Screening Paper I · 3 Indian & AP Economy and Planning · APPSC Group 1
3.3.2 Agriculture and rural economy notes
11 notes, in reading order.
- 3.3.2.1Agriculture in India: role, landholdings, cropping seasons and cropping intensity
Agriculture employs nearly half of India's workers but produces a much smaller share of output, and its structure is set by tiny holdings, three cropping seasons and a State List subject.
Advanced · 7 min · Full course - 3.3.2.2Land reforms: intermediaries, tenancy, ceilings, Bhoodan and Operation Barga
Post-independence land reform tried to end exploitative intermediaries, protect tenants, cap large holdings and redistribute land, with success mostly in Kerala and West Bengal.
Advanced · 6 min · Full course - 3.3.2.3Green Revolution: HYV programme, phases and impacts
The Green Revolution (from 1966-67) used high-yielding seeds, fertiliser and irrigation to lift foodgrain output, first of wheat in the north-west, and ended India's dependence on food aid.
Advanced · 5 min · Full course - 3.3.2.4Farm inputs: seeds, GM crops, plant variety protection, fertiliser subsidy and soil health
Seeds, fertiliser and soil health are the inputs the State regulates and subsidises most, with urea sold at a controlled price and phosphate and potash under a nutrient-based subsidy.
Advanced · 6 min · Full course - 3.3.2.5Irrigation: sources, classification of projects and PMKSY
Groundwater now irrigates more of India than canals, and the main national scheme, PMKSY (2015), aims at "Har Khet Ko Pani" and "Per Drop More Crop".
Advanced · 5 min · Full course - 3.3.2.6Agricultural prices: CACP, cost concepts, MSP, FRP and PM-AASHA
The CACP recommends Minimum Support Prices for 22 mandated crops, set since 2018-19 at least 1.5 times the A2+FL cost, while sugarcane gets an FRP instead.
Advanced · 6 min · Full course - 3.3.2.7Food security: FCI, buffer stocks, PDS and the National Food Security Act 2013
The FCI procures and stores grain, the PDS distributes it, and the NFSA 2013 made subsidised foodgrains a legal entitlement for up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban people.
Advanced · 5 min · Full course - 3.3.2.8Agricultural marketing: APMC, e-NAM, the 2020 farm laws and warehousing
Farm produce is sold through State-regulated APMC mandis, now linked by the e-NAM portal, and the three 2020 farm laws that tried to open the market were repealed in 2021.
Advanced · 5 min · Full course - 3.3.2.9Agricultural credit and crop insurance: KCC, interest subvention, NABARD and PMFBY
Rural credit grew from cooperatives to banks, RRBs and NABARD, and today the Kisan Credit Card with interest subvention and PMFBY crop insurance are the main farm-finance tools.
Advanced · 6 min · Full course - 3.3.2.10Allied sectors: dairy, fisheries, livestock and the colour revolutions
India is the world's largest milk producer, and dairy, fisheries and livestock are now the fastest-growing parts of agriculture.
Advanced · 5 min · Full course - 3.3.2.11Farm income support and new initiatives: PM-KISAN, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, cooperatives, natural farming and millets
Direct income support (PM-KISAN), infrastructure finance, cooperatives, natural farming and millets are the main post-2018 farm initiatives.
Advanced · 6 min · Full course
Practise Agriculture and rural economy. Questions with answers explained, from the same topics.
Medha AI is an independent preparation service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to APPSC, TSPSC, MPSC, UPSC or any other commission or government body.