Agricultural Policies & Supply Chains

UPSC Prelims 2025 hard Economy Open full page

Consider the following statements:

Statement I:
Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.

Statement II:
Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation

Ethanol is a biofuel produced mainly by fermenting sugars found in crops like corn and sugarcane, with the USA and Brazil being the top global producers—each using a different primary feedstock. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect
* The United States is the largest ethanol producer, not Brazil. ✅ Statement II: Correct
* USA uses corn; Brazil uses sugarcane as the primary feedstock for ethanol.

UPSC Prelims 2025 hard Economy Open full page

Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022–23:

I. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
II. More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India.
III. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation

✅ Statement I: Correct
India produces about 80% of the world’s turmeric and exports around 65% globally. ✅ Statement II: Correct
India grows over 30 turmeric varieties like Alleppey Finger, Erode, Sangli, Salem, Nizamabad, and Rajapore. ✅ Statement III: Correct
Major producing states include Telangana (largest), Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Correct Answer: (D) All statements are correct.

UPSC Prelims 2025 hard International Relations Open full page

Consider the following pairs:

I. International Year of the Woman Farmer : 2026
II. International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism : 2027
III. International Year of Peace and Trust : 2025
IV. International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence : 2029

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Explanation

✅ Pair I: International Year of the Woman Farmer : 2026 — Correct
*The UN designated 2026 to honor the vital role of women in agriculture and to address gender inequalities in farming globally.* ✅ Pair II: International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism : 2027 — Correct
*2027 is proclaimed to promote tourism that supports sustainable development and resilience against climate and health challenges.* ✅ Pair III: International Year of Peace and Trust : 2025 — Correct
*The year 2025 focuses on fostering global peace, trust, and cooperation among nations and communities.* ✅ Pair IV: International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence : 2029 — Correct
*2029 marks the UN’s focus on asteroid awareness and planetary defense, coinciding with asteroid Apophis’s close approach.* Therefore, all four pairs are correctly matched.

UPSC Prelims 2025 easy Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

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?

Explanation

✅ 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.

UPSC Prelims 2024 medium Economy Open full page

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States of America.
Statement-II : In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Explanation

* Statement I is incorrect: India does import apples from the USA. In fact, the USA is one of the major sources of apple imports for India. * Statement II is correct: India has stringent regulations regarding the import of Genetically Modified (GM) food. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the competent authority responsible for assessing the safety of GM crops and foods. Importing GM food without GEAC approval is illegal. * Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect, while statement 2 is correct.

UPSC Prelims 2024 easy Economy Open full page

Consider the following statements :

1. India is a member of the International Grains Council.
2. A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

* Statement 1: Correct. India is indeed a member of the International Grains Council (IGC). * Statement 2: Incorrect. Membership in the IGC is not a prerequisite for engaging in the rice and wheat trade. Countries that are not members can still export and import these grains. The IGC primarily serves as a forum for intergovernmental cooperation and policy discussion on grain trade.

UPSC Prelims 2024 easy Modern History Open full page

With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements:

1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.
2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

* Statement 1 is incorrect: Introduced primarily in Madras (now Tamil Nadu) and Bombay (now Mumbai) presidencies by Alexander Reed and Thomas Munro. Ryotwari System, while aiming to establish direct contact with the cultivators (ryots), did not offer blanket exemption from revenue payment during bad harvests or calamities. While some provisions for remission existed, they were not automatic or guaranteed. * Statement 2 is correct: Introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Odisha by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. A key feature of the Permanent Settlement was the strict revenue collection timeline. Zamindars were obligated to pay a fixed amount of revenue to the British by a specific date. Failure to do so could result in the auctioning of their Zamindari to recover the dues. _Note: UPSC dropped this question from the final answer key._

UPSC Prelims 2024 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Which one of the following is the correct description of "100 Million Farmers"?

Explanation

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.

UPSC Prelims 2023 medium Economy Open full page

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

Explanation

* The concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field' is a participatory collective action model that aims to improve the livelihood of small and marginal farmers in India by achieving economies of scale and bargaining power in the supply chain. * It was adapted from the Large Field Model of Vietnam and was piloted to address the key challenges faced by millions of small and marginal farmers in India. The model allows small farmers to benefit from achieving economies of scale by organizing themselves into groups.

UPSC Prelims 2023 medium Economy Open full page

Consider the following statements:
1. The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinicia) seeds.
2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop.
3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Explanation

* Statement 1 is correct: The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price (MSP) for niger seeds to support farmers and ensure a baseline return on their crops. This is especially important for crops like niger which might have volatile market prices. * Statement 2 is correct: Niger is primarily cultivated as a Kharif crop in India. Kharif refers to the monsoon season in India, typically from June to September. Niger thrives in these rainy conditions. * Statement 3 is correct: Niger seed oil has various uses, and some tribal communities in India traditionally use it for cooking purposes. The oil has a nutty flavour and can be used as a substitute for other cooking oils.

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