Food Production, Food Security and Nutrition – Agriculture Optional PYQs (1995–2026)

Here are all 82 Food Production, Food Security and Nutrition questions asked in UPSC Agriculture Optional Paper II from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 9 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.

Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.

7.1] Food production and consumption trends in India

6 questions

1. Discuss the reasons for gap between production and consumption of cereals in the country. How can it be rectified? [2024/10m/8c]

2. How has food production, including horticultural crops, changed in India during the last one decade? Write down its impact on food and nutritional security. [2023/20m/8a]

3. What is the food production and consumption pattern of India in the last fifty years? [2021/15m/8a]

4. Discuss the reasons for food grain surplus. Describe food grain production and consumption trends in India. [2019/15m/3b]

5. Food production and consumption trends in India. [2015/12.5m/8d]

6. Mention the food production and consumption trends in India. Support your answer with figures and tables. [1995/20m/200w/5a]

7.2] Food security and growing population

9 questions

1. Elaborate the major constraints of food and nutritional security in India. [2025/10m/7c]

2. Discuss the factors which contribute to food insecurity in the country despite of significant improvement in food production and distribution. [2024/10m/6c]

3. What is food security? Why is it essential? Describe the current food security system in India. [2022/10m/8c]

4. Discuss the reasons for food grain surplus. Describe food grain production and consumption trends in India. [2019/15m/3b]

5. Explain the present status of food and nutrition security in India. [2016/12.5m/7b]

6. Discuss the impact of rapid increase in population on food and agriculture. [2015/12.5m/2a]

7. What are the reasons for food grain surplus in India? Write the steps taken by the government to save the food grains. [2015/12.5m/6a]

8. Describe India’s food security system. Enumerate reasons for disturbance in food demand and supply. [2014/12.5m/7b]

9. Problem of food security in India. [1999/10m/8f]

7.3] National and international food policies

5 questions

1. Write down the various programmes run by State and Central Governments for ensuring food security in our country. Briefly discuss the strategies for sustainable agricultural production. [2023/20m/8b]

2. Enlist and explain the salient features of Public Distribution System as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013. [2022/10m/150w/5d]

3. What are the major constraints of food production in India? How will National Food Policy help in sustainable food security? [2020/20m/7a]

4. National and International food policies. [2003/15m/4d]

5. List the various international agencies and institutes concerned with the improvement of agriculture production. Briefly describe the objectives and functions of any two of them. [2002/20m/7a]

7.4] Production, procurement, distribution and processing constraints

17 questions

1. Discuss the major constraints for enhancing food grain production in India. [2026/10m/150w/5d]

2. Discuss the steps taken by the Government of India for improving the food processing industry. [2026/10m/8c]

3. What are the major constraints of food grain processing in India? [2025/10m/150w/5e]

4. Enlist and explain the issues and challenges in the growth of food processing industry in India. [2022/10m/7c]

5. What are the major constraints of food production in India? How will National Food Policy help in sustainable food security? [2020/20m/7a]

6. Give an account of steps taken by the government to cope up with constraints in procurement and marketing of agriculture produce. [2020/15m/8c]

7. What do you understand by e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)? Discuss the prospects and constraints of e-NAM in the context of Indian farmers. [2018/15m/8c]

8. What is food security? Indicate the major constraints in food procurement and distribution. [2017/10m/8c]

9. Explain the constraints in procurement and distribution policies in India. [2015/10m/150w/1d]

10. What are the reasons for food grain surplus in India? Write the steps taken by the government to save the food grains. [2015/12.5m/6a]

11. Mention the procurement and processing constraints of foodgrains in India. [2006/20m/200w/7a]

12. Focus objectives and activities of grain storage institutions in India. [2004/20m/4c]

13. Pusa bin. [1999/10m/8a]

14. Structures for Grain Storage. [1997/12m/4e]

15. What are the storage problems in India? How can the storage losses be minimised? [1997/30m/7b]

16. What are post-harvest losses? How can such losses can be minimised in India? [1995/20m/2a]

17. What do you understand by “buffer stock”? What are the facilities for storage of grains in India? [1995/20m/2b]

7.5] Availability of foodgrains and per capita expenditure on food

1 question

1. What are the reasons behind food inflation? Discuss how it can be mitigated. [2024/10m/7c]

7.6] Poverty and the Public Distribution System

13 questions

1. What are the major causes of poverty in India? Describe the role of Agriculture in poverty alleviation and employment generation. [2026/20m/7b]

2. Illustrate how technology is improving the efficiency of public distribution system in the country. [2024/10m/150w/5e]

3. Enlist and explain the salient features of Public Distribution System as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013. [2022/10m/150w/5d]

4. Enlist and explain the efforts of the Government of India in streamlining the current levels of poverty. [2022/10m/150w/5e]

5. Describe the vicious cycle of poverty and enlist the existing policy instruments for combating malnutrition. [2022/20m/6a]

6. What is Public Distribution System (PDS) and what are its objectives? How does targeted public distribution system overcome problems with PDS? [2020/15m/6c]

7. Discuss the strength and weakness of public distribution system in the country. [2016/10m/150w/5d]

8. What are the special schemes for providing food grains to underprivileged, destitutes and malnourished populations? [2016/12.5m/6a]

9. What do you mean by Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)? Who are specially focussed group covered under this programme? [2015/10m/150w/5d]

10. Explain in brief Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). What measures have been taken to increase transparency in the functioning of TPDS. [2014/12.5m/7a]

11. The strengths and weaknesses of the public distribution system in India. [2013/12.5m/200w/8d]

12. Differentiate Public Distribution System (PDS) from Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). How does TPDS help the population living below poverty line? [2009/20m/200w/4a]

13. Public Distribution System. [2005/15m/8c]

7.7] Dietary guidelines and food-based approaches to eliminate hunger

5 questions

1. What do you understand by food-based dietary approaches? Explain briefly how they will help to eliminate hunger. [2025/10m/150w/5d]

2. Classify foods on the basis of their functions. Write down a balanced diet for a sedentary man and woman in India. [2023/10m/8c]

3. What are the different “National Dietary Guidelines” of India? What is your opinion on balanced diet of Indians? [2021/20m/8c]

4. Discuss the role of nutri-cereals in managing malnutrition in India. [2020/10m/150w/5e]

5. What is balanced diet? Give, in tabular form, the caloric requirements of various groups of persons depending on age and load of work. [1995/20m/200w/5b]

7.8] Nutrient deficiencies

16 questions

1. What do you mean by nutrient deficiency in humans? Write the major causes of nutrient deficiencies in India. [2026/10m/6c]

2. Elaborate the micronutrient deficiency in human beings. Comment on various strategies in combating protein-energy malnutrition with special reference to women and children. [2025/20m/8b]

3. What is the scenario of hunger and malnutrition in the country? Discuss the initiatives taken by the government for their mitigation. [2024/10m/150w/5d]

4. Briefly discuss the micronutrient deficiencies observed in children and women in India along with the diseases associated with them. [2023/10m/150w/5e]

5. Describe the vicious cycle of poverty and enlist the existing policy instruments for combating malnutrition. [2022/20m/6a]

6. What do you mean by ‘hunger’ and ‘hidden hunger’? Comment on various strategies in combating hunger. [2021/15m/8b]

7. How are vitamins classified? Name the blood clotting vitamin. Give its various functions and sources. [2019/10m/150w/5a]

8. Describe the importance of micro-nutrients in human health. Justify with suitable examples. [2018/15m/8b]

9. What are nutrition challenges? Discuss the factors contributing to the under-nutrition at different stages of life cycle. [2017/10m/150w/5d]

10. What is protein energy malnutrition? Give micronutrient deficiency in women and children. [2017/20m/8b]

11. Explain the present status of food and nutrition security in India. [2016/12.5m/7b]

12. What do you mean by nutrient deficiency? Explain the micro-nutrient deficiency in context of work capacity of women and children. [2015/12.5m/3c]

13. Enumerate objectives of Integrated Child Development Service Scheme. [2014/12.5m/6d]

14. What are the key determinants of malnutrition? What major initiatives have been taken to improve nutritional status of Indian population? [2014/12.5m/7c]

15. What is protein energy malnutrition (PEM)? Discuss reasons for malnutrition among children. [2012/12m/150w/5e]

16. Deficiency of vitamin A, vitamin B and iodine in human body. [1998/7.5m/8b]

7.9] Food grain productivity and food security

10 questions

1. What are the trends of food productivity in India? Give your opinion for sustainable food production system which can address food and nutritional security of India. [2025/20m/6b]

2. Write down the various programmes run by State and Central Governments for ensuring food security in our country. Briefly discuss the strategies for sustainable agricultural production. [2023/20m/8b]

3. Give a brief account of food security in India before and after the green revolution. Suggest sustainable solutions to strengthen food security in the country. [2018/10m/150w/5e]

4. What is food security? Write a note on food grain production and food security. [2011/15m/150w/6d]

5. Describe the causes of low productivity of crops in India in the past. How new technologies application have improved the productivity of different crops? [2006/20m/200w/7c]

6. Green revolution. [1998/7.5m/8e]

7. Discuss the success/failures of Green Revolution. [1996/30m/2a]

8. How is agricultural productivity affected by cropping pattern in relation to different soils in India. [1996/15m/7c]

9. Strategy for increasing food production in India. [1996/20m/8b]

10. Enumerate the causes of low productivity in Indian agriculture. How can the agricultural productivity be improved by new technologies? [1995/20m/6b]

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Last updated: 30 October 2026