March Agriculture Current Affairs
The PM-KISAN scheme which was launched on February 24, 2019 completed one year recently (Feb 24, 2020). The ‘S’ in KISAN denotes?
1) Swachh
2) Sadak
3) Sampada
4) Samman
5) Samriddhi
Answer – 4) Samman
Explanation:
The PM-KISAN scheme has completed one year (on Feb 24,2020) which was launched on February 24, 2019. The Modi government had launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme as an income support scheme for farmers to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs. Under the scheme, benefit is provided to the eligible beneficiary to the tune of Rs 6,000 per year. It is payable in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
2. Name the Indian Research Centre which signed MoU with Pantanjali for the farm research and training (March 2020).
1) Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
2) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, (ICRISAT)
3) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
4) Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)
5) National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)
Answer – 3) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Explanation:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an autonomous body responsible for coordinatin agricultural education and research in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hardiwar (Uttarakhand)- based Patanjali Bio Research Institute (PBRI) to add a new dimension to the field of farming by undertaking research work as well as training and education.
3.Name the Indian City where the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference – 2020 based on the theme ‘Empowering Youth for Technology Led Farming’ held?
1) Chandigarh
2) Indore
3) Lucknow
4) Amritsar
5) New Delhi
Answer – 5) New Delhi
Explanation:
A 3-day long 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference -2020 based on the theme
‘Empowering Youth for Technology Led Farming’ was held in New delhi.It was inaugurated by Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
4. Manas National Park is located in which Indian State?
Answer – Assam
Explanation:
Manas National Park, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site located in Assam’s Baksa district,
welcomed two female rhinos from Kaziranga National Park on 2nd March 2020 as part of a
translocation programme by Assam forest department.
5.The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has sanctioned Rs 33 Crore financial assistant to Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, under Project Tiger scheme. The Kaziranga National Park is located in which Indian state?
1) Maharashtra
2) Assam
3) Uttarakhand
4) Madhya Pradesh
5) Mizoram
Answer – 2) Assam
Explanation:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified that under the
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), a financial
assistance of Rs 1.51 crore has been sanctioned to Kaziranga National Park in Kanchanjuri, Assam during the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-2020.For the financial years 2018-19 Rs 94,46,585 was sanctioned while Rs 51,24,670 was allocated for 2019-2020. Also under the Project Tiger scheme, Rs 33 crore was sanctioned to Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, which includes Kaziranga National Park.’
6.Name the Indian state which has decided to provide Rs. 900 as monthly grant for the farmers who adopts a stray cattle.
1) Andhra Pradesh
2) Odisha
3) Punjab
4) Uttar Pradesh
5) Haryana
Answer – 4) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
According to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister(CM) Yogi Adityanath, the state government has decided to provide monthly grant of Rs 900 to those farmers who will keep stray cattle at their houses.
7. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has granted Rs. ________ in the Rural Banking system during the fiscal year 2020.
1) 2.32 Lakh crore
2) 1.21 Lakh crore
3) 1.46 Lakh crore
4) 1.12 Lakh crore
Answer – 3) 1.46 Lakh crore
Explanation:
According to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), an Apex
Development Financial Institution in India, it has granted Rs 1.46 lakh crore in the rural banking system during the current fiscal-FY (2019-20) with the aim to help them get their resources effectively for handling the credit needs of rural people, including farmers.
8.Name the Indian Institute which signed pact with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in terms of technology development in export promotion.
1) IIT-Kolkata
2) IIT-Kanpur
3) IIT-Madras
4) IIT-Delhi
5) IIT-Bombay
Answer – 4) IIT-Delhi
Explanation:
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed a pact with IIT-Delhi in the areas of technology development for export promotion.
9. The Government of India (GoI) has set up a committee on ‘Kisan Rail’ for a cold supply chain to transport perishable goods. The Committee will be formed under which Indian ministry?
1) Ministry of Railways
2) Ministry of Human Resource Development
3) Ministry of Finance
4) Ministry of Corporate Affairs
5) Ministry of Agriculture
Answer – 5) Ministry of Agriculture
Explanation:
The government has formed a committee under the Ministry of Agriculture which also includes
representatives of the Indian Railways to work out the modalities of ‘Kisan Rail’. During the FY 2020- 21 budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to set up Kisan Rail through the public- private-partnership (PPP) mode for a cold supply chain to transport perishable goods.
10.As per the 2nd edition of global Animal Protection Index (API) 2020 released by World Animal Protection (non-profit org), What is India’s grade in the index.
1) F
2) B
3) E
4) G
5) C
Answer – 5) C
Explanation:
World Animal Protection released the 2nd edition of global Animal Protection Index (API) 2020, where India gained C grade (also in 1st edition in 2014) with other 8 countries which indicates India is one of the better-performing countries. It assesses the animal welfare policies & legislation of 50Ncountries & ranks them from A (highest score) to G (lowest score) with 10 indicators.
Grade A – no countries
Grade B – Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Grade C- India, Mexico, Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, New Zealand
Grade G– Azerbaijan, Iran
11. The Cabinet approves the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for which among the following Crop for the 2020 Season.
1) Maize
2) Ragi
3) Arhar
4) Copra
5) Moong
Answer – 4) Copra
Explanation:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for copra for 2020 season on the on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Importantly, India is number one in production and productivity of Copra in the World. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India Limited (NCCF) will continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies to undertake price support operations at the MSP in the coconut growing states.
12. Phool Dei festival was celebrated in which among the following Indian state?
1) Assam
2) Uttarakhand
3) Chhattisgarh
4) Manipur
5) Uttar Pradesh
Answer – 2) Uttarakhand
Explanation:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Trivendra Singh Rawat celebrated the traditional harvest festival “Phool Dei”. The festival also showcases the inner bonding between the communities who all are residing in the hills.
13. According to Government Data, as of March 17, 2020, a financial benefit under PM-KISAN has been released to 8,69,79,391 Indian beneficiaries, who is the present Union Minister for Agriculture in India?
1) Nitin Gadkari
2) Narendra Singh Tomar
3) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
4) Nirmala Sitharaman
5) Amit Shah
Answer – 2) Narendra Singh Tomar
Explanation:
According to Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, As of March 17, 2020, a financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) has been released to 8 Crore 69 lakh 79 thousand 391 Indian beneficiaries. The funds are transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries identified by the State Governments and are not released State-wise.
14. The Administrative council of which Indian state/UT has approved the implementation of Dairy Cooperative Scheme (March 2020)?
1) Punjab
2) Jammu & Kashmir
3) Haryana
4) New Delhi
5) Gujarat
Answer – 2) Jammu & Kashmir
Explanation:
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) administrative council approved the implementation of Dairy cooperative scheme for dairy cooperative society with the support & sponsorship of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to boost milk production in the Union territory by empowering dairy cooperative societies with easy financial assistance.
The administrative council is headed by Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu.
15. The World Water day is celebrated every year on March 22. What is the theme for World water day 2020?
1) “Water and Climate Change”
2) “Leaving no one behind”
3) “Nature for Water”
4) “Why Waste Water?”
5) “Water and Jobs”
Answer – 1) “Water and Climate Change”
Explanation:
The World Water Day is observed globally on March 22 every year, to highlight the importance of freshwater. Theme of the year 2020: “Water and Climate Change”. World Water Day celebrates water & raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water and the main purpose of the day is to achieve Sustainable Development Goal which includes water and sanitation for all by 2030.
16. When was the Work Meteorological Day observed annually?
1) April 24
2) September 26
3) July 4
4) March 23
5) August 18
Answer – 4) March 23
Explanation:
The World Meteorological Day (WMD 2020) is observed every year on March 23 organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in the year 1950. The theme of WMD 2020 is “Climate and Water”.
17.What is the maximum limit of on-lending allowed for NBFCs for ‘term lending’ component under agriculture per borrower as per revised norms of RBI?
1) 5 Lakh
2) 15 Lakh
3) 10 Lakh
4) 25 Lakh
5) 50 Lakh
Answer – 3) 10 Lakh
Explanation:
To boost credit disbursement in the targeted segment like agriculture, Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises (MSME) and housing sector, RBI has extended the priority sector classification for bank loans to Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) for on-lending for Fiscal year 2020-21. As per the revised norms, on-lending by NBFCs for ‘term lending’ component under agriculture will be allowed up to Rs 10 lakh per borrower.
18.The NABARD provides finance assistance of Rs. 42,313 crores in FY 2019-20 for building rural infrastructure. Where is the HQ of NABARD located?
1) Gurgaon
2) Lucknow
3) Mumbai
4) Chennai
5) Hyderabad
Answer – 3) Mumbai
Explanation:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) provides financial support of Rs 42,313 crores in the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20 for building rural infrastructure. The HQ of NABARD located at Mumbai, Maharashtra.
