Agriculture is a way is life, a tradition, which, for centuries, has shaped the thought, the outlook, the outlook, the culture and the economic life of the people of India. Agriculture, therefore, is and will continue to be central to all strategies for planned socio-economic
development of the country, Rapid growth of agriculture is essential not only to achieve self-reliance at national level but also for household food security and to bring about equity in distribution of income and wealth resulting in rapid reduction in poverty levels.
Indian agriculture has, since Independence, made rapid strides. In taking the annual food grains production from 51 million tones in early fifties to 206 million tones as the turn of the century, it has contributed significantly in achieving self-sufficiency in food and in avoiding food shortages.
Over 200 million Indian farmers and farm workers have been the backbone of India’s agriculture. Despite having achieved national food security, the well-being of the farming community continues to be a matter of grave concern for planners and policy-makers. The establishment of an agrarian economy which ensures food and nutrition to India’s billion people, raw materials for its expanding industrial base and surpluses for exports, and a fair and equitable reward system for the farming community for the services they provide to the society, will be the mainstay of reforms in the agriculture sector.
The National Policy on agriculture seeks to actualize the vast untapped growth potential of Indian agriculture, strengthen rural infrastructure to support faster agriculture development, promote value addition, accelerate the growth of agro-business, create employment in rural areas, secure a fair standard of living for the farmers and agricultural workers and their families, discourage migration to urban areas and face the challenges out of economic liberalization and globalization.
1.Why is agriculture considered vital for socio-economic development in India?
(1) Because India has been the mother of agriculture.
(2) Because agriculture has been deeply rooted in the Indian culture and tradition
(3) Because agriculture is necessary for running other industries in the country
(4) Because our forefathers have worshipped and respected the area of agriculture
(5) None of these
2.Which of the following may not be the outcome if there is a rapid decline in agriculture?
(1) House hold security cannot be guaranteed
(2) Poverty level will increase.
(3) Distribution of income and wealth will be fair
(4) Self-reliance at national level may be doubtful
(5) None of these
3.Which of the following(s) is/are the feature(s) of an agrarian economy as talked about in the passage?
(i) Easy availability of raw material for our industries
(ii) Food security to the people
(iii) Export of surplus food grains
(iv) Healthy return for the farmers
(1) Only (i) and (ii)
(2) Only (ii) and (iii)
(3) Only (iii) and (iv)
(4) All the above
(5)None of these
4.Which of the following marks the rapid growth of agriculture in India in the last five decades?
(1) Scientific methods of farming
(2) growth of agro-business
(3) majority of the population working in the area of agriculture
(4) enhancement in the living standards of the farmers
(5) None of these
5.Which of the following is not on the agenda of the National Policy on Agriculture?
(1) creating employment opportunities in villages
(2) check the flow of rural folks to towns
(3) Support the cause of agro industries
(4) giving industry status to agriculture
(5) None of these
6.What is the main concern of the author behind writing this passage?
(1) Farming community should get their due return for serving the nation.
(2) Agriculture should remain the priority area for our policy-makers
(3) In the present context religions are mixed with politics.
(4) India cannot develop by neglecting agriculture.
(5) None of these
Directions (Q.7-10): Choose the word which is same in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
7.SHAPED
(1) inspired (2) preached
(3) examined (4) mouled
(5) experimeted
8.RAPID
(1) energetic (2) praiseworthy
(3) remarkable (4) noteworthy
(5) fast
9.STRIDES
(1) progress (2) results
(3) performance (4) natural
(5) contribution
10.BACKBONE
(1) subject (2) life
(3) support (4) custodian
(5) caretaker
Directions (11-13): Choose the word which is opposite in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
11.ESSENTIAL
(1) weak (2) dispensable
(3) ordinary (4) common
(5) simple
12.EQUITY
(1) corruption (2) malice
(3) unfairness (4) favour
(5) justice
13.UNTAPPED
(1) reserved (2) exploited
(3) arranged (4) founded
(5) hidden
Answers
1.2
2.3
3.4
4.5
5.4
6.1
7.4
8.5
9.1
10.3
11.2
12.3
13.2
