Blue Economy of Odisha under PMMSY

The question is asking about the raw materials that can be used for the production of biofuels according to India's National Policy on Biofuels. Cassava is a starch-rich root vegetable that can be used to produce biofuel. Damaged wheat grains, which are unfit for human consumption, can also be used to produce biofuel. Groundnut seeds are not mentioned in the National Policy on Biofuels as a raw material for biofuel production. Horse gram is also not mentioned in the National Policy on Biofuels as a raw material for biofuel production. Rotten potatoes, which are unfit for human consumption, can be used to produce biofuel. Sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and it is grown commercially for sugar production. It can also be used to produce biofuel. Therefore, according to India's National Policy on Biofuels, Cassava, Damaged wheat grains, Rotten potatoes, and Sugar beet can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels.

Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditures aimed at improving the agricultural sector, including infrastructure development, technological improvements, and providing institutional support. Statement 1 is incorrect: Fixing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a policy decision, not an investment. While it affects the agricultural sector, it is not a direct public investment in terms of capital expenditure. Statement 2 is correct: The computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) is a public investment because it involves government funds directed towards modernizing agricultural credit systems, enhancing efficiency, and accessibility for farmers. Statement 3 is correct: Social Capital development is a public investment in agriculture, as it involves building networks and community-based resources that help farmers improve productivity and access to resources. Statement 4 is incorrect: Free electricity supply is more of a subsidy, not a direct public investment in the form of capital expenditure. Statement 5 is incorrect: Waiver of agricultural loans is a policy measure aimed at alleviating farmer debt but does not qualify as an investment in infrastructure or capital. Statement 6 is correct: The setting up of cold storage facilities by the government is a direct public investment aimed at improving agricultural infrastructure and reducing post-harvest losses. Hence, option C is the correct answer.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations guides its global work through a strategic framework aimed at supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The core organizing principle of this framework is the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems to achieve the "Four Betters". The "Four Betters" are officially defined as:
1. Better Production: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
2. Better Nutrition: Ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving access to healthy diets.
3. Better Environment: Protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
4. Better Life: Promoting inclusive economic growth and reducing inequalities, leaving no one behind. The Blue Transformation is a specific FAO vision and programmatic priority area that aims to secure and maximize the contribution of aquatic food systems (fisheries and aquaculture) to achieve these overarching "Four Betters". Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they include fabricated pillars such as "better ocean", "better coral reefs", "better estuaries", or "better mangrove vegetation", which are not part of the FAO's official strategic framework. Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme explicitly promotes Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) rather than monoculture. It integrates multi-cropping and rotational cropping with allied activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, and agro-forestry to diversify income and build resilience. Official guidelines actively discourage single-cropping (monoculture) systems. Statement 2 is Incorrect: As the name implies, RAD targets rainfed areas (regions lacking assured irrigation) to build resilience against climate variability. It does not focus on expanding water-intensive crops like rice in already irrigated regions. Statement 3 is Correct: The core objective of RAD is to make rainfed agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative, and climate-resilient. By diversifying income sources through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), RAD aims to minimize the risks associated with climatic variability (such as droughts, heat stress, or floods) and crop failure, ensuring stable livelihoods for farmers. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, short-term credit support is provided to farmers for purposes that directly support agricultural activities and the farm household. Statement 1 is correct. The KCC scheme provides working capital for the maintenance of farm assets, which includes things like irrigation, fertilizers, and labor costs. Statement 2 is incorrect. The KCC scheme does not cover the purchase of capital-intensive assets such as combine harvesters, tractors, and mini trucks. These are typically financed through long-term loans, not short-term credit. Statement 3 is correct. The KCC scheme provides credit for consumption requirements of the farm household, like daily needs and family expenditures. Statement 4 is correct. The KCC scheme can also be used for post-harvest expenses, including costs for storage, transportation, and marketing of produce. Statement 5 is incorrect. The construction of a family house and setting up of village cold storage facilities are not covered under the KCC scheme, as these are typically considered long-term capital expenditures. The list of eligible activities for KCC are:
- To meet the short-term credit requirements for cultivation of crops
- Post-harvest expenses, - Produce marketing loan - Consumption requirements of farmer household. - Working capital for maintenance of farm assets band activities allied to agriculture like dairy animals, inland fishery etc. - Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities like pumpsets, sprayers, dairy animals etc. Hence, option B is the correct answer.

* The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) announces the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain staple crops and some key commercial crops. * Barley, Finger millet, Groundnut, and Sesamum are crops for which MSP is typically announced by the government. These are important food or oilseed crops and support farmer income. * Areca nut and Coffee are considered cash crops and MSP is generally not announced for them. * Turmeric can be classified as a spice crop, and MSP announcements for spices is not very common, Therefore, the most options for which CCEA announces MSP are 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a government-sponsored crop insurance scheme. Statement 1 is Incorrect: Under this scheme, farmers have to pay a uniform premium of 2% for all Kharif crops, 1.5% for all Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. The premium rate is not uniform for all crops in all seasons. Statement 2 is Correct: The scheme does cover post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains. Hence, option B is the correct answer.

✅ Statement I: Correct
*RGM aims to conserve indigenous breeds, benefiting small farmers and landless labourers by improving animal productivity.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*Launched in December 2014, the mission promotes scientific breeding, genetic upgradation, and conservation of indigenous breeds.* Correct Answer: (C) Both Statements I and II are correct.

* The terms "kulyavapa" and "dronavapa" denote measurements of land used in ancient India. * Kulyavapa: This refers to the area of land required to sow one "kula" of grain. The exact amount of land a kula represented could vary depending on the region and type of grain. * Dronavapa: This signified the area required to sow one "drona" of grain. Similar to kula, the size of a drona could also vary based on location and grain type.

100 Million Farmers: The 100 Million Farmers initiative, launched by The World Economic Forum (WEF), seeks to drive a global movement focused on accelerating the adoption of regenerative agriculture and climate adaptation practices at the farm level. This initiative aims to transition towards sustainable food and water systems. It focuses on achieving net-zero carbon emissions, enhancing nature positivity, and improving farmers' resilience to climate change and market fluctuations. _Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:_ *  Option B: This describes organizations promoting organic animal husbandry, not the '100 Million Farmers' initiative. *  Option C: This refers to a blockchain-based platform for fertilizer trading, which is not the core focus of '100 Million Farmers.' *  Option D: While farmer collectives are important, '100 Million Farmers has a broader scope encompassing sustainable practices and climate resilience.

Statement 1 is correct as PMMSY has been implemented since 2020-21. Statement 2 is incorrect; PMMSY is implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, not the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Statement 3 is correct as the scheme aims to strengthen the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.

The article explicitly states that the State-of-Art Wholesale Fish Market at Pandara, Bhubaneswar, is designed with modern sustainability features, including a renewable-energy-based power system and rainwater harvesting infrastructure. The Integrated Aqua Park at Basantapur, Sambalpur, includes facilities like an effluent treatment plant and hatchery, but the specific features mentioned in the question are for the fish market.

Statement 1 is correct: The KCC facility was extended to fishers and fish farmers since FY 2018-19. Statement 2 is correct: The Department of Fisheries (DoF), in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services (DFS), is actively promoting KCC benefits. Statement 3 is correct: The Government of Odisha provides an additional interest subvention of 4% for loans up to ₹1.00 lakh, making them interest-free.