UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Milk production in Gangetic plains has nosedived due to climate change

Q1. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), frequently cited in dairy heat-stress research, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A composite measure combining ambient temperature and humidity to estimate thermal stress on livestock
  • B. The ratio of an animal's core body temperature to the ambient air temperature
  • C. An index of milk fat-to-protein content used to grade milk quality
  • D. A measure of atmospheric heat energy trapped by greenhouse gases

Q2. The 'Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics', which report India's official annual milk-production figures, are released by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)
  • B. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
  • C. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
  • D. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Q3. In the context of Operation Flood, the 'Anand pattern' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A three-tier, producer-owned dairy cooperative structure linking village societies, district unions and a state federation
  • B. A cross-breeding programme pairing indigenous cows with exotic bulls to raise milk yield
  • C. A price-support mechanism guaranteeing a minimum procurement price for milk
  • D. A chilling-and-transport grid moving milk from villages to metropolitan markets

Q4. India's 15 agro-climatic zones, which include the Trans-Gangetic Plains region, were delineated under the aegis of which one of the following?

  • A. The Planning Commission of India
  • B. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, acting alone
  • C. The National Rainfed Area Authority
  • D. The Central Water Commission

Q5. The restructured National Livestock Mission (from 2021) is organised into how many sub-missions?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q6. Which of the following are correctly identified as FAO-reported impacts or findings on climate change and livestock/dairy?

  1. Heat stress can raise the incidence of diseases such as mastitis in dairy animals.
  2. In 2024 about 73% of the world's agricultural area was exposed to warming of at least 1.5°C above its baseline.
  3. Rising temperatures can increase livestock morbidity and mortality.
  4. Heat stress raises milk yield by improving feed-conversion efficiency.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The development and conservation of indigenous heat-tolerant bovine breeds such as Sahiwal and Gir is operationalised primarily through which programme/agency?

  • A. Rashtriya Gokul Mission, under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
  • B. National Mission on Natural Farming, under the Department of Agriculture
  • C. Operation Flood, run by the National Dairy Development Board
  • D. Krishi Vigyan Kendras, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research