Test: Food Security in India- 1 - UPSC MCQ

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the government-mandated minimum price for agricultural commodities to protect farmers from price fluctuations. It acts as a safety net by guaranteeing a fair price, incentivizing farmers to increase production while mitigating risks of market volatility.

The government uses MSP to buy food grains directly from farmers to create buffer stocks. This ensures food security, stabilizes prices, and provides farmers with a fair and consistent income, even when market prices fall.

The government uses MSP to buy food grains directly from farmers to create buffer stocks. This ensures food security, stabilizes prices, and provides farmers with a fair and consistent income, even when market prices fall.

The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, supported by fertilizers, pesticides, and advanced irrigation techniques. This initiative helped India achieve self-sufficiency in food grains, especially wheat and rice, during the 1960s.

Rationing began during the Bengal famine of the 1940s to address acute food shortages. It was later revived in the 1960s, before the Green Revolution, to combat recurring shortages and distribute food equitably.

A famine is marked by mass deaths from starvation, waterborne diseases caused by contaminated resources, and weakened immunity due to prolonged hunger. These factors collectively exacerbate mortality during such crises.

Public Distribution System (PDS) primarily operates through fair price shops, which distribute subsidized essential goods like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene to eligible citizens, particularly in low-income households.

Since 1947, India's primary goal has been self-sufficiency in food grain production to ensure food security, reduce reliance on imports, and prevent famines. Initiatives like the Green Revolution and rural development programs contributed significantly to this achievement.

The Academy of Development Science (ADS) established a network of NGOs in Maharashtra to set up grain banks. These grain banks promote food security by storing grains and making them accessible to communities in need, especially during crises.

The White Revolution, spearheaded by Operation Flood, was a national movement to increase milk production in India. It turned India into the largest producer of milk, enhancing rural livelihoods and reducing reliance on imports.