MSP, APMC & Procurement — Set 16
Indian Agriculture · MSP, APMC और खरीद · Questions 151–160 of 160
Bharat Rice, Bharat Dal, and Bharat Atta were sold through which agencies?
Correct Answer: B. NAFED, NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar
Bharat brand subsidized food staples were sold through NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation), NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation), and Kendriya Bhandar retail outlets. These were also sold at mobile vans and retail stores to bring down retail food prices during inflation spikes. Stocks were sourced from FCI buffer stocks. The scheme was temporarily introduced to combat food price inflation.
The annual foodgrain production in India (2022-23) crossed which milestone?
Correct Answer: C. 300 million tonnes
India's food grain production crossed 300 million tonnes for the first time in 2022-23, reaching approximately 323 million tonnes according to advance estimates. This reflects decades of agricultural growth since the Green Revolution era production of about 100 million tonnes. The milestone was attributed to improved seed technology, irrigation, and farming practices. India is now one of the world's largest food grain producers.
Which state accounts for the largest share of paddy procurement under MSP?
Correct Answer: B. Punjab
Punjab has historically accounted for the largest share of paddy (rice) procurement in the central pool, contributing 25-30% of total national paddy procurement in most years. Punjab's highly developed mandi network, institutional procurement infrastructure, and high paddy productivity drive this dominance. However, this concentration has also led to groundwater depletion concerns, prompting efforts to diversify crops in Punjab.
The CACP was established under which act?
Correct Answer: C. CACP is an executive body not established under any specific act
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) is not established under any specific parliamentary legislation. It is an executive advisory body established by a government resolution in 1965 (initially as Agricultural Prices Commission). It operates as an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Since it is not a statutory body, its recommendations are advisory in nature.
PM-KISAN was initially announced for which category of farmers before being expanded?
Correct Answer: C. Small and marginal farmers with less than 2 hectares land
PM-KISAN was initially announced in the interim budget of February 2019 for small and marginal farmers with up to 2 hectares of land. After the BJP's victory in 2019 general elections, the scheme was expanded to cover all farmer families regardless of land size. The expansion significantly increased the number of beneficiaries from approximately 12 crore to the current 11+ crore registered farmers. The total cost increased proportionally.
What is the 'price spread' in agricultural marketing?
Correct Answer: B. Difference between price received by farmer and price paid by consumer
Price spread is the difference between the consumer retail price and the farm gate price received by the farmer for the same commodity. A high price spread indicates high marketing costs, intermediary margins, and supply chain inefficiencies. Reducing price spread increases the farmer's share of the consumer rupee. E-NAM, direct marketing channels, and FPOs help reduce price spread.
The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) was established to promote:
Correct Answer: B. Exports of cooperative-sourced agricultural and processed products
National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) was established to promote exports of agricultural commodities sourced from cooperative organizations. It aims to create a direct link between India's farming cooperatives and global buyers. NCEL focuses on value-added exports of processed food products, spices, and other agri-commodities from cooperative networks. It works under the Ministry of Cooperation established in 2021.
The Ministry of Cooperation was created in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 2021
The Ministry of Cooperation was created in July 2021 as a separate ministry to strengthen the cooperative movement in India. Amit Shah was appointed as the first Union Minister for Cooperation. The ministry oversees NAFED, NCCF, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, and other agricultural cooperatives. Its creation reflects the government's emphasis on the cooperative sector as a vehicle for agri-marketing and rural development.
Aadhaar-based eKYC is mandatory for PM-KISAN beneficiaries because:
Correct Answer: B. It ensures only genuine farmer landholders receive benefits and removes ghost beneficiaries
Aadhaar-based eKYC is mandatory under PM-KISAN to authenticate that the registered beneficiary is genuinely a landholding farmer with a valid bank account. The eKYC process has been used to weed out ineligible beneficiaries including government employees, income tax payers, and those without cultivable land. Several crore fraudulent registrations were removed through eKYC verification drives. This ensures fiscal discipline in the scheme.
The overarching goal of MSP policy in India is to:
Correct Answer: B. Ensure remunerative prices to farmers while maintaining food security for consumers
The overarching goal of MSP policy is to provide remunerative prices to farmers to incentivize production and ensure food security for the nation, while also protecting consumers from extreme price spikes. MSP acts as a safety net for farmers and a signal for production planning. The government balances farmer welfare (higher MSP) against fiscal costs of procurement and consumer price implications. Achieving this balance is the central challenge of India's agricultural price policy.