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UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, question 28

Topic: Economy

Q28

Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) ?

  1. Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas

  2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions

  3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. (a) 1 only
  2. (b) 1 and 2
  3. (c) 2 and 3
  4. (d) 3 onlyCorrect answer

Solution.

Answer: (d) 3 only

  1. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect: Rainfed Area Development (RAD) under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) discourages high-risk monocropping in rainfed regions and does not focus on expanding irrigated paddy.
  2. Statement 3 is correct: RAD promotes Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) combining crops with livestock, horticulture, agroforestry, and apiculture to enhance farm productivity and buffer against climatic failure.