UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Record Food and Horticulture output amid Declining Average Landholdings

Q1. With reference to the Agriculture Census in India, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It has been conducted at five-yearly (quinquennial) intervals since 1970-71.
2. The average size of operational holdings declined from 2.28 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.08 hectares in 2015-16.
3. It is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
4. Operational holdings below one hectare are classified as 'marginal' holdings.

• A. 1, 2 and 4
• B. 1, 3 and 4
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. In the Agriculture Census, the term 'operational holding' is best described as which one of the following?

• A. All land used wholly or partly for agricultural production and operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others, irrespective of title or ownership
• B. Only the land owned and recorded in the name of a single household as per village revenue records
• C. The total cultivable land owned and self-cultivated by a farmer, excluding any land leased in
• D. A single contiguous parcel of cultivated land situated within one revenue village

Q3. With reference to the Third Advance Estimates (2024-25) of crop production, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Total foodgrain production is estimated at about 357.7 million tonnes, an increase of over 25 million tonnes from the previous year.
2. Total horticulture production, estimated at about 369 million tonnes, exceeded the foodgrain output for the year.
3. Among foodgrains, wheat recorded a higher production than rice in 2024-25.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Advance Estimates of production of major agricultural crops, including the Third Advance Estimates for 2024-25, are released by which one of the following?

• A. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• B. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• C. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
• D. Ministry of Food Processing Industries

Q5. The rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the agriculture sector into the two umbrella schemes — PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana — was approved by which one of the following?

• A. The Union Cabinet
• B. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
• C. NITI Aayog
• D. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on its own

Q6. Under PM-KISAN, the annual income support of ₹6,000 per eligible farmer family is disbursed in how many equal instalments?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Six

Q7. With reference to PM-KISAN, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It is a Central Sector Scheme funded entirely by the Government of India.
2. The 19th instalment, released in February 2025, transferred over ₹22,000 crore to more than 9.8 crore farmers.
3. The income support under the scheme is disbursed as a single annual payment to each beneficiary.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the maximum insurance premium payable by a farmer for Kharif food crops and oilseeds is which one of the following?

• A. 2% of the sum insured
• B. 1.5% of the sum insured
• C. 5% of the sum insured
• D. 50% of the sum insured

Q9. With reference to the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It has been implemented since 2013-14 as a programme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana / PM-RKVY.
2. It operates in the Original Green Revolution States of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
3. It seeks to divert area under water-guzzling paddy to alternative crops such as pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals.
4. It is implemented as a component of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 4 only
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. Despite shrinking average landholdings, India recorded its highest-ever foodgrain output in 2024-25. Which one of the following crops accounted for the single largest share of this foodgrain production?

• A. Rice
• B. Wheat
• C. Maize
• D. Pulses