UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — OILSEED AND PALM OIL PRODUCTION

Q1. Consider the following interventions: 1. A 5-year rolling seed plan operated online through the SATHI portal 2. Establishment of 65 new seed hubs in the public sector 3. Payment to farmers, through Direct Benefit Transfer, of the gap between a formula-based assured price and the market price of produce 4. Identification of over 600 value chain clusters covering more than 10 lakh hectares annually Which of the above are correctly identified as components of the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds)?

  1. A 5-year rolling seed plan operated online through the SATHI portal
  2. Establishment of 65 new seed hubs in the public sector
  3. Payment to farmers, through Direct Benefit Transfer, of the gap between a formula-based assured price and the market price of produce
  4. Identification of over 600 value chain clusters covering more than 10 lakh hectares annually
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q2. The value chain clusters taken up under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds are spread across how many districts of the country?

  • A. 261 districts
  • B. 347 districts
  • C. 415 districts
  • D. 512 districts

Q3. Consider the following pairs of feature and mission: 1. Viability Price derived from the last five years' average crude palm oil price adjusted with the wholesale price index — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm 2. Five-year rolling seed plan coordinated through the SATHI portal — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds 3. Target of 28 lakh tonnes of crude palm oil by 2029-30 — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds 4. Bringing an additional 40 lakh hectares under cultivation by using rice and potato fallows and promoting intercropping — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Viability Price derived from the last five years' average crude palm oil price adjusted with the wholesale price index — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm
  2. Five-year rolling seed plan coordinated through the SATHI portal — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds
  3. Target of 28 lakh tonnes of crude palm oil by 2029-30 — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds
  4. Bringing an additional 40 lakh hectares under cultivation by using rice and potato fallows and promoting intercropping — National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) with the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds): 1. NMEO-Oil Palm was sanctioned with a larger total financial outlay than NMEO-Oilseeds. 2. NMEO-Oil Palm received Union Cabinet approval more than four years before NMEO-Oilseeds did. 3. The target of 25.45 million tonnes of domestic edible oil production by 2030-31 is a target of the two missions taken together, and not of NMEO-Oilseeds alone. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. NMEO-Oil Palm was sanctioned with a larger total financial outlay than NMEO-Oilseeds.
  2. NMEO-Oil Palm received Union Cabinet approval more than four years before NMEO-Oilseeds did.
  3. The target of 25.45 million tonnes of domestic edible oil production by 2030-31 is a target of the two missions taken together, and not of NMEO-Oilseeds alone.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Which one of the following has been assessed as holding the largest share of India's potential area for oil palm cultivation?

  • A. The North Eastern Region comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura
  • B. The coastal and delta districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
  • C. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands together with the Lakshadweep group
  • D. The Konkan and Malnad tracts of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka

Q6. The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm was brought into being as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by which authority, and when?

  • A. By approval of the Union Cabinet in August 2021
  • B. By approval of the Union Cabinet in October 2024
  • C. By approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in August 2018
  • D. By resolution of the National Development Council in June 2022

Q7. The oilseed production estimates placed before Parliament in 2026 and the two edible oil missions are operationalised at the Centre by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • B. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • C. The Department of Agricultural Research and Education, which functions as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
  • D. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q8. Of India's total oil palm area of about 6.20 lakh hectares reported as of November 2025, nearly all crude palm oil output is contributed by which one of the following pairs of States?

  • A. Kerala and Tamil Nadu
  • B. Odisha and Chhattisgarh
  • C. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
  • D. Assam and Mizoram

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding India's edible oil imports: 1. Palm oil forms the single largest component of India's edible oil imports and is sourced mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia. 2. Soybean oil is the second largest imported edible oil and is sourced mainly from Argentina and Brazil. 3. Sunflower oil imports come mainly from Ukraine and Russia. 4. Imports meet roughly one-fourth of India's domestic edible oil demand, the rest being met from domestic production. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Palm oil forms the single largest component of India's edible oil imports and is sourced mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia.
  2. Soybean oil is the second largest imported edible oil and is sourced mainly from Argentina and Brazil.
  3. Sunflower oil imports come mainly from Ukraine and Russia.
  4. Imports meet roughly one-fourth of India's domestic edible oil demand, the rest being met from domestic production.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q10. The 432 high-yielding varieties and hybrids of the nine annual oilseeds notified between 2014 and 2025 were developed through the research system of which one of the following?

  • A. The National Seeds Corporation Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • B. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the autonomous body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education
  • C. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, the statutory body set up under a 2001 Act
  • D. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the apex development financial institution for rural India

Q11. Under the price assurance mechanism for oil palm growers, the 'Viability Price' is fixed on which one of the following bases?

  • A. The last five years' annual average crude palm oil price, adjusted with the wholesale price index and multiplied by 14.3%
  • B. The last three years' annual average crude palm oil price, adjusted with the consumer price index and multiplied by 14.3%
  • C. The minimum support price declared for the nine annual oilseeds each season, converted to a fresh fruit bunch equivalent
  • D. The prevailing international crude palm oil price of the preceding month, adjusted with the rupee-dollar exchange rate

Q12. Which one of the following was the principal centrally sponsored programme for oilseeds and oil palm operating from 2018-19, on which the later edible oil missions were built?

  • A. The Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize
  • B. The National Food Security Mission – Oilseeds and Oil Palm
  • C. The Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Pulses
  • D. The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Oilseeds Component