QUESTION 4
GS3
12.5 marks
There is a point of view that Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) set up under State Acts have not only impeded development of agriculture but also caused food inflation in India. Critically examine.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Critically examine whether APMCs hindered agriculture and fuelled food inflation.
Critically examineWeigh the strengths and the weaknesses, then give a balanced verdict.
Demand-wise check
- 1Problems: monopoly of licensed traders, cartels, high commissions and fees, limited markets, delays in payment, intermediaries' share≈35 words
- 2Inflation link: supply chain inefficiencies, hoarding, price markups≈35 words
- 3Counter: APMCs gave regulated price discovery and infrastructure; inflation also due to supply shocks, MSP hikes, rising demand≈35 words
- 4Reforms: Model APMC Act 2003, Model APLM Act 2017, e-NAM, FPOs; experience of Bihar≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Purpose of APMCsProblemsInflation linkCounter-argumentsReformsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not addressing the 'food inflation' part
- Ignoring that some states abolished APMCs with mixed results
Draw this
- Flowchart: farmer → commission agent → trader → retailer → consumer with price markups
Value addition
- ExampleBihar abolished the APMC Act in 2006, but private markets did not develop and farmers' prices stayed low.State experience, NITI studies
- CommitteeShanta Kumar Committee (2015) found only about 6% of farmers sell to government at MSP.Shanta Kumar Committee, 2015
- Schemee-NAM launched in April 2016 to link APMC mandis online.Ministry of Agriculture, 2016
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Mayank Purohit · AIR 33 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 26 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 23 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Mayank Purohit · AIR 33 · Page 13 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.