UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Progress of Area Coverage under Rabi Crops as on 16th January 2026
Q1. The 'Normal Area' benchmark, against which the progressive rabi sown-area figures are tracked in the fortnightly bulletins, is computed by which one of the following?
- A. Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES), an attached office of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
- B. National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
- C. Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP)
- D. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI)
Q2. The fortnightly 'Progress of Area Coverage under Rabi Crops' bulletins are released by which one of the following?
- A. Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
- B. Department of Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
- C. Food Corporation of India (FCI)
- D. NITI Aayog
Q3. The office that collects and disseminates all-India season-wise agricultural statistics, including the progressive sown-area of Kharif, Rabi and Zaid crops, is:
- A. Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES), an attached office of the DA&FW
- B. India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
- C. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), under MoSPI
- D. Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP)
Q4. With reference to the Indian cropping calendar, consider the following statements:
1. Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the southwest monsoon (June–July) and harvested around September–October.
2. Rabi crops are sown in winter (October–December), largely on residual moisture and irrigation, and harvested around March–April.
3. Zaid is the principal winter cropping season that falls between the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the southwest monsoon (June–July) and harvested around September–October.
- Rabi crops are sown in winter (October–December), largely on residual moisture and irrigation, and harvested around March–April.
- Zaid is the principal winter cropping season that falls between the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. As per the DA&FW bulletin, what was the total rabi area coverage (in lakh hectare) as on 16th January 2026?
- A. 652.33 lakh ha
- B. 631.45 lakh ha
- C. 334.17 lakh ha
- D. 620.88 lakh ha
Q6. With reference to the rabi area coverage as on 16th January 2026 (over the corresponding period of the previous year), consider the following statements:
1. Wheat sown area increased by about 6.13 lakh hectare year-on-year.
2. Rabi rice sown area rose from about 20.98 to 25.58 lakh hectare.
3. Total pulses area increased by 4.66 lakh hectare year-on-year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Wheat sown area increased by about 6.13 lakh hectare year-on-year.
- Rabi rice sown area rose from about 20.98 to 25.58 lakh hectare.
- Total pulses area increased by 4.66 lakh hectare year-on-year.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. With reference to the Indian cropping calendar, consider the following crops:
1. Wheat
2. Gram
3. Mustard
4. Maize
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as rabi crops?
- Wheat
- Gram
- Mustard
- Maize
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 3 only
Q8. As per the DA&FW rabi progress bulletin, the 'Normal Area' benchmark for wheat is approximately:
- A. 312.35 lakh ha
- B. 334.17 lakh ha
- C. 328.04 lakh ha
- D. 296.00 lakh ha
Q9. The actual all-India southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall for 2025, which aided rabi soil moisture, was what percentage of the Long Period Average (LPA)?
- A. 96% of LPA
- B. 100% of LPA
- C. 108% of LPA
- D. 112% of LPA
Q10. The Long Range Forecast categorising the 2025 southwest monsoon as 'above normal', which augured well for rabi sowing, was issued by the India Meteorological Department functioning under which ministry?
- A. Ministry of Earth Sciences
- B. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
- C. Ministry of Science & Technology
- D. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
Q11. With reference to the Minimum Support Prices approved for rabi crops for the Marketing Season 2026-27, consider the following statements:
1. Among the rabi crops, safflower received the largest absolute increase in MSP.
2. Wheat MSP was raised by ₹250 per quintal to ₹6,200 per quintal.
3. Rapeseed & mustard MSP was raised to ₹6,200 per quintal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Among the rabi crops, safflower received the largest absolute increase in MSP.
- Wheat MSP was raised by ₹250 per quintal to ₹6,200 per quintal.
- Rapeseed & mustard MSP was raised to ₹6,200 per quintal.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Among the following rabi crops, which one carries the highest absolute Minimum Support Price per quintal for the Marketing Season 2026-27?
- A. Lentil (masur)
- B. Rapeseed & mustard
- C. Gram
- D. Wheat