agriculture sector subsidy & food processing section 9 MCQ Questions & Answers Detailed Explanation

Answer: (c)

Let us understand with an example:

Suppose the imported LPG cylinder price (i.e. international market price) is Rs. 800/cylinder. And govt announced that it will give Rs. 300/cylinder as a subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

So, the consumers will purchase the cylinder from Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) like IOCL/BPCL at Rs. 800/cylinder and government will transfer Rs. 300/cylinder in consumers account.

Now, if the international price increases to Rs. 900/cylinder, then there are three options:

1. Consumers pay Rs. 900/cylinder and government transfer Rs. 400/cylinder in the account as DBT. But it will increase the overall subsidy bill of the government, which government don’t like
2. Consumers pay Rs. 900/cylinder and the government still transfer Rs. 300/cylinder in consumers account, but it will increase the price per cylinder by Rs. 600 (=Rs. 900 - Rs. 300) to the consumer from the earlier price of Rs. 500 (=Rs. 800- Rs. 300). For political and social reasons, govt. may not like this also.
3. Government forces OMCs (LPG cylinders are supplied through OMCs) to sell the cylinder still at Rs. 800/cylinder (a kind of forced regulation), So consumers pay Rs. 800/cylinder and they will get Rs. 300 in account from Govt. This will not increase govt. subsidy bill and consumers will also be happy. But it impacts the finances of OMCs.

If the government will choose the 3) option, then for OMCs it is a loss of Rs. 100/ cylinder. And this is called "Under-recovery" per cylinder.

Generally, because of political and social compulsions govt. uses this 3) option leading to huge under-recoveries by OMCs. Till the time price of crude/gas is benign/moderate, the under-recovery may be very less or nil but when it increases, the under-recovery of OMCs increases.

Answer: (d)

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was launched in August 2007 as a part of the 11th Five Year Plan by the Government of India.

Launched under the aegis of the National Development Council, it seeks to achieve 4% annual growth in agriculture through the development of Agriculture and its allied sectors during the period under the 11th Five Year Plan (2007–11).

Answer: (a)

A pilot Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS) was introduced in 2009-10 for the benefit of coconut growers in major coconut growing states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Goa, AP, West Bengal and Maharashtra.

In this scheme, coconut plants of the age from 4th year to 60th year are covered.

Insurance coverage is provided for total loss/death/becoming useless of the plant. Fifty per cent subsidy in premium is provided by the Government of India and twenty-five per cent by the concerned State Government.

Answer: (a)

India is the fourth largest producer, of natural rubber and fifth largest consumer of natural rubber and synthetic rubber together in the world. India in the world, shares more than 8.0% in the Natural Rubber Production.

Answer: (a)

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO) was registered on November 3, 1967 as a Multi-unit Co-operative Society.

Answer: (d)

Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee has been appointed to recommend revisions to Wholesale Price Index. Average annual growth of the agriculture sector in the Eleventh Five Year plan was 3.3%.