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Economy

Introduction & Context

Agriculture: Productivity, Land Reforms, Finance, Marketing, Food Security, Food Processing

Paper I · Unit 2 Section 2 of 11 0 PYQs 26 min

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Introduction & Context

Agriculture is the most consistently examined topic in Paper I, Unit 2 — appearing in all 5 exams between 2013 and 2023, with an average of 6.0 marks/year. In 2023 alone, it commanded 15 marks across two questions (PM Fasal Bima Yojana at 10 marks, PM Kisan Sampada Yojana at 5 marks). Topic 23 covers India-level agriculture (Topic 33 covers Rajasthan specifically).

India's Agricultural Paradox

India presents a striking paradox in agriculture:

  • World's largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices
  • Second-largest wheat and rice producer globally
  • Yet millions of farmers remain in distress due to low productivity, market failures, price volatility, and debt

The core challenge is transforming agricultural growth into agricultural development — raising farmer incomes, not just output.

What RPSC 2026 Will Test

The exam will likely focus on:

  • PM-KISAN and PMFBY — schemes and impact data
  • Food processing policy — PMKSY components and PLI scheme
  • Agricultural marketing reforms — e-NAM and APMC
  • National Food Security Act — coverage and entitlements