Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past ? 1. Minimum Support Price 2. Government's trading 3. Government's stockpiling 4. Consumer subsidies Select the correct answer using the code given below :

This exam-style snippet lists MSP alongside government trading, stockpiling and subsidies as factors 'affecting the price of rice' in recent past, implying MSP is considered a relevant policy lever for rice prices.

A student could take this as a hypothesis that MSP influences rice prices and then check 2019–20 MSP changes and rice market price movements or procurement volumes that year.

Defines MSP as the pre-announced price at which government buys rice/wheat for the central pool with no procurement volume limit (subject to quality).

Knowing government buys rice at MSP, a student could compare MSP levels in 2019–20 with market prices and quantities procured to infer likely price pressure effects.

Explains that if market prices are above MSP the government may not procure, and that government procurement focuses mostly on wheat and rice (from certain states).

A student can use this rule to test whether 2019–20 market prices were above/below MSP and whether procurement actually occurred for rice that year, affecting supply in markets.

States that MSP-backed guaranteed procurement shifts cropping patterns toward MSP crops (like rice), affecting relative supplies and prices of other crops and contributing to food price dynamics.

A student could assess whether MSP incentives in 2019–20 affected rice acreage/production relative to other crops and thus the rice price that year.

Notes that rising MSPs have raised the government's maintenance cost for procuring foodgrains, implying fiscal/operational impacts that can feed back into food policy and prices.

A student might examine whether MSP increases near 2019–20 led to larger buffer stocks or distribution changes that influenced market rice prices in that period.