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.
Q81. Read the following steps involved in the implementation and transfer of funds under the PM-KISAN scheme and select the correct logical order from the options given below: I. Aadhaar authentication of the beneficiary data. II. Identification and registration of eligible farmers by State/UT governments. III. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of installments into the bank accounts by the Central Government. IV. Uploading of verified beneficiary data on the PM-KISAN portal.
Explanation
Implementation of the PM-KISAN scheme follows a systematic process starting with the identification and registration of eligible farmers by state governments. The verified data is then uploaded onto the central PM-KISAN portal. After this, Aadhaar authentication is performed to ensure the accuracy of the beneficiary records. Finally, the central government transfers the funds directly into the bank accounts.
Q82. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the scope of beneficiaries under the PM-KISAN scheme?
Explanation
The PM-KISAN scheme is designed to cover all landholding farmer families in the country, regardless of the size of their holdings or the types of crops they cultivate. While the scheme is broad in scope, it does include specific exclusion criteria for certain categories of individuals, such as higher-income professionals and holders of constitutional posts, to ensure targeting.
Q83. Which of the following categories of individuals is not excluded from receiving benefits under the PM-KISAN scheme?
Explanation
PM-KISAN has several exclusion categories, including institutional landholders, individuals holding constitutional posts, and those who pay income tax. However, marginal farmers owning less than one hectare of cultivable land are a primary target group for the scheme. They are not excluded and are among the most significant beneficiaries of this direct income support program.
Q84. 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): PM-KISAN is essentially a price support mechanism similar to the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Reason (R): PM-KISAN provides direct, untied income support to farmers regardless of the crops they grow or the market prices.
Explanation
PM-KISAN is not a price support mechanism like the Minimum Support Price; rather, it is a direct income support scheme. Unlike MSP, which is tied to the sale of specific crops, PM- KISAN provides a fixed amount of untied cash to farmers. This support is given regardless of the market prices or the specific crops grown, providing a stable financial cushion.
Q85. What is the maximum premium payable by farmers for Kharif, Rabi, and Annual Commercial/Horticultural crops respectively under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)?
Explanation
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana offers crop insurance with low premium rates for farmers. For all Kharif crops, the maximum premium payable by the farmer is two percent of the sum insured. For Rabi crops, the rate is one and a half percent. For annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium is capped at five percent.
Q86. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched by merging and replacing which two pre-existing crop insurance schemes?
Explanation
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched in 2016 to provide a more comprehensive and affordable insurance solution for farmers. It was created by merging and replacing two older schemes: the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme and the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme. This consolidation aimed to remove inconsistencies and improve the overall efficiency of crop insurance in India.
Q87. Match the Crop Categories under PMFBY listed in List I with the Farmer’s Premium Rates in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Crop Categories) A. Kharif Food & Oilseed Crops B. Rabi Food & Oilseed Crops C. Annual Commercial Crops D. Annual Horticultural Crops List II: (Premium Rates) i. 5% ii. 2% iii. 1.5% iv. 5%
Explanation
Under PMFBY, premium rates are categorized by the type of crop. Kharif food and oilseed crops carry a two percent premium rate for farmers. Rabi food and oilseeds are set at one and a half percent. Both annual commercial crops and annual horticultural crops have a higher premium rate of five percent, reflecting their higher value and risk profiles.
Q88. Read the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and select the correct answer from the options given below: Statement I: At the time of its launch in 2016, PMFBY was mandatory for farmers who had taken institutional crop loans (loanee farmers). Statement II: In 2020, the Government of India made PMFBY voluntary for all farmers, including loanee farmers.
Explanation
When the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was initially launched in 2016, it was mandatory for all farmers who had taken institutional crop loans. However, in a significant policy shift in 2020, the government made the scheme voluntary for all farmers, including those with bank loans. This change was intended to give farmers more flexibility in managing their risks and financial choices.
Q89. Consider the following yield losses due to non-preventable risks covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): I. Natural fire and lightning. II. Pests and diseases. III. Inundation and cyclone. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
PMFBY provides coverage against a wide range of non-preventable risks that can lead to yield losses. These include natural fires and lightning, as well as damage caused by pests and diseases. Furthermore, the scheme covers losses resulting from inundation, cyclones, and other severe weather events. This comprehensive coverage is intended to provide financial stability to farmers facing unpredictable natural calamities.
Q90. The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme was inaugurated in 2015 by the Prime Minister at which location in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Soil Health Card scheme was officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister in 2015 at Suratgarh, located in the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. The scheme’s launch in this agriculturally significant region emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting scientific farming practices and improving soil fertility through regular testing and the balanced use of nutrients nationwide.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
81
(a) II, IV, I, III
82
(c) All landholding farmers, subject to specific exclusion criteria.
83
(d) Marginal farmers owning less than 1 hectare of cultivable land.
84
(d) A is false but R is true.
85
(b) 2%, 1.5%, and 5%
86
(d) National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS (MNAIS)
87
(a) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv
88
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
89
(d) I, II and III
90
(d) Suratgarh
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.
