📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Importance of Agriculture & Crop Seasons
- Agriculture is India's largest employer, but its share of GVA is far below that of services.
- India is the world's largest milk producer and second in rice, wheat, fruits and vegetables.
| Season | Sowing / harvest | Main crops |
|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June-July (monsoon) / September-October | Paddy, maize, cotton, soybean, jowar, bajra, groundnut |
| Rabi | October-December / March-April | Wheat, barley, gram, mustard, peas |
| Zaid | March-June (summer) | Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables |
📌 2. Green Revolution & Other Revolutions
- Green Revolution (1960s): high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, irrigation, fertilisers; mainly wheat (then rice), in Punjab, Haryana and western UP.
- Father worldwide: Norman Borlaug; father in India: M. S. Swaminathan.
- Side effects: regional inequality, falling soil fertility, over-use of groundwater.
| Revolution | Area |
|---|---|
| White Revolution (Operation Flood, 1970; Verghese Kurien) | Milk |
| Blue Revolution | Fish |
| Yellow Revolution | Oilseeds |
| Silver Revolution | Eggs |
| Golden Revolution | Horticulture (fruits, vegetables), honey |
| Grey Revolution | Fertilisers |
| Round Revolution | Potato |
📌 3. MSP, Procurement & Food Security
- Minimum Support Price (MSP): announced by the Centre on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP); 22 mandated crops + the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane.
- CACP was set up in 1965 as the Agricultural Prices Commission (renamed 1985); it is advisory, not statutory.
- Food Corporation of India (FCI): 1965 (Food Corporations Act 1964) — procurement, storage, distribution, buffer stock.
- National Food Security Act 2013: covers up to 75% rural and 50% urban population; 5 kg grain per person per month; Antyodaya families 35 kg. Free grain under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for 5 years from 1 January 2024.
📌 4. Land Reforms & Farm Schemes
- Land reforms: abolition of zamindari, tenancy reform, land ceilings, consolidation of holdings; Bhoodan movement — Vinoba Bhave, 1951, Pochampally (Telangana).
| Scheme | Year | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| PM-KISAN | 2019 | ₹6,000 a year to landholding farm families in 3 instalments (DBT) |
| PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | 2016 | Farmer premium: kharif 2%, rabi 1.5%, commercial/horticulture 5% |
| Kisan Credit Card (KCC) | 1998 | Short-term crop credit; extended to animal husbandry and fisheries in 2019 |
| Soil Health Card | 2015 | Soil nutrient testing and fertiliser advice |
| e-NAM | 2016 | National Agriculture Market — online trading portal for mandis (14 April 2016) |
| PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana | 2015 | "Har Khet Ko Pani", "Per Drop More Crop" |
- NABARD (12 July 1982; Sivaraman Committee): apex body for rural credit, provides refinance.
- NAFED (1958): cooperative marketing body for farm produce.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- CACP does not announce MSP — it only recommends; the Centre (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) announces it.
- Sugarcane has an FRP, not an MSP.
- Yellow Revolution = oilseeds (not eggs — eggs = Silver Revolution).
- Mustard is a rabi crop; cotton is kharif.
💡 Memory Tip: Kharif = sow with the monsoon; rabi = sow in winter, reap in spring; zaid = the summer in between.
📌 5. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Which of these is a rabi crop? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Wheat is sown in October-December and harvested in March-April.
Wheat is sown in October-December and harvested in March-April.
Q2. Which of these is a kharif crop? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Soybean is sown with the monsoon (June-July); the others are rabi crops.
Soybean is sown with the monsoon (June-July); the others are rabi crops.
Q3. Watermelon and cucumber are grown in which season? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Zaid is the short summer season between rabi and kharif.
Zaid is the short summer season between rabi and kharif.
Q4. Who is called the father of the Green Revolution in India? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
In India it is Swaminathan; worldwide, Norman Borlaug.
In India it is Swaminathan; worldwide, Norman Borlaug.
Q5. Which crop gained most from the Green Revolution? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
HYV seeds brought the biggest success in wheat; pulses and oilseeds lagged.
HYV seeds brought the biggest success in wheat; pulses and oilseeds lagged.
Q6. The White Revolution (Operation Flood) is linked to: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Operation Flood (1970), led by Verghese Kurien, raised milk production.
Operation Flood (1970), led by Verghese Kurien, raised milk production.
Q7. The Yellow Revolution relates to: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The Yellow Revolution is about oilseeds; eggs = Silver Revolution.
The Yellow Revolution is about oilseeds; eggs = Silver Revolution.
Q8. The Blue Revolution is linked to: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Blue Revolution concerns raising fish production.
The Blue Revolution concerns raising fish production.
Q9. Who announces the Minimum Support Price (MSP)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
CACP recommends; the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs announces MSP.
CACP recommends; the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs announces MSP.
Q10. What price does the government fix for sugarcane? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Since 2009 sugarcane has an FRP, not an MSP.
Since 2009 sugarcane has an FRP, not an MSP.
Q11. When was the Food Corporation of India (FCI) set up? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
FCI was set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act 1964.
FCI was set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act 1964.
Q12. Under the National Food Security Act 2013, how much grain does each priority-household member get per month? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Priority households: 5 kg per person; Antyodaya households: 35 kg per family.
Priority households: 5 kg per person; Antyodaya households: 35 kg per family.
Q13. How much do farmers get each year under PM-KISAN? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000 straight into bank accounts.
₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000 straight into bank accounts.
Q14. What premium does a farmer pay for rabi crops under PMFBY? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Kharif 2%, rabi 1.5%, commercial/horticulture 5%; the government pays the rest.
Kharif 2%, rabi 1.5%, commercial/horticulture 5%; the government pays the rest.
Q15. When was the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) launched? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
e-NAM was launched on 14 April 2016 to link mandis online.
e-NAM was launched on 14 April 2016 to link mandis online.
Q16. "Har Khet Ko Pani" is the slogan of which scheme? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
PMKSY (2015) aims at "Har Khet Ko Pani" and "Per Drop More Crop".
PMKSY (2015) aims at "Har Khet Ko Pani" and "Per Drop More Crop".
Q17. When was NABARD set up? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
NABARD was set up on 12 July 1982 on the Sivaraman Committee's advice.
NABARD was set up on 12 July 1982 on the Sivaraman Committee's advice.
Q18. Who started the Bhoodan movement? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Vinoba Bhave began the Bhoodan movement at Pochampally (Telangana) in 1951.
Vinoba Bhave began the Bhoodan movement at Pochampally (Telangana) in 1951.
Q19. What was the original name of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
It began as the Agricultural Prices Commission in 1965 and was renamed CACP in 1985.
It began as the Agricultural Prices Commission in 1965 and was renamed CACP in 1985.
Q20. The Round Revolution relates to which crop? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Round Revolution is linked to potato production.
The Round Revolution is linked to potato production.