Government of India outlines major steps to strengthen veterinary services, expand dairy cooperatives, and manage stray dogs

With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements:
1. Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two per cent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.

Which of the statements given about is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.
II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. I only
2. B. II only
3. C. Both I and II
4. D. Neither I nor II

Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’?

1. A. Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
2. B. Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at the appropriate time and affordable cost
3. C. Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
4. D. Identifying the entrepreneurs in the village and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies

Programme/ Project Ministry
1. Drought-Prone Area Programme: Ministry of Agriculture
2. Desert Development Programme: Ministry of Environment and Forests
3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas: Ministry of Rural Development

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 3 only
3. C. 1, 2 and 3
4. D. None

With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. A. The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.
2. B. The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.
3. C. It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.
4. D. Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.

With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1 and 2 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past?

1. Minimum Support Price
2. Government’s trading
3. Government’s stockpiling
4. Consumer subsidies

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1, 2 and 4 only
2. B. 1, 3 and 4 only
3. C. 2 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture?

1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
6. Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1, 2 and 5 only
2. B. 1, 3, and 4 and 5 only
3. C. 2, 3 and 6 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Consider the following statements :
The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at

1. expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
2. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality.
3. checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 3 only
3. C. 2 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field'?

1. A. Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their them a large cultivable land which they cultivable land which they cultivate collectively and share the produce
2. B. Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations
3. C. Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and surrender their land to the corporate body for a fixed term for which the corporate body makes payment of agreed amount to the farmers
4. D. A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small farmers in an area so that they produce the agricultural commodity required by the company for its manufacturing process and commercial production

Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.

How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.

Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.

Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.

Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.

Under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, the Government of India provides 100% central assistance for vaccination against which of the following diseases?

1. A. Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, Classical Swine Fever, and Anthrax
2. B. Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, PPR, and Classical Swine Fever
3. C. PPR, Classical Swine Fever, Anthrax, and Rinderpest
4. D. Brucellosis, Rinderpest, Foot and Mouth Disease, and Anthrax

The 'White Revolution 2.0' initiative aims to expand dairy cooperative coverage by creating how many new Dairy Cooperative Societies by 2028–29?

1. A. 46,422
2. B. 54,442
3. C. 67,433
4. D. 75,000

With reference to the National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination, consider the following statements: 1. It aims to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2028. 2. It is being implemented under a 'One Health approach'. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2