2009 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies

Question 9: Economy and Social Development

Consider the following statements:

  1. 1.The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends the Minimum Support Prices for 32 crops.
  2. 2.The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched the National Food Security Mission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Both statements are wrong. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends MSPs for about two dozen mandated crops (22 today, with a separate fair price for sugarcane), not 32. The National Food Security Mission was launched by the agriculture ministry, not the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, which handles procurement and distribution of foodgrains through the public distribution system.

  • 1. CACP recommends MSP for far fewer than 32 crops (about 22 mandated crops plus sugarcane's fair price).
  • 2. The National Food Security Mission was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: CACP recommends MSP for far fewer than 32 crops (about 22 mandated crops plus sugarcane's fair price).

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: The National Food Security Mission was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: the figure of 32 crops is too high.
  • (b) Wrong: the mission belongs to the agriculture ministry, not Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
  • (c) Wrong: neither statement is correct.
  • (d) Right: the crop count is wrong and the ministry is wrong.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.