Ans: B

Exp:

Pair 1 is correct: The Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was introduced in 1992 to provide foodgrains to the poor in remote and backward areas. This scheme was aimed at providing food security to the poor in areas where the traditional PDS was not reaching.

Pair 2 is incorrect: The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was introduced in 1997 to provide foodgrains to the poor in urban areas. This scheme was aimed at providing food security to the poor in urban areas, who were not covered by the RPDS.

Pair 3 is incorrect: The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY) was a new integrated food security scheme for providing free foodgrains to Antodaya Ann Yojna (AAY) & Primary Household (PHH) beneficiaries. Implementation of the new scheme has started from 1st January 2023, benefitting more than 80 crore poor and poorest of poor people. PMGKAY will subsume the two subsidy schemes of Department of Food & Public Distribution 

• Food Subsidy to FCI 
• Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of free foodgrains to the states under NFSA.

Pair 4 is correct: The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme was launched in 2020 to allow beneficiaries to buy foodgrains from any ration shop in the country. This scheme was aimed at streamlining the PDS and making it more efficient.

Ans: C

Exp:

Pair 1 is correct: The M. S. Swaminathan committee was set up in 2004 by the Government of India to look into the problems of farmers and suggest ways to improve their lives. The committee submitted its report in 2006, and its recommendations were largely accepted by the government. The main theme of the committee was to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security for the country.

Pair 2 is correct: The Shanta Kumar committee was set up in 2014 by the Government of India to look into the functioning of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The committee submitted its report in 2015, and its recommendations included restructuring the FCI and making it more efficient. The main theme of the committee was to reduce the losses incurred by the FCI and improve its financial health.

Pair 3 is correct: The Justice Wadhwa committee was set up in 2006 by the Government of India to look into the technology upgradation of the Public Distribution System (PDS). The committee submitted its report in 2007, and its recommendations included using modern technology to make the PDS more efficient and transparent. The main theme of the committee was to improve the delivery of food grains to the beneficiaries under the PDS.

Ans: A

Exp:

Option (a) is incorrect: National Livestock Mission (NLM) launched in the financial year 2014-15 but no such aim of doubling the livestock production by 2022 was introduced.

Option (b) is correct: The scheme was implemented as a sub scheme of White Revolution – Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana since April 2019. In view of the present need of the sector the NLM scheme has been revised and realigned from FY 2021-22.

Option (c) is correct: The NLM is being implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, which is the nodal ministry for the livestock sector in India.

Option (d) is correct: The NLM aims to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems through a variety of interventions, such as improving the genetic quality of livestock, providing veterinary services, and promoting livestock-based enterprises.

Ans: A

Exp: 

Option (a) is correct: The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). This means that about 813 million people in India are eligible to receive subsidized food grains under the NFSA.

The NFSA has two categories of beneficiaries:

• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): This is the poorest of the poor category and includes households living below the poverty line. AAY households are entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per month per household at a subsidized price of Rs. 1 per kg for wheat and Rs. 2 per kg for rice.
• Priority Households (PHH): This category includes households that are not covered under the AAY category but are still below the poverty line. PHH households are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at a subsidized price of Rs. 3 per kg for wheat and Rs. 2 per kg for rice.

The NFSA has been a major step towards ensuring food security for all in India. However, there are still challenges to be addressed, such as ensuring that the foodgrains reach the intended beneficiaries and that the system is free of corruption.

Ans: D

Exp:

The NFSM(National Food Security Mission) is a centrally sponsored scheme that was launched in 2007 with the aim of increasing the production of rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse cereals by 25 million tonnes by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017). The scheme has been successful in achieving its targets and has helped to improve food security in India. The factors for realizing the goals of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) are as follows:

• Area expansion: This refers to increasing the area under cultivation. This can be done by bringing new land under cultivation or by increasing the cropping intensity (the number of crops grown in a year on a piece of land).
• Productivity enhancement: This refers to increasing the yield of crops. This can be done by using improved varieties of seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation.
• Restoring soil fertility: This refers to improving the quality of the soil. This can be done by using organic manures, crop rotation, and cover cropping.
• Creating employment opportunities: This can be done by providing employment in agricultural activities, such as crop production, post-harvest management, and marketing. It can also be done by providing employment in non-agricultural activities, such as food processing, warehousing, and transportation.
• Enhancing farm level economy: This can be done by increasing the income of farmers. This can be done by increasing the production of crops, improving the quality of crops, and reducing the cost of production.
• The NFSM is a comprehensive scheme that addresses all of the important factors that are necessary to achieve food security. The scheme has been successful in achieving its targets and has helped to improve food security in India.