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Q38 (IAS/2026) Economy › Agriculture & Rural Economy Official Key

Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
1. Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
Select the answer using the code given below:

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: D

Explanation

The Rainfed Area Development (RAD) is a major component of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). Its primary objective is to make rainfed agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative, and climate-resilient.

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: RAD promotes crop diversification and multi-cropping rather than monoculture, as diversifying crops reduces the risk of total crop failure during adverse climatic conditions.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: The scheme specifically targets rainfed areas that lack assured irrigation, rather than focusing on increasing water-intensive crops like rice in irrigated regions.
  • Statement 3 is correct: RAD focuses on enhancing productivity and minimizing climatic risks by promoting Integrated Farming Systems (IFS). IFS integrates crops with allied activities such as horticulture, livestock, fishery, and agro-forestry to maximize farm returns and sustain livelihood during droughts or floods.
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN

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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.
Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainabl…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 6.7/10 · 3.3/10
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This is a classic scheme-based question that tests conceptual clarity over rote memorization. While the exact scheme details might seem like current affairs, the core concepts (NMSA, IFS, Rainfed agriculture) are heavily covered in standard Geography and Economy textbooks. If you understand the literal meaning of 'Rainfed' and 'Sustainable', you can eliminate the absurd options easily.

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
Does the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) encourage monoculture in rainfed areas?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > RAINFED AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (RADP) > p. 53
Presence: 5/5
“Ministry of Agriculture has initiated farming system and farmer centric interventions under a new scheme 'Rainfed Area Development Programme' to look into the specific needs of the rainfed areas for improving the quality of life of farmers, especially small and marginal farmers by offering a complete package of activities to maximise the farm returns for their food and livelihood security. Under this progrmame an end to end approach covering production, on farm management, storage, marketing, value addition are being contemplated to assure appropriate returns to the farmers from the rainfed areas. During 2011–2012, an amount of INR 250 crore has been allocated for RADP for adoption of holistic agriculture development through integrated farming system in 10 identified states across the country on pilot basis.”
Why this source?
  • The initiative focuses on the adoption of 'integrated farming systems' and 'holistic agriculture development' rather than single-crop systems.
  • It offers a complete package of activities to maximize farm returns, specifically targeting the food and livelihood security of small and marginal farmers.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) > p. 36
Presence: 5/5
“National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture is to make agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate resilient by promoting location specific integrated/composite farming systems and to conserve natural resources through appropriate soil and moisture conservation measures. The Government has been promoting organic farming in the country through the scheme such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Rashtriya Vikas Yojana (RKVY).”
Why this source?
  • The mission explicitly promotes 'location specific integrated/composite farming systems' to make agriculture more productive and sustainable.
  • It emphasizes climate resilience and the conservation of natural resources through diverse farming approaches rather than monoculture.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 10: Locational Factors of Economic Activities > Strategy for Dry Land Agriculture > p. 20
Presence: 4/5
“Te agriculture of the dry lands may be made more remunerative by adopting the following strategy: • 1. Emphasis on short duration of leguminous and cover crops.• 2. Animal husbandry, with pastures management.• 3. Dairy farming.• 4. Agro-forestry.• 5. Apiculture.• 6. Cottage industry.”
Why this source?
  • Strategies for making rainfed and dry land agriculture remunerative include a mix of agro-forestry, apiculture, and dairy farming.
  • The approach emphasizes the use of leguminous and cover crops alongside animal husbandry to ensure economic stability and resource efficiency.
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