Prelims 2024 · Q59
MediumConsider the following statements:
- 1.India is a member of the International Grains Council.
- 2.A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) 1 only
Only the first statement holds: India is one of the countries that make up the International Grains Council (IGC). The second fails, because the IGC is a forum for co-operation, information-sharing and market transparency, and belonging to it is not a condition for exporting or importing rice or wheat.
- ✓ 1. The IGC lists India among the parties to the Grains Trade Convention, 1995, which make up its membership. India was moved in 2003 from the list of importing members to the list of exporters.
- ✗ 2. The IGC seeks to further co-operation in grains trade and improve market transparency through information-sharing and analysis. It does not license trade, so non-members can still export or import grains.
Remember · India is an IGC member (Grains Trade Convention, 1995); the IGC promotes grain market transparency and does not control who may trade.
Sources
- International Grains Council: About Us ↗ “Membership of the IGC consists of all the parties to the Grains Trade Convention, 1995 (GTC): Algeria Argentina Australia Canada Côte d'Ivoire Cuba European Union India Iran (Islamic Rep.) … These objectives are sought by improving market transparency through information-sharing, analysis and consultation on market and policy developments.”
- PIB (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution), 17 July 2003: India rated as foodgrains exporter by IGC ↗ “The International Grains Council (IGC) has included India in the list of exporting countries from the list of its importing members.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·