Resources › CA MCQ Practice
3 Jun 2026Economy3 questions

Centre Issues Alert on Potential El Nino Impact, Prioritizes Farmers' Interests

UPSC-standard MCQs with explanations, trap analysis, and approach guide. Answer after the test — not before.

1

Easy

1

Medium

1

Hard

Practice this set

3 questions · full analysis after submission · no sign-up required

Start test →Read the article first

Article summary

The Union Government, led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has issued a high-level alert regarding the potential onset of El Nino and its adverse effects on the upcoming monsoon and agricultural cycles. Emphasizing that the protection of farmers' interests remains paramount, the Centre has directed state governments to prepare contingency crop plans, ensure adequate seed availability for drought-resistant varieties, and strengthen irrigation infrastructure. The proactive measures aim to mitigate the risks of rainfall deficit, stabilize food production, and prevent agrarian distress during the critical Kharif sowing season.

What this tests

recallTests whether you read the article and retained key facts.
1Q
applicationTests whether you can apply the concept to a new scenario.
1Q
analysisTests whether you can reason across multiple related facts.
1Q

Sample questions — answers revealed after test

EconomyRecallEasy

Q1. With reference to El Niño and its impact on Indian agriculture, which of the following statements is most accurate?

AEl Niño is characterised by unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which typically suppresses Southwest Monsoon rainfall in India.
BEl Niño is characterised by unusual cooling of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which typically suppresses Southwest Monsoon rainfall in India.
CEl Niño is characterised by unusual warming of surface waters in the western tropical Indian Ocean, which typically strengthens Northeast Monsoon rainfall in India.
DEl Niño is associated with above-normal monsoon rainfall in India due to enhanced moisture circulation from the Pacific Ocean.
Answer revealed after you submit the test
EconomyApplicationMedium

Q2. The Ministry of Agriculture issues an El Niño alert ahead of the Kharif sowing season. Which of the following combinations of policy responses is most consistent with India's established climate-resilient agricultural planning framework?

ADistribution of short-duration and drought-tolerant seed varieties; activation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY); promotion of micro-irrigation.
BMandatory shift of all Kharif crops to Rabi season; suspension of Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations; rationing of fertiliser subsidies.
CDistribution of short-duration seed varieties; suspension of PMFBY pending damage assessment; increased reliance on groundwater extraction through diesel pump subsidies.
DPromotion of micro-irrigation; activation of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as the primary agricultural support mechanism; restriction of foodgrain exports.
Answer revealed after you submit the test
EconomyAnalysisHard

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding El Niño, its teleconnection with the Indian monsoon, and India's agricultural risk mitigation framework: 1. El Niño events consistently cause below-normal monsoon rainfall across the entire Indian subcontinent without any regional variation. 2. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) operates on an actuarial premium model, with the government subsidising the difference between the actuarial premium and the farmer-payable premium. 3. Micro-irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler systems primarily address the risk of monsoon deficit by enabling efficient use of available water resources, thereby reducing agriculture's dependence on rainfall volume. 4. India's Southwest Monsoon, which is critical for Kharif crops, is driven entirely by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles with no contribution from other oceanic or atmospheric systems. Which of the statements given above are correct?

A1 and 4 only
B2 and 3 only
C1, 2 and 3 only
D2, 3 and 4 only
Answer revealed after you submit the test
Practice all 3 questions →All CA MCQ sets