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Q20 (IAS/2020) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Sustainable agriculture practices Official Key

In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture ? 1. Crop diversification 2. Legume intensification 3. Tensiometer use 4. Vertical farming Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1 (1, 2, and 3 only). These practices are widely recognized as sustainable and eco-friendly in the Indian agricultural context.

  • Crop Diversification: Enhances soil fertility, reduces pest pressure, and breaks pathogen cycles, minimizing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
  • Legume Intensification: Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules, naturally enriching the soil and reducing the need for synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers.
  • Tensiometer Use: This device measures soil moisture tension, allowing farmers to irrigate only when necessary. It significantly reduces water wastage and prevents over-irrigation.
  • Vertical Farming: While technologically advanced, it is primarily an urban, high-energy, industrial method rather than a standard "practice of eco-friendly agriculture" in India’s traditional or rural landscape. It often involves high carbon footprints for climate control and artificial lighting.

Therefore, while 1, 2, and 3 are established ecological practices for sustainable field agriculture, 4 is generally excluded from this specific category in the UPSC context.

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture ? 1. Crop diversificatio…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 0/10
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This question rewards 'Anchor Logic' over encyclopedic knowledge. While 'Tensiometer' is a technical term, statements 1, 2, and 4 are standard NCERT/Current Affairs concepts. If you identify these common practices correctly, the options force you to accept the technical one without needing to define it.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is crop diversification considered a practice of eco-friendly agriculture in India?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > viii) Crop Diversification > p. 20
Presence: 5/5
“(viii) Crop Diversification Tis practice is often like crop rotation in that it helps to maintain soil fertility. While annually harvested crops are grown they can be altered in the feld. Crop diversifcation is better than monoculture. In monoculture (one crop, like rice only year after year) exhaust the soil nutrients, thereby making soil more vulnerable to soil erosion. Crop diversifcation is a good practice to check the soil erosion.”
Why this source?
  • Directly describes crop diversification as similar to crop rotation and as helping to maintain soil fertility.
  • States diversification is better than monoculture and helps check soil erosion, linking it to ecological benefits.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 10: Agriculture - Part I > Issues with MSP: > p. 307
Presence: 4/5
“This will resolve the problem in terms of diversification of crops, environment, soil degradation problem and water problem will also get resolved.] [What are the subsidies given to agriculture sector in India? Answer: Farmers in India are provided support on both the input and output side of agriculture. On the input side, an average Indian farmer receives subsidies on fertilisers, seeds, farm machinery and equipment, electricity etc. On the output side, MSP and logistics subsidies are offered. However, small and marginal farmers are able to get only a small amount of these subsidies.]”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links crop diversification to resolving environmental problems, soil degradation, and water issues.
  • Frames diversification as a measure with clear environmental benefits for Indian agriculture.
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: How Nature Works in Harmony > 12.9.2 How do healthy ecosystems serve our farms? > p. 205
Presence: 3/5
“Farming, a major livelihood in India, can become unsustainable if not managed well by applying environment friendly farming practices. Humans have been practising farming for thousands of years to grow food. As the population grew, our dependence on agriculture increased. Between 1950 and 1965, India faced a food crisis due to low crop production. In the mid-20th century, the use of tractors, machines, synthetic fertilisers, and pesticides helped increase food production. This period is known as the Green Revolution. However, these farming methods are now considered unsustainable because of the overuse of synthetic chemicals, excessive groundwater extraction, and growing only one type of crop for commercial gain.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies monoculture and overuse of synthetic inputs as unsustainable farming practices.
  • By rejecting monoculture, it implies that alternative practices (such as diversification) are environment-friendly.
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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