Introduction India, with its vast population of over 1.4 billion people, is one of the…
MCQs with Answers on “The Farmers’ Protests: Causes, Demands and Government Response”
- What triggered the farmers’ protests in India in 2020?
a) Rise in fuel prices
b) The introduction of three farm laws
c) Increasing agricultural exports
d) Unemployment issues in rural areas
Answer: b) The introduction of three farm laws - Which of the following was NOT one of the three farm laws passed by the Indian Government in 2020?
a) Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act
b) Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act
c) Minimum Support Price (MSP) Guarantee Act
d) Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act
Answer: c) Minimum Support Price (MSP) Guarantee Act - The primary concern of farmers regarding the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act was:
a) Reduction in government subsidies
b) The weakening of the MSP system
c) High taxes on agricultural produce
d) Increase in fertilizer prices
Answer: b) The weakening of the MSP system - Which organization played a significant role in coordinating the farmers’ protests in 2020-2021?
a) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
b) Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)
c) All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)
d) Indian Farmers Association
Answer: b) Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) - What was one of the main demands of the protesting farmers regarding the three farm laws?
a) Full implementation of the Green Revolution
b) Legal guarantee for MSP
c) Removal of all subsidies on fertilizers
d) Privatization of state-run agricultural markets
Answer: b) Legal guarantee for MSP - Where did the farmers hold their protest during the 2020-2021 protests?
a) Parliament House
b) Delhi borders
c) Rajpath
d) Red Fort
Answer: b) Delhi borders - What was the government’s response to the farmers’ protests regarding the new farm laws?
a) Immediate repeal of the laws
b) Formation of a committee for dialogue
c) Increasing MSP for all crops
d) Reduction of farm taxes
Answer: b) Formation of a committee for dialogue - Which of the following was a key concern raised by the farmers against the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act?
a) Price regulation of food grains
b) Elimination of subsidies on seeds
c) Removal of stock limits on agricultural produce
d) Increase in fertilizer prices
Answer: c) Removal of stock limits on agricultural produce - Which year did the Indian government pass the controversial farm laws that led to widespread protests?
a) 2018
b) 2019
c) 2020
d) 2021
Answer: c) 2020 - Which of the following was one of the fears of the farmers related to the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act?
a) Loss of subsidies
b) Increase in pesticide costs
c) Unregulated contracts with large corporations
d) Reduced agricultural exports
Answer: c) Unregulated contracts with large corporations - Which of the following was NOT a demand of the protesting farmers during the 2020-2021 protests?
a) Repeal of the three farm laws
b) Legal guarantee for MSP
c) Complete deregulation of the agricultural sector
d) Withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill
Answer: c) Complete deregulation of the agricultural sector - Which of the following was the main method used by farmers to express their dissent during the protests?
a) Hunger strikes
b) Road blockades
c) Petition to the President
d) Sit-in protests at government offices
Answer: b) Road blockades - What was the reaction of the government when farmers demanded a legal guarantee for MSP?
a) Immediate acceptance of the demand
b) Introduction of MSP Guarantee Act
c) Rejection of the demand, citing market dynamics
d) Temporary increase in MSP for all crops
Answer: c) Rejection of the demand, citing market dynamics - Which of the following was one of the proposed solutions suggested by the government to resolve the farm law crisis?
a) Providing free electricity to farmers
b) Formation of a committee to address farmer concerns
c) Immediate implementation of land reforms
d) Nationalization of all agricultural markets
Answer: b) Formation of a committee to address farmer concerns - The protesting farmers were primarily from which states of India?
a) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
b) Maharashtra and Gujarat
c) Punjab and Haryana
d) Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Answer: c) Punjab and Haryana - What was one of the reasons farmers opposed the government’s stance on deregulating agricultural markets under the new laws?
a) It would lead to the closure of APMCs
b) It would increase the cost of fertilizers
c) It would make agricultural exports more expensive
d) It would encourage large corporate control over agriculture
Answer: a) It would lead to the closure of APMCs - Which of the following political leaders supported the farmers’ protests during 2020-2021?
a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
b) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
c) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh
d) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Answer: c) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh - Which of the following international figures expressed solidarity with the farmers’ protests in India?
a) Donald Trump
b) Greta Thunberg
c) Emmanuel Macron
d) Angela Merkel
Answer: b) Greta Thunberg - The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act sought to:
a) Eliminate all middlemen in agricultural marketing
b) Make MSP a legal guarantee
c) Allow private players to buy directly from farmers outside APMC mandis
d) Promote agricultural exports
Answer: c) Allow private players to buy directly from farmers outside APMC mandis - Which key event escalated tensions during the farmers’ protests in January 2021?
a) The Republic Day tractor rally
b) The release of farm subsidies
c) Introduction of new taxes on farmers
d) Collapse of the MSP system
Answer: a) The Republic Day tractor rally - What was the government’s initial stand regarding the repeal of the farm laws?
a) Acceptance of farmer demands
b) Formation of a committee for review
c) Repeal of the laws without any condition
d) No change in the laws
Answer: d) No change in the laws - Which of the following sectors did the protesting farmers believe would be most impacted by the new farm laws?
a) Industrial production
b) Education and healthcare
c) Agricultural markets and MSP
d) Technology and e-commerce
Answer: c) Agricultural markets and MSP - What significant action did the government take in response to the ongoing farmers’ protests in 2021?
a) Complete withdrawal of the farm laws
b) Formation of a task force to resolve the issue
c) Suspension of internet services in protest areas
d) Introduction of a new farm bill to replace the old ones
Answer: c) Suspension of internet services in protest areas - Which of the following is true about the MSP (Minimum Support Price) system in India?
a) MSP is legally guaranteed for all crops in India
b) MSP is determined by market demand
c) MSP is a price fixed by the government for certain crops
d) MSP is determined by private traders
Answer: c) MSP is a price fixed by the government for certain crops - What was the role of social media during the farmers’ protests?
a) The government used social media to suppress dissent
b) Farmers used social media to mobilize support and spread awareness
c) Social media was completely banned during the protests
d) Social media played no role in the protests
Answer: b) Farmers used social media to mobilize support and spread awareness - What was the economic concern of farmers regarding the farm laws?
a) Increased competition from foreign markets
b) Decline in government support for agricultural exports
c) Market deregulation leading to lower prices for crops
d) Increase in taxes on agricultural exports
Answer: c) Market deregulation leading to lower prices for crops - Which of the following was a positive outcome of the farmers’ protests?
a) Complete repeal of the farm laws
b) Increased subsidies for fertilizers
c) Creation of a stronger rural labor force
d) Reinvigoration of national agricultural policy discussions
Answer: d) Reinvigoration of national agricultural policy discussions - What did the farmers demand regarding the new Electricity (Amendment) Bill?
a) Increase in subsidy for electricity consumption
b) Repeal of provisions on privatisation of the power sector
c) Reduction in electricity tariffs for farmers
d) Free electricity for all farmers
Answer: b) Repeal of provisions on privatisation of the power sector - What was the stand of opposition parties on the three farm laws?
a) Full support for the government
b) Opposition to the laws, supporting farmers’ demands
c) Neutral stance on the farm laws
d) Encouraged farmers to negotiate directly with the government
Answer: b) Opposition to the laws, supporting farmers’ demands - Which of the following organizations organized a solidarity event in support of farmers’ protests globally?
a) World Trade Organization (WTO)
b) United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
c) Global Justice Movement
d) Sikhs for Justice
Answer: d) Sikhs for Justice
These MCQs cover various aspects of the Farmers’ Protests, including the causes, demands, and government responses. They provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue from different angles.