Questions & explanations
1. Consider the following statements about the livestock sector in India:
1. It contributes nearly 30% of agricultural and allied Gross Value Added.
2. Ownership of livestock is more skewed than ownership of land.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: the livestock sector contributes approximately 28–30% of Agricultural and Allied GVA (DAHD Annual Report data), placing it as the largest sub-sector of agriculture. Statement 2 is false: livestock ownership is actually more equitably distributed than land ownership in India — small and marginal farmers and landless labourers own a significant share of livestock, which is a key argument for its pro-poor nature. Only statement 1 is correct.
2. Consider the following statements regarding the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:
1. It aims at development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.
2. It employs technologies such as sex-sorted semen and IVF.
3. It is implemented under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (2014) conserves and develops indigenous bovine breeds, uses advanced reproductive technologies like sex-sorted semen and IVF, and is run by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
3. Goats and sheep are often described as the 'ATM of the poor' mainly because they:
- (a) Yield very high milk per animal
- (b) Require heavy investment
- (c) Can be easily and quickly sold for cash in emergencies
- (d) Need irrigated pastures
Answer: (c) Can be easily and quickly sold for cash in emergencies
Small ruminants are called the 'ATM of the poor' because they need little input, breed quickly, thrive in drylands, and can be liquidated easily for cash to meet emergencies.
4. With reference to fisheries in India, consider the following:
1. Inland and aquaculture fisheries now contribute a larger share of fish output than marine fisheries.
2. Frozen shrimp is among India's leading seafood exports.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Inland and aquaculture output now exceeds marine capture, and frozen shrimp is the leading marine export, making India a top seafood exporter.
5. Consider the following statements about wheat-rice mono-cropping in north-west India:
1. It is encouraged by assured MSP procurement.
2. It contributes to groundwater depletion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Assured MSP procurement and subsidised power/water encourage the wheat-rice rotation, and water-intensive paddy contributes to groundwater depletion.
6. The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) primarily provides:
- (a) Free fodder to farmers
- (b) Interest subvention to incentivise private investment in dairy/meat processing and feed plants
- (c) Minimum support price for milk
- (d) Direct cash transfer to cattle owners
Answer: (b) Interest subvention to incentivise private investment in dairy/meat processing and feed plants
AHIDF provides interest subvention on loans to incentivise private and cooperative investment in dairy and meat processing, feed plants and related infrastructure.
7. India holds which rank in global milk production?
- (a) First
- (b) Second
- (c) Third
- (d) Fourth
Answer: (a) First
India is the world's largest producer of milk, with annual output of around 230 million tonnes, a position achieved through the cooperative-led White Revolution.
8. The 'Anand pattern' of dairy cooperatives is a:
- (a) Two-tier structure
- (b) Three-tier structure of village society, district union and state federation
- (c) Single national cooperative
- (d) Private corporate model
Answer: (b) Three-tier structure of village society, district union and state federation
The Anand pattern is a three-tier producer-owned structure: village Dairy Cooperative Societies, district Milk Unions, and state Federations (e.g., GCMMF/Amul).
9. Operation Flood, which ushered in the White Revolution, was launched in which year?
- (a) 1965
- (b) 1970
- (c) 1991
- (d) 2000
Answer: (b) 1970
Operation Flood was launched in 1970 by the National Dairy Development Board (founded 1965) under Dr. Verghese Kurien, and ran in three phases until 1996.
10. Which of the following is an indigenous cattle breed of India?
- (a) Holstein Friesian
- (b) Jersey
- (c) Sahiwal
- (d) Brown Swiss
Answer: (c) Sahiwal
Sahiwal is an indigenous (desi) cattle breed of India known for heat tolerance and A2 milk. Holstein Friesian, Jersey and Brown Swiss are exotic breeds.
11. Feed and fodder typically account for what proportion of the cost of animal production?
- (a) 10-20%
- (b) 30-40%
- (c) 60-70%
- (d) 90-95%
Answer: (c) 60-70%
Feed and fodder constitute about 60-70% of the cost of animal production, making feed security the single biggest determinant of livestock productivity.
12. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is associated with which sector?
- (a) Dairy
- (b) Poultry
- (c) Fisheries and aquaculture
- (d) Sheep and goat rearing
Answer: (c) Fisheries and aquaculture
PMMSY, launched in 2020 with an outlay of about Rs 20,050 crore, is the flagship scheme for the development of fisheries and aquaculture in India.