UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Government Directs Over ₹1.77 Lakh Crore Toward Fertilizers Subsidies in 2024-25; Highlights Surge in Balanced Nutrient Adoption and DBT Transparency

Q1. Under the 'DBT in Fertilizers' system, the expression 'Direct Benefit Transfer' refers specifically to which one of the following?

  • A. Release of 100% subsidy to fertilizer companies only after actual sale to farmers, authenticated through Aadhaar-enabled PoS devices at retail shops
  • B. Direct credit of the fertilizer subsidy amount into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers
  • C. Direct physical supply of subsidised fertilizers by the Department of Fertilizers to farmers, bypassing retailers
  • D. Transfer of the subsidy to State Governments, which then disburse it to farmers

Q2. The annual/bi-annual Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers are approved by which one of the following?

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

Q3. The acronym 'PM-PRANAM', associated with sustainable fertilizer use, expands to which one of the following?

  • A. PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother-Earth
  • B. PM Plan for Reduction of Agro-chemicals and Nutrient Augmentation Mission
  • C. Promotion of Resource-efficient Agriculture and Natural Augmentation Mission
  • D. Pradhan Mantri Programme for Restoration of Arable land, Nutrients and Manure

Q4. The One Nation One Fertiliser scheme ('Bharat' brand) and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSK) are operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
  • B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • C. Ministry of Cooperation
  • D. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development

Q5. In the context of balanced fertilisation, 'Nano Urea' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A liquid nitrogenous fertilizer with nano-scale nitrogen particles, applied as a foliar spray to supplement basal conventional urea
  • B. A granular slow-release form of urea coated with neem oil to retard nitrogen loss
  • C. A nano-scale formulation of Di-Ammonium Phosphate supplying phosphorus to crops
  • D. A sprayable micronutrient mixture of zinc and boron used to fortify soils

Q6. The Department of Fertilizers functions under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. How many Departments in total constitute this Ministry?

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

Q7. The Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985 — invoked to act against hoarding and black-marketing of fertilizers — derives its authority primarily from which one of the following parent legislations?

  • A. Essential Commodities Act, 1955
  • B. Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980
  • C. Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968
  • D. Consumer Protection Act, 1986
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