UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Strengthens Global Food Security: FCI Signs Five-Year Rice Supply Agreement with World Food Programme

Question 1

With reference to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in February 2026, consider the following:
1. The rice to be supplied may contain up to 25 per cent broken grain.
2. The agreement has a tenure of five years and is extendable by mutual consent.
3. The total quantity of rice to be supplied under the agreement is 2,00,000 metric tonnes.
4. The price of ₹2,800 per quintal is fixed and unalterable for the entire five-year tenure of the agreement.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 2

With reference to the 2026 FCI–WFP rice supply arrangement, consider the following statements:
1. The rice supplied is intended for WFP's global humanitarian feeding operations.
2. Under the arrangement, the price of rice is to be agreed upon on an annual basis.
3. The arrangement was signed in New Delhi in February 2026.
4. FCI, which is a party to the arrangement, functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 4 only

Question 3

How many statutory objectives are assigned to the Food Corporation of India under the Food Corporations Act, 1964?

Accepted Answer

Three

Answer

Two

Answer

Four

Answer

Five

Question 4

In the context of foodgrain management by the Food Corporation of India, the 'Decentralised Procurement (DCP)' scheme refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

An arrangement under which participating State Governments procure, store and distribute foodgrains at MSP on behalf of FCI

Answer

An arrangement under which FCI directly operates procurement depots in every district of the country

Answer

An arrangement under which private traders procure grain at MSP and resell it to FCI

Answer

An arrangement under which surplus grain is auctioned to bulk buyers through commodity exchanges

Question 5

With reference to the World Food Programme (WFP), consider the following statements:
1. It was established in the year 1961.
2. It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
3. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the year 2020.
4. It is a UN agency dedicated primarily to setting the rules governing international agricultural trade.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

3 only

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Question 6

With reference to the origins of the World Food Programme (WFP), consider the following statements:
1. Though formally established in 1961, WFP launched its first programmes in 1963.
2. WFP was created following a proposal made at the 1960 Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
3. WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize in the very year in which it was established.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

With reference to India's food grain assistance channelled through the World Food Programme, consider the following:
1. India committed humanitarian wheat assistance to Afghanistan in tranches of 50,000 metric tonnes each.
2. India's wheat consignments for Afghanistan were milled and fortified locally within Afghanistan into wheat flour.
3. India's wheat commitment for Afghanistan first began in the year 2015.
4. The 2026 FCI–WFP rice arrangement moves India from ad-hoc grain grants towards an institutional, multi-year supply.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 8

In the context of the food assistance India is set to supply through the World Food Programme, the term 'fortified rice' refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Rice enriched with micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12

Answer

Rice that has been parboiled to enhance its shelf life during long-distance transport

Answer

Rice milled to contain up to 25 per cent broken grain for humanitarian use

Answer

Rice sealed in tamper-proof reinforced containers for delivery to conflict zones

Question 9

With reference to the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) operated by the Food Corporation of India, consider the following statements:
1. Under it, FCI sells foodgrains in the open market at predetermined reserve prices.
2. It aims to moderate open-market prices, especially during the lean season.
3. FCI conducts these sales through weekly e-auctions on a commodity exchange platform.
4. The foodgrains under it are sold exclusively to State Governments and never to private bulk buyers.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

3 and 4 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Question 10

With reference to buffer stocking and open-market disposal of foodgrains by the Food Corporation of India, consider the following statements:
1. Under OMSS, FCI maintains a larger additional emergency reserve for rice (30 lakh tonnes) than for wheat (20 lakh tonnes).
2. For 1 July, the prescribed buffer norm for rice is lower than that prescribed for wheat.
3. OMSS is primarily a mechanism through which FCI procures foodgrains from the open market to build up buffer stocks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 11

Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) comprises how many targets in all, counting both its outcome targets and its means-of-implementation targets?

Accepted Answer

Eight

Answer

Five

Answer

Six

Answer

Ten

Question 12

With reference to India's engagement with the United Nations Rome-based agencies on food security, consider the following statements:
1. The three UN Rome-based agencies are the FAO, IFAD and WFP.
2. India is associated with the 'Group of Friends' for better cooperation among the Rome-based agencies.
3. The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report is published jointly by only the three Rome-based agencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Strengthens Global Food Security: FCI Signs Five-Year Rice Supply Agreement with World Food Programme

Q3. How many statutory objectives are assigned to the Food Corporation of India under the Food Corporations Act, 1964?

Q4. In the context of foodgrain management by the Food Corporation of India, the 'Decentralised Procurement (DCP)' scheme refers to which one of the following?

Q8. In the context of the food assistance India is set to supply through the World Food Programme, the term 'fortified rice' refers to which one of the following?

Q11. Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) comprises how many targets in all, counting both its outcome targets and its means-of-implementation targets?