Agriculture (UPSC) (Part-II)

Total Questions: 22

1. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?

1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.

2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.

3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new organisms arise without production of seeds It helps in development of clones. Vegetative propagation involves only mitosis, this ensures that the genetic information in DNA of vegetative progeny (child) is same as in the mother plant and can be practiced throughout the year.

However it does not helps in elimination of viruses. Plant once systematically infected with a virus, usually remains infected for its lifetime. Thus any vegetative parts taken for propagation remains infected.

2. The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in agricultural production is an example of

Correct Answer: (b) capital-augmenting technological progress
Solution:Capital-augmenting technological progress results in the more productive use of existing capital goods; for example, the substitution of steel from wooden ploughs in agricultural production.
  • Capital refers to capital goods such as manufacturing plants, machinery, tools, or any equipment that can be used to produce other goods.
  • The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in agricultural production increases the productivity thereby encourages steel production. Hence it is capital-augmenting technological progress.
  • Labour-augmenting is the technology that increases the skills and productivity of the existing labour.

3. Which one of the following best describes the main objective of 'Seed Village Concept'?

Correct Answer: (b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
Solution:Seed village concept is to promote the quality seed production of foundation and certified seed classes. The area which is suitable for raising a particular crop will be selected, and raised with single variety of a kind. Suitable area for seed production will be identified by the Scientists. The foundation/ certified seeds or University labelled seeds will be supplied by the University through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Research Stations at 50% subsidy cost to the identified farmers in the area. The farmers will use these quality seeds and take up their own seed production in a small area (1 acre) for their own use. The crops are Rice, Pulses and Oilseeds.

4. What can be the impact of excessive / inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture?

1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in soil can occur.

2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place.

3. Leaching of nitrate to the ground-water can occur.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

 

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Solution:Excessive/ inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers increase the acidity of soil and Leaching of nitrate to the ground water.

Different Types of Chemical Fertilisers Used in Agriculture

  • Nitrogenous Fertilisers: Nitrogenous fertilizers like Urea (46% nitrogen), Ammonium Sulfate (21% nitrogen, 24% sulfur), and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (26% nitrogen) are essential for plant growth, enhancing protein synthesis, chlorophyll formation, and rapid development.
  • Phosphatic Fertilisers: These are vital for root development, flowering, and seed formation, include Single Super Phosphate (16-20% P2O5, calcium, and sulfur) and Diammonium Phosphate (46% phosphorus, 18% nitrogen), both enhancing soil fertility and plant growth
  • Potassic Fertilisers: These are essential for water regulation, enzyme activation, and disease resistance, include MOP (60% potassium), commonly used in India, and Sulphate of Potash (50% potassium, 18% sulfur), recommended for chloride-sensitive crops like tobacco, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Complex Fertilisers: Complex fertilizers, formulated with multiple primary nutrients, include NPK fertilizers (e.g., 10:26:26, 12:32:16) for balanced nutrition, NPKS (containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur), and Ammonium Phosphate Sulfate (APS), which is rich in sulfur, phosphorus, and nitrogen, ideal for sulfur-deficient soils.

5. In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

Correct Answer: (b) Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States
Solution:Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts of respective states are responsible for markets in agricultural products.

Taking these concerns into cognizance, Central Government appointed a working group which recommended a Model APMC act. Salient features are –

  1. As per the act, the State is divided into several market areas, each of which is administered by a separate Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) which imposes its own marketing regulation (including fees).
  2. Apart from that, legal persons, growers, and local authorities are permitted to apply for the establishment of new markets for agricultural produce in any area.
  3. There will be no compulsion on the growers to sell their produce through existing markets administered by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC).
  4. Separate provision is made for notification of ‘Special Markets’ in any market area for specified agricultural commodities.
  5. Provision for Contract Farming, allowing direct sale of farm produce to contract farming sponsors from farmer’s field.
  6. Single point levy of market fee on the sale of notified agricultural commodities in any market area.
  7. Provision made for resolving disputes arising between private market/ consumer market and Market.
  8. Provides for the creation of marketing infrastructure from the revenue earned by the APMC.

6. The terms 'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and 'Peace Clause' appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the

Correct Answer: (c) World Trade Organisation
Solution:'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and 'Peace Clause' are related to World Trade Organisation.

About World Trade Organisation (WTO)

  • World Trade Organisation is a global multilateral organisation established in 1995 for the rules based trading between the nations of the world.
  • It is a global membership group that promotes and manages free trade.
  • It serves as a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements and settle trade disputes.
  • Overall, it aims to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their international businesses smoothly.
  • At present, the WTO consists of

    • 164 members (including European Union), and

    • 23 observer governments (like Iraq, Iran, Bhutan, Libya etc).

7. The FAO accords the status of 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)' to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative?

1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity

2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapers, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities

3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:(i) In order to safeguard and support the world's agricultural heritage systems, in 2002 FAO started an initiative for the dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS Initiative promotes public under-standing, awareness, national and international recognition of Agricultural Heritage systems. It aims to identify and ensure global recognition of the importance of unique traditional agricultural systems for food security and sustainable development. The GIAHS initiative explicitly recognises that change in "traditional" political, social and economic processes is inevitable; they cannot be frozen or re-created.

(ii) There is no provision to give Geographical indication to "ALL" varieties. Hence statement 3 is wrong. By elimination method, we are left with answer (b) only 2.

8. 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 cluster approach.

2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have 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.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Solution:(i) This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner to catalyze increased production of millets in the country. The scheme, through processing and value addition techniques, is expected to generate consumer demand for millet based food products. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme

(ii) 1 and 2nd statements are right. Policy aims to give free kits but "wanting to shift commercial crop farmers to millet" doesn't fit logic. There is no such mention in the scheme, nor any talk about giving micro-irrigation equipment. Hence 3rd statement wrong.

9. 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?

Correct Answer: (b) 3 only
Solution:A soil health card provides information about 12 soil parameters, so farmer can use appropriate fertilizers. hence only 3 is the correct statement. Statement 1 and 2 are irrelevant.

Key Achievements of the Scheme

  • Coverage: 24.74 crore Soil Health Cards (SHC) generated (as of February, 2025).
  • Increased Coverage: Number of SHC issued to farmers increased from 16 lakh (2020-21) to 53 lakh (2024-25).
  • Mapping: Soil and Land Use Survey of India generated 1,987 village-level soil fertility maps for 21 States and Union Territories.
  • Labs: 8272 Soil Testing Labs have been set up.
  • Funding: ₹1706.18 crore have been released to various States/UTs.

10. What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the 'National Agriculture Market' (NAM) scheme?

1. It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.

2. It provides the farmers access to nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:NAM, set up by the Government of India in July (to be completed by 2017-18) is an e-market platform of regulated wholesale agricultural markets of states/UTs.
About eNAM:
  • It is an online trading platformfor agricultural commodities in India.
  • It was launched on April 14, 2016, and is completely funded by the Government of India.
  • The Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) acts as the lead agency for implementing e-Nam under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare.
  • It aims to create better marketing opportunities for the farmers to sell their productsthrough a competitive and transparent price discovery system, along with an online payment facility for the buyers.
  • The NAM portal networks the existing APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) / Regulated Marketing Committee (RMC) market yards, sub-market yards, private markets, and other unregulated marketsto unify all the nationwide agricultural markets by creating a central online platform for agricultural commodity price discovery..