15 Objective questions on Agriculture in the National Economy (Civil Service Examination)

1. Agricultural income tax is assigned to the State Government by: [1995]

(a) Finance Commission

(b) National Development Council

(c) Inter-State Council

(d) The Constitution of India

2. Which of the following benefits are likely to accrue to India from the World Trade Organisation? [1995]

1. India’s share in the world trade is to go up from the present 600 million US dollars to 5 billion US dollars by 2000AD.

2. It will help boost exports of agricultural commodities from India.

3. India’s share in the world trade is likely to triple by the year 2000 A.D.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 3

(c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3

3. In which one of the following crops international trades is low in the context of total produce? [1995]

(a) Rice (b) Coffee.

(c) Rubber (d) Wheat

4. In India, rural incomes are generally lower than the urban incomes. Which of the following reasons account for his? [1996]

1. A large number of farmers are illiterate and know little about scientific agriculture

2. Prices of primary products are lower than of manufactured products

3. Investment in agriculture has been low when compared to investment in industry

Select the correct answer by using the codes given below: Codes:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 3

(c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3

5. Consider the following statements: [1999]

Regional disparities in India are high and have been rising in recent years because:

1. There is persistent investment over time only in select locates.

2. Some areas are agro-climatically less conductive to development.

3. Some areas continue to face little on no agrarian transformation and the consequent lack of social and economic opportunities.

4. Some areas have faced continuous political instability. Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 4

(c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4

6. Indian farmers are unhappy over the introduction of

“Terminator Seed Technology” because the seeds produced by this technology are expected to: [1999]

(a) show poor germination

(b) from low-yielding plants despite the high quality

(c) give rise to sexually sterile plants

(d) give rise to plants incapable of forming viable seeds

7. The correct sequence in decreasing order of the four sugarcane producing States in India is: [2000]

(a) Maharashtra, U.P., Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh

(b) U. P., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh

(c) Maharashtra, U. P., Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

(d) U. P., Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

8. Consider the following statements: [2000]

1. Maharashtra has the highest acreage under jawar in India

2. Gujarat is the largest producer of groundnut in India.

3. Rajasthan has the largest area of cultivable wastelands in India

4. Andhra Pradesh has the highest per hectare yield of maize in India

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 4 (b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 4

9. Match the different ports of Union Territory of Pondicherry labelled as A, B, C and D in the given map with their respective names and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists of ports: [2000]

1. Karaikal 2. Mahe

3. Pondicherry 4. Yanam

Codes:

(a) A-2; B-1; C-3; D-4

(b) A-1; B-2; C-3; D-4

(c) A-2; B-1; C-4; D-3

(d) A-1; B-2; C-4; D-3

10. In terms of value, which one of the following commodities accounted for the largest agricultural exports by India during the three year period from 19/7-1998 to 1999-2000? [2002]

(a) Cereals (b) Marine products

(c) Spices (d) Tea

11. Consider the following statements: [2004]

1. Regarding the procurement of food-grains. Government of India follows a procurement target rather than an open-ended procurement policy

2. Government of India announces minimum support prices only for cereals

3. For distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), wheat and rice are issued by the Government of India at uniform central issue prices to the States/Union Territories

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only

12. Consider the following statement: [2004] I

India continues to be dependent on imports to meet the requirement of oilseeds in the country because:

1. farmers prefer to grow food grains with highly remunerative support prices

2. most of the cultivation of oilseed crops continues to be dependent on rainfall

3. oils from the seeds of free origin and rice bran have remained unexploited

4. It is far cheaper to import oilseeds than to cultivate the oilseed crops

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1,2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 (d) 1,2,3 and4

13. Assertion (A): India does not export natural rubber. Reason (R): About 97% of India’s demand for natural rubber is met from domestic production. [2004]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A is false but R is true

14. Consider the following statements: [2009]

1. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends the Minimum Support Prices for 32 crops.

2. The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Food and Public Distribution has launched the National Food Security Mission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

15. Consider the following statements; [2010]

1. The Union Government fixes the Statutory Minimum Price of sugarcane for each sugar season

2. Sugar and sugarcane are essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act.

Which of the statements .given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

(c) Both land 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answers:

1. (d)

Entry 46 in the state list of seventh schedule

2. (d)

3. (a) Rice production is highest in India among other cereals in India but the quality of rice in cannot compete with other rice produced countries.

4. (a) Prevailing illiteracy in rural areas. Low prices of primary products compared to the manufactured products and to investment in the agriculture sector compared to the industry are major factors which about for low incomes in rural economy than Urban economy.

5. (a)

6. (c) The terminator gene is a specific genetic sequence inserted into a seed’s DNA. Once activated by a synthetic chemical catalyst of the manufacturer’s choosing, the sequence renders the seed and crop it produces sterile.

7. (b) The descending order of sugarcane producing state is Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

According to 2001 – 2002 data the sugar production

Uttar Pradesh – 1179.82 lakh ton

Maharashtra – 451.4 lakh ton

Tamil Nadu – 326.2 lakh ton

Andhra Pradesh – 180.82 lakh ton.

8. (c) Maharashtra produces 52% of total production of jawar in India. Groundnut production is highest in Andhra Pradesh, not in Gujarat, Maize production is highest in Karnataka, not in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan has the largest area of cultivable waste lands in India.

9. (d)

10. (b) Largest agricultural exports were of marine products followed by tea and spices.

11. (c)

13. (b)

14. (b) India is the fourth country, when the consumption of rubber is concerned with total consumption 631000 tons in 2001, after USA and Japan.

So, due to high consumption in domestic market India does not export natural rubber.

14. (d) The National Development Council (NDC) in its 53rd meeting held on 29th May, 2007 adopted a resolution to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12).

15. (c)