100. Rabi crops usually sown around October–November are harvested in which months?
[SSC MTS 2024]
A. June–July
B. March–April
C. January–February
D. May–June
Answer: B. March–April
Explanation: Rabi crops develop during the cooler winter season and are generally harvested in spring. Wheat, barley, chickpea and mustard are familiar rabi examples, contrasting with the monsoon-dependent kharif calendar.
99. Which crops are normally sown when the monsoon begins?
[SSC CHSL 2024]
A. Zaid crops
B. Rabi crops
C. Kharif crops
D. Annual plantation crops
Answer: C. Kharif crops
Explanation: Kharif cultivation broadly follows the southwest monsoon. Farmers generally sow crops such as rice, maize and cotton with seasonal rains and harvest them around or after monsoon withdrawal.
98. Which description best fits the Small Farmer Large Field concept?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2023]
A. Refugee land resettlement
B. Coordinated operations by groups of marginal farmers
C. Compulsory corporate takeover of farms
D. Corporate contract farming only
Answer: B. Coordinated operations by groups of marginal farmers
Explanation: Small Farmer Large Field pools selected farm operations rather than necessarily pooling ownership. Coordinated planting, machinery and harvesting can achieve scale efficiencies while individual landholders retain control of their plots.
97. Consider niger seed:
1. MSP is provided;
2. It is grown in kharif;
3. Its oil is used in cooking by some tribal communities.
How many statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2023]
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: C. All three
Explanation: Niger is an oilseed crop cultivated in the kharif season, and it belongs to the MSP schedule. Some local and tribal food traditions use niger oil, giving the crop subsistence as well as market importance.
96. Compare Indian and Chinese agriculture:
1. India has more arable land;
2. India has a higher share of irrigated land;
3. India has higher average per-hectare productivity.
How many are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2023]
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: A. Only one
Explanation: India has extensive arable land, but China generally records a greater irrigated proportion and higher average land productivity for several major crop comparisons. Hence the first of the listed statements is correct.
95. Which sequence correctly places typical crop-production operations?
[MPPSC State Services Prelims 2023]
A. Soil preparation, irrigation, sowing, harvesting
B. Soil preparation, sowing, irrigation, harvesting
C. Sowing, harvesting, irrigation, soil preparation
D. Soil preparation, irrigation, harvesting, sowing
Answer: B. Soil preparation, sowing, irrigation, harvesting
Explanation: Fields are prepared before seeds are sown; appropriate irrigation follows according to crop needs, and harvesting occurs at maturity. Specific fertilisation or weeding operations may take place between these major stages.
94. Match crops with states having leading production: ragi, bajra, jowar and urad with Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively. Which mapping is correct?
[CGPSC Prelims General Studies 2023]
A. Ragi—Karnataka; bajra—Maharashtra; jowar—Rajasthan; urad—Madhya Pradesh
B. Ragi—Karnataka; bajra—Rajasthan; jowar—Maharashtra; urad—Madhya Pradesh
C. Ragi—Rajasthan; bajra—Madhya Pradesh; jowar—Maharashtra; urad—Karnataka
D. Ragi—Karnataka; bajra—Madhya Pradesh; jowar—Rajasthan; urad—Maharashtra
Answer: B. Ragi—Karnataka; bajra—Rajasthan; jowar—Maharashtra; urad—Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: Karnataka is notable for ragi; Rajasthan is a major bajra state; Maharashtra is particularly associated with jowar; and Madhya Pradesh is important for urad. The question pairs a major cereal or pulse with its state production concentration.
93. Which Tea Board statements are correct:
1. It is statutory;
2. Under Agriculture Ministry;
3. Head office Bengaluru;
4. Overseas offices Dubai and Moscow?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2022]
A. 1 and 3
B. 2 and 4
C. 3 and 4
D. 1 and 4
Answer: D. 1 and 4
Explanation: The Tea Board was constituted under the Tea Act, 1953. It functions under the commerce administration, and its head office is in Kolkata. The stated overseas offices make statement four correct.
92. What outcomes follow System of Rice Intensification with alternate wetting and drying:
1. Lower seed requirement;
2. Less methane;
3. Lower pumping electricity?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2022]
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: SRI uses fewer, younger seedlings and improved spacing. Intermittent wetting reduces continuous anaerobic conditions and methane formation; lower pumping requirements can also save power in irrigated fields.
91. Among Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura, how many are tea-growing states?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2022]
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. All four
Answer: D. All four
Explanation: India’s tea cultivation extends beyond Assam and northern West Bengal. The listed states include established or smaller tea-producing regions, such as Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and growing areas in Tripura.
