Index of Industrial Production Q. Why is this in News? Recently, as per official estimates for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), India’s industrial recovery slowed sharply in December 2021, with output growing just 0.4% year-on-year, and manufacturing activity contracting 0.1%. Contrary to expected growth of 2.5%, growth has come in at 0.4% which is disappointing. Q. What is the Index of
Read moreModel Answer Dryland farming is farming in the regions with less than 75 cm annual rainfall. It is characterized by- Low rainfall with high variability. Lack of assured irrigation and dependence on monsoon. Subsistence farming mainly. Significance of region: Around 60% of total arable land is rainfed and out of it one-fourth is dry land. The region contributes to majority
Read moreModel Answer The Green Revolution in India began in the mid-1960s marking a transition from traditional agriculture in India and the introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds and the associated agricultural techniques. The Main achievements of the Green Revolution are: Increase in Agricultural Production and productivity: The production and productivity of wheat, rice, maize and bajra has substantially increased. Less Dependence
Read moreHeadline : India can learn agri-policy lessons from China Editorial 25th Oct’19 FinancialExpress Details : India and China have similar challenges in agriculture: India and China are the most populous countries in the world, having a population size of 1.35 billion and 1.39 billion, respectively, in 2018. With limited arable land [about 120 million hectare (m ha) in China, and 156 m
Read moreHeadline : Smart farming: Agriculture data can reap a bumper harvest Editorial 25th Apr’19 FinancialExpress Details : Dependence on government for agriculture data: Agricultural statistics is not easy to collect and compile, hence the dependence on the government. But this data suffers from the issues of timeliness, reliability and integrity. Yet, since it is only source, there is no option but to use
Read moreHeadline : Time for India to relook the agricultural sector Editorial 30th Mar’19 FinancialExpress Details : India’s progress in agriculture: India has made significant strides in agriculture and food security since independence. It has transformed from a food deficit nation to ensuring its food security despite an almost four-fold increase in population. But time has come to relook at agriculture in India:
Read moreHeadline : Do forest surveys separately Details : The news • A highpower committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recommended the government to separate the forest surveys for estimating trees grown in forest and outside forest. About India State of Forest Report • Forest Survey of India (FSI) an organization under the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change Government of India has been assessing the forest and tree resources of
Read moreWhat do you understand by the term ‘sustainable agriculture’? Suggest strategies to make agriculture in India sustainable. (10 marks) Approach: Introduce explaining about sustainable agriculture Suggest various strategies like appropriate production systems, ZBNF etc. Conclude appropriately Model Answer : Sustainable agriculture is that form of agriculture which attempts to produce sufficient food to meet the needs of the present without
Read moreHeadline : Why are farmers all over India on the streets? Details : Why in news? Mass farmer protests have erupted across the country over the past few months from Maharashtra to Bengal, with the October march in Delhi leading to violent clashes with the police. Farm distress has been on top of the agenda for political parties in the Assembly
Read moreConsider the following statements 1. Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. 2. Conventional fortification differs from Biofortification in that conventional fortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during processing of the crops. Which of
Read moreApproach Introduce by mentioning the need for biotechnology in agriculture and allied sectors Explain how biotechnology can be used in agriculture and allied sectors. Conclude appropriately. Model Answer : Agriculture along with its allied sectors is the largest source of livelihood in India. Biotechnology can be instrumental in improving productivity and modernising these sectors. The National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020
Read moreThe main reasons for farm crises are: Slow agriculture growth: Agriculture shrank to just 18 percent of the GDP in 2013-14; and further shrinking is projected given agriculture’s lower growth rate compared to other sectors. The agriculture growth rates have been unsteady in the recent past. 2012-13: 1.5% 2013-14: 5.6% 2014-15: (-) 0.2% 2015-16: 0.7%. The provisional estimate puts it
Read moreIt was launched to promote agricultural education. Under the scheme 100 centres are opened with a fund of Rs.5.35 crore. “Attracting and retaining youth in Agriculture (ARYA)” is a project sanctioned by the Indian Council of Agriculture (ICAR) and is being implemented at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs). The main objective of the project was to provide complete knowledge and skill on
Read moreThe Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO and meets at least once every two years. Main points of discussion in MC11 Service negotiation under GATS will be on priority: Domestic regulation: to address the contentious issue of professional visa fee hikes by the likes of the US and UK, which India has been claiming are discriminatory. Agreement
Read moreOrganic Farming Organic farming is a combination of tradition, innovation and science. It is a production system that relies on the use of natural inputs that are suitable to local environment, rather than using synthetic chemicals with adverse effects. In the transition from conventional to organic farming, synthetic chemical fertilizers are replaced with natural inputs and bio-materials like organic manures,
Read moreNational Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). It is a registered society originally formed by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Now both NGRBA and NMCG are allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR,RD
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NABARD: It is an apex development and specialized bank established on 12 July 1982 by an act by the parliament of India. Its main focus is to uplift rural India by increasing the credit flow for elevation of agriculture & rural non farm sector. It was established based on the recommendations of the Committee set up by the Reserve Bank
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UPSC Express 