UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — World Bank aid for food godowns

Q1. The Food Corporation of India, which is the principal agency for procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains for the Central Pool, functions administratively under which one of the following Departments of the Union Government?

  • A. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • B. Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • C. Department of Rural Development under the Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Department of Cooperation under the Ministry of Cooperation

Q2. Under the 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector' approved in May 2023, the decentralised godown and allied agri-infrastructure is created primarily at the level of which one of the following institutions?

  • A. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
  • B. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
  • C. Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
  • D. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

Q3. The Food Corporation of India, the body to which the World Bank on-lent the bulk of its 1977 Second Foodgrain Storage Project credit, was originally constituted under which one of the following enactments?

  • A. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955
  • B. The Food Corporations Act, 1964
  • C. The National Food Security Act, 2013
  • D. The Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962

Q4. With reference to the World Bank's Second Foodgrain Storage Project (1977) and the 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector' (2023), consider the following statements: 1. The 1977 project was financed largely through an IDA credit on-lent to the Food Corporation of India, whereas the 2023 plan relies on convergence of existing Government of India schemes rather than fresh multilateral borrowing. 2. Storage facilities under the 1977 project were created principally at FCI/CWC/SWC depots, whereas storage under the 2023 plan is created principally at the village-level Primary Agricultural Credit Societies. 3. Both the 1977 project and the 2023 plan earmarked a dedicated component for procuring bulk-transport railway wagons for Indian Railways. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 1977 project was financed largely through an IDA credit on-lent to the Food Corporation of India, whereas the 2023 plan relies on convergence of existing Government of India schemes rather than fresh multilateral borrowing.
  2. Storage facilities under the 1977 project were created principally at FCI/CWC/SWC depots, whereas storage under the 2023 plan is created principally at the village-level Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.
  3. Both the 1977 project and the 2023 plan earmarked a dedicated component for procuring bulk-transport railway wagons for Indian Railways.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
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