General Studies 2022 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Explain

Q14

What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

समेकित कृषि प्रणाली क्या है? भारत में छोटे और सीमांत किसानों के लिए यह कैसे लाभदायक हो सकती है? (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

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Directive word: Explain

This question asks you to explain. 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

The directive 'explain' requires a clear conceptual definition of Integrated Farming System (IFS) followed by systematic elaboration of its benefits for small and marginal farmers. Structure as: brief definition with components → specific advantages for resource-poor farmers → challenges/limitations → way forward with government schemes.

Key points expected

Definition: IFS as a holistic approach combining crop, livestock, fishery, forestry, and allied activities for synergistic resource use
Components: crop-livestock integration, agroforestry, fish-cum-poultry, biogas units, waste recycling for input self-sufficiency
Benefits for small farmers: risk diversification, year-round income, reduced external input dependence, enhanced resource use efficiency
Specific advantages: nutritional security through integrated food production, employment generation, climate resilience, carbon sequestration
Government support: PKVY, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, RKVY, NMSA promoting IFS adoption
Challenges: initial capital requirement, technical knowledge gap, market linkages for diversified produce

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Clearly distinguishes IFS from monoculture/organic farming; addresses BOTH parts (definition + small farmer benefits) with proportional weightage; demonstrates awareness of 250-word constraint by prioritizing	Defines IFS adequately but conflates with sustainable agriculture broadly; covers both parts superficially without clear linkage between IFS features and small farmer needs	Misses one part entirely or provides generic farming definition without integrated components; fails to address 'small and marginal' specificity
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Precise technical components (crops, livestock, fishery, agroforestry, biogas); accurate mention of NITI Aayog's Doubling Farmers' Income report or ICAR models; quantified benefits where possible	Lists 2-3 components correctly but misses synergistic relationships; mentions benefits without explaining mechanism; minor factual errors acceptable	Confuses IFS with mixed farming or crop rotation alone; factually incorrect components; irrelevant content on general agriculture problems
Structure & flow	20%	3	Logical progression: definition → components → small farmer-specific benefits → challenges → conclusion; smooth transitions; subheadings or clear paragraphing within word limit	Recognizable structure but uneven weightage (overlong definition, rushed benefits); some abrupt transitions; readable but not optimized	Disorganized or bullet-heavy without integration; no clear separation between definition and benefits; rambles beyond scope
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific Indian examples: ICAR-IFS models (e.g., IFS for Tamil Nadu/Andhra Pradesh), success stories from Kerala's homestead farming, or NDDB's dairy-integrated systems; mentions PM-KISAN linkage or NABARD financing	Generic reference to 'some states' or 'many farmers'; no specific schemes named; or only one vague example	No Indian examples; foreign cases only (Japanese/Philippine models without Indian adaptation); or completely absent
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Forward-looking synthesis connecting IFS to Doubling Farmers' Income 2022, climate-smart agriculture, or Atmanirbhar Bharat; critical insight on need for FPOs/market integration; concise within 30-40 words	Summary restatement without new insight; generic 'government should promote' ending; slightly overlong	Absent conclusion; or abrupt ending; or introduces new unrelated content; purely descriptive closure

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