Theme T141 · Agriculture & Food

Farm subsidies, MSP & crop insurance (incl. WTO Agreement on Agriculture)

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What UPSC asks

Questions repeat on direct and indirect farm subsidies and WTO's Agreement on Agriculture, distortions, subsidies' effect on cropping, MSP and the low-income trap, and crop insurance (PMFBY).

Prepare these

• Types of subsidies: input, price, credit
• AoA boxes: amber, blue, green; de minimis
• MSP: CACP, procurement concentration
• PMFBY features and issues

Answer writing

• Link domestic policy with WTO obligations

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (3), Examine (1), Bring out (1), Analyse (1), Critically (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Comes back later in

Later themes that take this one further.

On the map

Syllabus lines covered

• GS3-L5 — Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

All 6 PYQs, newest first

1. GS3202615 marks · 250 wordsGS3-AGR-03-M2026-S01

   Discuss the different types of subsidies and supports provided by the Government of India to agricultural sector. Examine the related issues pertaining to Agreement on Agriculture of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

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2. GS3202315 marks · 250 wordsGS3-AGR-03-M2023-Q14

   What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to farm sector in India. Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to agricultural subsidies.

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3. GS32018GS3-AGR-03-M2018-S01

   What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low income trap?

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4. GS32017GS3-AGR-03-M2017-S01

   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?

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5. GS32016GS3-AGR-03-M2016-S01

   Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

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6. GS32013GS3-AGR-03-M2013-S01

   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.

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