Agriculture — Set 5
Geography · कृषि · Questions 41–50 of 60
Who is known as the 'Father of Green Revolution' in India?
Correct Answer: C. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan
• **Dr. M.S. Swaminathan** = Father of India's Green Revolution, introduced high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice in the 1960s. • **High-Yielding Varieties (HYV)** — the semi-dwarf wheat and rice strains that dramatically boosted India's food production. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Dr. Verghese Kurien: father of White Revolution (milk/Operation Flood); Norman Borlaug: father of the Global Green Revolution, not specifically India; Durgesh Patel: father of Pink Revolution (meat/poultry).
The Green Revolution in India was primarily successful in which crop?
Correct Answer: A. Wheat
• **Wheat** = the crop that saw the most dramatic production increase during India's Green Revolution in the 1960s-70s. • **Semi-dwarf HYV wheat** — the new disease-resistant, high-yielding wheat varieties developed that transformed production. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Pulses: barely benefited from Green Revolution; Cotton: commercial crop, not the focus of Green Revolution food security push; Rice: production increased too, but wheat remained the primary success story.
Which state is the largest producer of Rice in India?
Correct Answer: B. West Bengal
• **West Bengal** = India's largest rice-producing state, with fertile delta soil, high rainfall, and multiple annual harvests. • **Multiple harvests per year** — West Bengal's ability to grow Aus, Aman, and Boro varieties in a single year boosts its total output. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Uttar Pradesh: largest wheat producer, not rice; Punjab: known for rice productivity per hectare but not the largest total; Andhra Pradesh: historically called 'Rice Bowl' but West Bengal leads in total volume.
Kharif crops are generally sown in which months?
Correct Answer: C. June-July
• **Kharif crops sown in June-July** = planted at the onset of the southwest monsoon, requiring hot and humid growing conditions. • **September-October harvest** — the end-of-monsoon period when Kharif crops like rice, cotton, and maize are harvested. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: January-February: peak of Rabi (winter) growing season, not Kharif sowing; October-November: Rabi sowing season, not Kharif; March-April: late Rabi/early Zaid, not Kharif sowing time.
What type of soil is most widely distributed in the northern plains of India?
Correct Answer: D. Alluvial Soil
• **Alluvial soil** = the most widely distributed soil in India, covering ~40% of total land area in the Indo-Gangetic plains. • **~40% of India's land area** — the extent of alluvial soil cover making it India's most agriculturally important soil type. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Black soil: found in Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra/Gujarat), not northern plains; Laterite soil: found in Western Ghats/Peninsular India hillsides; Red soil: found in peninsular India especially Tamil Nadu/Andhra Pradesh.
Which state is the largest producer of Groundnut in India?
Correct Answer: B. Gujarat
• **Gujarat** = India's largest groundnut producer, with the crop grown mainly under Kharif rainfed conditions. • **Kharif rainfed crop** — groundnut's dependence on monsoon rainfall makes Gujarat's semi-arid climate ideal. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Andhra Pradesh: second-largest groundnut producer but behind Gujarat; Rajasthan: arid climate, not primarily a groundnut state; Maharashtra: known for cotton/soyabean, not the top groundnut producer.
Operation Flood is associated with which agricultural sector?
Correct Answer: A. Milk production
• **Operation Flood** = the world's largest dairy development programme that created India's nationwide milk grid under the White Revolution. • **World's largest dairy programme** — Operation Flood's global distinction in scale and impact on milk self-sufficiency. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Irrigation: managed by different ministries/schemes (PMKSY etc.), not Operation Flood; Flood control: handled by disaster management agencies; Fish production: linked to Blue Revolution, not Operation Flood.
Which state is the largest producer of Cotton in India?
Correct Answer: C. Gujarat
• **Gujarat** = India's largest cotton producer, benefiting from its suitable black soil and favourable semi-arid climate. • **Black soil advantage** — Gujarat's Deccan-derived black soil retains moisture perfectly for cotton's long growing season. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Telangana: significant cotton producer but not the largest; Maharashtra: second-largest cotton state but Gujarat leads; Punjab: known for wheat/rice, not cotton production.
Rabi crops are harvested in which months?
Correct Answer: C. April-May
• **Rabi crops harvested in April-May** = winter crops sown in October-November and reaped in spring after the cold season ends. • **October-November sowing** — the Rabi sowing window when wheat, gram, and mustard are planted using residual soil moisture. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: December-January: mid-winter, crops are growing not being harvested; July-August: peak monsoon/Kharif growing season; September-October: Kharif harvest time, not Rabi.
The 'Silver Revolution' refers to the increased production of?
Correct Answer: D. Eggs and Poultry
• **Silver Revolution** = initiative to increase egg and poultry production in India through modernised farming techniques. • **Indira Gandhi** — considered the pioneer who championed poultry development leading to the Silver Revolution. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Milk: linked to White Revolution (Operation Flood); Cotton: linked to Silver Fiber Revolution (different from Silver Revolution); Fish: linked to Blue Revolution, not Silver Revolution.