UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Third Advance Estimates Reflect India’s Agricultural Strength; Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Approves Record Crop Projections

Q1. The Third Advance Estimates of production of major agricultural crops for 2025-26, projecting record foodgrain output, were compiled and released by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
  • C. Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • D. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Q2. With reference to the Third Advance Estimates for 2025-26, consider the following crops: 1. Maize 2. Groundnut 3. Cotton 4. Sugarcane Which of the above is/are correctly identified as having recorded an all-time high (record) production?

  1. Maize
  2. Groundnut
  3. Cotton
  4. Sugarcane
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q3. The Directorate of Economics and Statistics that prepares the Advance Estimates of crop production functions under which one of the following departments?

  • A. Department of Agricultural Research and Education
  • B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • C. Department of Food and Public Distribution
  • D. Department of Rural Development

Q4. Consider the following statements about the phased cycle of crop production estimates: 1. The First Advance Estimates cover Kharif crops only. 2. The Second Advance Estimates cover both Kharif and Rabi crops. 3. The Third Advance Estimates cover Kharif crops only. 4. The Final Estimates are the last in the sequence for a crop year. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The First Advance Estimates cover Kharif crops only.
  2. The Second Advance Estimates cover both Kharif and Rabi crops.
  3. The Third Advance Estimates cover Kharif crops only.
  4. The Final Estimates are the last in the sequence for a crop year.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q5. When the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is described as the 'nodal ministry' for the Advance Estimates of crop production, the term 'nodal ministry' most precisely means the ministry that:

  • A. fixes the minimum support prices for all crops
  • B. has primary administrative responsibility for coordinating and releasing the estimates
  • C. provides the entire financial outlay for agriculture in the states
  • D. directly procures foodgrains from farmers

Q6. Consider the following departments: 1. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare 2. Department of Agricultural Research and Education 3. Department of Food and Public Distribution 4. Department of Fertilizers Which of the above is/are correctly identified as a constituent department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (which released the estimates)?

  1. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  2. Department of Agricultural Research and Education
  3. Department of Food and Public Distribution
  4. Department of Fertilizers
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements about Advance Estimates of crop production: 1. They are released in a phased manner during the crop year. 2. They are provisional and subject to revision in the Final Estimates. 3. They are used for policy and planning purposes. 4. They statutorily fix the minimum support prices of crops. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. They are released in a phased manner during the crop year.
  2. They are provisional and subject to revision in the Final Estimates.
  3. They are used for policy and planning purposes.
  4. They statutorily fix the minimum support prices of crops.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q8. Estimates of national income (GDP) are released by the National Statistical Office, whereas the Advance Estimates of foodgrain production are the responsibility of the:

  • A. NITI Aayog
  • B. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • C. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q9. The First Advance Estimates in the crop-year cycle cover only those crops that are sown with the onset of the south-west monsoon. These crops belong to which cropping season?

  • A. Rabi
  • B. Kharif
  • C. Zaid
  • D. Both Rabi and Zaid

Q10. Indian agriculture is conventionally divided into how many principal cropping seasons?

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

Q11. The Third Advance Estimates for the preceding crop year 2024-25 — which establish the release as a recurring annual exercise — were likewise brought out by which Ministry?

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