MCQs along with their answers on “India’s Approach to Food Security and Agricultural Reforms”
1. Which of the following is the main objective of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013?
A) To ensure adequate and safe drinking water
B) To provide legal entitlement to food grains
C) To promote cash crops
D) To increase agricultural exports
Answer: B) To provide legal entitlement to food grains
2. The Green Revolution in India mainly focused on increasing production in which of the following crops?
A) Cotton
B) Rice and Wheat
C) Sugarcane
D) Maize
Answer: B) Rice and Wheat
3. Which ministry is responsible for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme?
A) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
B) Ministry of Rural Development
C) Ministry of Finance
D) Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Answer: A) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
4. The Food Security Bill, which later became the National Food Security Act (NFSA), was passed in which year?
A) 2005
B) 2011
C) 2013
D) 2015
Answer: C) 2013
5. What is the primary goal of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakhshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)?
A) To provide storage facilities to farmers
B) To promote organic farming
C) To ensure MSP (Minimum Support Price) for crops
D) To regulate food prices
Answer: C) To ensure MSP (Minimum Support Price) for crops
6. Which of the following agricultural reforms is part of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations?
A) Introduction of genetically modified crops
B) Guaranteeing MSP for crops
C) Launch of e-NAM
D) Establishment of NABARD
Answer: B) Guaranteeing MSP for crops
7. The concept of Food Security in India involves which of the following components?
A) Accessibility
B) Availability
C) Affordability
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
8. Which scheme provides direct income support to farmers under PM-KISAN?
A) Cash subsidy for crop insurance
B) Financial assistance through the DBT system
C) Free distribution of seeds and fertilizers
D) Agricultural credit facilities
Answer: B) Financial assistance through the DBT system
9. Which of the following is the largest food security program in India?
A) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
B) National Food Security Act
C) Integrated Child Development Services
D) Public Distribution System
Answer: B) National Food Security Act
10. What is the primary objective of the ‘Operation Greens’ scheme launched by the Government of India?
A) Promoting organic farming
B) Ensuring minimum support prices for fruits and vegetables
C) Enhancing food storage capacities
D) Reducing food wastage and increasing supply chain efficiency
Answer: D) Reducing food wastage and increasing supply chain efficiency
11. Under the PM-AASHA, the Government of India aims to ensure the payment of MSP for which of the following crops?
A) Wheat and Rice
B) Soybean and Cotton
C) Tomato and Onion
D) Maize and Bajra
Answer: A) Wheat and Rice
12. The Food Security Act (NFSA) aims to provide food grains at subsidized rates to how many people in India?
A) 50 crore
B) 80 crore
C) 100 crore
D) 120 crore
Answer: B) 80 crore
13. The concept of ‘Minimum Support Price (MSP)’ is implemented to benefit which group?
A) Consumers
B) Exporters
C) Farmers
D) Traders
Answer: C) Farmers
14. What does the ‘e-NAM’ scheme in agriculture stand for?
A) e-National Agricultural Market
B) e-National Agricultural Mechanism
C) Electronic Network for Agricultural Markets
D) Electronic Negotiations for Agricultural Markets
Answer: A) e-National Agricultural Market
15. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ (PMFBY) aims to provide insurance against which of the following?
A) Crop failure
B) Fertilizer price rise
C) Water scarcity
D) Pest attack
Answer: A) Crop failure
16. Which of the following is the main feature of the ‘National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture’ (NMSA)?
A) Promoting organic farming
B) Increasing the area under irrigation
C) Encouraging the use of chemical fertilizers
D) Ensuring crop diversification and sustainable practices
Answer: D) Ensuring crop diversification and sustainable practices
17. Which of the following is the main focus of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM)?
A) Increasing the productivity of food grains
B) Supporting organic farming practices
C) Creating storage infrastructure
D) Reducing food wastage
Answer: A) Increasing the productivity of food grains
18. The MSP for crops is determined by which of the following?
A) Reserve Bank of India
B) Ministry of Agriculture
C) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
D) National Farmers’ Union
Answer: C) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
19. Which state in India is a leader in promoting organic farming under the ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ model?
A) Punjab
B) Kerala
C) Himachal Pradesh
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: C) Himachal Pradesh
20. Which of the following is an initiative under the ‘Doubling Farmers’ Income’ plan?
A) Reducing the area under wheat cultivation
B) Improving crop insurance schemes
C) Introducing high-yielding varieties of crops
D) Decreasing subsidies for fertilizers
Answer: C) Introducing high-yielding varieties of crops
21. The ‘National Agricultural Market’ (e-NAM) is an initiative of which of the following ministries?
A) Ministry of Food Processing Industries
B) Ministry of Finance
C) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
D) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer: C) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
22. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana’ (PMKSY) primarily aims at which of the following?
A) Promoting rural development
B) Enhancing processing and storage facilities for agricultural products
C) Providing direct income support to farmers
D) Ensuring fair market prices for crops
Answer: B) Enhancing processing and storage facilities for agricultural products
23. What is the key feature of the ‘Atmanirbhar Krishi Yojana’?
A) Focus on reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers
B) Encouraging farmers to adopt innovative practices
C) Boosting self-reliance in agricultural products and reducing imports
D) Promoting cash crops over food crops
Answer: C) Boosting self-reliance in agricultural products and reducing imports
24. Which of the following is NOT part of India’s food security infrastructure?
A) Public Distribution System (PDS)
B) Minimum Support Price (MSP)
C) e-NAM
D) Crop Diversification Policy
Answer: D) Crop Diversification Policy
25. What does the National Agricultural Policy of 2000 aim to achieve?
A) Diversification of agricultural products
B) Maximizing food exports
C) Ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural productivity
D) Supporting only large-scale commercial farming
Answer: C) Ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural productivity
26. The implementation of PM-KISAN was aimed at:
A) Increasing farm production
B) Providing financial assistance to small farmers
C) Ensuring fair prices for farmers’ produce
D) Increasing exports of agricultural products
Answer: B) Providing financial assistance to small farmers
27. What is the primary aim of the ‘Soil Health Management’ under the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
A) Encouraging more water-intensive crops
B) Reducing the use of pesticides
C) Promoting the use of chemical fertilizers
D) Improving soil health and fertility
Answer: D) Improving soil health and fertility
28. What is the primary challenge in implementing food security schemes in India?
A) Overproduction of crops
B) High food prices
C) Inefficient distribution system
D) Shortage of water resources
Answer: C) Inefficient distribution system
29. What does the term “Food Sovereignty” primarily emphasize?
A) Government’s control over food prices
B) Consumer rights to food
C) Local control over food production, distribution, and consumption
D) Export of surplus food grains
Answer: C) Local control over food production, distribution, and consumption
30. Which international organization is India working with to improve food security systems?
A) United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
B) World Bank
C) World Health Organization (WHO)
D) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Answer: A) United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
These questions aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of India’s approach to food security and agricultural reforms, which are crucial topics for the Civil Services Examination.
