Agriculture - Solved Questions (2014-2025) | UPSC Topic Wise Previous Year Questions PDF Download

Ans: (d)

• Statement I: India is indeed the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world, contributing significantly to global supply.
• Statement II: India grows more than 30 varieties of turmeric, known for their diverse characteristics.
• Statement III: Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are among the major turmeric-producing states in India, along with others like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

All three statements are correct, making option (d) the correct choice.

 Ans: (c)

Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are well-known as the world's top two cocoa producers, accounting for a significant portion of global cocoa supply. The other options (Algeria and Morocco, Botswana and Namibia, Madagascar and Mozambique) are not major cocoa-producing countries.

Ans: (a)

Arable land is land ploughed or tilled regularly. India has the most arable land in the world followed by the United States, Russia, China and Brazil. India and the United States account for roughly 22% of the world's arable land.

Ans: (d)
Tea is processed within the tea garden to restore its freshness. Major tea producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country.

Correct Answer is Option (b)

• Statement 1 is correct. Permaculture is a totally integrated design system that’s modelled on nature. Permaculture farming promotes multicropping and integrated farming systems. Agroforestry is its example.  
• Chemical farming is more suitable for monoculture cropping due to use of crop specific inputs like irrigation, chemical fertiliser and harvesting methods.  
• Statement 2 is correct. Chemical fertilizers will make the soil less fertile over time, which can lead to serious problems like soil salinisation. But such problems are not seen in permaculture farming as it relies on organic fertilizers.  
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Chemical farming is based on intense use of inputs like Chemical fertilizers and irrigation that make the soil less fertile over time, thus restricting its practise in semi-arid region. Thus, conventional farming is not suitable for semi-arid regions.  
• The concept of permaculture involves well-designed systems don’t produce waste and permaculture tries to mimic well-designed systems. Thus, permaculture tries to take into account the local conditions like arid climate. This helps in developing a suitable system to ensure sustainable production. 
• Statement 4 is correct. Mulching is an important component of Permaculture systems for promoting maximum efficiency.  
• Chemical farming does not consider it as essential, so farmers in general do not use mulching. 

Correct Answer is Option (b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect: More than 80 percent of palm oil is grown in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Malaysia leading the world in production of the commodity. Oil palms were introduced to Malaysia and Indonesia in the mid-20th century from Africa, and large scale production followed. The growth has been rapid and widespread, and the natural forest and all that live in it face a dire future.
• Statement 2 is correct: Palm oil and its derivatives are present in at least 70% of cosmetic products, according to Croda, a global specialty ingredients supplier to the beauty and personal care industry.
  This goes to show that palm-derived ingredients are preferred by the manufacturers for their functional benefits.
• Statement 3 is correct: Generally, RBD palm oil is used to produce biodiesel due to the low FFA content (0.1-0.5%) and thus minimize the impact of saponification reaction. Darnoko and Cheryan (2000) studied the transesterification of RBD palm oil with methanol catalyzed by KOH.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Option a is correct. Sugarcane is the least water efficient crop. Among the given options, its water requirement is 1800-2200 mm/season which is highest.  
• Option b is incorrect. Sunflower’s water requirement was estimated at 672.4 mm/season. 
• Option c is incorrect. Pearl millet is a drought tolerant crop.
  Water requirement: 350 mm/season. 
• Option d is incorrect. Red gram uses about 250-400 mm/season of water.  

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Statement 1 is correct: Rajapakar is a Climate-Smart Village (CSV), a part of a project led by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Built on the principles of CSA, this program provides technological, organizational and systemic support to farmers in association with institutions to help them cope with climate change, in 36 sites across 20 countries.
• Statement 2 is correct: The governance and management of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) are based on lessons learned by CGIAR headquartered in France.
• Statement 3 is correct: ICRISAT is headquartered in Patancheru near Hyderabad, Telangana, India, with two regional hubs and six country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food secure future.

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich form of charcoal that is applied to the soil. 
• biochars from manures and food wastes recorded higher nitrogen and phosphorus levels. So #2 is right. 
• Some biochars can increase soil fertility, water holding capacity, and crop productivity. So #3 is right 
• There is only one option where #2 and #3 are together so the answer is “d”.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Sugarcane requires an annual rainfall of between 75cm. and 100cm. Irrigation is required in regions of low rainfall. So, #C was eliminated. 
• Cotton requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free days. 
• Jute: require es high temperature, heavy rainfall, and humid climate 
• Tea: requires a cool climate and well-distributed high rainfall throughout the year 
• Cotton: Cotton requires high temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days. 
• Considering these descriptions, cotton seems to be the better choice among the given options.

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Open burning of crop residues in the agricultural fields has become an environmental concern in India, particularly during the paddy harvesting season. ....The Union government is providing subsidies for Happy Seeders, Zero Till Seed Drill, etc. which can help to plant the seeds for the next crop without burning the previous crop. So, #1 is correct. Ref: Economic Survey 2019-20 Volume 2 page 186-189. 
• In the zero tillage, We are not disturbing the soil and we are not burning the previous crop Residue so that way, it could help in Carbon sequestration. So, #3 should be correct.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
NCERT vocational class 11 floriculture ist book page 84:  When an element forms precipitate with another substance commonly found in the irrigation water, it is not advisable to use this method. Phosphorus and anhydrous ammonia may form a precipitate in water with high calcium and magnesium content. So they are not used in fertigation. So 2nd statement is wrong by elimination we arrived at the answer “c”.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Kurukshetra February 2018 Issue on Agriculture, page 43 has given three key features of conservation agriculture viz: i. minimum soil disturbance by adopting no-tillage or minimum tillage and reduced traffic for agricultural operations. So, #2 is right. This eliminates Option (a) ii. maximum soil cover by leaving crop residues on the soil surface. So, #4 is right. This eliminates Option (d) iii. adopt spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotation. So, #5 is verbatim right. Hence final answer (c)

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Since UPSC has combined the preliminary exam of civil services and forest services, so few such odd questions are expected. There is no need to lose sleep if you can't solve it. But let's do it: NCERT Class 12 Biology Chapter 6: "Molecular Basis of Inheritance". It explains the benefits of human genome sequencing that- "It is the sequence of bases in DNA that determines the genetic information of a given organism. So, learning about the DNA sequences can lead to an understanding of their natural capabilities that can be applied toward solving challenges in health care, agriculture, energy production, environmental remediation." So on that logic, statements 1 and 3 should be possible, and if 1 and 3 are possible then statement 2 ought to be possible as well! So answer (d) all three statements are correct. Searching academic papers on Google Scholar engineer confirms that (d) is the answer.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
According to the Kurukshetra Magazine, November 2017 special issue on irrigation: Tillage exposes the soil to drying, conversely, reductions in tillage help conserve soil water. So #1 is right. The retention of crop residues helps in reducing water loss from the soil to the air and cools the soil. So, #3 is right. According to some random research papers & Google books, even gypsum application helps in water conservation so experts were divided between Option (c) or (d). But in the official answer key, UPSC has kept (c) as the correct answer.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Both statements are correct as per Government notification.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
A soil health card provides information about 12 soil parameters, so farmer can use appropriate fertilizers. hence only 3 is the correct statement. Statement 1 and 2 are irrelevant.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
(i) This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner to catalyze increased production of millets in the country. The scheme, through processing and value addition techniques, is expected to generate consumer demand for millet-based food products. Poor, small, marginal, and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
(ii) 1st and 2nd statements are right. The policy aims to give free kits but “wanting to shift commercial crop farmers to millet” doesn’t fit logic. There is no such mention in the scheme, nor any talk about giving micro-irrigation equipment. Hence 3rd statement is wrong.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
(i) In order to safeguard and support the world’s agricultural heritage systems, in 2002 FAO started an initiative for the dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS Initiative promotes public understanding, awareness, national and international recognition of Agricultural Heritage systems. It aims to identify and ensure global recognition of the importance of unique traditional agricultural systems for food security and sustainable development. The GIAHS initiative explicitly recognizes that change in “traditional” political, social, and economic processes is inevitable; they cannot be frozen or re-created.
(ii) There is no provision to give Geographical indication to “ALL” varieties. Hence statement 3 is wrong. By elimination method, we are left with answer (b) only 2.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agr eement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and 'Peace Clause' are related to World Trade Organisation.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts of respective states are responsible for markets in agricultural products.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers increases the acidity of soil and the Leaching of nitrate into the ground water.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The seed village concept is to promote the quality seed production of foundation and certified seed classes. The area which is suitable for raising a particular crop will be selected and raised with a single variety of a kind. A suitable area for seed production will be identified by the Scientists. The foundation/ certified seeds or University labeled seeds will be supplied by the University through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Research Stations at 50% subsidy cost to the identified farmers in the area. The farmers will use these quality seeds and take up their own seed production in a small area (1 acre) for their own use. The crops are Rice, Pulses, and Oilseeds.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Capital-augmenting technological progress results in the more productive use of existing capital goods; for example, the substitution of steel from wooden ploughs in agricultural production.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new organisms arise without the production of seeds. It helps in the development of clones. Vegetative propagation involves only mitosis, this ensures that the genetic information in the DNA of vegetative progeny (child) is the same as in the mother plant and can be practiced throughout the year. However, it does not helps in the elimination of viruses. A plant once systematically infected with a virus usually remains infected for its lifetime. Thus any vegetative parts taken for propagation remain infected.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Guar gum is used in hydraulic fracturing technology during shale gas extraction.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) was launched during 2009-10. It aims at Prevention of soil runoff, Rainwater harvesting, and recharge of groundwater table, and Regeneration of natural vegetation.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The draught-prone area program is by the ministry of Rural development to minimize the adverse effects of drought on the production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water, and human resources. The desert development program is also by the ministry of Rural development to minimize the adverse effect of drought and control desertification. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas is by the ministry of agriculture.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
NPK (fertilizers) can be applied at the rate of 112 kg, 25 kg, and 48 kg per acre, respectively through inorganic or organic methods. Hence statement #3 is wrong, this eliminates (a), (c), and (d). therefore, answer (b) 1,2,4 only.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
All three statements are correct as Maize can be used for the production of starch. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

Correct Answer is Option (b) 

• Grafting involves attaching a part of one plant (like a bud or a scion) to the stem, root, or branch of another plant (called the stock) so that they can grow together. 
•  In the budding process, a bud is taken from one plant and placed on another plant to grow. This method does not change the plant's genes, which is why it is not considered a genetic modification technique. 

•  Male sterility is essentially the inability of a plant to produce pollen. 
•  The systems of cytoplasmic male sterility are commonly used in crop plants for hybrid breeding because they make it easier to control sterility. 

•  The double-strand RNAs found in cells help produce small interfering RNAs, short hairpin RNAs, and micro RNAs, which play important roles in gene regulation. 

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Kinnaur (Himachal) is famous for apples. Areca nut is mostly confined to Karnataka, Kerala, and Assam. Mewat in Haryana is not famous for mango. UP is famous for mango. Similarly, the coromandel coast is not famous for soya beans. The top two producers of soya are Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra which are outside the coromandel coast. Therefore, (d) is the correct option.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites and also has applications in the pharmaceutical industry as neem oil has various medicinal properties