Agriculture, food security and allied sectors: previous-year questions
65 real UPSC Prelims questions (2011–2026) with the official answer and a clear explanation. 11 of them came in the last five papers.
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Questions per year, counted from the official papers.
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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 ?
Answer (b) & explanation
Only statement 3 is correct (b). The Soil Health Card Scheme, launched in February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, tests each farm's soil every two years for 12 parameters. These are macronutrients (N, P, K, S), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo) and physical properties (pH, EC, organic carbon). It then recommends the right fertiliser doses, so it helps check overuse of fertilisers (3). It does nothing to expand irrigation (1), which comes under PMKSY. Banks do not use it to decide loan amounts (2).
It is now part of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. Notice the problem it targets: India's N:P:K ratio is far from the ideal 4:2:1 because urea is heavily subsidised, which led to neem-coated urea and nano urea.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 landscapes, 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.
Answer (b) & explanation
Only statement 2 is correct (b). GIAHS, started by the FAO in 2002, aims to identify and safeguard traditional farming systems along with their landscapes, agro-biodiversity and local knowledge. Statement 1 is wrong because the idea is to conserve traditional practices, not to replace them with modern technology. Statement 3 is wrong because GI tags are given under national law (in India, the GI Act, 1999), not by GIAHS.
India's GIAHS sites are Koraput (Odisha), Kuttanad below-sea-level farming (Kerala) and Pampore saffron (Kashmir). Notice how this connects to in-situ conservation: protecting genes and knowledge in the living farms where they evolved, not just in seed banks.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 microirrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (c) & explanation
Statements 1 and 2 are correct (c). INSIMP (2011–12, under the RKVY) showed improved production and post-harvest technologies for millets in an integrated manner, using a cluster approach (1). Millets are grown mainly by poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers on dry land, so they have the largest stake (2). Statement 3 is wrong: shifting commercial-crop farmers to millets with free kits was never an aim.
INSIMP aimed to boost millet output and value addition. Notice how millets returned to the spotlight as "Shree Anna" during the International Year of Millets 2023, proposed by India, for their nutrition and climate resilience.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation?
- 1. Reduction in weed
- 2. Reduction in soil salinity
- 3. Reduction in soil erosion
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (c) & explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct (c). Drip irrigation sends water slowly through pipes and emitters straight to the root zone. The spaces between plants stay dry, so fewer weeds grow (1). The gentle flow does not wash soil away, so there is no erosion (3). It also saves 30–70% water and allows fertigation, where fertiliser is mixed into the water. Statement 2 is wrong because drip does not lower existing soil salinity. Salts can build up at the edges of the wetted zone, so the soil needs flushing now and then.
Notice the policy angle: drip and sprinkler come under "Per Drop More Crop" (PMKSY). Sugarcane in Maharashtra and orchards in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are standard cases, since water-hungry crops gain the most.
statement 2 sounds plausible because drip saves water. Removing salts needs leaching, which drip does not do.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 percent 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 above is/are correct?
Answer (b) & explanation
Only statement 2 is correct (b). Under PMFBY (2016), the farmer's premium is 2% for kharif, 1.5% for rabi food and oilseed crops, and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops, so it is not uniform; statement 1 is wrong. The scheme covers post-harvest losses for up to 14 days from cyclones, cyclonic rain and unseasonal rain (2).
The rest of the premium is shared by the Centre and States, and enrolment became voluntary in 2020. Technology such as remote sensing and drones is used to assess crop loss. Notice how insurance shields farmers from climate risk.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Why does the Government of India promote the use of 'Neem-coated Urea' in agriculture?
Answer (b) & explanation
The neem-oil coating slows down the dissolution and breakdown of urea in the soil (b), so nitrogen is released slowly and less is lost. Crops use it better, and less urea is needed. Option (a) is wrong: neem does not boost nitrogen fixation. Option (c) is wrong because "not at all" is too extreme; nitrous oxide emissions are reduced, not eliminated. Option (d) is wrong: it is not a weedicide-fertiliser mix.
Neem coating was made compulsory for all urea in 2015, which also stopped subsidised urea being diverted to industry. Notice how a simple coating saves subsidy, soil and money.
"not at all" in option (c). Neem coating lowers nitrous oxide losses; it cannot stop them.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the
Answer (a) & explanation
The Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane is approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (a). The CACP (b) only recommends it. The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (c) handles grading and AGMARK, and the APMC (d) regulates mandis, so neither fixes the FRP.
Sugar mills must pay farmers at least the FRP, under the Sugarcane (Control) Order issued under the Essential Commodities Act. Some States, such as Uttar Pradesh, announce a higher State Advised Price. The FRP replaced the Statutory Minimum Price in 2009. Notice how cane pricing ties farmer welfare to mill finances.
CACP only recommends. UPSC asked who approves.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the
Answer (b) & explanation
Agricultural marketing is a State subject (Entry 28, State List), so markets are regulated under the APMC Acts enacted by each State (b). These set up regulated mandis run by market committees. The Essential Commodities Act (a) controls supply, stocking and prices, not market yards. The Grading and Marking Act (c) deals only with AGMARK standards, and the food product orders (d) cover processing and quality.
The 2017 model APLM Act urged States to reform these laws, and e-NAM links mandis online. Notice how the repealed farm laws of 2020 also sought to change mandi regulation.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Consider the following statements :
- 1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
- 2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (b) & explanation
Only statement 2 is correct (b). The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (1996-97) gave Central loan assistance to States, not poor farmers, to complete large irrigation projects stuck for lack of funds, so statement 1 is wrong. The Command Area Development Programme (1974-75) aimed to close the gap between irrigation capacity created and actually used by improving water-use efficiency through field channels and land levelling.
Both now form part of PMKSY (2015), whose motto is "Har Khet Ko Pani" and "More Crop Per Drop". Notice how building dams is only half the job; water must reach the field.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Which one of the following best describes the main objective of 'Seed Village Concept'?
Answer (b) & explanation
The Seed Village concept involves training farmers in quality seed production so that good seed is available to others nearby, on time and at an affordable cost (b). Option (a) is wrong: it does not discourage buying seed but improves farm-saved seed quality. Option (c) is wrong: villages are not set aside only for certified seed. Option (d) is wrong: it does not set up seed companies.
Farmers get foundation seed at subsidised rates and training in raising, storing and processing seed. This raises the seed replacement rate. Notice how one village's skill helps a whole area grow better crops.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Consider the following pairs :
| 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 is/are correctly matched?
Answer (d) & explanation
Every pair is swapped, so the answer is none (d). The Drought-Prone Area Programme (1973) and the Desert Development Programme (1977) were area programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources), not Agriculture or Environment. The National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (1990) was run by the Ministry of Agriculture, not Rural Development.
All three were merged into the Integrated Watershed Management Programme in 2009, which is now the watershed component of PMKSY. Notice how drought, desert and rainfed farming all lead back to one idea: managing water at the level of the watershed.
the names sound like Agriculture or Environment. UPSC tests which ministry actually ran them.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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?
Answer (b) & explanation
Guar gum, made from the seed of the cluster bean, thickens the water used in hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas and oil (b). The shale boom in the USA turned guar into a big export crop for Rajasthan, which grows most of the world's guar, and prices shot up around 2012. Option (a) is wrong: guar oil is not used for biodegradable plastics. Options (c) and (d), anti-histamine leaves and biodiesel, are not its claim to fame.
Guar gum is also used as a thickener in food, cosmetics and paper. Notice how a hardy dryland crop became tied to global energy markets.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
What are the benefits of implementing the 'Integrated Watershed Development Programme'?
- 1. Prevention of soil runoff
- 2. Linking the country's perennial rivers with seasonal rivers
- 3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table
- 4. Regeneration of natural vegetation
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (c) & explanation
A watershed programme treats a whole catchment. Check dams, trenches, bunds and planting stop soil runoff (1 correct), harvest rainwater and recharge groundwater (3 correct), and help regenerate natural vegetation (4 correct). Statement 2 is wrong: linking perennial and seasonal rivers is the separate national Interlinking of Rivers project, not a local watershed activity. So the answer is (c).
The IWMP of 2009 now runs as the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY. Notice how the "ridge to valley" approach treats land and water together: it echoes Ralegan Siddhi and other village success stories.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Consider the following statements :
- 1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.
- 2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
- 3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (d) & explanation
All three are correct (d). Maize grain gives starch and sweeteners (1). Corn oil can be a feedstock for biodiesel (2). Fermented maize gives alcohol, from bourbon whisky to fuel ethanol (3). Options leaving out any of these are incomplete.
Today maize is a key feedstock for India's ethanol blending programme, which reached about 20% blending (E20) in 2025. That has raised maize demand and prices, and even led India to import maize. Maize is also used for poultry feed. Notice how one crop links farming to energy security and the food-versus-fuel debate.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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?
- 1. There is no National Seeds Policy in place.
- 2. There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.
- 3. 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.
Answer (b) & explanation
The seed replacement rate is the share of area sown with fresh certified seed instead of farm-saved seed. Statement 1 is wrong because India has had a National Seeds Policy since 2002. Statement 2 is wrong because private firms dominate vegetable and horticulture seed. The real gap lies in low-value, high-volume crops such as wheat, paddy and pulses, where private firms see little profit (3 correct). So the answer is (b).
Public bodies like the National Seeds Corporation and State seed corporations fill this gap. Notice how better seed is the cheapest input for higher yields.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as 'Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative'?
- 1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
- 2. Drip irrigation can be practised very effectively in this.
- 3. There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
- 4. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (b) & explanation
SSI raises single-bud seedlings in a nursery and transplants them with wide spacing. Far less seed cane is needed, so seed cost falls (1 correct). Wide rows suit drip irrigation (2 correct) and leave space for intercropping pulses or vegetables (4 correct). Statement 3 is the odd one out: SSI cuts chemical use through efficient, balanced inputs, but it does not ban fertilizers.
SSI grew out of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) idea of "less input, more output". Notice how the same logic of spacing, water saving and soil health keeps returning in questions on SRI, micro-irrigation and natural farming.
"no application ... at all". SSI is about efficient inputs, not organic farming.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in
Answer (d) & explanation
None of the above is correct (d). Contour bunding means building earth embankments along the contours of sloping land to slow runoff, hold water and stop soil erosion by water on gentle hill slopes and undulating land. (a) is wrong: wind erosion in desert margins is checked by shelter belts and windbreaks. (b) is wrong: low, flat floodplains need embankments or drainage, not contour bunds. (c) is wrong: weed spread is not controlled by bunds.
Notice the related methods: terracing on steep slopes, contour ploughing, strip cropping, check dams and gully plugging. Watershed programmes such as PMKSY-Watershed Development (WDC 2.0) use contour bunds widely in the Deccan. Trap: options describe other erosion settings that contour bunds do not suit.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Consider the following crops :
- 1. Cotton
- 2. Groundnut
- 3. Rice
- 4. Wheat
Which of these are Kharif crops?
Answer (c) & explanation
Cotton, groundnut and rice are correct (c). Kharif crops are sown with the south-west monsoon (June–July) and harvested in autumn (September–October). They include rice, cotton, groundnut, maize, jowar, bajra, soybean, tur and jute (1, 2, 3). Item 4 is wrong: wheat is a rabi crop, sown in winter (October–December) and harvested in spring. So (a), (b) and (d) fail.
Notice the related seasons: rabi crops include wheat, barley, mustard and gram; zaid crops such as watermelon, cucumber and moong grow in the short summer between rabi and kharif. Groundnut is also grown in rabi in the south, but it is mainly a kharif crop. The government announces MSPs for kharif crops in June. Trap: wheat is the classic rabi crop.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Government of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant?
- 1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification.
- 2. It is a rich source of biodiesel.
- 3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes.
- 4. Its timber is of great commercial value.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (c) & explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct (c). Sea buckthorn is a thorny shrub of cold deserts such as Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti and Sikkim. Its deep, spreading roots bind soil and help check erosion and desertification (1). Its orange berries are rich in vitamin C, omega oils and antioxidants, used in juices, medicines and cosmetics, and it thrives in cold, high-altitude areas (3). Statement 2 is wrong: it is not a biodiesel crop. Statement 4 is wrong: as a shrub, it has no commercial timber value. So (a), (b) and (d) fail.
Notice the local names: 'Leh berry' in Ladakh. The DRDO's DIHAR at Leh promotes it, and it fixes nitrogen in poor soils. Trap: its oil is medicinal, not fuel.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’?
Answer (c) & explanation
Rearing animals and growing crops together is correct (c). Mixed farming means crops plus livestock on the same farm: animals give milk, meat and draught power, and their dung becomes manure, while crops and residues give fodder. This cycle cuts costs and spreads risk. (a) is wrong: growing both cash and food crops is just diversified cropping. (b) is wrong: growing two or more crops in the same field is mixed cropping or intercropping. (d) fails because (c) is correct.
Notice the related terms: integrated farming systems add fish, poultry and bees, and multiple cropping means more than one crop a year on the same land. Most Indian smallholdings practise mixed farming. Trap: 'mixed farming' and 'mixed cropping' sound alike but differ.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.