustainability and Outreach Plan
- D. Coordinated Smallholder Opportunities Pact
Q3. With reference to the India-IFAD Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2026-2033 launched at Bharat Mandapam, consider the following statements in comparison with its immediate predecessor COSOP (2018-2024):
1. Unlike the predecessor cycle, the new COSOP extends the country strategy horizon to eight years to align with India's medium-term planning.
2. The new COSOP retains a single strategic objective of making smallholder food and agri systems remunerative, sustainable and resilient, as in the predecessor.
3. Alongside the new COSOP launch, IFAD signed a strategic partnership agreement with NABARD on rural finance and agri-innovation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- Unlike the predecessor cycle, the new COSOP extends the country strategy horizon to eight years to align with India's medium-term planning.
- The new COSOP retains a single strategic objective of making smallholder food and agri systems remunerative, sustainable and resilient, as in the predecessor.
- Alongside the new COSOP launch, IFAD signed a strategic partnership agreement with NABARD on rural finance and agri-innovation.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. With reference to the IFAD-NABARD strategic partnership agreement signed on the sidelines of the COSOP 2026-2033 launch and the COSOP itself, consider the following as stated focus areas or pillars:
1. Strengthening rural finance systems
2. Supporting innovation in agricultural and allied sectors
3. Enhancing climate resilience of rural communities
4. Achieving the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a focus of the new arrangement?
- Strengthening rural finance systems
- Supporting innovation in agricultural and allied sectors
- Enhancing climate resilience of rural communities
- Achieving the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q5. As of the launch of the COSOP 2026-2033, approximately how many rural development projects have been supported jointly by the Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) since the inception of the partnership?
Q6. With reference to the IFAD–India Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2018–2024, how many strategic objectives did the framework articulate?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Four
Q7. With reference to the IFAD–India Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2018–2024, consider the following statements:
1. Its overarching goal was aligned with the Government of India's strategy of doubling farmers' income by 2022.
2. It articulated a single strategic objective centred on making smallholder food and agricultural production systems remunerative, sustainable and resilient.
3. It explicitly excluded women and tribal communities from its target beneficiary groups.
4. Self-Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations and cooperatives were prioritised as grassroots platforms for delivery.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Its overarching goal was aligned with the Government of India's strategy of doubling farmers' income by 2022.
- It articulated a single strategic objective centred on making smallholder food and agricultural production systems remunerative, sustainable and resilient.
- It explicitly excluded women and tribal communities from its target beneficiary groups.
- Self-Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations and cooperatives were prioritised as grassroots platforms for delivery.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q8. With reference to international organisations dealing with food and agriculture, consider the following pairings of organisation and the city where its headquarters is located:
1. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) — Rome
2. World Food Programme (WFP) — Rome
3. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) — Geneva
4. CGIAR System Organization — Montpellier
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) — Rome
- World Food Programme (WFP) — Rome
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) — Geneva
- CGIAR System Organization — Montpellier
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q9. Consider the following international bodies: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), and CGIAR System Organization. How many of them are specialized agencies/organs of the United Nations headquartered in Rome?
- A. Only one
- B. Only two
- C. Only three
- D. All four