Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Cooperative farming.

Key Points

• Efficiency and effectiveness are two wings of Productivity.
• These two are essential for a productive industry.
• Low productivity occurs due to lack of adequate machinery, lack of finances for farmers, lack of good quality seeds and fertilizers and ownership of land.
• Other factors include:
  • Inadequate inputs availability
  • Sub-division and fragmentation of land holdings
  • Poor finance and marketing facilities
• The co-operatives and other institutional agencies have not been able to eliminate the village money-lenders.
• Storage facilities for farmers are not still available to preserve their agricultural products for a better price.

The correct answer is Anupriti yojana.

• Under Anupriti yojana schemes, Rajasthan Government provides financial incentives to SC / ST candidates passing the all India Civil Services examination and State Civil Services examination.

​Key Points

• Rajasthan Anuprati Yojana
  • The Rajasthan Government has launched the Rajasthan Anuprati Yojana for the meritorious students of minority families.
  • It covers the residents of Rajasthan State who belong to SC / ST / Special Backward Class and general category BPL families.
  • The approval scheme was launched by the state government in January 2005.
  • In the year 2012, according to the changed scheme, the major changes made in this scheme are as follows: -
  • The objective of the scheme: 
    • It covers BPL of Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes / Special Backward Classes / Other Backward Classes and General Classes of Rajasthan State. 
    • The talented candidates of the families are given various incentives for competitive exams like Indian Civil Service, Sasthajan Civil Service, IIT, IIM, CPMT, NIT. 
    • It also encourages financial aid for the preparation of selection in state engineering and medical etc.

Additional Information

• Rajasthan Anuprati Yojana Eligibility: 
  • Native of Rajasthan
  • Those candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes / Special Backward Classes whose parents/guardians do not have an annual income of more than 2.00 lakhs (Rupees two lakhs).
  • Other backward classes and general category BPL (Including state BPL) member of the family.
  • The candidate must have passed the prescribed stage of the competitive examination or passed the entrance examination and got admission to the listed educational institutions.
  • Should not have been working in the State Service in the State and Subordinate Services (Joint Competitive) examination conducted by Rajasthan Public Service Commission.
  • For admission in state engineering / medical colleges of the state, 60 percent marks in class 10 + 2 should be awarded.
• Incentives: 
  • The details of the incentive amount to be given at various levels under this scheme are as follows: - 

The correct answer is 2 only.

Key Points

• Indian Agriculture:
  • ​The share of agriculture in the gross domestic product (GDP) has reached almost 20 per cent for the first time in the last 17 years, making it the sole bright spot in GDP performance during 2020-21, according to the Economic Survey 2020-2021.​ Hence statement 1 is not correct.
  • The resilience of the farming community in the face of adversities made agriculture the only sector to have clocked a positive growth of 3.4 per cent at constant prices in 2020-21 when other sectors slid.
  • The share of agriculture in GDP increased to 19.9 per cent in 2020-21 from 17.8 per cent in 2019-20. The last time the contribution of the agriculture sector in GDP was at 20 per cent was in 2003-04.
• Dependence on monsoon:
  • Reliance on seasonal rainfall hampers productivity. Additionally, change in climatic conditions and erratic weather patterns such as cyclones and droughts can impact the yields of agricultural crops.
  • The growth of India’s agriculture sector has been dependent on monsoons, and as a result, it has been volatile. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • The government is now encouraging micro-irrigation to improve water usage/efficiency.
• Government initiatives:
  • Improve soil fertility on a sustainable basis through the soil health card scheme.
  • Provide improved access to irrigation and enhanced water efficiency through Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
  • Support organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY).
  • Creation of a unified national agriculture market to boost the income of farmers.
  • To mitigate risk in the agriculture sector, “Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY) has been launched for implementation from Kharif 2016.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Key Points

• Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
  • The international agricultural research system, mainly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has been a useful ally of the
    national system. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • However, it has undergone significant change, in terms of funding, organization and research thrusts. 
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • It was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • It is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi. With 102 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country, this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
  • It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)
  • KVK is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). The first KVK was established in 1974 at Puducherry. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
  • The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development.
  • It aims at assessment of location-specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises, through technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations.
  • KVKs also produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock) and make them available to farmers.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Key Points

• Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy.
• Over the years, there has been a continuous decline in the share of the agriculture and allied activities sector to total GDP from around 52% in FY1951 to around 14% in FY2014.
• Agriculture is the main source of employment generation in India.
• It still provides more than 50% employment. In absolute terms, the working population engaged in the agriculture sector increased from 97.2 million to 234.1 million during 1950-2011.
• In India, the farming community uses the mixed crop-livestock farming system — cattle, goats, fowl are the widely held species.
• Livestock production provides increased stability in income, food security, transport, fuel, and nutrition for the family without disrupting other food-producing activities.
• The distribution of livestock in India:
  • Poultry accounts for the largest share with 58 per cent followed by cattle and buffaloes (24 per cent), goats and sheep (16 per cent), pigs (1 per cent).
  • Other animals which include camels, asses, horses, ponies, and mules are in the lowest rung. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• In the fisheries sector, presently, fish production from inland sources contributes about 64 per cent to the total value of fish production, and the balance of 36 per cent comes from the marine sector (sea and oceans).
• Today total fish production accounts for 0.8 per cent of the total GDP. In India, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are major fish-producing states. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.