Theme T137 · Agriculture & Food

Green Revolution & food self-sufficiency: rice–wheat system, technology missions

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What UPSC asks

Cross-paper GS1–GS3: from food importer to exporter, why the Green Revolution bypassed eastern India, technology missions and food security, agricultural revolutions and poverty, the rice–wheat system's success and costs, and policies for diversification.

Prepare these

• Green Revolution: HYV, irrigation, fertilisers, MSP and procurement
• Regional imbalance: eastern India's land tenure and infrastructure
• Other revolutions: White, Blue, Yellow
• Costs: groundwater, soil, crop concentration
• Technology missions (Oilseeds, Cotton, NHM)

Answer writing

• Balance success with consequences; link to groundwater theme

Directive words in these PYQs: Explain (2), Examine (1), Describe (1), Why (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

• GS1-L11 — Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
• GS3-L4 — 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

All 6 PYQs, newest first

1. GS3202610 marks · 150 wordsGS3-AGR-01-M2026-S01

   Describe the various Technology Missions initiated in Indian agriculture and examine their role in food security.

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2. GS3202615 marks · 250 wordsGS3-AGR-01-M2026-S02

   How Indian agriculture has been transformed from food scarcity to food surplus level? Explain the various government policies implemented for diversification of Indian agriculture.

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3. GS1202315 marks · 250 wordsGS1-GEO-06-M2023-Q17

   From being net food importer in 1960s, India has emerged as a net food exporter to the world. Provide reasons.

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4. GS32020GS3-AGR-01-M2020-S01

   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?

   Also needs: T45 Groundwater depletion & seawater intrusionCopyReport a typo
5. GS32017GS3-AGR-01-M2017-S01

   Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India?

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6. GS12014GS1-GEO-06-M2014-S02

   Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?

   Also needs: T63 Regionalism & regional disparityCopyReport a typo