QUESTION 5
GS3
10 marks
What are the different types of agricultural subsidies given to farmers at national and state levels? Critically analyse the agricultural subsidy regime with reference to distortions created by it.
WRITE IN
7 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Classify farm subsidies at central and state levels and analyse distortions they create.
Critically analyseBreak it into parts, test each against evidence, and give a reasoned verdict.
Demand-wise check
- 1Central: fertiliser (urea and Nutrient Based Subsidy), MSP procurement, interest subvention, crop insurance, PM-KISAN≈35 words
- 2State: free or cheap power, canal water below cost, seed subsidy, loan waivers≈35 words
- 3Distortions: urea overuse and NPK imbalance, groundwater depletion from free power, paddy-wheat monoculture, regional and large-farmer bias, fiscal strain≈35 words
- 4WTO angle: amber vs green box; reform towards direct income support and investment≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Types (table)BenefitsDistortions with examplesWTO contextReforms
Where marks usually go
- Not separating central and state subsidies as asked
- Listing subsidies without the distortion analysis
Draw this
- Table: subsidy, level, intended goal, distortion
Value addition
- WTOArticle 6.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture exempts input subsidies to low-income or resource-poor farmers in developing countries.WTO AoA
- PolicyNutrient Based Subsidy (2010) decontrolled P and K fertilisers while urea stayed price-controlled, worsening imbalance.Department of Fertilizers, 2010
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 32 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 9 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.