UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Government approves wheat exports and allows additional wheat product and sugar exports

Q1. With respect to the export approvals granted by the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) in February 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The February 2026 approval permitted export of 25 LMT of wheat and 5 LMT of wheat products, over and above quantities cleared in earlier tranches.
  2. Taking the earlier tranches together with the February 2026 approvals, cumulative permitted exports reached 50 LMT of wheat and 10 LMT of wheat products.
  3. The additional 5 LMT of sugar export approved alongside was meant for Sugar Season 2024-25.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The February 2026 decision approving additional wheat and sugar exports to stabilise domestic markets was taken by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
  • B. Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
  • C. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture
  • D. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Finance

Q3. With reference to the May 2022 prohibition on wheat exports from India, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. The prohibition was notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on 13 May 2022.
  2. It prohibited exports of wheat falling under HS code 1001.
  3. Consignments already registered with/handed over to Customs prior to the order were exempted from the ban.
  4. The prohibition was imposed under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. The May 2022 prohibition on wheat exports was operationalised through a notification issued by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
  • B. Food Corporation of India (FCI)
  • C. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
  • D. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

Q5. The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 is best described as the law that:

  • A. empowers the Central Government to prohibit, restrict or otherwise regulate the export and import of goods by notification in the Official Gazette
  • B. fixes the minimum support prices for notified agricultural commodities each season
  • C. governs procurement and distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries under the public distribution system
  • D. regulates domestic stocking and sale of essential commodities to prevent hoarding and profiteering

Q6. Which one of the following is the nodal agency for administering India's export and import policy, including the imposition of export prohibitions on commodities such as wheat?

  • A. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
  • B. Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)
  • C. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
  • D. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

Q7. Under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), how much wheat did the Government approve for offloading from the central pool in early 2023 to cool rising wheat and atta prices?

  • A. 30 LMT
  • B. 25 LMT
  • C. 50 LMT
  • D. 60 LMT

Q8. With reference to the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly described?

  1. It is used by the FCI to sell surplus wheat and rice from the central pool in the open market.
  2. Wheat under the scheme is sold to bulk buyers and flour millers through e-auctions.
  3. It is the scheme under which India exports all of its surplus central-pool wheat to foreign buyers.
  4. State Governments can be allotted wheat under the scheme for their own schemes without e-auction.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q9. Including the additional 5 LMT permitted alongside the February 2026 wheat approvals, what is the total quantity of sugar India has allowed for export during Sugar Season 2025-26?

  • A. 20 LMT
  • B. 15 LMT
  • C. 5 LMT
  • D. 60 LMT

Q10. Under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, a member instituting a new export prohibition or restriction on foodstuffs (under Article XI:2(a) of GATT 1994) is specifically required to:

  • A. give due consideration to the food security of importing members and give advance written notice to the Committee on Agriculture
  • B. obtain prior authorisation from the WTO Dispute Settlement Body before the measure takes effect
  • C. pay financial compensation to all affected exporting members within one year
  • D. convert the prohibition into an equivalent import tariff under the tariffication rule

Q11. With reference to the wheat Minimum Support Price (MSP), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The wheat MSP for RMS 2026-27 was raised to ₹2,585 per quintal from ₹2,425 per quintal in the previous season.
  2. This amounted to an increase of ₹160 per quintal over the previous season's MSP.
  3. The new MSP is lower than the CACP-projected C2 cost of production for wheat for that season.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to India's standing in global wheat and sugar markets, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India is the world's second-largest producer of wheat.
  2. India is the world's largest producer of sugar.
  3. India is the world's largest exporter of wheat.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3