Consider the following statements : 1. India is a member of the International Grains Council. 2. A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Why the answer is (a)

• The International Grains Council is an intergovernmental body headquartered in London that administers the Grains Trade Convention (1995), promotes cooperation in grain trade and publishes market information.

• Statement 1 is correct: India is a member and, for example, chaired the Council in 2019–20.

• Statement 2 is wrong: membership is voluntary and confers no trading rights; countries export or import rice and wheat under WTO rules and bilateral arrangements regardless of IGC membership.

• The IGC covers wheat, coarse grains, rice, oilseeds and pulses in its market reports.

• Hence 1 only, option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 2 only: Statement 2 is wrong: IGC membership is not required for grain trade; statement 1 is correct.
(c) Both 1 and 2: Statement 2 is wrong, so both cannot be correct.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2: Statement 1 is correct: India is an IGC member.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.