UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Lays Foundation Stone of ₹80 Crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme

Q1. Under the Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme, what does a 'Central Processing Centre (CPC)' precisely denote?

  • A. A single integrated facility for processing, branding and marketing of agarwood that lets farmers realise the full value of their produce by cutting out middlemen
  • B. A wild-agarwood sanctuary where only naturally infected trees may be harvested and no cultivation is ever permitted
  • C. A CITES port-of-exit through which all agarwood consignments must exclusively be cleared before export
  • D. A price-stabilisation depot that procures agarwood only at a fixed minimum support price fixed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Q2. With reference to the ₹80 crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme, consider the following statements: 1. It has a total outlay of ₹80 crore. 2. It establishes two Central Processing Centres, one in Golaghat (Assam) and one in Tripura. 3. It is implemented under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). 4. It aims to double (a 100% increase in) Tripura's agarwood production capacity. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It has a total outlay of ₹80 crore.
  2. It establishes two Central Processing Centres, one in Golaghat (Assam) and one in Tripura.
  3. It is implemented under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
  4. It aims to double (a 100% increase in) Tripura's agarwood production capacity.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q3. Aquilaria malaccensis, the agarwood species central to this scheme, is regulated in international trade under which one of the following?

  • A. CITES Appendix I
  • B. CITES Appendix II
  • C. CITES Appendix III
  • D. It is not listed under any CITES Appendix

Q4. Under India's current CITES export regime for agarwood, what is the annual export quota fixed for agarwood sourced from the wild?

  • A. 0 kg
  • B. 1,500 kg
  • C. 25,000 kg
  • D. 1,51,080 kg

Q5. With reference to India's revised CITES export quotas for agarwood, consider the following statements: 1. The annual export quota for agarwood chips and powder has been raised to about 1.5 lakh kg. 2. The annual export quota for agarwood oil has been raised to 7,050 kg. 3. The revised export quotas remain in force for the period 2024–2027. 4. The revised quotas apply uniformly to both wild-sourced and cultivated agarwood. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The annual export quota for agarwood chips and powder has been raised to about 1.5 lakh kg.
  2. The annual export quota for agarwood oil has been raised to 7,050 kg.
  3. The revised export quotas remain in force for the period 2024–2027.
  4. The revised quotas apply uniformly to both wild-sourced and cultivated agarwood.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. In the context of India's regulated agarwood trade, an 'export quota' notified under CITES most precisely refers to:

  • A. The maximum quantity of the specimen a country may export in a year without further CITES review
  • B. The minimum quantity a country guarantees to supply annually to importing nations
  • C. The maximum quantity importing countries are permitted to purchase from all global sources
  • D. The ceiling on the quantity that may be harvested for domestic consumption within the country

Q7. Which one of the following is the statutory regional planning body for the North Eastern Region, functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region?

  • A. NITI Aayog
  • B. North Eastern Council
  • C. North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi)
  • D. Inter-State Council