UPSC Mains 2026 · GS III · Q3 · 10 marks · 150 words

Describe the various Technology Missions initiated in Indian agriculture and examine their role in food security.

हिन्दी में

भारतीय कृषि में लागू किए गए विभिन्न तकनीकी मिशनों का वर्णन कीजिए एवं खाद्य सुरक्षा में उनकी भूमिका का परीक्षण कीजिए ।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Discuss several ways in which biotechnology can help in ensuring food security in India.”

Shakti DubeyAIR 1 · CSE 2024 · 191 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

According to IPCC 6th Assessment report - Global warming in coming decade is going to exacerbate climate change further impacting food security across the world.

Body · points

Role of Biotechnology in ensuring food security:-

In light of emerging challenges to food as well as nutritional security. Biotechnology can help in several ways:-

(1) It can be used to produce genetically modified plants which are resistant to pest attack

eg:- GM crops like Bt cotton

(2) It can be used to produce plants that can survive in extreme climatic situation

(3) They can be used to produce more efficient - biopesticides, which

will have less negative impact than chemical and synthetic fertilisers

(4) Can be used to improve efficiency to nutrient absorption so as to enhance productivity of crops

eg:- nano urea by IFFCO

(5) Can be used to enhance nutrient content of crop - thereby tackling nutrient poverty as well

eg:- Golden rice (rich in Vit A)

(6) Can be used to tackle issue of soil fertility by providing for on farm residue management eg:- PUSA decomposers.

Diagram
- PUSA decomposers - ↓↓ stubble burning - ↑↑ nutrient in soil

Close · a framework

Thus biotechnology can help us achieve SDG-2 and tackle challenges like nutritional poverty, malnutrition, hunger, etc.

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper III, Q3. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.