Agriculture & Rural Development

1️⃣ Introduction: Importance of Agriculture in Indian Economy

Agriculture is the lifeline of the Indian economy. It is the primary source of livelihood for about 45–50% of the population and contributes around 18% to India’s GDP (2025 est.).
It not only provides food and raw materials but also supports industries like textiles, sugar, and fertilizers.

Memory Trick: F-E-E-D – Food, Employment, Export, Development.

2️⃣ Importance of Agriculture

Employment Generation – Largest employer in India.
Contribution to GDP – Nearly one-fifth of GDP.
Supply of Raw Materials – For industries like cotton, sugar, and jute.
Food Security – Ensures self-sufficiency in grains.
Export Earnings – Tea, coffee, rice, and spices.
Support to Rural Development – Agriculture drives rural economy.

Fact: India is the 2nd largest producer of rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables globally.

A. Major Agricultural Schemes

Scheme	Launched Year	Objective / Benefit
PM-KISAN	2019	₹6,000 per year to farmers in 3 installments
PMFBY	2016	Crop insurance for farmers
Soil Health Card Scheme	2015	Soil nutrient testing for better productivity
PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)	2015	“Har Khet Ko Pani” – improve irrigation efficiency
National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)	2014	Promote climate-resilient farming
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)	2007	State-level agricultural growth

Trick: Kisan’s 5 Friends: PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Soil, Sinchai, Sustainable.

B. Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the minimum price fixed by the government to purchase crops from farmers, ensuring they get fair value even during market fluctuations.

Key MSP Crops (2024–25):

Cereals: Rice, Wheat, Maize
Pulses: Gram, Arhar, Moong
Oilseeds: Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean
Commercial Crops: Cotton, Sugarcane

MSP declared by: Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

Trick: MSP = Minimum Safety Price for farmers.

C. Green Revolution and Its Impact

The Green Revolution was a program of agricultural modernization using HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation, launched during the 1960s.
Main Architect: Dr. M. S. Swaminathan
Introduced by: Lal Bahadur Shastri – “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”

Phase	Period	Region / Crops
Phase 1 (1966–77)	Punjab, Haryana, UP	Wheat, Rice
Phase 2 (1980s onward)	All India	Diversification into pulses & oilseeds

Impact:
✅ Increased food grain production (self-sufficiency)
✅ Boosted irrigation and technology
⚠️ Led to regional imbalance, soil degradation, and excessive chemical use.

Trick: HYV + Fertilizer + Irrigation = Green Revolution.

D. Rural Employment & Development Schemes

1️⃣ MGNREGA

Launched: 2006

Aim: 100 days of wage employment per rural household per year.

Focus on unskilled manual work
Women participation encouraged
Asset creation in villages

Trick: 100 Days, 1 Job Guarantee – MGNREGA.

2️⃣ PMGSY

Launched: 2000

Objective: Provide all-weather road connectivity to rural areas.

Impact: Enhanced access to markets, schools, and health services.

Trick: Sadak for Gram, Growth for All.

3️⃣ NRLM

Launched: 2011

Aim: Empower rural women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Trick: SHG = Self-Help, Self-Earn, Self-Reliant.

E. Cooperative Societies and NABARD

Cooperative Societies

Community-based organizations for mutual help and welfare.
Popular forms: Dairy (Amul), Credit, Marketing cooperatives.

Easy credit and inputs
Fair prices for farmers
Rural employment and unity

Trick: Cooperative = Common Effort for Common Profit.

NABARD

Established	1982
Headquarters	Mumbai
Full Form	National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

Refinance support to rural banks
Credit for agriculture & rural infrastructure
Promote rural entrepreneurship & cooperatives

Trick: NABARD = Nation’s Agricultural Backbone And Rural Developer.

F. PYQs (Delhi Police, SSC & State Exams)

1

Agriculture contributes approximately what percentage to India’s GDP?

A) 10% B) 18% C) 25% D) 35%

PYQ No.1

Show Answer

B) 18%

2

The father of the Green Revolution in India is —

A) Dr. Verghese Kurien B) Dr. M. S. Swaminathan C) Norman Borlaug D) C. Subramaniam

PYQ No.2

Show Answer

B) Dr. M. S. Swaminathan

3

Which of the following schemes provides direct income support to farmers?

A) PMFBY B) PM-KISAN C) PMGSY D) MGNREGA

PYQ No.3

Show Answer

B) PM-KISAN

4

The MSP is announced by which body?

A) NABARD B) NITI Aayog C) CACP D) RBI

PYQ No.4

Show Answer

C) CACP

5

“Har Khet Ko Pani” is the slogan of which scheme?

A) PMGSY B) PMKSY C) RKVY D) MGNREGA

PYQ No.5

Show Answer

B) PMKSY

6

NABARD was established in —

A) 1980 B) 1982 C) 1985 D) 1991

PYQ No.6

Show Answer

B) 1982

7

The MGNREGA scheme guarantees employment for how many days in a year?

A) 50 B) 75 C) 100 D) 150

PYQ No.7

Show Answer

C) 100

8

“Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” slogan is associated with —

A) Indira Gandhi B) Lal Bahadur Shastri C) Rajiv Gandhi D) Morarji Desai

PYQ No.8

Show Answer

B) Lal Bahadur Shastri

9

Which of the following is a rural road scheme?

A) PMGSY B) PMFBY C) PM-KISAN D) NRLM

PYQ No.9

Show Answer

A) PMGSY

10

The “Operation Flood” program was related to —

A) Wheat production B) Dairy development C) Oilseeds D) Fisheries

PYQ No.10

Show Answer

B) Dairy development

G. Quick Comparison Table

Scheme / Body	Launch Year	Objective	Key Benefit
PM-KISAN	2019	Income support to farmers	₹6,000 yearly
PMFBY	2016	Crop insurance	Risk coverage
PMKSY	2015	Irrigation	Water efficiency
MGNREGA	2006	Rural employment	100 days work
PMGSY	2000	Rural connectivity	Roads to villages
NABARD	1982	Rural finance	Credit & development

H. Green & White Revolutions Summary

Revolution	Field	Key Figure	Product
Green	Agriculture	M. S. Swaminathan	Wheat, Rice
White	Dairy	Verghese Kurien	Milk
Blue	Fisheries		Fish Production
Yellow	Oilseeds		Mustard, Groundnut

Trick: Green for Grain, White for Milk, Blue for Fish, Yellow for Oil.

Final Concept Recap

Agriculture = ~18% of India’s GDP, ~45% workforce
Key Schemes → PM-KISAN, PMFBY, PMKSY
Green Revolution = HYV seeds + irrigation + fertilizers
Rural Growth via → MGNREGA, PMGSY, NRLM
NABARD = Rural credit + infrastructure backbone

One-Line Memory: Indian agriculture grows with schemes, sustains through irrigation, and empowers through rural roads.

1️⃣ Introduction: Importance of Agriculture in Indian Economy

2️⃣ Importance of Agriculture

A. Major Agricultural Schemes

B. Minimum Support Price (MSP)

C. Green Revolution and Its Impact

D. Rural Employment & Development Schemes

1️⃣ MGNREGA

2️⃣ PMGSY

3️⃣ NRLM

E. Cooperative Societies and NABARD

Cooperative Societies

NABARD

F. PYQs (Delhi Police, SSC & State Exams)

Agriculture contributes approximately what percentage to India’s GDP?

The father of the Green Revolution in India is —

Which of the following schemes provides direct income support to farmers?

The MSP is announced by which body?

“Har Khet Ko Pani” is the slogan of which scheme?

NABARD was established in —

The MGNREGA scheme guarantees employment for how many days in a year?

“Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” slogan is associated with —

Which of the following is a rural road scheme?

The “Operation Flood” program was related to —

G. Quick Comparison Table

H. Green & White Revolutions Summary

Final Concept Recap

Master Agriculture & Rural Development for Delhi Police Exam!