UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India’s Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

Q1. With reference to the procurement of pulses under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Procurement of Tur, Urad and Masoor at MSP under the Mission is carried out by cooperative central agencies such as NAFED and NCCF rather than by the Food Corporation of India.
  2. The assured procurement is open to any farmer who brings these pulses to a regulated market, without prior registration or agreement.
  3. Under the component used for this procurement, the government pays farmers the gap between MSP and the market price without taking physical possession of the produce.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses pairs higher MSPs for Tur, Urad and Masoor with a commitment of assured government procurement, in order to draw farmers towards these crops.
  2. A Minimum Support Price gives farmers effective price protection mainly where a public agency actually stands ready to buy the crop at that price.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Growing a pulse crop in the rabi season on rice-fallow land raises the cropping intensity of that land.
  2. Pulses, being legumes, fix atmospheric nitrogen through bacteria in their root nodules and so improve soil fertility.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. A farmer who has grown only cereals for many years begins rotating a pulse crop with the cereal. Which of the following outcomes are most likely?

  1. A reduced requirement of synthetic nitrogenous fertiliser for the succeeding cereal crop
  2. A lower greenhouse-gas footprint for the cropping system, owing to reduced use of manufactured fertiliser
  3. A break in continuous cereal monoculture, diversifying the farm's cropping pattern
  4. The complete elimination of any need for fertiliser application in the succeeding cereal crop
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. Consider the following data on pulses in India. In 2024–25, area was 277.20 lakh ha, yield 926 kg/ha and production 256.83 lakh tonnes. In 2025–26, area was 286.46 lakh ha, yield 957 kg/ha and production 274.09 lakh tonnes. The Mission targets an area of 310 lakh ha, a yield of 1,130 kg/ha and production of about 350 lakh tonnes by 2030–31. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Neither the targeted area expansion alone (at the 2025–26 yield) nor the targeted yield rise alone (on the 2025–26 area) would be enough to reach the production target.
  2. The proportional increase targeted in yield is larger than the proportional increase targeted in area.
  3. The rise in production between 2024–25 and 2025–26 came entirely from expansion of the area under pulses.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q6. NITI Aayog has recommended that pulses be included in the Public Distribution System and Mid-Day Meals. If this is implemented on a large scale, which of the following are likely consequences?

  1. Higher protein intake among children and poor households that rely on these programmes
  2. Lower overall domestic demand for pulses, which would reduce India's import requirement
  3. A stable institutional outlet for pulses procured at MSP by central agencies
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q7. Consider the following facts. India is the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses. In 2025–26, India's pulses import bill was about ₹31,794 crore, 31.52% lower in value than the previous year, while pulse exports were worth about USD 970 million, up 13.40%. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. The fall in the import bill was caused entirely by a decline in the quantity of pulses imported.
  2. India became a net exporter of pulses by value in 2025–26.
  3. Being the largest producer of a commodity does not by itself make a country self-sufficient in it.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only