UPSC 2025. Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022-23:

1. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world. — CORRECT
2. More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India. — CORRECT
3. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India. — CORRECT

Answer: (d) I, II and III

Remember: Turmeric: India No. 1 producer and exporter · 30+ varieties · Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, TN · National Turmeric Board (2023).

UPSC 2024. Consider the following plants: 1. Groundnut 2. Horse-gram 3. Soybean. How many of the above belong to the pea family?

Answer: (c) All three

Remember: Legumes: all pulses + groundnut + soybean + horse-gram + moong + cowpea. They fix nitrogen.

UPSC 2022. Consider the following States: 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Kerala 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Tripura. How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?

Answer: (d) All four States

Remember: Tea: Assam > West Bengal > TN > Kerala; also Kangra, Tripura, Araku, Sikkim. Tea Board = statutory, under Commerce.

UPSC 2021. Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?

Answer: (a) Sugarcane

Remember: Thirstiest: sugarcane, paddy. Most water-wise: millets (bajra, jowar, ragi), pulses.

UPSC 2020. “The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is the crop?

Answer: (a) Cotton

Remember: Cotton: 210 frost-free days · 50–100 cm rain · black / regur soil · Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana lead.

UPSC 2025. Statement I: In India, income from allied agricultural activities like poultry farming and wool rearing in rural areas is exempted from any tax. Statement II: In India, rural agricultural land is not considered a capital asset under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Which one of the following is correct?

Answer: (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Remember: Tax-free: agricultural income from land. Taxable: poultry, dairy, fishery, wool. Rural agricultural land ≠ capital asset.

UPSC 2023. Consider the following statements:

1. The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seeds. — CORRECT
2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop. — CORRECT
3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking. — CORRECT

Answer: (c) All three

Remember: MSP: 22 crops, CACP recommends, CCEA approves. Niger = kharif minor oilseed of tribal areas.

UPSC 2020. Consider the following statements:

1. In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India. — WRONG — procurement is limited
2. In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise. — WRONG — markets often go above MSP

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Remember: MSP = a floor price. Big procurement = wheat and rice (FCI). Pulses and oilseeds = capped price support.

UPSC 2017. What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ scheme?

1. It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities. — CORRECT
2. It provides the farmers access to nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce. — CORRECT

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Remember: e-NAM (2016) = online pan-India mandi network · SFAC runs it · quality-based bidding.

UPSC 2015. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the

Answer: (a) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

Remember: FRP (sugarcane) and MSP: CACP recommends → CCEA approves. States may add an SAP.

UPSC 2023. Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the following is correct?

Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Remember: Rainforest: rich vegetation, poor soil (leached, often laterite). Clear the forest and the fertility vanishes in a few seasons.

UPSC 2021. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of

Answer: (b) fissure volcanic rock

Remember: Black soil = Deccan basalt · moisture-holding · cotton · Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Telangana.

UPSC 2018. With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements:

1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capacity. — WRONG — it increases it
2. Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle. — WRONG — soil is central to it
3. Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands. — CORRECT

Answer: (b) 3 only

Remember: Organic matter → holds more water · soil drives the sulphur cycle · long irrigation without drainage → salinity.

UPSC 2013. Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?

1. They are generally red in colour. — CORRECT
2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash. — WRONG — poor in both
3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP. — WRONG — high-rainfall areas
4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils. — CORRECT

Answer: (c) 1 and 4

Remember: Laterite: red · leached (poor in N, K, lime) · rich in iron and aluminium · Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Meghalaya · cashew, tapioca.

UPSC 2014. In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following?

1. Terrace cultivation — NO — it prevents erosion
2. Deforestation — YES
3. Tropical climate — NO — per the answer key

Answer: (b) 2 only

Remember: Erosion causes: deforestation, overgrazing, shifting cultivation, bad ploughing. Remedies: terracing, contour bunding, shelter belts, afforestation.

UPSC 2026. 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 — WRONG — the opposite
2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions — WRONG — wrong area and wrong crop
3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) — CORRECT — this is RAD

Answer: (d) 3 only

Remember: RAD (under NMSA) = rainfed areas · Integrated Farming Systems · diversification to cut climate risk.

UPSC 2022. Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

Answer: (b) Rice

Remember: Paddy = methane (flooding) + nitrous oxide (fertiliser). Livestock = the other big farm methane source.

UPSC 2020. What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture?

1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of the previous crop. — CORRECT
2. Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible. — CORRECT
3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible. — CORRECT

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Remember: Zero tillage: sow into stubble (no burning) · direct-seeded rice · more soil carbon · less fuel and water.

UPSC 2020. What is the use of biochar in farming?

1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming. — CORRECT
2. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. — CORRECT
3. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it enables the growing medium to retain water for a longer time. — CORRECT

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Remember: Biochar: porous charcoal from biomass · holds water and nutrients · houses microbes · stores carbon.

UPSC 2023. Which one of the following best describes the concept of ‘Small Farmer Large Field’?

Answer: (b) Many marginal farmers in an area organise themselves into groups and synchronise and harmonise selected agricultural operations

Remember: SFLF = farmers keep their land, synchronise operations as a group. Contract farming = a company directs the farmers.

UPSC 2025. Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

1. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. — CORRECT
2. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner. — CORRECT

Answer: (c) Both I and II

Remember: Rashtriya Gokul Mission (2014) = indigenous cattle AND buffalo · breed improvement · helps small and landless keepers.

UPSC 2026. Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?

1. It allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritise chemical-free products. — CORRECT
2. It confirms that Eri Silk meets international safety, environmental, and quality standards, enabling its entry into premium eco-conscious markets. — CORRECT

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Remember: Eri = Assam’s non-violent “peace silk” · Oeko-Tex = global chemical-safety label. Muga = golden silk, only India.

UPSC 2008. Which one amongst the following has the largest livestock population in the world?

Answer: (c) India

Remember: India: largest livestock population and largest milk producer. Buffalo give about half of India’s milk.

UPSC 1982. Operation Flood refers to

Answer: (c) Dairy development for increased milk production

Remember: Operation Flood (1970) = White Revolution · NDDB · Kurien · Anand pattern cooperatives.

UPSC 1979. Which of the following cows gives maximum milk yield?

Answer: (b) Holstein

Remember: Most milk: Holstein-Friesian · richest milk: Jersey · best Indian milch breeds: Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar.

UPSC 2024. With reference to the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, consider the following statements:

1. To implement the scheme, the Central Government provides 100% funding. — CORRECT
2. Under the Scheme, Cadastral Maps are digitised. — CORRECT
3. An initiative has been undertaken to transliterate the Records of Rights from local language to any of the languages recognized by the Constitution of India. — CORRECT

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Remember: DILRMP: 100% Central · digitised cadastral maps + Records of Rights · ULPIN · records in any scheduled language.

UPSC 2021. Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of

Answer: (b) developing genetically modified crop plants

Remember: Bollgard = Bt cotton (Monsanto/Mahyco) · GEAC approves GM crops · pink bollworm resistance is the current problem.

UPSC 2020. With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:

1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government. — WRONG — urea’s price is fixed
2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas. — CORRECT
3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries. — CORRECT

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Remember: Urea: price fixed · made from natural gas. P and K: Nutrient Based Subsidy. Sulphur for phosphoric acid comes from refineries.

UPSC 2016. Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?

Answer: (b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil

Remember: Neem-coated urea: slows dissolution (nitrification inhibitor) · better N-use efficiency · stops diversion · 100% since 2015.

UPSC 2020. What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?

1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible. — CORRECT
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible. — WRONG — rock phosphate doesn’t dissolve
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible. — CORRECT
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible. — CORRECT

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

Remember: Fertigation needs water-soluble fertiliser · better uptake · less leaching · can correct alkaline water.