Agriculture (UPSC) (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

21. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, whose permission is required for cultivation of any genetically modified crop such as Bt Cotton in India, is under the Union Ministry of:

Correct Answer: (b) Environment and Forests
Solution:The genetic engineering approval committee comes under Ministry of Enviroment, Forest and Climate change.

The functions of GEAC as prescribed in the Rules 1989 are as follows:

  • To appraise activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
  • To appraise proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
  • The committee or any persons authorized by it has powers to take punitive action under the Environment Protection Act.

22. Consider the following statements:

1. India ranks first in the world in fruit production

2. India ranks second in the world in export of tobacco.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither I nor 2
Solution:Both statements are wrong.

As of 2024 India ranks second in fruit Production and 2nd in the tobacco production.

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  • Indian climate favor the development of a large range of varieties of fruits. Mango, banana, citrus, pineapple, papaya, guava, sapota (cheekoo), jackfruit, litchi, and grapes are among the tropical and subtropical fruits, whereas apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, almond, walnut, among the temperate fruits and pomegranate, fig, phalsa, among the arid fruits are important.
  • Primarily used for smoking, tobacco also plays a role in insecticide production, offering high returns to farmers. Globally, tobacco stands as one of the most economically vital agricultural crops. It is a hardy, drought-tolerant crop with a short growing period, suitable for soils where other crops may not be profitable. In India, tobacco is cultivated on 0.45 million hectares, accounting for 0.27% of the net cultivated area, and yields approximately 750 million kilograms of tobacco leaf.

23. Consider the following crops: [2004]

1. Cotton      2. Groundnut

3. Maize     4. Mustard

Which of the above are kharif crops?

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:Cotton, Groundnut and Maize are kharif crop whereas Mustard is a rabi crop.

The term "Kharif" is derived from Arabic, meaning "autumn." Kharif crops are cultivated during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until October in India. Examples of Kharif crops include rice, maize, cotton, bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), groundnut (peanut), soybean, sugarcane, and pulses like urad (black gram) and tur (red gram). Key characteristics include:

  • Sowing and Harvesting: Kharif crops are sown at the onset of the monsoon rains (around June to July) and harvested from September to October.
  • Water Requirements: These crops require substantial rainfall, typically between 100 to 150 cm, making them suitable for regions with heavy monsoons.
  • Climatic Conditions: Kharif crops thrive in warm and humid conditions, which are prevalent during the monsoon season.
  • Soil Type: They grow best in loamy or alluvial soils that retain moisture well.

24. Consider the following statements:

1. India is the only country in the world producing all the five known commercial varieties of silk.

2. India is the largest producer of sugar in the world.

Which of the statements given above less is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:Five varieties of silkworms are reared in India for producing five varieties of silk. Mulberry silk, Muga silk, Tasar silk, Oak tasar silk and Eri silk. India is the 2nd largest producer of sugar in the world.
  • Sericulture is the process of farming silkworms to make silk.
  • Silkworms are raised on mulberry, oak, castor, and arjun leaves. After about a month, they spin cocoons.
  • These cocoons are collected and boiled to soften the silk. The silk threads are then pulled out, twisted into yarn, and woven into fabric.

25. Which one of the following statements is correct?

Correct Answer: (c) The Biosafety protocol deals with genetically modified organisms.
Solution:Biosafety protocol is an agreement designed to regulate the international trade, handling and use of any genetically engineered organism that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to the human health.

26. Assertion (A): The percentage of net sown area in the total area of Andhra Pradesh is less as compared to that of West Bengal.

Reason (R): The soil of most of Andhra Pradesh is laterite.

Correct Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Solution:Laterite soil is mostly found in areas of high rainfall and temperature with alternate dry and wet Periods it is suitable for growing rice, ragi and sugarcane.
  • Laterite soils are mostly the end products of weathering.
  • They are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods.
  • Heavy rainfall promotes leaching (nutrients gets washed away by water) of soil whereby lime and silica are leached away and a soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminium compounds is left behind.
  • 'Laterite' means brick in Latin. They harden greatly on loosing moisture.
  • Laterite soils are red in colour due to little clay and more gravel of red sand-stones.

27. Which one of the following is the correct sequence in the decreasing order of production (in million tones) of the given foodgrains in India? [2007]

Correct Answer: (d) Rice - Wheat - Coarse Cereals - Pulses
Solution:Production of rice is 96.43 MT, wheat is 78.4 MT, pulses is 15.11 MT and coarse cereals are 40.73 MT in India. So, the correct sequence in decreasing order is Rice - Wheat - Coarse cereals Pulses.
India’s agricultural sector faces numerous challenges, from stagnating yields and shrinking landholdings to the impacts of climate change and inadequate infrastructure. Despite these hurdles, the country remains a leading global producer of several crops, thanks to its diverse agroecological regions and resilient farming communities. By enhancing productivity, improving market access, and fostering climate-resilient farming, India can continue to secure its position as a global agricultural powerhouse while ensuring food security for its population.

28. Assertion (A): There are no tea plantations in any African country.

Reason (R): Tea plants need fertile soil with high humus.

Correct Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
Solution:In the 20th century tea was being grown in 3 African countries like Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. So, the assertion is wrong. But the reason is correct because tea plants need highly organic or loamy soils.

Tea plants can handle light snow or frost, but not prolonged cold winters or heavy freezes. The tea plant can thus grow from tropical climates to subtropical climates, but typically requires high humidity and heavy rainfall (between 150 cm and 250 cm) during the growing season.

29. Dalbergia species is associated with which one of the following?

Correct Answer: (d) Rosewood
Solution:Rosewood is associated with Dalbergia species. Dalbergia species are used as food plants and fragnant wood in aromatic oils.

Indian Rosewood
Dalbergia sissoo(North Indian rosewood)

  • It is a fast-growing, hardy, deciduous crooked rosewood tree is native to the foothills of the Himalayas, ranging from Afghanistan in the west to Bihar, India, in the east.
  • It has long, leathery leaves and whitish or pink flowers.
  • It is primarily found growing along river banks above 200 m (700 ft) elevation, but can range naturally up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft).

Dalbergia latifolia (East Indian Rose wood)

  • Common names: East Indian Rosewood, Black Rosewood, Bombay Black wood, Indonesian Rosewood, Malabar rosewood.
  • Habitat: Tropical dry deciduous forests, Tropical moist deciduous forests, also in the plains.
  • Distribution: India, Nepal, Andama Islands (India), Malay peninsula, Indonesia, Himalayas, China, Malaysia.

30. Which one of the following places was associated with Acharya Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Movement at the beginning of the movement?

Correct Answer: (c) Pochampalli
Solution:

The Bhoodan movement, also known as the land donation movement, began on April 18, 1951, in Pochampally. Acharya Vinoba Bhave travelled extensively across India, urging landowners to view him as one of their sons and to donate one-sixth of their land. He then redistributed this land to the landless poor, enabling them to cultivate it for their livelihood.
After 1954, Bhave expanded his efforts to encompass entire villages through a program called Gramdan, where he encouraged villages to donate their land. As a result, he successfully received donations from over 1,000 villages.