1. With reference to the “BRICS Land Restoration Partnership”, consider the following statements:
- It was launched to address land degradation, desertification, and loss of soil fertility in the BRICS member countries.
- The initiative was adopted at the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ meeting held in South Africa.
- India emphasized the importance of placing small and marginal farmers at the center of global agricultural strategies during the meeting.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct – the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership aims to address land degradation, desertification, and soil fertility loss. Statement 2 is incorrect – the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ meeting was held in Brasilia, Brazil, not South Africa. Statement 3 is correct – India did emphasize the welfare of small and marginal farmers.
2. Consider the following statements about the agricultural priorities of BRICS as per the 15th Agriculture Ministers’ meeting:
- Ensuring fair and inclusive global agri-food systems
- Supporting public food stockholding and minimum support price mechanisms
- Promoting price volatility to attract investment in commodities
- Establishing value chains directly linking smallholders to consumers
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
[A] 1, 2 and 4 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2, 3 and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 and 4 only]
Notes:
The priorities of BRICS nations are in line with statements 1, 2 and 4. They aim to ensure fair and inclusive global agri-food systems, support public food stockholding and minimum support price mechanisms and establish value chains that connect smallholders and consumers directly. However, they seek to control, not promote, price volatility in commodities, rendering statement 3 incorrect.
3. Consider the following declarations emphasized during the 15th Agriculture Ministers’ meeting of BRICS:
- Sustainable development of fisheries and livestock
- Digital agriculture certification
- Climate adaptation and food security
- Promotion of monoculture over traditional farming practices
Which of the above statements was / were emphasized in the joint declaration?
[A] 1, 2 and 3 only
[B] 2 and 4 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 and 3 only]
Notes:
In the joint declaration of the 15th Agriculture Ministers’ meeting of BRICS, sustainable development of fisheries and livestock, digital agriculture certification, and climate adaptation and food security were emphasized. However, the promotion of monoculture over traditional farming practices was not a part of the emphasized declarations, instead traditional practices and diversification were highlighted.
4. Consider the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- Housing
- Export Credit
- Real Estate and Luxury Retail
Which of the above sectors are typically considered Priority Sector Lending (PSL) segments in India?
[A] 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
[B] 2, 3 and 5 only
[C] 1, 3 and 5 only
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2, 3 and 4 only]
Notes:
PSL includes sectors that have a high impact on the socio-economic structure of the country and need credit support. Priority Sector Lending (PSL) in India typically includes segments like agriculture, MSMEs, Housing and Export Credit. Real Estate and Luxury Retail are not usually considered as Priority Sector as they do not significantly impact socio-economic development.
5. Where was the third BIMSTEC Agriculture Conference held in April 2025?
[A] India
[B] Myanmar
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nepal]
Notes:
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan represented India at the 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (BAMM) held in Kathmandu, Nepal. BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. Ministers and officials from member countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka participated. The meeting aimed to boost regional cooperation in agriculture, food security, fisheries, and livestock. India proposed setting up a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Agriculture Cooperation to focus on precision farming, climate risk, natural farming, gender equality, and artificial intelligence. The centre will help share knowledge on new technologies like drones and digital tools to improve food, nutrition, and livelihood security.
6. Which organization released the report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in March 2025?
[A] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
[B] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
[C] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
[D] World Health Organization (WHO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)]
Notes:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-PGRFA) on March 24, 2025. The report warned of high dependency on nine crops and threats to global plant genetic diversity. SoW-PGRFA is a global assessment of the conservation, use, and status of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The report guides global action plans to protect plant genetic diversity and ensure food security.
7. The headquarters of Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) is located in which city?
[A] Paris, France
[B] Rome, Italy
[C] Geneva, Switzerland
[D] New York, USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rome, Italy]
Notes:
The 20th meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA-20) has begun in Rome. Global leaders are discussing strategies to conserve plant and forest genetic resources and will release two major global reports. CGRFA is a permanent intergovernmental body under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), established in 1983 and expanded in 1995. It aims to promote sustainable biodiversity use, enhance food security, and ensure fair benefit-sharing. The headquarters of CGRFA is in Rome, Italy.
8. The headquarters of Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) is located in which city?
[A] Paris, France
[B] Rome, Italy
[C] Geneva, Switzerland
[D] New York, USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rome, Italy]
Notes:
The 20th meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA-20) has begun in Rome. Global leaders are discussing strategies to conserve plant and forest genetic resources and will release two major global reports. CGRFA is a permanent intergovernmental body under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), established in 1983 and expanded in 1995. It aims to promote sustainable biodiversity use, enhance food security, and ensure fair benefit-sharing. The headquarters of CGRFA is in Rome, Italy.
9. With reference to the India’s initiatives in drone technology, consider the following statements:
- NIDAR aims to enhance drone applications in disaster management and agriculture.
- SwaYaan initiative plans to train over 5 Lakh participants in drone technology.
Which of the Statements given above is/are correct:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1]
Notes:- NIDAR aims to enhance drone applications in disaster management and agriculture: This is correct. NIDAR focuses on developing drones for scouting in disasters and precision agriculture.
- SwaYaan initiative plans to train over 5 Lakh participants in drone technology. This is incorrect. SwaYaan aims to train 42,560 participants, not over 5 Lakh.
10. With reference to the Koch-Rajbongshis, consider the following statements:
- The Koch Rajbongshi, an indigenous South Asian tribe, originated from the ancient Koch kingdom.
- The primary livelihood of the tribe is agriculture and farming.
- They are largely Hindus with lots of their own deities and rituals.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All three]
Notes:- The Koch Rajbongshi, an indigenous South Asian tribe, originated from the ancient Koch kingdom. Correct: Koch Rajbongshi is an ancient tribe originally from the ancient Koch kingdom. Considered as indigenous people of South Asia, at present they live in lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, the whole of Assam, parts of Meghalaya, and Bhutan.
- The primary livelihood of the tribe is agriculture and farming. Correct: The primary livelihood of the tribe is agriculture and farming. They live very close to nature because of the fact that primitively they were ‘Animist’ and the same significance is still prevailing among the tribe.
- They are largely Hindus with lots of their own deities and rituals. Correct: They are largely Hindus with lots of their own deities and rituals. Many Koch Rajbongshis later adopted Islam, forming a significant Muslim population in North Bengal, West Assam, and Northern Bangladesh.
