UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Government Boosts Fertilizer Security with record 73% Domestic Supply in 2025
Q1. Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme, the per-kilogram subsidy is fixed separately for how many nutrients?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q2. The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme came into effect for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers in which year?
- A. 1992
- B. 2005
- C. 2010
- D. 2015
Q3. Under the One Nation One Fertilizer scheme, the term 'Bharat' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A new high-efficiency fertilizer grade developed indigenously
- B. The single common brand name under which all subsidised fertilizers are marketed nationwide
- C. A public sector company created to distribute subsidised fertilizers
- D. A rating certifying domestically manufactured fertilizers
Q4. Under the One Nation One Fertilizer scheme, every company's subsidised fertilizer must be marketed under how many brand name(s)?
- A. Only one
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Four
Q5. With reference to Nano fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:
1. Commercial production of Nano Urea began in 2021, whereas Nano DAP was notified under the Fertilizer Control Order subsequently.
2. Liquid Nano DAP contains 8 percent nitrogen and 16 percent phosphorus.
3. One 500 ml bottle of Nano Urea is officially treated as equivalent to a 50 kg bag of conventional granular urea.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Commercial production of Nano Urea began in 2021, whereas Nano DAP was notified under the Fertilizer Control Order subsequently.
- Liquid Nano DAP contains 8 percent nitrogen and 16 percent phosphorus.
- One 500 ml bottle of Nano Urea is officially treated as equivalent to a 50 kg bag of conventional granular urea.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. Nano DAP was permitted for commercial sale in India after being notified under which one of the following?
- A. The Insecticides Act, 1968
- B. The Fertilizer Control Order, 1985
- C. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955
- D. The Seeds Act, 1966
Q7. PM-PRANAM was approved in 2023 by which one of the following bodies?
- A. NITI Aayog
- B. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
- C. The Cabinet Committee on Security
- D. The GST Council
Q8. Under PM-PRANAM, a State/UT's reduction in chemical fertilizer consumption is measured against its average consumption over the preceding how many years?
- A. 2 years
- B. 3 years
- C. 4 years
- D. 5 years
Q9. In the context of urea pricing in India, the 'statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price' means which one of the following?
- A. A legally fixed retail price at which urea is sold to farmers irrespective of its cost of production, the difference being paid to manufacturers as subsidy
- B. A ceiling price revised each season by manufacturers in line with international gas prices
- C. A retail price that varies from State to State depending on freight costs
- D. The factory-gate price recovered by urea units before subsidy
Q10. The 'record 73% in 2025' figure highlighted by the Department of Fertilizers denotes which one of the following?
- A. The share of India's total 2025 fertilizer requirement met by domestic production
- B. The share of India's urea requirement alone met by domestic production in 2025
- C. The rise in total fertilizer production in 2025 over 2024
- D. The share of raw-material requirement met through domestic mining in 2025
Q11. The long-term supply agreement concluded with Maaden of Saudi Arabia for 2025-26 exclusively concerns which one of the following fertilizers?
- A. Muriate of Potash (MOP)
- B. Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)
- C. Urea
- D. Rock phosphate
Q12. The New Investment Policy (NIP)-2012 and the resulting expansion of indigenous urea capacity are operationalised by which one of the following?
- A. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- B. The Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
- C. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
- D. The Ministry of Cooperation