Economy & Agriculture — Set 9

Correct Answer: B. Tubewells (groundwater) and canals — roughly equal contribution

Haryana's irrigated area is served approximately equally by tubewells (groundwater extraction) and canal irrigation, with tubewell irrigation now exceeding canal irrigation in many districts. Canal irrigation from Bhakra and WYC systems covers mainly northern and central Haryana, while tubewells dominate in western and southern Haryana. The overexploitation of groundwater via tubewells has caused a severe water table decline. Total irrigation covers over 85% of Haryana's net sown area, among the highest in India.

Correct Answer: B. A machine that sows wheat directly into paddy stubble without burning it

Happy Seeder is an agricultural machine that can sow wheat seeds directly into fields with standing paddy stubble without the need to burn the crop residue. It cuts and lifts the straw, sows seeds, and drops the straw back as mulch. This technology eliminates the need for stubble burning that causes severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Haryana government has been subsidizing Happy Seeders and promoting in-situ management of crop residue to prevent stubble burning.

Correct Answer: A. Karnal and Kurukshetra

Districts like Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, and Kaithal in northern Haryana have many blocks classified as 'over-exploited' or 'critical' by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) due to intensive paddy cultivation requiring enormous groundwater irrigation. In over-exploited blocks, annual groundwater extraction exceeds the annual recharge. The water table has fallen by several meters in just 2-3 decades in these areas. Unless paddy cultivation is shifted to less water-intensive crops, the groundwater crisis will worsen.

Correct Answer: B. Ambala

Ambala is famous for manufacturing both scientific instruments (laboratory equipment, microscopes, optical instruments) and surgical instruments. The city has an industrial cluster with hundreds of units in these sectors. Ambala's scientific instrument industry is a major niche export earner. Jalandhar (Punjab) is more famous for sports goods manufacturing, but Ambala also produces some sports equipment.

Correct Answer: B. Chemical-free farming using cow dung/urine preparations without external inputs

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) or Natural Farming is a chemical-free farming method promoted by Subhash Palekar that uses preparations made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, and soil microorganisms instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Haryana has promoted ZBNF to reduce farming costs and improve soil health. Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana are among the leading states in ZBNF adoption. The approach aims to reduce farmers' dependence on costly inputs and improve sustainability.

Correct Answer: B. FCI Silo at Karnal

FCI (Food Corporation of India) has established large grain storage silos at multiple locations in Haryana including Karnal, Ambala, Panipat, and Kaithal. These modern steel silos store wheat and rice procured under MSP. Haryana's grain storage infrastructure is among the most developed in India due to the large procurement volumes. FCI silos use scientific storage methods to reduce grain losses compared to traditional gunny bag storage.

Correct Answer: B. Sirsa

Sirsa district in western Haryana is the largest producer of kinnow (a mandarin citrus hybrid) in Haryana. The warm, dry climate of western Haryana is suitable for kinnow cultivation. Haryana's kinnow production, while much smaller than Punjab's, contributes to the state's horticultural sector. Sirsa is also known for cotton cultivation and is part of the cotton belt of Haryana.

Correct Answer: C. Farmer pays 1.5-2% for Rabi, 2% for Kharif, rest shared by state and Centre

Under PMFBY, farmers pay a maximum of 1.5% of sum insured as premium for Rabi crops and 2% for Kharif crops, with the remaining premium shared equally between the state and central governments. This makes crop insurance highly affordable for farmers. Haryana implements PMFBY for major crops including wheat, paddy, mustard, and cotton. The scheme replaced older crop insurance schemes with broader coverage and faster claim settlement through satellite and remote sensing technology.

Correct Answer: B. It is a proposed rail-freight corridor to develop industries in Haryana's interior

The Rewari-Hisar-Bathinda corridor is a section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) that passes through Haryana's interior districts of Rewari, Bhiwani, Hisar, and Fatehabad. This freight corridor is expected to attract industrial development, logistics parks, and manufacturing units in Haryana's less-developed western districts. The DFC reduces transportation costs and time, making industrial zones along its route competitive. Western Haryana has historically been less industrialized than the eastern NCR belt.

Correct Answer: A. Hisar

Hisar airport and industrial area are being developed as part of Haryana's aerospace and defence manufacturing initiative. Hisar International Airport is being developed to promote aviation and cargo operations. The state government has approved a dedicated Aerospace and Defence park at Hisar to attract defence manufacturing investments under the Make in India program. India's defence production corridor initiative has encouraged states including Haryana to develop dedicated aerospace manufacturing zones.