UPSC Prelims 2017 – Question 72

Here is Question No. 72 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2017

Q72. 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?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

The correct answer is 3 only. 

• Soil Health Card (SHC) 
• This is a scheme promoted and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India’s Department of Agriculture and Co-operation. 
• It provides the farmer Soil nutrient status of his/her holding and advice on fertiliser dosage and soil amendments that she/he should apply to maintain soil health in the long run. 
• SHC is a printed report that will contain the status of his soil concerning 12 parameters, namely: 

• N, P, K (Macro-nutrients); 
• S (Secondary- nutrient); 
• Cu, Mn, Bo, Zn, Fe (Micro-nutrients); and 
• pH, EC, OC (Physical parameters). 

• Based on the soil nutrient status, the SHC will recommend fertiliser and soil amendments for the farm. Hence, statement 3 is correct, while statements 1 and 2 are incorrect/irrelevant. 

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