Q1. What was the approximate contribution of the agriculture and allied sector to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA) at current prices during the fiscal year 2022-23?
Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms: RAS Prelims MCQs
99 RAS Prelims MCQs on agricultural development cover institutional reforms, technology and the Green Revolution. The abolition of intermediaries, tenancy laws, consolidation of holdings, cooperative farming, the 97th Amendment and the Green Revolution’s first phase are asked as facts, sequences and statements, with the explanations linking each reform to its State or year.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
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Q2. Which of the following best describes the structural transformation of the Indian economy regarding the agricultural sector since independence?
Explanation
India’s economic structure has shifted significantly since 1947, showing a common developmental trend where the primary sector’s relative weight decreases. While agriculture’s share in the Gross Domestic Product has declined heavily over the decades, the proportion of the total workforce dependent on it hasn’t fallen at a similar pace. This imbalance highlights the need for rural industrialization.
Q3. Which of the following statements regarding the role of agriculture in the Indian economy is incorrect?
Explanation
Agriculture is pivotal for India, serving as the primary source of livelihood for over half the workforce and supplying raw materials to industries. It also ensures national food security. However, agricultural exports do not account for more than half of India’s total export earnings. Most exports are currently driven by the manufacturing and services sectors instead.
Q4. Read the following statements regarding agricultural growth in India and select the correct answer from the options given below:
Statement I: The agriculture sector demonstrated higher resilience compared to the industrial and service sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement II: Gross Capital Formation in agriculture as a percentage of agricultural GVA has consistently remained above 30 percent for the last decade.
Statement I: The agriculture sector demonstrated higher resilience compared to the industrial and service sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement II: Gross Capital Formation in agriculture as a percentage of agricultural GVA has consistently remained above 30 percent for the last decade.
Explanation
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the agricultural sector demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining positive growth while the industrial and service sectors faced severe contractions. In contrast, the Gross Capital Formation in agriculture as a percentage of its Gross Value Added has generally fluctuated below the thirty percent mark. Public and private investment levels remain a critical area for improvement.
Q5. The following question consists of two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer from the options given below:
Assertion (A): A declining share of agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product is universally considered an indicator of economic development.
Reason (R): As an economy develops, the secondary and tertiary sectors grow at a faster rate than the primary sector, altering the GDP composition.
Assertion (A): A declining share of agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product is universally considered an indicator of economic development.
Reason (R): As an economy develops, the secondary and tertiary sectors grow at a faster rate than the primary sector, altering the GDP composition.
Explanation
A declining share of agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product is a hallmark of economic advancement. As nations develop, the secondary and tertiary sectors naturally grow at much faster rates than the primary sector. This structural shift alters the overall composition of the economy, reflecting technological progress and a transition toward industrialization and modern service-based activities.
Q6. Which state was the first in independent India to pass legislation for the abolition of the Zamindari system?
Explanation
Land reform was a top priority for independent India to ensure social justice and agricultural efficiency. The Madras province, currently known as Tamil Nadu, was the first state in independent India to pass legislation for the abolition of the Zamindari system. This legislative move aimed to remove intermediaries between the state and actual tillers, ensuring more equity.
Q7. Which of the following is an incorrect pair regarding the objectives of land reforms in India?
Explanation
Land reforms in India were designed to promote equity and productivity. Key objectives included the abolition of intermediaries to establish direct contact between the state and tillers, tenancy reforms for rent regulation, and the consolidation of fragmented holdings. Land ceilings were specifically meant to set a maximum limit on ownership to redistribute surplus land, not to maximize large holdings.
Q8. Match the Land Revenue Systems in British India listed in List I with their Key Characteristics in
List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
List I: (Land Revenue Systems)
A. Zamindari System
B. Ryotwari System
C. Mahalwari System
D. Jagirdari System
List II: (Key Characteristics)
i. Revenue settlement made directly with individual cultivators
ii. Revenue settlement made with the village community or estate
iii. Land granted by native rulers to chieftains in return for military/administrative service
iv. Revenue collected by intermediaries holding permanent property rights
List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
List I: (Land Revenue Systems)
A. Zamindari System
B. Ryotwari System
C. Mahalwari System
D. Jagirdari System
List II: (Key Characteristics)
i. Revenue settlement made directly with individual cultivators
ii. Revenue settlement made with the village community or estate
iii. Land granted by native rulers to chieftains in return for military/administrative service
iv. Revenue collected by intermediaries holding permanent property rights
Explanation
British land revenue systems varied significantly across regions. The Zamindari system relied on intermediaries with permanent rights, whereas the Ryotwari system involved direct settlements with individual cultivators. The Mahalwari system treated the entire village community as a unit for revenue. Jagirdari involved land grants to chieftains in exchange for administrative or military services to the ruling powers.
Q9. In which year was the comprehensive Rajasthan Tenancy Act, providing statutory rights to different classes of tenants, enacted?
Explanation
To protect the rights of various classes of tenants and ensure stability in rural land relations, Rajasthan enacted a comprehensive Tenancy Act. This legislation was formally passed in 1955. It provided statutory rights and protection against arbitrary evictions, representing a significant step in the state’s efforts to reform land tenure and improve the socio-economic status of farmers.
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding tenancy reforms in India:
I. Regulation of rent was introduced to cap the rent payable by tenants to landowners, usually at one-fifth to one-fourth of the gross produce.
II. Security of tenure aimed to prevent arbitrary eviction of tenants by landlords.
III. Conferment of ownership rights allowed tenants to purchase the leased land upon payment of a specified compensation.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Regulation of rent was introduced to cap the rent payable by tenants to landowners, usually at one-fifth to one-fourth of the gross produce.
II. Security of tenure aimed to prevent arbitrary eviction of tenants by landlords.
III. Conferment of ownership rights allowed tenants to purchase the leased land upon payment of a specified compensation.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Tenancy reforms in India focused on three main pillars to protect cultivators. Rent regulation capped payments at reasonable levels of gross produce. Security of tenure prevented landlords from evicting tenants without legal cause. Finally, the conferment of ownership rights allowed tenants to eventually purchase the land they tilled, fostering a sense of stability and encouraging agricultural investment.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (c) 18.3 percent |
| 2 | (a) The share of agriculture in GDP has declined heavily, but the proportion of the workforce dependent on it has not declined commensurately. |
| 3 | (c) Its contribution to India’s total export earnings has been steadily increasing and currently stands above 50 percent. |
| 4 | (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false. |
| 5 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 6 | (b) Madras |
| 7 | (d) Ceiling on Land Holdings - Maximizing the land owned by large corporate farmers. |
| 8 | (a) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 9 | (c) 1955 |
| 10 | (d) I, II and III |
Key facts from Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms
- Agriculture and allied sectors contribute about 18.3 per cent of India’s Gross Value Added.
- Madras was the first State in independent India to legislate for the abolition of the Zamindari system.
- The Rajasthan Tenancy Act, which gave statutory rights to tenants, was passed in 1955.
- Consolidation of holdings, which joins fragmented parcels into a compact block, has been most successful in Punjab and Haryana.
- The 97th Amendment Act, 2011 gave constitutional status to cooperative societies.
- M. S. Swaminathan is the chief architect of the Green Revolution, whose first phase was mainly confined to wheat and rice.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms?
This page has 99 practice MCQs on Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the objective of consolidation of landholdings?
To amalgamate fragmented parcels of land into a single compact block. It reduces the cost of cultivation, saves time and makes irrigation and mechanisation easier, and it has worked best in Punjab and Haryana.
Which amendment gave constitutional status to cooperative societies?
The 97th Amendment Act of 2011. It made the right to form cooperative societies a fundamental right under Article 19 and added a Directive Principle on promoting them.
Who is the father of the Green Revolution in India?
M. S. Swaminathan is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Green Revolution in India. The first phase, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, was largely limited to wheat and rice in irrigated areas.