Ans: B 

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The share of the agriculture sector in India’s GDP has seen a significant decline since independence. In the fiscal year 1950–51, agriculture accounted for around 55.4% of the GDP, while currently, it stands at around 15 %. This demonstrates a substantial decrease in its contribution to the overall economy over the years.

Statement 2 is correct: Despite the decreasing share in the country’s gross income, around 55% of India’s population still depends on the agriculture sector for their livelihood. It means that around  55 per cent of the population lives with only around 18 per cent of the total income of the Indian economy.

Statement 3 is correct: Agriculture is not only the biggest sector of the economy, but also the biggest private sector. It is the only profession which still carries no burden of individual income tax.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The productivity gap between on-the-field and ideal farm practices has decreased in recent years. As per the recent release of the Gol, the average productivity of rice, wheat and pulses, which was 2,202 kg, 2,802 kg and 625 kg per hectare in 2007— 08, increased to 2,346 kg, 3,026 kg and 649 kg per hectare during 2011— 13.

Ans: D

Exp: 

Option 1 is correct: PEAT, a German digital start-up, has created Plantix, an AI-based application that can detect nutrient deficits in soil.

Option 2 is correct: Agriculture AI applications have produced apps and tools that assist farmers in performing correct and regulated farming by offering suitable advice on water management, crop rotation, timely harvesting, kind of crop to be cultivated, optimum planting, insect assaults, and nutrition management.

Option 3 is correct: AI companies are developing robots that can easily perform multiple tasks in farming fields. This type of robot is trained to control weeds and harvest crops at a faster pace with higher volumes compared to humans.

Option 4 is correct: AI-enabled technologies predict weather conditions, analyse crop sustainability, and evaluate farms for the presence of diseases or pests, as well as poor plant nutrition

Ans: A

Exp:

AgriStack’ is a collection of technology-based interventions in agriculture. The stated purpose of AgriStack is to help use data in agriculture to promote data-driven agriculture. The architecture of AgriStack will determine how the information is collected, shared and sold across the agri-market ecosystems. AgriStack will help facilitate the shift in the markets from physical APMC infrastructures to digital e-Markets. It aims to make it easier for farmers to get easier access to cheaper credit, higher-quality farm inputs, localized and specific advice, and more informed and convenient access to markets. Agri Stack also aims to make it easier for governments to plan and implement various farmer and agriculture-focused benefit schemes.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The Indian cropping season is actually classified into two main seasons – kharif and rabi – based on the monsoon. The Kharif season is from July to October during the South-West/Summer Monsoon, while the rabi season is from October to March (North-East/Returning/Winter Monsoon).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The term Jayad/Zaid refers to crops grown between March and June, not July and October. 

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Kharif crops include rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet/bajra, finger millet/ragi (cereals), arhar (pulses), soybean, groundnut (oilseeds), cotton, etc. 

The rabi crops include wheat, barley, oats (cereals), chickpea/gram (pulses), linseed, mustard (oilseeds) etc.

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Agriculture Infrastructure fund aims to provide a medium – long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Private entities can submit up to 25 applications under the scheme; projects to be in different locations having different LGD codes. There is no limit on applications for State agencies, Federations of farmer groups