The income disparity in the new India is massive: 36 billionaires in India and 800 million people living on less than $2 a day. The challenge for achieving inclusive growth relates to the revival of agriculture. Farming is becoming a non-viable activity. A confluence of factors, from poor rainfall to the new availability of consumer goods which consume much of Indian familie's incomes, has driven many farmers into crushing debt. The agriculture sector has many problems with a growth rate of less than 2% in the last decade. Further scope for increase in net sown area is limited. Disparity in productivity across regions and crops has persisted. Far from benefiting from the economic boom, many complain that banks don't offer the rural poor credit, forcing them to turn to greedy money-lenders, who typically charge up to 20% interest on a four-month loan. Healthcare and education costs have risen dramatically, while the global price of cotton has become depressed, largely due to the billions of dollars in subsidies Washington hands out to U.S. farmers. The approach to the revival of Indian agriculture seems to be incremental, rather than a holistic strategy. It is important to stress that growth and equity should be pursued simultaneously rather than following the 'growth first and equity next' approach. What are the challenges for achieving 4% growth and equity in agriculture? Policy makers like the National Commission on Farmers mention cost reduction in agriculture as important to compete in a globalised world. The most important problem for the farmers is output price fluctuations. There is a big gap between producer prices and consumer prices. In order to protect farmers from National and international price volatility, a price stabilization fund is needed. The supply and demand side constraints have to be removed to raise growth. The support systems have to be tuned to improve productivity and incomes of farmers with emphasis on small and marginal farmers and dry land areas. One of the differences between the green revolution in the 1960s / 70s and the present 'second green revolution' is that risk is higher in the latter approach as it has to concentrate more on dry-land areas. Trade liberalisation has also raised the risk and uncertainty. Thus, policymakers have to keep in mind the increasing risk in agriculture. Agriculture policies have to be gender sensitive too since the share of women is increasing. The Government is aware that the crop sector may not be able to grow at 4% per annum but horticulture and allied activities like dairying, poultry and fisheries have to grow at the rate 6 % to 7 % to achieve 4% growth in agriculture. Investment in irrigation and rural infrastructure is important for agricultural growth. It is known that public investment in agriculture is lower than the requirements needed for achieving 4% growth. Bharat Nirman Programme is in the right direction but the progress has to be much faster
1. What does the author view as a challenge for achieving inclusive growth?
1) Doubling agriculture growth using an incremental approach.
2) Regulating the availability of consumer goods.
3) Achieving growth and equity in agriculture.
4) Reducing cost of healthcare and education for the poor through privatisation.
5) Maintaining a steady growth rate of 2% during the next decade.
2. Which of the following factors should the Government take into consideration while farming
agricultural policies?
A. Allied farm activities like horticulture should receive less attention.
B. Increased participation of women in agricultural sector.
C. Reduced risk in agriculture woing to globalisation.
1) Only A 2) Only B
3) Both A and B
4) All A, B and C
5) None of these
3. What has prevented the rural poor from benefiting from economic growth?
A. High rate of interest on bank credit.
B. Exploitation by money lenders.
C. Subsidies provided by the Government to farmers are insufficient.
1) Only C
2) Both A and B
3) Only B
4) Both B and C
5) None of these
4. Why are farmers facing crippling debt?
A. Increased expenditure on luxury items.
B. Subsidies are not provided by the Indian government
C. Prices of crops like cotton have risen dramatically.
1) All A, B and C
2) Only A
3) Only B
4) Both A and B
5) None of these
5. Why is farming not considered a feasible occupation?
1) Insufficient land suitable for cultivation
2) Price stabilization fund introduced by the Government.
3) Superior western farming practices.
4) Rapid spread of road network has destroyed agriculture land
5) None of these
6. What do policy makers feel is essential for India's agricultural sector to be competitive internationally?
1) Exactly replicating the green revolution of the 1960s
2) Reducing government intervention in the agricultural sector to speed up progress.
3) Removal of price stabilisation fund.
4) Emphasising more on economic growth rather than on inclusiveness.
5) None of these
7. Why is public investment in agriculture negligible?
1) Government procedures for investment in agriculture are too tedious.
2) Present government programmes are ensuring rapid progress.
3) Cost of living has gone up.
4) There are no tax concessions for investment in agriculture.
5) None of these
8. Which of the following is not a means to achieve 4% agricultural growth rate?
1) Stricter regulations governing demand and supply
2) Focus on increasing the income of small farmers.
3) Attention to development of dry land.
4) Concentration on fisheries, poultry and other allied activities.
5) Increasing public investment in agriculture
9. Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage?
1) Trade liberalization has reduced the uncertainty in agriculture.
2) Currently 4% growth in crop sector is not feasible.
3) Indian families are spending more than what they can afford on luxury items.
4) Agricultural growth rate has remained stagnant during the last ten years.
5) Fluctuations in prices pose a problem to farmers.
10. How does the government plan to ensure a 4% growth rate in agriculture?
1) Providing licenses to unlicensed money lenders.
2) Shift focus from developing agricultural infrastructure to pricing of agricultural products.
3) Provide subsidies equivalent to those given in the U.S.
4) Maintain a 6% growth rate in allied agricultural activities.
5) None of these.
11. Choose the word which is mostnearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage: Persisted:
1) Fixed
2) Insisted
3) Applied
4) Determined
5) Continued
12. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage: Disparity:
1) Adequacy
2) Comparison
3) Contrast
4) Balance
5) Dissimilar
Read each sentence to find out if there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors in punctuation if any)
13. If the allegations (1) / made against him (2) / are found to be true (3) / he could face rigorous imprisonment. (4) / No error (5)
14. Having acquired some experience (1) / she is no longer (2) / one of those who believes (3) /every explanation she is given. (4) / No error (5)
15. On discovering that (1) / it was a forgery (2) / he torn up the agreement (3) / he had signed. (4) / No error (5)
16. With regard to implementation of the (1)/ details of the proposal (2) / the committee was divided (3) / in its opinion. (4) / No error (5)
Rearrange the following six sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below.
A. The objectives of yoga are physical well-being, prevention and cure of diseases and harmonisation of vital force within body for mental up gradation.
B. In brief, Yoga elevates quality of living.
C. It concerns expression of divine potentiality hidden with in bodymind complex of man.
D. Besides, it is an excellent tool for human resource management, emotional intelligence and management of stress.
E. Yoga is a universal non-sectarian and secular spiritual formula of life.
F. As a science of inner reality, it is a process of awakening for all.
17. Which of the following would be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement?
1) F
2) E
3) B
2) E
3) B
4) C
5) D
5) D
18. Which of the following would be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?
1) D
2) B
3) E
2) B
3) E
4) C
5) A
5) A
19. Which of the following would be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement?
1) F
2) C
3) A
2) C
3) A
4) D
5) B
5) B
20. Which of the following would be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement?
1) C
2) D
3) F
2) D
3) F
4) E
5) A
5) A
21. Which of the following would be the LAST SIXTH sentence after rearrangement?
1) A
2) F
3) B
2) F
3) B
4) E
5) C
5) C
0 Comments
కామెంట్ను పోస్ట్ చేయండి