Prelims · Economy & social development · 37 questions

Agriculture economy, MSP & food security

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

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Prelims 2026 · Q28

Easy Provisional key

Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?

1.Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
2.Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
3.Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)

Select the answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) 3 only

RAD is the NMSA component for rainfed areas. It takes an area-based, 'watershed plus' approach and promotes integrated farming systems that combine crops with horticulture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, so that farm incomes rise and the risk from erratic rainfall is spread. It works against monoculture and has nothing to do with irrigated rice.

✗ 1. RAD pushes diversification by integrating several farm enterprises; monoculture would increase, not reduce, the climate risk in rainfed areas.
✗ 2. RAD is meant for rainfed areas; expanding rice in irrigated regions is outside its scope.
✓ 3. RAD introduces integrated farming systems with crops, horticulture, livestock, fishery and forestry, plus soil-health-based nutrient management, to raise productivity and cushion climatic risk.

Remember · NMSA (one of 8 NAPCC missions) components: RAD, Soil Health Management, Sub-Mission on Agroforestry, National Bamboo Mission, CCSAMMN. RAD = integrated farming in a 'watershed plus' framework.

Sources

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare), Components – Rainfed Area Development ↗ “This component will introduce appropriate farming systems by integrating multiple components of agriculture such as crops, horticulture, livestock, fishery, forestry with agro based income generating activities and value addition.”
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare), home page ↗ “National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) has been formulated for enhancing agricultural productivity especially in rainfed areas focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management and synergizing resource conservation.”

Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2026 · Q38

Easy Provisional key

At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and “Blue Transformation”.

Which of the following combinations about the “Four Betters” proposed by FAO for “Blue Transformation” is correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life

FAO's Blue Transformation Roadmap is built around the 'four betters': better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life. Option (b) is the only one that lists all four correctly.

✗ (a) 'Better ocean' is not one of the four betters; the fourth is a better life.
✓ (b) Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life are the four betters that FAO links to the Blue Transformation Roadmap.
✗ (c) 'Better coral reefs' replaces better production, which is the first of the four betters.
✗ (d) Better estuaries and better mangrove vegetation are not among the four betters, which are about production, nutrition, environment and life.

Remember · FAO's Blue Transformation Roadmap: the four betters are better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.