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.
Q61. Read the following steps in the determination and announcement of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and select the correct chronological order from the options given below: I. CACP Recommendation II. Consultations with State Governments III. Approval by CCEA IV. Formal Notification
Explanation
The process of determining the Minimum Support Price begins with the recommendations made by the CACP. These recommendations are followed by consultations with various state governments to understand regional concerns. The proposal is then sent for approval to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Once approved, the government issues a formal notification announcing the MSP before the sowing season begins.
Q62. Which of the following statements regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime in India is incorrect?
Explanation
The Minimum Support Price serves as a safety net to protect farmers from distress sales during price crashes. It is announced before the sowing season, and agencies like the Food Corporation of India handle the procurement of staples like wheat and paddy. However, farmers do not currently have a legally enforceable statutory right to demand the MSP for all their agricultural produce.
Q63. As of recent policy norms, the Government of India announces the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for how many mandated crops (excluding the Fair and Remunerative Price for Sugarcane)?
Explanation
Under the current policy framework, the Government of India announces the Minimum Support Price for twenty-two mandated crops. These include fourteen Kharif crops, six Rabi crops, and two other commercial crops. Sugarcane is treated differently, with the government announcing a Fair and Remunerative Price instead. This system ensures a level of price certainty for a wide variety of agricultural products.
Q64. 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): The Minimum Support Price (MSP) system provides a guaranteed price to farmers, protecting them from market fluctuations. Reason (R): If the market price for an MSP- notified crop falls below the announced MSP, government agencies procure the crop at the MSP, thereby shielding the farmer from distress sales.
Explanation
The Minimum Support Price system is designed to provide a price floor for farmers, ensuring they receive a guaranteed minimum for their crops despite market volatility. This is achieved through government procurement; if open market prices fall below the MSP, state agencies step in to buy the produce. This mechanism effectively shields farmers from potential financial losses due to unexpected price fluctuations.
Q65. What was the primary historical objective behind the enactment of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts by various state governments?
Explanation
State governments enacted Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts to regulate the sale of farm produce. The primary goal was to protect farmers from being exploited by powerful middlemen and private traders. By requiring sales to take place in regulated market yards through transparent auctions, the system aimed to ensure that farmers received a fair price based on clear market discovery.
Q66. Which of the following is widely considered the most critical flaw that developed in the traditional APMC mandi system over time?
Explanation
Over time, the APMC system developed significant inefficiencies that harmed farmers. The most critical flaw was the cartelization among licensed traders and commission agents within the mandis. These groups often worked together to suppress prices during auctions, leading to poor price realization for farmers. This lack of competition effectively defeated the original purpose of the regulated market system.
Q67. Match the Agricultural Marketing Reform Concepts in List I with their Key Features in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Marketing Reforms) A. Model APMC Act, 2003 B. e-NAM C. GrAMs (Gramin Agricultural Markets) D. Essential Commodities Act List II: (Key Features) i. Pan-India electronic trading portal ii. Allowed establishment of private market yards and direct purchase iii. Upgrading rural haats into formal retail agricultural markets iv. Historical tool used to control stock limits and prevent hoarding
Explanation
Agricultural marketing has seen various reforms over time. The Model APMC Act of 2003 allowed for private market yards and direct purchases from farmers. e-NAM is a pan-India electronic portal for online trading. GrAMs are aimed at upgrading rural haats into formal markets. The Essential Commodities Act is a historical tool used by the government to control stock limits.
Q68. Which of the following is an incorrect pair regarding the provisions advocated in the Model APMC Act of 2003?
Explanation
The Model APMC Act of 2003 proposed several reforms to modernize agricultural trade, such as allowing direct marketing, providing a legal framework for contract farming, and permitting the establishment of private markets. However, it did not empower traders to unilaterally decide the market fee. Market fees are typically regulated and collected by the market committees to fund infrastructure and services.
Q69. Consider the following structural reforms suggested to improve agricultural marketing in India: I. Establishment of a unified national market. II. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to enhance bargaining power. III. Deregulation of the horticulture sector from APMC restrictions. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Improving agricultural marketing in India requires several structural changes. These include establishing a unified national market to allow for seamless trade across state borders and promoting Farmer Producer Organizations to give small farmers better bargaining power. Furthermore, deregulating certain sectors, like horticulture, from restrictive APMC rules can help create more flexible and efficient supply chains for perishable goods.
Q70. In the context of agricultural marketing reforms, what does the acronym e-NAM stand for?
Explanation
In the context of modernizing agricultural trade in India, the acronym e-NAM stands for the Electronic National Agricultural Market. It represents a significant shift toward digital transformation in the sector, aiming to integrate disparate local markets into a single, transparent, and competitive national platform for the benefit of both farmers and buyers across the entire country.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
61
(a) I, II, III, IV
62
(a) Farmers have a legally enforceable statutory right to demand MSP for all crops they produce.
63
(b) 22
64
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
65
(a) To protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen by ensuring transparent price discovery in regulated market yards.
66
(c) Cartelization among licensed traders and commission agents leading to poor price realization for farmers.
67
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv
68
(c) Market Fee - Empowering traders to unilaterally decide the mandi fee charged to farmers.
69
(d) I, II and III
70
(d) Electronic National Agricultural Market
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.
