Subject-wise agriculture questions have been a prominent fixture in the UPSC Mains examination over the past decade, spanning from 2013 to 2023. These questions not only test the candidates’ understanding of agricultural concepts and practices but also gauge their ability to analyze and propose solutions to the multifaceted challenges facing the agricultural sector in India. From crop production techniques to agricultural policies, from agroecology to rural development schemes, the spectrum of topics covered is vast and varied. In this essay, we delve into the trends and patterns of agriculture-related questions in the UPSC Mains examinations during this period, highlighting the evolving focus areas and the significance of a comprehensive understanding of agriculture in the context of national development and food security.
2023
- How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it.
- State the objectives and measures of land reforms in India. Discuss how land ceiling policy on landholding can be considered as an effective reform under economic criteria.
- Explain the changes in cropping pattern in India in the context of changes in consumption pattern and marketing conditions.
- What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to the farm sector in India? Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to agricultural subsidies.
2022
- How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India’s water crisis?
- What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013 ? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?
- What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?
2020
- What are the main constraints in the transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India?
- What are the challenges and opportunities of the food processing sector in the country? How can income of the farmers be substantially increased by encouraging food processing?
- What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success, how has this system become bane in India?
- Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenarios.
2019
- How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production?
- Elaborate the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas.
- How India benefited from the contributions of Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan in the fields of water engineering and agricultural science respectively?
- What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make the food grain distribution system more effective?
- Elaborate on the policy taken by the Government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector.
2018
- What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low-income trap?
- Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables, and food items. How do they eliminate the number of intermediaries?
- Assess the role of the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity, and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?
- How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption.
2017
- Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How have these revolutions helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India?
- What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost-effective small processing units? How the food processing unit will be helpful to uplift the socio-economic status of Poor farmers?
- What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system?
- How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers?
2016
- What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-use efficiency.
- What is allelopathy? Discuss its role in major cropping systems of irrigated agriculture.
- Discuss the role of land reforms in agricultural development. Identify the factors that were responsible for the success of land reforms in India.
- Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
2015
- Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India.
- In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non – viable for a majority of farmers should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
2014
- There is also a point of view that Agricultural Produce Market Committees [APMCs) set up under the State Acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine.
- “In the villages itself no form of credit organization will be suitable except the cooperative society.” – All India Rural Credit Survey. Discuss this statement in the background of agricultural finance in India. What constraints and challenges do financial institutions supplying agricultural finance face? How can technology be used to better reach and serve rural clients?
2013
- Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO.
- What are the different types of agriculture subsidies given to farmers at the national and state levels? Critically analyze the agriculture subsidy regime with the reference to the distortions created by it.
- India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in the food industry for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.
- Establish the relationship between land reform, agriculture productivity, and elimination of poverty in the Indian Economy. Discuss the difficulty in designing and implementation of agriculture-friendly land reforms in India.
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