UPSC CSE Prelims
Agriculture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Agriculture
Topic Breakdown: Scroll →
In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the ‘Seed Replacement Rates’ of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/ constraints in its wider / greater implementation?
- There is no National Seeds Policy in place.
- There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.
- There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: India has the National Seeds Policy (2002) which provides a framework for seed certification, quality assurance, and encourages private sector participation.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Private sector seed companies like Mahyco, Syngenta, and Nunhems actively participate in supplying quality seeds of vegetables and horticultural crops, especially hybrid varieties.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: There exists a demand-supply gap for quality certified seeds in low-value, high-volume crops (such as pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds) due to lower profitability and limited private sector investment in their seed production.
In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as a vegetable or animal feed, but recently the cultivation of this has assumed significance. Which one of the following statements is correct in this context?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Guar gum, extracted from the endosperm of guar seeds, is used as a thickening and gelling agent in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas extraction. Its viscosifying properties help carry proppants into fractures.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Guar seed oil is not used in biodegradable plastics manufacture; guar gum finds industrial applications but not in this domain.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Guar leaves do not possess antihistamine properties; they are primarily used as animal feed and vegetables.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Guar is not a source of biodiesel; its primary economic value lies in guar gum production, not oil extraction for fuel.
Programme/ Project Ministry
- Drought-Prone Area Programme: Ministry of Agriculture
- Desert Development Programme: Ministry of Environment and Forests
- National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas: Ministry of Rural Development
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) is implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, not Ministry of Agriculture. It aims to mitigate adverse effects of drought on production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water and human resources.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Desert Development Programme (DDP) is implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, not Ministry of Environment and Forests. It aims to control desertification and restore ecological balance in desert areas.
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) is implemented by Ministry of Agriculture (now under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana), not Ministry of Rural Development.
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Consider the following statements:
- Maize can be used for the production of starch.
- Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
- Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Maize (corn) is a major source of cornstarch, widely used as a thickening agent in food products, bioplastics, and pharmaceutical industries.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Corn oil extracted from maize germ serves as an effective feedstock for biodiesel production, offering a renewable fuel alternative.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Maize is fermented to produce alcoholic beverages including bourbon whiskey, corn beer, and ethanol for fuel and drinks.
Which of the following grants/ grant direct credit assistance to rural households?
- Regional Rural Banks
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
- Land Development Banks
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) provide direct credit assistance to rural households, including small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and rural artisans.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: NABARD is an apex development bank that provides refinance facilities to banks and financial institutions; it does not grant direct credit to rural households except through limited pilot schemes.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Land Development Banks (State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks) provide long-term direct credit to farmers for land development, irrigation, and agricultural improvements.
Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because -
Detailed Explanation:
Cold storage lowers the temperature, which directly reduces the rate of respiration in fruits.
Slower metabolic and enzymatic processes delay ripening, reduce microbial activity, and extend storage life significantly.