Easy2Siksha Sample Papers
GNDU Most Repeated (Important) Quesons
B.A./B.Sc. 3rd Semester
ECONOMICS (Indian Economy)
Based on 4-Year GNDU Queson Paper Trend (2021–2024)
Must-Prepare Quesons (80–100% Probability)
SECTION–A (Agriculture & Sustainable Development)
1. Agriculture in Indian Economy / Features / Importance / Causes of Decline
Appeared in: 2021 (Q1), 2023 (Q1), 2024 (Q1)
Probability for 2025: (100%)
2. Green Revoluon – Precondions, Eects, and Fallouts
Appeared in: 2022 (Q1), 2023 (Q2)
Probability for 2025: (90%)
3. Sustainable Development / Sustainable Agricultural Growth – Meaning &
Achievement
Appeared in: 2021 (Q2), 2022 (Q2)
Probability for 2025: (90%)
2025 Smart Predicon Table
(Based on GNDU 2021–2024 Queson Trend)
No.
Queson Topic
Years Appeared
Probability for 2025
1
Agriculture in Indian Economy / Causes of
Decline
2021, 2023,
2024
(100%)
2
Small and Coage Industries – Role &
Problems
2021–23
(100%)
Easy2Siksha Sample Papers
No.
Queson Topic
Years Appeared
Probability for 2025
3
Industrial Structure / Development & Policy
2021, 2023,
2024
(100%)
2025 GUARANTEED QUESTIONS (100% Appearance Trend)
Top 7 Must-Prepare Topics
1. Agriculture in Indian Economy – Features, Importance & Causes of Decline
2. Small and Coage Industries – Role, Problems & Employment Generaon
GNDU Most Repeated (Important) Answers
B.A./B.Sc. 3rd Semester
ECONOMICS (Indian Economy)
Based on 4-Year GNDU Queson Paper Trend (2021–2024)
Must-Prepare Quesons (80–100% Probability)
SECTION–A (Agriculture & Sustainable Development)
Agriculture in Indian Economy / Features / Importance / Causes of Decline
Appeared in: 2021 (Q1), 2023 (Q1), 2024 (Q1)
Probability for 2025: (100%)
Ans: Agriculture in Indian Economy
A Story of India’s Backbone
If you stand in the middle of a peaceful Indian village early in the morning, you will hear
a rooster crowing, farmers preparing their fields, bullocks moving across narrow paths,
and tractors roaring in distant farms. That sound is more than just a village waking up—
it is the heartbeat of India. Agriculture is not just an occupation here; it is a way of life. It
feeds the nation, shapes the rural economy, provides employment, and still plays a
major role in economic development.
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Even though India today is talking about Artificial Intelligence, bullet trains, and Digital
India, one truth remains unchanged — India lives in her villages, and villages live
through agriculture.
Meaning of Agriculture
The word Agriculture comes from Latin words “ager” meaning field and “culture”
meaning cultivation. So agriculture simply means cultivating land to produce crops,
vegetables, fruits, and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products.
In India, agriculture includes:
• Crop farming
• Dairy farming
• Poultry
• Fisheries
• Forestry
Role of Agriculture in Indian Economy
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. Even though the share of agriculture
in GDP has reduced after independence due to growth in industries and services, its
importance remains immense.
Share in National Income
At independence in 1947, over 50% of India’s national income came from agriculture.
Today, it contributes around 15-17% to India’s GDP, but it still supports the largest
workforce in the country.
Largest Source of Employment
More than 42% of Indians still depend on agriculture for their livelihood. It is the single
largest source of employment, especially in rural areas.
Supplier of Food
Agriculture gives us rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, fruits, milk, vegetables — everything that
lands on our plate. Without agriculture, a country cannot be food self-sufficient. Thanks
to agriculture, India changed from a "food-deficit nation” to a “food-surplus nation”
after the Green Revolution.
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Supplier of Raw Materials
Without agriculture, India’s industries would not grow. Important industries depend on
farm raw materials:
Agricultural Product
Dependent Industry
Cotton
Textile Industry
Sugarcane
Sugar Industry
Jute
Jute Industry
Tea
Tea Industry
Oilseeds
Edible Oil Industry
Tobacco
Cigarette Industry
Contribution to Foreign Trade
Agricultural products like tea, coffee, spices, basmati rice, cotton, and cashew are
exported worldwide. Agriculture contributes 10–12% of India’s exports, helping India
earn valuable foreign exchange.
Market for Industrial Goods
Farmers buy tractors, fertilizers, machinery, clothes, cycles, mobile phones — all made
by industries. So agriculture also creates demand for industrial goods.
Contribution to Capital Formation
Agriculture increases savings and investments in rural areas. After the Green Revolution,
many farmers started investing in:
• Tube wells
• Tractors
• Farm machinery
• Dairy farms
This increased capital formation in the country.
Features of Indian Agriculture
Let us now understand the main characteristics of Indian agriculture.
1. Dependence on Monsoon
Even today, many Indian farmers still depend on rains. When the monsoon is good,
crops are good. When the monsoon fails, the economy suffers.
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2. Subsistence Farming
Most farmers produce crops mainly for family consumption, not for market sale. Profit-
oriented farming is still limited.
3. Small and Fragmented Land Holdings
Due to population growth and inheritance laws, farms get divided into small pieces.
Average farm size in India is just 1.1 hectares, making modern farming difficult.
4. Traditional Techniques
Many small farmers still use bullocks and wooden ploughs instead of tractors. Lack of
modern technology reduces productivity.
5. Low Productivity
India has low crop yield compared to countries like the USA or China. Example:
Crop
India Yield (kg/ha)
USA Yield (kg/ha)
Wheat
~3500
~8000
Rice
~2700
~7500
6. Multi-cropping & Mixed-cropping
Farmers often grow more than one crop on the same land to reduce risk. Example:
Wheat + Mustard or Jowar + Pulses.
7. Overdependence on Government Policies
Farmers depend on the government for:
• Seeds
• Fertilizers
• Minimum Support Price (MSP)
• Irrigation subsidies
Importance of Agriculture
Why is agriculture important even today? Here is the answer in five powerful points:
1. Ensures Food Security
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A nation which cannot feed itself cannot progress. Agriculture ensures food for 1.4
billion Indians.
2. Supports Rural Economy
About 70% of Indians live in villages. Agriculture is their main source of income.
3. Reduces Poverty and Inequality
Agriculture is the best sector to provide mass employment and reduce poverty.
4. Encourages Industrial Growth
Industries like food processing, cotton mills, sugar factories, and dairy plants depend on
agriculture.
5. Backbone of Indian Culture
Harvest festivals like Pongal, Baisakhi, Onam, Lohri, and Makar Sankranti are all based
on agriculture.
Causes of Decline of Agriculture in India
Even after so much importance, agriculture in India faces many problems. Let’s
understand why agriculture has declined over time.
1. Small and Fragmented Land
Land is divided into small plots → difficult to use machines → low production.
2. Dependence on Monsoon
Poor irrigation → crop failure during droughts → farmer income becomes unstable.
3. Traditional Farming Methods
Low use of HYV seeds, fertilizers, modern tools → low productivity.
4. Lack of Capital
Farmers are poor → depend on moneylenders → fall into debt → unable to invest in
good farming tools.
5. Inadequate Storage and Transport
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After harvesting, farmers lack storage facilities → crops get destroyed → they sell early
at low price.
6. Middlemen Exploitation
Farmers do not sell directly in markets. Middlemen buy at cheap rates → farmers get
low income.
7. Soil Degradation
Overuse of fertilizers and chemicals reduces soil fertility.
8. Lack of Government Support
MSP not available for all crops, crop insurance is weak, and rural credit takes time.
9. Low Awareness
Farmers are not aware of modern farming, e-commerce platforms, or government
schemes.
Conclusion
Agriculture is not just a sector in India — it is an emotion, a tradition, and the
foundation of Indian life. Even today, millions of families depend on it. However, to
truly develop agriculture, India must invest in modern technology, irrigation, farmer
education, crop insurance, rural infrastructure, and fair pricing. A strong agricultural
sector means a stronger India.
2. Green Revoluon – Precondions, Eects, and Fallouts
Appeared in: 2022 (Q1), 2023 (Q2)
Probability for 2025: (90%)
Ans: Green Revolution – Preconditions, Effects, and Fallouts
A Different Beginning
Imagine India in the early 1960s. The country had just gained independence, but the joy
of freedom was overshadowed by hunger. Fields were barren, harvests were poor, and
the nation was dependent on foreign aid like America’s “PL-480” wheat shipments.
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Newspapers carried headlines of food shortages, and leaders worried: “How can a free
nation survive if it cannot feed its people?”
It was in this moment of crisis that scientists, policymakers, and farmers together
scripted a turning point in history—the Green Revolution. Led by visionaries like M.S.
Swaminathan (known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India), and supported by
international research on high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of wheat and rice, India
transformed itself from a “begging bowl” to a “bread basket.”
But this revolution was not magic—it had preconditions, it created effects, and it left
behind fallouts that still shape our agriculture today.
Preconditions of the Green Revolution
For the Green Revolution to succeed, certain conditions had to be in place. Think of
them as the “soil” in which this revolution could grow.
1. Political Will and Policy Support
• The government prioritized food security as a national goal.
• Land reforms in some states (like Punjab and Haryana) created medium-sized
farms suitable for modern techniques.
2. Scientific Breakthroughs
• Development of High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of wheat (like Lerma Rojo and
Sonora-64) and rice (IR-8).
• Research institutions like the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) played a
key role.
3. Irrigation Infrastructure
• Canals, tube wells, and dams ensured water supply for intensive farming.
• Without assured irrigation, HYV seeds would fail.
4. Fertilizers and Pesticides
• Chemical fertilizers and pesticides became widely available.
• Government subsidies encouraged their use.
5. Credit and Finance
• Banks and cooperatives provided loans to farmers for seeds, fertilizers, and
machinery.
6. Market and Procurement Support
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• The government introduced Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement
through the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
• This gave farmers confidence to adopt new methods.
Story Note: In Punjab, farmers who once feared crop failure now had access to
irrigation, HYV seeds, and guaranteed buyers. This gave them the courage to take risks.
Effects of the Green Revolution
The Green Revolution had transformative effects on India’s agriculture and economy.
1. Increased Food Production
• Wheat and rice production skyrocketed.
• India became self-sufficient in food grains by the 1970s.
2. End of Famines
• Large-scale famines, which haunted India in the 1940s and 1950s, disappeared.
• The nation no longer depended heavily on foreign aid.
3. Regional Concentration of Growth
• Punjab, Haryana, and Western UP became the “food bowl” of India.
• Other regions lagged behind due to lack of irrigation and infrastructure.
4. Rise in Farmers’ Income
• Farmers adopting HYVs earned higher profits.
• Rural prosperity increased in Green Revolution states.
5. Industrial Growth
• Demand for tractors, pumps, fertilizers, and pesticides boosted industries.
• Agro-based industries like flour mills and rice mills flourished.
6. Social Changes
• Rural employment increased due to higher cropping intensity.
• Migration to cities slowed as villages became more prosperous.
Story Note: A farmer in Punjab who once harvested 10 quintals of wheat per acre could
now harvest 25–30 quintals. His children could go to school, his family could afford
better living standards, and his village saw new prosperity.
Fallouts of the Green Revolution
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Every revolution has side effects, and the Green Revolution was no exception.
1. Regional Imbalances
• Benefits were concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, and Western UP.
• Eastern states like Bihar and Odisha lagged behind.
2. Environmental Degradation
• Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides polluted soil and water.
• Excessive irrigation led to waterlogging and salinity.
• Groundwater depletion became severe in Punjab and Haryana.
3. Decline in Crop Diversity
• Focus on wheat and rice reduced cultivation of pulses, millets, and oilseeds.
• This affected nutritional balance in diets.
4. Inequality Among Farmers
• Large and medium farmers benefited more than small and marginal farmers.
• Rich farmers could afford HYV seeds and machinery, while poor farmers
struggled.
5. Health Hazards
• Pesticide residues entered the food chain, causing health issues.
6. Long-Term Sustainability Issues
• Soil fertility declined due to chemical overuse.
• The model of intensive farming raised questions about sustainability.
Story Note: In Punjab today, while farmers are prosperous, they also face falling
groundwater levels and rising health concerns due to pesticide use. The same revolution
that once saved them now poses new challenges.
Recap in a Narrative Table
Aspect
Key Points
Example
Preconditions
HYV seeds, irrigation, fertilizers,
credit, MSP
Punjab & Haryana ready with
canals and tube wells
Effects
Food self-sufficiency, higher
incomes, industrial growth
Wheat output doubled in 1970s
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Fallouts
Regional imbalance, environmental
damage, inequality
Groundwater crisis in Punjab
A Different Ending
The Green Revolution was like a miracle medicine given to a starving patient. It saved
India from hunger, gave farmers prosperity, and built the foundation for economic
growth. But like any strong medicine, it also had side effects—soil fatigue, water
depletion, and inequality.
Today, as India talks about an “Evergreen Revolution” (a term coined by M.S.
Swaminathan), the goal is to combine productivity with sustainability—feeding people
without harming the planet.
Final Metaphor: If agriculture is the heart of India, the Green Revolution was the
pacemaker that revived it in the 1960s. But now, the challenge is to keep that heart
healthy for the long run—strong, balanced, and sustainable.
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