Crops, Irrigation & Agricultural Marketing — UPSC Questions
Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
Previous year questions and Mains practice questions on this exact syllabus topic, collected from every GainingSun analysis mapped to it. Each question links back to the analysis it came from, so you can read the material behind the answer.
Previous year questions (from 13 analyses)
Questions UPSC has set on this syllabus topic, as cited in our analyses.
How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2017)
From Fertiliser Sales and El Niño Explained: What Weak Farm Demand Signals for India
India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (UPSC Mains GS1, 2020)
From Agrivoltaics Explained: Can India Grow Crops and Solar Power on the Same Land?
How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2023)
From Farmer ID and AgriStack Explained: What 11 Crore IDs Mean for Indian Agriculture
La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino?
La Nina is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A) 1 only B) 2 only C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Answer: D (UPSC Prelims 2011)
Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? (UPSC Mains 2014, GS Paper 1)
From El Niño Effect: Why India's Vegetable Oil, Pulses and Cotton Imports May Hit New Records
What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success, how has this system become bane in India? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2020)
From Direct-Seeded Rice Explained: Why Farmers Are Shifting Amid El Niño Monsoon Risk
Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2018)
From E20 Ethanol Blending Explained: Why India’s Fuel Transition Faces a Mileage and Trust Test
What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of 'Trade War', especially keeping in mind the interest of India? (UPSC CSE Mains GS2, 2018)
"What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India's national self-esteem and ambitions." Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE Mains GS2, 2019)
From India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement: Section 301, IEEPA Tariff Ruling & Mission 500 Explained
Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? (UPSC Mains GS1, 2014)
How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanising landscape? Discuss. (UPSC Mains GS1, 2015)
From Southwest Monsoon 2026: Why a 42% Rain Deficit Worries the RBI on Growth, Inflation
How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscapes? Discuss. (UPSC Mains GS1, 2015)
From El Niño and Weak Monsoon Explained: Why Maharashtra Rainfall Has Stalled and What It Means for India
What are the challenges and opportunities in food processing sector in the country? How can income of the farmers be sustainably increased by encouraging food processing? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2020)
From Explained: Tripura Queen Pineapple Mission and the Push to Build a Global Agri Brand
(UPSC CSE Prelims 2017) With reference to 'Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)' sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting the Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? The IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Niño's impact on the monsoon. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: (b) 2 only
(UPSC CSE Mains 2014, GS Paper 1) Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?
From El Niño Emerges in Pacific: How ENSO, IOD and IMD's 2026 Forecast Shape India's Monsoon
What are the different types of agriculture subsidies given to farmers at the national and at state levels? Critically analyse the agricultural subsidy regime with reference to the distortions created by it. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2013)
In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2016)
Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2020)
From PM Surya Ghar & PM-KUSUM: Why India's Decentralised Solar Schemes Lag Behind Target
Mains practice questions (from 21 analyses)
Practice questions written for this topic, each tied to the current affairs that would answer it.
A fall in fertiliser sales may reveal agricultural stress, but it is an incomplete measure of rural economic conditions. Examine the links between monsoon variability, farm-input demand and fertiliser policy, and suggest an appropriate response. (250 words, 15 marks)
From Fertiliser Sales and El Niño Explained: What Weak Farm Demand Signals for India
Agrivoltaics offers a way to reconcile renewable-energy expansion with agricultural land use. Examine its benefits and limitations, and suggest safeguards to protect food security and small farmers. (250 words, 15 marks)
From Agrivoltaics Explained: Can India Grow Crops and Solar Power on the Same Land?
AgriStack can improve agricultural service delivery, but a land-record-linked digital identity may reproduce existing exclusions. Examine its potential and suggest safeguards to make digital agriculture inclusive and accountable. (250 words, 15 marks)
From Farmer ID and AgriStack Explained: What 11 Crore IDs Mean for Indian Agriculture
A weak southwest monsoon coinciding with a strengthening El Niño exposes the structural vulnerability of India's rainfed agriculture, particularly in pulses, oilseeds and cotton. Examine how such climatic shocks affect India's food security and import bill, and suggest short-term policy responses as well as long-term measures to reduce import dependence in these commodities. (250 words, 15 marks) (GS Paper 3)
From El Niño Effect: Why India's Vegetable Oil, Pulses and Cotton Imports May Hit New Records
Direct-seeded rice can reduce the water and labour intensity of paddy cultivation, but it is not a complete solution to India’s groundwater and cropping-pattern crisis. Discuss.
From Direct-Seeded Rice Explained: Why Farmers Are Shifting Amid El Niño Monsoon Risk
India’s ethanol blending programme strengthens energy security and farmer incomes, but raises concerns over consumer costs, vehicle compatibility and environmental sustainability. Discuss.
From E20 Ethanol Blending Explained: Why India’s Fuel Transition Faces a Mileage and Trust Test
The India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement reflects a growing convergence of trade and strategic interests, even as it tests India's commitment to strategic autonomy. Critically examine the opportunities and challenges before India in negotiating this agreement. (250 words)
From India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement: Section 301, IEEPA Tariff Ruling & Mission 500 Explained
"A weak monsoon is no longer the automatic shock to the Indian economy that it once was, yet it remains a central risk to price stability and rural welfare." Critically examine this statement in the light of India's buffer stocks, monetary-policy framework and disaster-preparedness mechanisms. (GS3, 250 words)
From Southwest Monsoon 2026: Why a 42% Rain Deficit Worries the RBI on Growth, Inflation
El Niño-induced monsoon variability can affect India’s agriculture, food inflation and water security. Discuss the institutional and policy measures needed to make India’s monsoon-dependent economy more climate-resilient.
From El Niño and Weak Monsoon Explained: Why Maharashtra Rainfall Has Stalled and What It Means for India
Discuss how Geographical Indication-based branding and value-chain development can improve farmers’ income in North East India. Examine the opportunities and challenges with reference to Tripura Queen Pineapple.
From Explained: Tripura Queen Pineapple Mission and the Push to Build a Global Agri Brand
India’s move beyond E20 fuel can support energy security and farmer income, but it also raises concerns of vehicle compatibility, consumer choice and sustainability. Critically examine.
From Explained: India’s Push Beyond E20 Fuel and the Promise and Pitfalls of Flex-Fuel Mobility
Explain the mechanism by which El Niño suppresses the Indian southwest monsoon, and assess why the Indian Ocean Dipole means an El Niño does not always translate into a drought year for India. (250 words, 15 marks)
From El Niño Emerges in Pacific: How ENSO, IOD and IMD's 2026 Forecast Shape India's Monsoon
India’s fertiliser subsidy system protects farmers from global price shocks but also creates fiscal and ecological distortions. Discuss with reference to urea imports, nutrient imbalance and the need for balanced fertiliser use.
Decentralised solar generation is central to India's clean energy transition, yet flagship schemes such as PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM continue to fall short of their targets. Critically examine the structural and fiscal reasons for this shortfall, and suggest measures to accelerate adoption. (250 words)
From PM Surya Ghar & PM-KUSUM: Why India's Decentralised Solar Schemes Lag Behind Target
The recently approved Mission for Cotton Productivity aims to close India's significant yield gap with global cotton producers. Critically examine the role of seed technology, regulation and pricing policy in India's cotton sector, and suggest measures to revive its competitiveness in a balanced and sustainable manner. (15 marks, 250 words)
From Cotton Productivity Mission Explained: Bt Cotton, Yield Gap and the GM Policy Debate
"A weak monsoon no longer automatically translates into an economic crisis for India, yet rainfall variability remains a critical risk." In light of the IMD's 2026 below-normal monsoon forecast, examine the factors that have improved India's resilience to monsoon shocks and suggest measures to further reduce agricultural vulnerability to climate variability. (250 words / 15 marks)
From IMD Cuts 2026 Monsoon to 90% of LPA: El Niño, IOD & "Below Normal" Rainfall Explained
"El Niño is not destiny, but a probability." In the context of the developing 2026 El Niño and IMD's below-normal Southwest Monsoon forecast, examine the ocean-atmosphere mechanisms linking ENSO with the Indian monsoon. Discuss the role of the Indian Ocean Dipole and other moderating factors, and evaluate India's preparedness — institutional, agricultural, and economic — for a weak monsoon year. (250 words / 15 marks)
Examine the challenges in achieving a balance between controlling food inflation and ensuring remunerative prices for farmers in India's agricultural policy framework.
Examine the implications of the transition from sugarcane to grain-based ethanol production in India on agricultural sustainability, energy security, and the food vs fuel dilemma, in the context of achieving the 20% blending target by 2025-26.
Examine the impact of recurrent floods on soil fertility in Punjab and discuss the measures needed for sustainable agricultural recovery in the context of climate change.
From Punjab Floods 2025: How Floods Changed Soil Quality and Why Farmers Have Hope for Recovery
Discuss the role of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana in addressing regional disparities in Indian agriculture and its potential to contribute to sustainable development goals. (250 words)