Agriculture Current Affairs Updates For UPSC IAS Mains 2024 Examination
On this page you will find articles that falls under subject Agriculture for UPSC IAS Mains 2024 examination
An avoidable ban – Restrictions on rice exports can be counterproductive
Source: The post is based on an article “An avoidable ban – Restrictions on rice exports can be counterproductive” published in Business Standard on 28th July 2023. Syllabus: GS 2 – Government Policies & Intervention Relevance: concerns with ban on rice exports News: Recently, India has decided to ban the export of all types of rice, except… Continue reading An avoidable ban – Restrictions on rice exports can be counterproductive
India’s rice export curbs could prove too myopic for its good
Source– The post is based on the article “India’s rice export curbs could prove too myopic for its good” published in the “mint” on 28th July 2023. Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy Relevance: Issues related to external trade News- Russia’s decision to pull out of the Black Sea grain deal, but also India’s announcement that it… Continue reading India’s rice export curbs could prove too myopic for its good
[Kurukshetra July 2023 Summary] Dryland Farming: Explained, pointwise
For 7 PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 What are the characteristics and challenges of dryland farming in India? 3 What is the difference between dry farming, dryland farming and rainfed farming? 4 What is the contribution of dryland Farming? 5 What are the areas under dryland farming? 6 What are the strategies for development of dryland farming? 7 What… Continue reading [Kurukshetra July 2023 Summary] Dryland Farming: Explained, pointwise
Express View on curbs on rice exports: Against the grain
Source– The post is based on the article “Express View on curbs on rice exports: Against the grain” published in “The Indian Express” on 22nd July 2023. Syllabus: GS2- Economy Relevance: Government policies and approach towards trade. News- The Narendra Modi government has decided to ban all non-basmati white rice shipments. Henceforth, only two categories… Continue reading Express View on curbs on rice exports: Against the grain
[Kurukshetra June 2023 Summary] Technologies for sustainable agriculture development- Explained, pointwise
For 7 PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 Trends in Indian Agriculture 3 What is sustainable agriculture? 4 Why is sustainable agriculture important for India? 5 What are the government initiatives for the agriculture sector? 6 What are some technologies for sustainable farming? 7 What are the gaps in adopting sustainable agriculture? 8 What has the government done to improve dissemination of… Continue reading [Kurukshetra June 2023 Summary] Technologies for sustainable agriculture development- Explained, pointwise
Why the govt has more cash, less grain to give
Source: The post is based on the article “Why the govt has more cash, less grain to give” published in The Indian Express on 17th July 2023. Syllabus: GS 3 – Agriculture – Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security Relevance: About uncertainties over foodgrains production News: The article describes the government’s food grain supply three years… Continue reading Why the govt has more cash, less grain to give
Nothing Fishy – on India’s fisheries sector
Source: The post is based on the article “Nothing Fishy” published in “The Times of India” on 3rd July 2023. Syllabus: GS 3 – Industries and industrial Policies – Agriculture and allied activities News: A recent study by the Central Marine Fisheries Institute has provided some promising data that can be beneficial for the fisheries… Continue reading Nothing Fishy – on India’s fisheries sector
On urea prices: Fertiliser for thought
Source- The post is based on the article “on urea prices: Fertiliser for thought” published in “The Hindu” on 23rd June 2023. Syllabus: GS3- Indian Agriculture – Agricultural Inputs News– On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the urea subsidy scheme with a view to ensure supply of the fertiliser at the same… Continue reading On urea prices: Fertiliser for thought
Focus on the millets value chain for fortified nutritional security
Source: The post is based on the article “Focus on the millets value chain for fortified nutritional security” published in Live Mint on 28th June 2023. Syllabus: GS 3 – Agriculture Relevance: measures needed to boost millet consumption News: India is the world’s largest millet producer. India’s Pearl Millet production accounts for 40% of the world’s millet production.… Continue reading Focus on the millets value chain for fortified nutritional security
Incentivise eco-friendly fertilisers
Source: The post is based on the article “Incentivise eco-friendly fertilisers” published in “Business Standard” on 26th June 2023. Syllabus: GS3- Indian Economy – Agriculture Inputs News: The growing awareness of the need to reduce the application of chemicals in agriculture is encouraging the use of eco-friendly alternatives like biofertilisers and biopesticides. What is the… Continue reading Incentivise eco-friendly fertilisers
[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #292 : Preeti Sudan mam Board, Agriculture Optional, Jharkhand Home State
Date of Interview: (18/04/23- Afternoon- 1st to go) Board: Preeti Sudan mam Optional: Agriculture Home State: Chatra, Jharkhand Background: Civil Engg To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2022, visit this page Chairman 1. What all you have learned in DANICS training.( where all you have been trained) 2. As u have worked in Covid management,… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #292 : Preeti Sudan mam Board, Agriculture Optional, Jharkhand Home State
[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #288 : Preeti Sudan mam Board, Agriculture Optional, Kitchen gardening, Krishi Mela Hobby
Date of Interview: 19/4/2023, Session: Afternoon Board: Preeti Sudan mam Background: Agriculture Optional: Agriculture Hobbies: Kitchen gardening, Krishi Mela Leadership: RAWE To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2022, visit this page Chairman 1. What is RAWE, Duration, location 2. Learnings .&. Impact on Farmers. 3. What about accommodations in village? 4. Experiences from krishi mela … Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #288 : Preeti Sudan mam Board, Agriculture Optional, Kitchen gardening, Krishi Mela Hobby
[Kurukshetra February 2023 Summary] Powering Growth in Agriculture Sector – Explained, pointwise
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 Renewable Sources to Power Agriculture Sector2.1 Biogas2.2 Biomass2.3 Solar2.3.1 PM-KUSUM2.3.2 Solar PV (Photo Voltaic) Pumping Systems3 Conclusion Introduction Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy, despite the rise of manufacturing and services sectors. The sector contributes 15% to the GDP and provides livelihood to almost two-thirds of the total… Continue reading [Kurukshetra February 2023 Summary] Powering Growth in Agriculture Sector – Explained, pointwise
[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #36 : RN Choubey Board, Agriculture Optional, Tamil Nadu Home State, Hydroponics Hobby
Date of Interview: 03rd Feb Board: RN Choubey Home State: Tamil Nadu Work: Indian Forest Sevice Hobby: Hydroponics Optional: Agriculture To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2022, visit this page Chairman Tell us about your Work experience. You are already in a good service, why you wanted to appear in the⁸ exam again ? Your… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #36 : RN Choubey Board, Agriculture Optional, Tamil Nadu Home State, Hydroponics Hobby
[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #25 : M Sathiyavathy Board, Haryana Home State, Agriculture Optional, shooting Ball, whittling Hobbies
Board: M Sathiyavathy Home State: Haryana Optional: Agriculture Attempt: 2nd Background: Agriculture Hobbies: shooting Ball, whittling, To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2022, visit this page Chairman difference between whittling and sculpting shooting Ball tell me about agenda of meeting according to current scenario you will hold as agri secretary in GOI with VCs of… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #25 : M Sathiyavathy Board, Haryana Home State, Agriculture Optional, shooting Ball, whittling Hobbies
[Yojana January 2023 Summary] India’s Wealth: Millet For Health – Explained, pointwise
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 What are Millets?3 What is the importance of Millets?4 Millet as a part of the Food basket5 Initiatives towards making IYM 2023 a success6 Conclusion Introduction In 2021, the Government of India had proposed at the United Nations for declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India’s proposal… Continue reading [Yojana January 2023 Summary] India’s Wealth: Millet For Health – Explained, pointwise
Farm Subsidies in India
Farm Subsidies are Government incentives paid to farmers/agri-businesses /agricultural organizations to supplement their income to influence the cost and supply of such commodities. Farm subsidies constitute about 2% of India’s GDP. Total subsidy to farmers amount to 21% percent of their farm income, according to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare. Farm Subsidies: Rationale To support… Continue reading Farm Subsidies in India
Improving Agriculture Yield in India – Explained, pointwise
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 What is the current status of agri yields in India?3 What are the reasons for low Agriculture Yield in India?4 What steps can be taken to improve Agriculture Yields?5 Conclusion Introduction India is poised to become the most populous nation in the world. The UN Report on World Population… Continue reading Improving Agriculture Yield in India – Explained, pointwise
Agriculture Exports: Status and Challenges
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → India’s agriculture exports have grown by 16.5% in April-September 2022 (on a year-on-year basis) compared to April-September in 2021. Indian agricultural, horticultural and processed foods are exported to more than 100 countries in the world. Major destination of India agricultural products are USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal, and Bangladesh Major commodities… Continue reading Agriculture Exports: Status and Challenges
[Kurukshetra October Summary] Promoting Women Agripreneurship – Explained, pointwise
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 Agripreneurship and Women Empowerment3 Scope and Prospects for Promoting Women Agripreneurship4 Public Policy Initiatives5 Issues and Challenges6 Way Forward Introduction Women entrepreneurs, especially women agripreneurs, represent the fastest growing category of entrepreneurship worldwide and India is no exception. By starting the business enterprises, women agripreneurs have demonstrated strong willpower,… Continue reading [Kurukshetra October Summary] Promoting Women Agripreneurship – Explained, pointwise
[Kurukshetra October Summary] Skills for Agri-Entrepreneurship – Explained, pointwise
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 Concept of Entrepreneurship3 Agri-Entrepreneurship3.1 Advantages of Agri-Entrepreneurship4 Opportunities in Agri-Entrepreneurship5 Factors of Entrepreneurship6 Core Competencies and Skills7 Skill Development Initiatives8 Way Forward Introduction Agriculture offers several opportunities for entrepreneurship. There are many new prospects in the agribusiness sector like packaging, provision of raw materials, exports of agricultural products and… Continue reading [Kurukshetra October Summary] Skills for Agri-Entrepreneurship – Explained, pointwise
[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #240 : TCA Anant Board, Agriculture Optional, Maharashtra Home State
Date of Interview: 29/04/2022 Board: TCA Anant Optional: Agriculture Home State: Maharashtra To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2021, visit this page Chairman meaning of …. where ….flower is grown? tell me about flower in detail How many agroclimatic zones in Maharashtra? tell me names reasons for scarcity zone? which crops grown under scarcity zone? Which… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #240 : TCA Anant Board, Agriculture Optional, Maharashtra Home State
[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #34 : TCA Anant Board, Agriculture Optional, guitar Hobby
Date of interview: 11.04.2022, forenoon Board: TCA Anant Optional: Agriculture Background: IIT Delhi Hobbies: space documentaries, guitar To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2021, visit this page Chairman Why did you leave your job Civil services except IAS are mostly limited to their domains so how will you find diversity there What got you interested in… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #34 : TCA Anant Board, Agriculture Optional, guitar Hobby
[UPSC Interview 2020] – Transcript #194 : Sujata Mehta Board, Rajasthan Home State, Agriculture Optional, Traveling, teaching Hobby
Date of Interview: 15th September Board: Sujata Mehta Optional: Agriculture Home State: Rajasthan Hobby: Traveling, teaching. To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2020, visit this page Chairman Briefly tell me about your education and work experience? Why did you leave the job? Are you a big gambler? Have you experienced corruption in your interaction with govt… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2020] – Transcript #194 : Sujata Mehta Board, Rajasthan Home State, Agriculture Optional, Traveling, teaching Hobby
Virtual Water Trade
Virtual water trade is the idea that when goods and services are exchanged, so is virtual water. When a country imports one tonne of wheat instead of producing it domestically, it is saving about 1,300 cubic meters of real indigenous water.For example, Mexico imports maize and in doing so, it saves 12 billion cubic meters… Continue reading Virtual Water Trade
How to Read Agriculture for UPSC IAS
Agriculture for UPSC IAS is a diverse topic. It is part of the UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-III. Some questions related to Agriculture Technology, Schemes on Agriculture and Farmers are also asked in UPSC Prelims General Studies- Paper-I. Agriculture subject is linked with other subjects like Economy, Environment and Technology. So, students must prepare this subject by understanding each and every aspect of Agriculture and also try to corelate it with other subjects.
In this article, we will see the trend analysis of Agriculture for UPSC, overview of the Syllabus and preparation strategies for the same.
Agriculture- UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-III
2021 – 3
2022 – 4
2023 – 3
Trend analysis of the Agriculture for UPSC:
| Subject | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Agriculture- UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-III | 4 questions | 4 questions | 4 questions | 4 questions | 3 questions |
Overview of the Syllabus of Agriculture: UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-III
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Agriculture | · Major Crops – Cropping Patterns in various parts of the country, – Different Types of Irrigation and Irrigation Systems; Storage, Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues and Related Constraints; E-technology in the aid of farmers. · Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices; Public Distribution System – Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology Missions; Economics of Animal-Rearing. · Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Significance, Location, Upstream and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management. · Land Reforms in India. |
Preparation Strategies for Agriculture for UPSC:
- Read the syllabus and highlight each point: You must read the syllabus of Agriculture twice or thrice. You can highlight each point and start your preparation accordingly.
- Read NCERT of Geography: You can start with NCERT books of Geography from Class VI to X. The topics like, cropping and its pattern in India, Land Reforms can be read from here. This will give you basic idea about it. For irrigation, you can read Environment notes of Shankar IAS.
- Make your own notes topic and subtopic wise: the best way to prepare Agriculture for UPSC is to prepare your own notes topics wise. You can take help of standard books, newspaper, current affairs magazines, internet etc. Preparing comprehensive notes will be great.
- Read newspaper: You must one newspaper on a daily basis. Newspaper’s articles cover Agriculture for UPSC topic in detail. Topics like Minimum Support Price, Food Processing, Food Security, e-Technology to aid farmers are given in newspaper with proper solutions and conclusion. This will give you a good lead to write good answers. You can take them down in your notes and keep revising it.
- Read Current affairs magazine: Topics which you miss by chance in newspaper or just to cover each issue in details, you should read current affairs magazine. It is easy to revise them again and again. By referring this, you can update your notes.
- Refer Yojana and Kurukshetra: These magazines sometimes cover farmers issues in details. Welfare schemes for farmers, e-technology, food security, changing cropping patters in India etc. Get covered in these magazines. Kurukshetra mostly cover issues related to Agriculture. You can read them once and take down important points in your notes.
- Update notes: By reading multiple current affairs sources and taking down important points from the, can make your notes more comprehensive. If you will keep updating you notes, at the end you just need to go through your notes and revise them multiple times rather than referring multiple sources.
- Refer past year question papers and write answer on them: You can write answers on past years’ questions. Initial one-two answers you can write by referring multiple sources, and later on, you must try to write them by your own.
- Write answers on practice questions: You should also practice daily answer writing for Mains. Writing answers on practice questions will help you.
- Revise: Revision is the key to success for every exam. And when it comes to UPSC, you don’t have other options except to revise. Revision will help you to prepare a blueprint in your mind of each topic you have prepared.
