Agriculture Economy

Explanation

In India, the pricing of chemical fertilizers is influenced by the market rather than being set by the Government. Ammonia, a key component of urea, is typically derived from natural gas. Additionally, sulphur, which is essential for phosphoric acid fertilizer production, is commonly obtained as a by-product from oil refineries. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3, not 1.

Explanation

In India, public investment in agriculture refers to government spending that directly supports the agricultural sector. Examples of such investments include setting Minimum Support Prices for agricultural produce, digitizing Primary Agriculture Credit Societies, and establishing cold storage facilities. Social Capital development, free electricity supply to farmers, and waiver of agricultural loans are not considered public investments in agriculture as they involve subsidies or financial aid rather than direct government spending. Therefore, the correct answer is option (c) which includes points 2, 3, and 6 only.

Explanation

According to economic surveys, the government's unlimited procurement is restricted to wheat and rice only, not all cereals. Even after the PM-AASHA reforms, procurement does not cover all cereals like Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi despite having MSP. Therefore, Statement 1 is incorrect. Market dynamics, influenced by supply and demand, can cause the market price of cereals and pulses to exceed the MSP. Market participants are not obligated by law to maintain prices below or above the MSP. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Explanation

In the comparison between District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and Scheduled Commercial Banks, it is observed that Scheduled Commercial Banks have more deposits and branches, and are required to allocate a portion of their loans to agriculture under priority sector lending. This makes the first statement incorrect. However, the second statement is accurate as one of the key functions of DCCBs is to provide funds to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

Explanation

In recent times, the price of rice in India has been influenced by several factors and policies. These include the Minimum Support Price, the government's trading activities, its stockpiling efforts, and consumer subsidies. According to the Economic Survey 2019-20 Volume 2, all of these actions have had an impact on the price of rice in the country.

Explanation

The Kisan Credit Card scheme provides short-term credit support to farmers for specific purposes. These include working capital for farm asset maintenance, the purchase of agricultural machinery like harvesters and tractors, and covering post-harvest expenses. However, funds for consumption needs of farm households and construction of personal homes are not covered under this scheme. Therefore, option (b) - 1, 3, and 4 only - is the correct answer.

Explanation

The National IPR Policy 2016 moved the Copyright Office and the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) from the HRD ministry to the commerce ministry. According to the Indian Patent Act, plants and animals, including seeds, varieties, and species, are not patentable. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect, and statement 3 is correct. The correct answer is option (c).

Explanation

In the Economic Survey 2017-18 Volume 2, the economic cost of food grains for the Food Corporation of India includes three main components: the Minimum Support Price and any bonuses paid to farmers, procurement incidentals, and distribution costs. Therefore, the correct answer is option (c) - procurement incidentals and distribution costs.

Explanation

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recently declared the Minimum Support Price for various crops. Coffee was not included in the list of crops mentioned in the question, so option 3 is incorrect. By process of elimination, the correct answer is option (b), which includes barley, finger millet, groundnut, and sesamum.

Explanation

In India, following the liberalization of economic policies in 1991, there have been notable changes. The share of agriculture in the GDP did not increase significantly. However, the share of India's exports in world trade did increase, along with a rise in FDI inflows and a substantial increase in India's foreign exchange reserves. The correct answer based on these changes is option (b), which includes the second, third, and fourth statements. The economic survey of 2015-16 also supports this conclusion, noting the overall positive trend despite potential fluctuations in FDI and export shares in certain years due to global financial crises.

Explanation

The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is compulsory for automotive tyres and tubes, as stated on the BIS website. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued under an Indian Act, not by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It is unlikely that the FAO would be involved in such specific certifications. Thus, statement 1 is correct, while statement 2 is incorrect.

Explanation

The Government of India promotes the use of 'Neem-coated Urea' in agriculture because the Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil. Studies have shown that Neem oil, when coated onto urea, acts as an effective nitrification inhibitor, reducing the release of nitrogen by about 10 to 15 percent. This helps in conserving the fertilizer and improving its efficiency in agricultural practices.

Explanation

The 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' aims to help farmers by providing insurance coverage for various crop-related risks. This scheme addresses the need for localized calamity assessments, including events like hailstorms, unseasonal rains, landslides, and inundation. It also covers post-harvest losses caused by calamities such as cyclones and unseasonal rains. However, the scheme requires farmers to pay a uniform premium of two percent for kharif crops, 1.5 percent for rabi crops, and 5 percent for annual commercial and horticultural crops. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct in the given options, while Statement 1 is incorrect.

Explanation

The shift from using wooden ploughs to steel ploughs in agriculture is an instance of capital-augmenting technological progress. This type of progress enhances the efficiency of existing capital goods.

Explanation

The main objective of the 'Seed Village Concept' is to involve farmers in training for producing high-quality seeds. This initiative aims to ensure that quality seeds are readily available to others at the right time and at an affordable price. The concept involves selecting specific areas suitable for growing a particular crop and cultivating a single variety. Scientists help identify suitable areas for seed production, and universities provide foundation/certified seeds or labeled seeds through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Research Stations at a 50% subsidy to farmers in those areas. Farmers then use these quality seeds to produce their own seeds in a small area for personal use, focusing on crops like rice, pulses, and oilseeds.

Explanation

In India, the regulation of agricultural product markets falls under the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts enacted by individual states.

Explanation

The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is decided by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Explanation

In the context of ensuring food and nutritional security in India, increasing the 'Seed Replacement Rates' for different crops is important for meeting future food production goals. However, there are constraints hindering its widespread adoption. These include the absence of a National Seeds Policy, limited involvement of private sector seed companies in providing quality seeds for vegetables and horticultural crops, and a shortage of quality seeds for low-value, high-volume crops. The correct answer to the question is option (b) - constraint 3 only.

Explanation

Priority Sector Lending by banks in India includes lending to agriculture, micro and small enterprises, and weaker sections of society. It also covers areas like micro credit, education, and housing.

Explanation

Micro-irrigation can help in reducing the loss of fertilizers and nutrients, as well as in preventing the depletion of groundwater in certain farming areas. However, it is important to note that micro-irrigation is not the sole method of irrigation used in dry land farming.

Explanation

In India, commercial banks hold the largest share in providing credit for agriculture and allied activities, accounting for 60% of the total disbursement. Cooperative banks follow with a 30% share, while Regional Rural Banks and other institutions make up the remaining 10%.

Explanation

In India, the government sets the Statutory Minimum Price for sugarcane each sugar season, and both sugar and sugarcane are considered essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act. The correct option is both statements (c).

Explanation

During its 53rd meeting on May 29, 2007, the National Development Council (NDC) adopted a resolution to establish a Food Security Mission focused on increasing rice, wheat, and pulses production. The goal was to boost rice production by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons, and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2011-12). This initiative falls under the Ministry of Agriculture and involves highlighting specific districts and crop varieties for targeted efforts.

Explanation

Norman Ernest Borlaug, known as the pioneer of the Green Revolution in India, hailed from the United States of America.

Explanation

In the realm of food-grain procurement, the Government of India operates on a set procurement target rather than an unlimited procurement policy. If there is no specific target in place, procurement agencies such as the FCI are permitted to purchase whatever crops farmers offer for sale at the Minimum Support Price. The Minimum Support Price is set for approximately 22 different crops. Additionally, the central government provides wheat and rice to states and Union Territories at uniform central issue prices for distribution through the Targeted Public Distribution System.

Explanation

In India, the country's dependence on oilseed imports persists due to various reasons. Farmers are inclined to grow food grains due to the lucrative support prices they receive. Additionally, the cultivation of oilseed crops heavily relies on rainfall, further contributing to the import dependency. Moreover, the potential of oils derived from tree seeds and rice bran remains untapped, adding to the import reliance. Importing oilseeds is also considered more cost-effective than cultivating these crops domestically. Therefore, the correct statements among the given options are 1, 2, and 3.

Explanation

During the three-year period from 1997-1998 to 1999-2000, marine products were the commodity that generated the highest value in agricultural exports for India. Tea and spices followed as the next significant export items in terms of value.

Explanation

In the context of the Indian economy, the prices set by the government for purchasing food grains to support the public distribution system and to create reserves are referred to as procurement prices. They are the prices at which the government will buy the quantity of produce that farmers are willing to sell if private traders are not purchasing the goods.

Explanation

The Terminator Seed Technology involves inserting a specific genetic sequence into a seed's DNA, which can be activated to make the seed and the resulting crop sterile. This prevents farmers from saving seeds for future planting, leading them to buy new seeds at a high price. Indian farmers are against this technology because it results in sexually sterile plants that cannot produce viable seeds.

Explanation

Organic farming is a method of growing crops that does not rely on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, or livestock feed additives. It is considered eco-friendly because it avoids the use of chemicals that can harm the environment.

Explanation

Regional rural banks were created in accordance with the RRB Act of 1976 to offer financial assistance to agricultural and rural ventures. They extend credit to farmers through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, commercial banks, RRBs, and private money lenders.

Explanation

In India, rural incomes are typically lower than urban incomes due to several factors. Firstly, a significant number of farmers have limited education and lack knowledge about modern farming practices. Additionally, the prices of agricultural goods are usually lower than those of manufactured products. Furthermore, there has been a lack of substantial investment in the agricultural sector compared to the industrial sector. These reasons collectively contribute to the disparity in income levels between rural and urban areas.

Explanation

According to Article 269 of the Indian Constitution, taxes on income that is not related to agriculture are to be imposed and collected by the Government of India, and then distributed between the Union and the States. Entry 46 in the state list of the Seventh Schedule grants authority to the state governments to levy agricultural income tax.

Explanation

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) aims to achieve several objectives. These include stabilizing agricultural prices, ensuring a meaningful real income level for farmers, and protecting consumers by providing essential agricultural commodities at reasonable rates through the public distribution system. The goal is not to guarantee the highest price for farmers but to establish a balanced and integrated price structure for agricultural commodities.

Explanation

The reason for the occupational structure in India remaining consistent over time is that the investment focus has been on industries that require a lot of capital. This has kept people engaged in the same types of occupations.