Paper I — Q5
(a) Explain saltation, surface creep and suspension with reference to wind erosion. (10 marks) (b) Discuss the sensitive stages…
Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:
Explain saltation, surface creep and suspension with reference to wind erosion. 10 marks
Discuss the sensitive stages for drought and high temperature in cereals and pulses. 10 marks
'Pre-harvest scarcity and post-harvest glut'—elucidate with suitable examples, and give any two valid reasons behind such situation under Indian context. 10 marks
Explain the term 'market intelligence'. Briefly point out the role of market intelligence and how it is useful to the Government, traders, farmers, consumers and researchers. 10 marks
Explain 'Farmer FIRST'. Briefly discuss the objectives of 'Farmer FIRST'. 10 marks
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
निम्नलिखित में से प्रत्येक प्रश्न का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए :
वायु क्षरण के संदर्भ में उछाल (साल्टेशन), पृष्ठीय सर्पण (सरफेस क्रीप) और निलंबन (सस्पेंशन) की व्याख्या कीजिए। (10 अंक)
अनाज और दलहनों में सूखा और उच्च तापमान के प्रति संवेदनशील अवस्थाओं का वर्णन कीजिए। (10 अंक)
'फसल-पूर्व कमी और कटाई-उपरांत प्रचुरता' को उपयुक्त उदाहरणों के साथ स्पष्ट कीजिए, तथा भारतीय संदर्भ के अंतर्गत ऐसी स्थिति के पीछे कोई दो वैध कारण बताइए। (10 अंक)
'बाजार बुद्धिमत्ता' पद की व्याख्या कीजिए। संक्षेप में बाजार बुद्धिमत्ता की भूमिका पर प्रकाश डालिए और बताइए कि यह सरकार, व्यापारियों, किसानों, उपभोक्ताओं और शोधकर्ताओं के लिए कैसे उपयोगी है। (10 अंक)
'किसान प्रथम (फार्मर फर्स्ट)' को समझाइए। 'फार्मर फर्स्ट' के उद्देश्यों का संक्षेप में वर्णन कीजिए। (10 अंक)
Model answer
Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.
(a) Saltation, Surface Creep and Suspension in Wind Erosion
Wind erosion operates through three distinct transport modes based on particle size. Saltation involves particles of 0.1–0.5 mm, which constitute 50–75% of total transport; these grains bounce along the surface, impacting soil and dislodging finer particles. Surface creep affects larger particles (0.5–2 mm), accounting for 5–25% of movement, where grains roll or slide due to the impact of saltating particles. Suspension carries the finest particles (<0.1 mm) into the atmosphere, enabling long-distance transport. In India, this process is critical in the Thar Desert and Rajasthan, where deflation removes topsoil, reducing agricultural productivity and causing dust storms that degrade air quality and soil fertility in downwind regions.
(b) Stages Sensitive to Drought and High Temperature
Cereals and pulses exhibit specific physiological vulnerabilities to abiotic stress. In cereals like wheat and rice, the booting and anthesis stages are most sensitive to drought (in wheat, crown root initiation about three weeks after sowing is also critical), as water deficit disrupts pollen development and grain set. High temperatures during meiosis and pollen development cause sterility, significantly reducing yield. For pulses, such as gram and arhar, the flowering and pod-filling stages are critical; heat stress during these phases leads to flower drop and poor seed filling. Understanding these sensitive windows allows for targeted interventions, such as timely irrigation or heat-tolerant varieties, to mitigate yield losses in climate-vulnerable Indian agriculture.
(c) Pre-Harvest Scarcity and Post-Harvest Glut
The paradox of "pre-harvest scarcity and post-harvest glut" describes the volatile price cycles in perishable commodities. For instance, onion prices spiked in 2019 due to supply constraints, only to crash post-harvest when the crop arrived in bulk. Similarly, tomato prices fluctuated drastically in 2023. Two primary reasons drive this in India: first, the high perishability of these crops limits storage options, forcing immediate sale upon harvest; second, speculative hoarding by intermediaries creates artificial scarcity pre-harvest, followed by a market flood when the hoarded stock is released alongside fresh produce, crashing prices and harming farmers.
(d) Market Intelligence and Its Role
Market intelligence refers to the systematic collection and analysis of real-time data on prices, demand-supply dynamics, and trade flows. In India, platforms like AGMARKNET and eNAM provide this data, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions. For the Government, it aids in formulating export-import policies and stabilizing prices through timely intervention. Traders use it to optimize logistics and minimize losses. Farmers benefit by identifying optimal times and locations for selling produce, ensuring better realization. Consumers gain from price transparency, while researchers utilize the data to model market trends and develop predictive tools for agricultural planning.
(e) Farmer FIRST
'Farmer FIRST' stands for Farmer FIRST: Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology. It is a paradigm shift introduced by ICAR in 2016 to align agricultural research with the actual needs of farmers. The core objective is to move away from technology-push models to a demand-driven approach. This involves participatory technology development, where farmers are active partners in the research process. By focusing on innovation diffusion and income enhancement, Farmer FIRST aims to ensure that scientific advancements are relevant, adoptable, and economically viable for the farming community, thereby bridging the gap between research stations and farm fields.
How this answer will be evaluated
Framework: Concept > Practice or process > Data > Indian application
What earns full marks: Precise definitions, specific examples, and clear linkages to Indian context.
Evaluation rubric
Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.
- (a) Define and distinguish the three modes of wind erosion transport. 10 marks · 150 words
explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close
Must cover
- Define saltation (0.1–0.5 mm bouncing; 50–75% of transport)
- Define surface creep (0.5–2 mm rolling/sliding; 5–25%)
- Define suspension (<0.1 mm long-distance transport)
- Link to Indian context (Thar/Rajasthan deflation, dust storms)
Loses marks
- Confusing saltation with suspension
- Failing to mention particle size as a determining factor
Earns more
- Mention deflation as the removal of loose material
- Reference specific particle size ranges (e.g., 0.1-0.5mm for saltation)
Extra mark
- Reference to specific wind velocity thresholds (e.g., 10-15 km/h)
- (b) Identify specific growth stages in cereals and pulses vulnerable to drought and heat. 10 marks · 150 words
discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close
Must cover
- Cereals: booting/anthesis most sensitive to drought (pollen development, grain set); crown root initiation in wheat
- Heat stress during meiosis/pollen development causes sterility
- Pulses: flowering and pod-filling stages critical (flower drop, poor seed filling)
- Link to interventions (timely irrigation, heat-tolerant varieties)
Loses marks
- Generalizing without naming specific stages
- Ignoring the distinction between cereals and pulses
Earns more
- Mention specific crops like wheat, rice, or chickpea
- Explain the physiological impact (e.g., pollen sterility)
Extra mark
- Mention specific temperature thresholds (e.g., >35°C for wheat)
- (c) Explain the paradox of pre-harvest scarcity and post-harvest glut in India. 10 marks · 150 words
explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close
Must cover
- Define pre-harvest scarcity (high prices before harvest)
- Define post-harvest glut (price crash after harvest)
- Provide a specific Indian example (e.g., onion, potato, or pulses)
- Give two valid reasons (e.g., lack of storage, hoarding, distress sale)
Loses marks
- Failing to provide two distinct reasons
- Vague examples without specific crops
Earns more
- Mention the role of middlemen or hoarding
- Reference the lack of cold chain infrastructure
Extra mark
- Reference to specific government intervention (e.g., buffer stock)
- (d) Define market intelligence and its utility for various stakeholders. 10 marks · 150 words
explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close
Must cover
- Define market intelligence (real-time price/demand–supply/trade data)
- Indian platforms (AGMARKNET, eNAM)
- Government (policy/price stabilisation) and traders (logistics, loss minimisation)
- Farmers (timing/market choice), consumers (transparency), researchers (forecasting)
Loses marks
- Failing to address all listed stakeholders
- Confusing market intelligence with general market news
Earns more
- Mention specific tools like mandi reports or price forecasting
- Reference to specific institutions (e.g., NABARD, APEDA)
Extra mark
- Mention specific digital platforms (e.g., e-NAM)
- (e) Define 'Farmer FIRST' and outline its objectives. 10 marks · 150 words
explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close
Must cover
- Expand Farmer FIRST (Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology) and attribute to ICAR 2016
- Demand-driven shift from technology-push
- Participatory technology development (farmers as partners)
- Objectives: innovation diffusion, income enhancement, relevance/adoptability
Loses marks
- Confusing Farmer FIRST with general agricultural policy
- Failing to list specific objectives
Earns more
- Mention specific components of the initiative
- Reference to specific government schemes or departments
Extra mark
- Reference to specific success stories or data from the initiative
What "Explain" is asking you to do
Make the working of something clear — what sets it off, what follows from what, and what it produces. Explain is the Commission's mechanism word: it dominates the technical papers and the “explain why” stems, where the marks sit in the causal chain and not in the label.
Structure that answers it
State what it is → the initiating condition → the chain of cause, step by step → an instance where it plays out → what the chain produces
Where marks are lost
Describing what something looks like instead of why it works that way. Naming the stages without linking them reads as description too.
Practice this exact question
Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.
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