Agriculture 2021 Paper I 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Describe

Q5

Describe Q. Nos. 5(a), 5(c), 5(d), 5(e) and answer Q. No. 5(b) (in about 150 words each): (a) Technologies and policies for sustained crop production in rainfed agriculture (10 marks) (b) Define Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Discuss various initiatives to promote ICTs in agriculture. (10 marks) (c) The Minimum Support Price (MSP) and its determination (10 marks) (d) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and its progress (10 marks) (e) Parameters for determination of quality of irrigation water (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

प्र० सं० 5(a), 5(c), 5(d), 5(e) को वर्णित कीजिए और प्र० सं० 5(b) का उत्तर दीजिए (प्रत्येक लगभग 150 शब्दों में) : (a) वर्षा-आधारित कृषि के अंतर्गत सतत फसल उत्पादन के लिए तकनीकें एवं नीतियाँ (10 अंक) (b) सूचना एवं संचार तकनीकों (आई० सी० टी०) को परिभाषित कीजिए। कृषि क्षेत्र में आई० सी० टी० को प्रोत्साहित करने हेतु विभिन्न पहलों की व्याख्या कीजिए। (10 अंक) (c) न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य (एम० एस० पी०) एवं उसका निर्धारण (10 अंक) (d) प्रधानमंत्री फसल बीमा योजना (पी० एम० एफ० बी० वाई०) एवं उसकी प्रगति (10 अंक) (e) सिंचाई जल की गुणवत्ता को निर्धारित करने वाले मापदंड (10 अंक)

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

This multi-part question requires descriptive responses across five distinct agricultural themes, with part (b) additionally demanding discussion. Allocate approximately 150 words per sub-part (equal distribution since all carry 10 marks). For (a), focus on watershed management and dryland technologies; for (b), begin with a precise ICT definition before discussing initiatives; for (c), explain the CACP formula and Swaminathan Commission recommendations; for (d), cover structural features and implementation data; for (e), detail chemical and physical parameters with threshold values. Maintain thematic coherence without separate introductions for each part.

Key points expected

  • (a) Rainfed technologies: in-situ moisture conservation (bunding, terracing), drought-resistant varieties (ICRISAT hybrids), watershed development under WDC-PMKSY; policies: MGNREGA for water harvesting, National Rainfed Area Authority
  • (b) ICT definition: digital tools for information exchange; initiatives: Kisan Call Centres (toll-free 1551), mKisan SMS portal, eNAM, Soil Health Card portal, AgriStack, drone-based Kisan drones
  • (c) MSP determination: CACP recommendation based on A2+FL cost, C2 cost (Swaminathan formula), market price trends, demand-supply, international prices; crops covered under 22 mandated crops
  • (d) PMFBY features: uniform premium (2% kharif, 1.5% rabi, 5% horticulture), use of remote sensing, smartphone-based CCEs; progress: coverage expansion, reduction in claim settlement time, challenges in penetration in eastern states
  • (e) Irrigation water quality: SAR/ESP for sodicity hazard, RSC for residual carbonate, EC for salinity, boron/trace element toxicity; classification into C1-C4 and S1-S4 categories

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Accurately defines ICT in (b) as digital information exchange tools; correctly distinguishes A2+FL from C2 costs in (c); precisely identifies SAR, RSC, and EC thresholds in (e); no confusion between PMFBY and earlier NAIS/WBCIS schemes in (d)Broadly correct definitions but conflates cost concepts (A2 vs C2) or confuses PMFBY with RKVY; mentions water quality parameters without specific threshold valuesMisdefines ICT as only mobile phones; confuses MSP with procurement price; describes PMFBY as only a loan waiver scheme; omits key water quality parameters or cites incorrect units
Quantitative reasoning15%7.5Cites specific MSP formula weights (A2+FL + 50% profit), PMFBY premium percentages (2%/1.5%/5%), water quality thresholds (SAR<10, EC<2 dS/m for C2 water), and approximate coverage statistics (crores of farmers insured)Mentions premium percentages or general cost-plus nature of MSP without specific figures; qualitative description of water quality without numerical thresholdsNo quantitative data; vague references to 'low premium' or 'reasonable prices'; omits all numerical thresholds for irrigation water classification
Indian context examples25%12.5For (a): cites WDC-PMKSY, ICRISAT's ICRISAT-151 sorghum; for (b): names Kisan Call Centres, eNAM, AgriStack; for (c): references CACP, Swaminathan Commission, 2018-19 MSP hike; for (d): mentions PMFBY 2016 launch, recent reforms (Vibhag Yojana); for (e): references ICAR classification for Indian conditionsMentions generic schemes without specific names; refers to 'government portals' or 'crop insurance' without PMFBY specifics; general reference to soil health without SHC portalNo Indian examples; uses foreign case studies (Israel for drip irrigation without Indian adaptation); confuses central vs state schemes
Diagram / process15%7.5Includes a schematic for watershed management in (a) showing ridge-to-valley treatment; flowchart for PMFBY claim settlement process in (d); or tabular comparison of water quality classes (C1-C4, S1-S4) in (e)Describes processes verbally without visual representation; mentions 'diagram could show' but doesn't attempt; uses bullet points as substitute for structured presentationNo attempt at diagrammatic representation; purely narrative response; no tabular or flow-based presentation even where essential (water quality classification)
Policy / extension angle20%10Critically evaluates policy gaps: for (a) low watershed fund utilization; for (b) digital divide in rural India; for (c) procurement vs price support distinction; for (d) delayed claim settlement, low awareness; for (e) absence of water quality testing infrastructure; suggests convergence with MGNREGA, extension reformsLists policies without critical evaluation; mentions challenges in passing without analysis; no suggestion for improvement or convergencePurely descriptive without policy critique; ignores implementation gaps; no mention of extension system's role in technology dissemination

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