UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, C and E are correct because they describe the multi-dimensional nature of food security, the influence of climate change, the role of sustainable practices and the contribution of diversification to resilience. D is false since food loss and waste directly affect availability and access, and F is false because agricultural policies must consider environmental sustainability to avoid long-term degradation. Therefore, the correct combination is A, B, C and E only.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete, because it omits E and thus underplays the importance of diversification and resilience strategies for farming households. It focuses only on definitions and broad drivers.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes D, claiming post-harvest losses are irrelevant. This contradicts evidence that reducing losses and waste is a major lever for improving food security without expanding production.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it collects all four true statements while excluding D and F, which ignore key aspects of food systems and sustainability. It provides a comprehensive view of food security in a changing environment.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it accepts F and omits A, thereby denying the need for environmentally sensitive agricultural policies and neglecting the standard four-pillar definition of food security.

Statements A, B and D are correct: IPM reduces chemical dependence, conservation tillage with organic matter improves soils and diversification and rotation reduce pests and risks. Statement C is incorrect because sustainable agriculture does not always mean zero external inputs; rather, it emphasises judicious, efficient and environmentally sound use. Thus, the right combination is A, B and D only.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete as it omits D, which correctly notes the role of diversification and rotation in sustainable systems. Without D, the picture of sustainable agriculture is partial.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it assembles all three valid statements and excludes C, which presents an extreme and inaccurate view of sustainability. It reflects the balanced approach promoted in the syllabus.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it accepts C as correct along with B and D. Including the idea that any external input is incompatible with sustainability misrepresents agricultural science.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it groups A with C and D and leaves out B. While A and D are true, accepting C and excluding B on soil health makes the combination logically inconsistent.

Statements A, C and D are correct because they describe widely accepted principles and practices of sustainable agriculture. Diversification, conservation tillage, organic methods and a balance between environmental quality and farm income are central goals. Statement B is incorrect as excessive reliance on chemical inputs is characteristic of unsustainable, input-intensive agriculture. Therefore, the combination that includes A, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes A and C but omits D. While diversification and conservation tillage are valid aspects, leaving out the goal of maintaining soil fertility and environmental quality along with profitability makes the set incomplete. A comprehensive answer must recognise this objective.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it captures the full cluster of correct statements while excluding the misleading one. It reflects that sustainable agriculture integrates diversified systems, ecological practices and long-term soil and environmental health with economic viability. By omitting statement B, it avoids endorsing overuse of chemicals.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it adds statement B to an otherwise correct set. Statement B falsely portrays heavy use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides as a feature of sustainability, which contradicts concerns about soil degradation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. The presence of this false statement invalidates the option.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it claims that B, C and D are correct, again treating B as acceptable. Although C and D are right, including B, which promotes unsustainable input dependence, makes the combination inconsistent with the concept of sustainable agriculture.

Statements B, C and D are correct because they show how environmental management and rural development are linked. Watershed projects support conservation and productivity, agroforestry offers multiple benefits while protecting resources and ignoring sustainability can degrade land and water in the long run. Statement A is incorrect as watershed programmes are not confined to infrastructure building but emphasise conservation and resource management. Hence, the combination containing B, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only B and C and omits D, even though D is a true statement about the risks of environmentally insensitive rural development strategies. Leaving out a correct statement results in an incomplete representation of the topic.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it captures all the true statements—B, C and D—and excludes the false claim in A. It acknowledges conservation benefits, agroforestry’s role and the need for sustainability in rural development planning, which together reflect the integrated approach promoted in the syllabus.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes statement A, which mischaracterises the objectives of watershed development. While B and C are correct, adding A means the option no longer represents only correct statements.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it asserts that all four statements are correct. Accepting A as correct would imply that watershed development is restricted to roads and markets, which contradicts its actual conservation focus. Therefore, the entire combination cannot be chosen.

PM-PRANAM is designed to address the environmental and fiscal costs of excessive fertiliser use. States that successfully reduce consumption relative to a baseline can receive a portion of the resulting subsidy savings as grants. These funds can support balanced nutrient management, including organic and bio-fertilisers and capacity building for farmers. The scheme therefore links environmental outcomes with cooperative fiscal incentives.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the scheme seeks to moderate fertiliser use, not increase it indiscriminately. Raising subsidies without conditions would worsen nutrient imbalances.

Option B:
This option correctly explains how the scheme rewards states for cutting chemical fertiliser use and reinvesting savings in sustainable alternatives.

Option C:
The scheme does not ban organic manures; it promotes them as part of balanced nutrient strategies. Therefore this option contradicts policy intent.

Option D:
PM-PRANAM is unrelated to crop-residue burning; in fact, sustainable agriculture initiatives generally discourage such burning due to air-pollution impacts.

Statements B, C and D are correct because they show that food security is influenced by climate impacts, sustainable practices and multiple dimensions beyond sheer output. Climate extremes affect yields, sustainable agriculture balances productivity and environmental health and food security includes access and nutrition. Statement A is incorrect since national production alone does not guarantee that people can access or afford adequate, nutritious food. Therefore, the combination that includes B, C and D and excludes A is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it leaves out D, which correctly emphasises access and nutritional quality as core components of food security. Restricting the concept to production and climate-impacted yields fails to capture the full meaning of food security.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it adds statement A, which wrongly claims that only total national production matters. By including A, this option accepts a narrow and misleading view of food security that ignores distribution and affordability issues.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it declares all four statements A, B, C and D to be correct. Since A is clearly false in light of the multidimensional definition of food security, this combination cannot be accepted.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it lists exactly those statements that align with widely accepted definitions of food security and environmental sustainability. It highlights climate effects, sustainable agricultural responses and the multi-dimensional nature of security, while rejecting the simplistic production-only view in A.

Organic farming emphasises the use of organic manures, green manuring, crop rotations and biological pest control instead of synthetic chemicals. These practices enhance soil organic matter, improve structure and support beneficial organisms such as earthworms and microbes. Diversified cropping systems also promote on-farm biodiversity. Consequently, increased soil health and biodiversity through organic inputs and rotations is a key environmental advantage of organic farming.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because organic systems deliberately avoid heavy use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. They seek to maintain fertility and pest control through ecological processes rather than external chemicals.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it highlights how organic practices build soil organic matter and encourage diverse life forms. This leads to better nutrient cycling, water retention and resilience against erosion and pests.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since organic farming usually discourages strict monocultures and encourages mixed cropping and rotations. Monocultures with high inputs are more characteristic of conventional intensive agriculture.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because organic yields can vary and may be lower than conventional yields under some conditions. The approach focuses on sustainability and quality rather than guaranteeing maximum yield in all circumstances.

Organic farming is based on using compost,green manure,biological pest control and crop rotations instead of synthetic chemicals. It seeks to enhance soil fertility, biodiversity and ecological balance. The stem clearly mentions avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides and relying on natural inputs,which is the defining feature of organic farming. Thus organic farming is the correct term.

Option A:
Organic farming focuses on long term soil health and minimisation of chemical residues in food and the environment. Certification standards specify which inputs are permitted and which are prohibited. Because the question stem mirrors these ideas,this option correctly captures the concept.

Option B:
Intensive farming seeks to maximise output per unit area through high inputs of fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation. In many cases it relies heavily on synthetic chemicals,the opposite of what the question describes. Hence it is not appropriate for the blank.

Option C:
Shift cultivation (or shifting cultivation) involves clearing forest patches, growing crops for a few years and then moving to a new area. While it may use few chemicals,it is defined by mobility and fallows rather than deliberate avoidance of synthetic inputs,so it does not match exactly.

Option D:
Monoculture farming refers to growing a single crop species over large areas for many seasons. It can occur under organic or chemical intensive regimes but is not defined by input type. Therefore it does not neatly fit the description in the stem.

Integrated Pest Management is a holistic approach that seeks to manage, not eradicate, pest populations. It prioritises preventive and non-chemical methods such as resistant varieties, crop rotation, natural enemies and mechanical controls. Chemical pesticides are used judiciously and as a last resort when economic thresholds are exceeded. The goal is to minimise environmental harm and farmer costs while maintaining acceptable crop yields, which is accurately captured in Option B.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because exclusive reliance on chemicals can lead to resistance, resurgence of pests and environmental contamination. IPM arose partly as a response to these problems.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it emphasises combining multiple methods and focusing on economic thresholds rather than zero pests. This integrated strategy is central to sustainable pest management.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since abandoning all pest control would expose crops to severe damage and yield loss. IPM is about careful, not absent, management.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because genetically modified crops may be one tool among many but are not the sole basis of IPM. IPM predates GM technologies and remains broader than any single technique.

PM-PRANAM stands for a programme aimed at Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth. It offers incentives to states that reduce their chemical fertiliser use compared to a past baseline, sharing part of the subsidy savings. The scheme encourages balanced nutrient application, use of organic inputs and improvement of soil health. Recent data show notable reductions in fertiliser consumption in several states during 2023–24, illustrating its early impact. (Drishti IAS)

Option A:
This option correctly reflects the scheme’s objective of cutting excessive chemical fertiliser use while promoting eco-friendly alternatives. It also matches the design of linking financial incentives to states’ performance in reducing fertiliser consumption, making it the accurate answer.

Option B:
Providing universal 100% subsidy on major fertilisers would increase, not decrease, overuse and subsidy burden, contrary to the scheme’s logic. PM-PRANAM aims to save subsidy expenditure by encouraging reduced chemical use.

Option C:
Encouraging farmers to drop organic manure in favour of synthetic fertilisers would worsen soil and environmental problems. The scheme is intended to move in the opposite direction by promoting integrated nutrient management.

Option D:
Promoting fertiliser-intensive cropping in fragile landscapes would heighten risks of pollution and degradation. There is no evidence that PM-PRANAM has such a goal; rather, it supports sustainable alternatives.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct on goals, practices, chemical impacts, agroforestry and participation. Statement E is wrong because sustainable agriculture can use appropriate modern technology. Therefore A, B, C, D and F only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits F.

Option B:
Option B is incomplete because it omits A.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes E (false).

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes A, B, C, D and F and excludes E.

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet present food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs from the same resource base. It emphasises soil conservation,efficient water use and reduced chemical dependence. The stem highlights maintaining fertility,conserving water and protecting the environment for long term productivity,which clearly fits sustainable agriculture. Thus sustainable is the correct option.

Option A:
Subsistence agriculture focuses on producing enough food mainly for the farmer’s family with little surplus. It may or may not follow environmentally sound practices and is not defined by long term resource stewardship,so it does not fully match the description.

Option B:
Commercial agriculture is oriented toward market production and profit, often using high levels of inputs. Without specific safeguards,it can cause soil and water degradation. Therefore it does not inherently reflect the sustainability criteria mentioned in the question.

Option C:
Sustainable agriculture integrates ecological principles such as crop rotation,integrated pest management and agroforestry. These practices maintain productivity while minimising negative environmental impacts. This directly corresponds to the goals listed in the stem.

Option D:
Shifting agriculture involves clearing forest patches, cultivating them briefly and then moving on. It can be sustainable at low population densities but is not primarily defined by deliberate conservation measures,so it is not the best term here.

PM-PRANAM is designed to address the environmental and fiscal problems arising from excessive chemical fertiliser use. Under the scheme, states that successfully reduce fertiliser consumption below a recent baseline receive a share of the subsidy savings as grants, which can be invested in promoting sustainable practices. The programme encourages a shift towards balanced nutrient management, including organic and bio-fertilisers, with the aim of restoring soil health and lowering pollution. Recent reports show that several states have already reduced fertiliser use and generated notable subsidy savings under this framework. (India Brand Equity Foundation)

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because simply increasing subsidies to boost chemical fertiliser use would worsen nutrient imbalances, harm soil health and increase fiscal burdens. PM-PRANAM, by contrast, seeks to moderate and optimise fertiliser use rather than expand it uncritically. Treating overuse as desirable goes against the scheme’s rationale.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it captures the key design features of PM-PRANAM: rewarding states for lowering chemical fertiliser consumption, sharing subsidy savings, and promoting eco-friendly alternatives. It also highlights the environmental objective of improving soil health, which is central to long-term agricultural sustainability and to the people–environment interface in development.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because the scheme does not aim to ban organic manures; it actually promotes their use alongside bio-fertilisers and other alternatives. Banning organic inputs would contradict the goal of balanced and sustainable nutrient management.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since PM-PRANAM does not encourage expansion of fertiliser-intensive monocultures into fragile areas; that would create new environmental risks. Instead, the scheme is intended to reduce excessive inputs and encourage more sustainable cropping and fertilisation practices.

Statements A, B and D are correct and together emphasise the importance of diversity in agricultural systems. Agro-biodiversity spans genes, species and ecosystems related to agriculture, conserving traditional varieties can improve resilience and farmers’ on-farm practices help maintain this diversity. Statement C is incorrect because long-term sustainability often suffers under extensive monoculture, which can increase vulnerability and degrade ecosystems. Therefore, the combination A, B and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D, which rightly highlights the role of farmers in maintaining agro-biodiversity through their management and selection practices. Excluding this statement gives an incomplete view of conservation strategies.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes only B and D and leaves out A, which defines agro-biodiversity and is essential for understanding the concept. Without A, the answer loses clarity about the scope of agro-biodiversity.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it gathers all the true statements A, B and D and excludes the misleading assertion in C about monoculture always aiding sustainability. It aligns with agro-ecological thinking that values diversity for long-term resilience and productivity.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it treats all four statements as correct, thereby endorsing C. This would imply that monoculture invariably improves sustainability, which contradicts evidence from many farming systems.

Agroforestry systems integrate woody perennials with agricultural crops and sometimes livestock in spatial or temporal arrangements. This approach enhances biodiversity,improves soil fertility and provides multiple products for farmers. The stem defines exactly this combination of trees with crops or animals,making agroforestry the correct term.

Option A:
Monocropping means growing a single crop species on the same land year after year,often reducing biodiversity and resilience. It is the opposite of the diversified systems described in the question,so it is not appropriate here.

Option B:
Agroforestry can include practices like alley cropping,home gardens and silvopasture. These systems embody the integrated land use concept highlighted in the stem and show why Option B is the best match.

Option C:
Strip mining is a surface mining technique used to extract minerals and is unrelated to agricultural combinations of trees and crops. It generally leads to land degradation rather than ecological enhancement.

Option D:
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil using nutrient solutions. Although innovative,it does not inherently involve trees or livestock on the same unit in the way agroforestry does.