RAS question
With reference to drone technology applications in Indian agriculture, which of the following statements are correct? 1. Drones can be used for crop health monitoring using multispectral/hyperspectral sensors to detect pest and disease stress. 2. Under the Drone Didi scheme, women SHG members are trained to operate drones for nano-fertilizer and pesticide application. 3. The use of drones for pesticide spraying in agriculture is currently banned in all Indian states due to safety concerns. 4. ICAR has developed standardized protocols for drone-based nano-urea application. Select the correct answer:
Correct answer: (C) 1, 2 and 4 only.
In Indian agriculture, drones can be used for crop health monitoring, Namo Drone Didi trains women SHG members for fertiliser and pesticide application, and ICAR has developed nano-urea drone protocols, so the claim of a nationwide ban on pesticide spraying by drones is false.
Explanation
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. The core logic is that drones are not treated as a banned technology in Indian farming; they are being pushed for precision and service delivery. Multispectral and hyperspectral cameras can support crop-health monitoring by detecting pest or disease stress through NDVI mapping. The PIB release on Namo Drone Didi says the scheme provides drones to selected women SHGs for agricultural rental services, presently for applying liquid fertilisers and pesticides, and includes training for a drone pilot and drone assistant. ICAR, along with IFFCO, has developed protocols for drone-based nano-urea application. Statement 3 fails because India is promoting regulated agricultural drone use rather than imposing an all-state ban.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Option A includes statement 3, but the PIB release describes official support for drones in agriculture, including liquid fertiliser and pesticide application, rather than a blanket ban.
- (B) Option B leaves out statement 1 and statement 4, both of which are correct, and it also wrongly accepts statement 3.
- (D) Option D treats all four statements as correct, but statement 3 contradicts the official promotion of agricultural drone services for pesticide and fertiliser application.
Concept
This tests applications of emerging technology in agriculture, especially how remote sensing, nano-fertilisers and women-SHG livelihood schemes converge in public policy. RAS repeats such themes because science-and-technology questions often link a device to governance, agriculture and rural development outcomes.