Class 9 Social Science (ECONOMICS) NCERT MCQs Chapter 4 Food Security in India

 

NCERT MCQs of Class 9 Social Science(ECONOMICS) Chapter 4 Food Security in India

1. 1) What is the primary goal of food security?
   a) Increasing agricultural exports
   b) Availability, accessibility, and affordability of food
   c) Reducing food prices globally
   d) Promoting cash crop cultivation
   Answer: b) Availability, accessibility, and affordability of food
   Explanation: Food security ensures that food is available, accessible, and affordable to all people at all times, as highlighted in the chapter.

   2) Which of the following is NOT a dimension of food security?
   a) Availability of food
   b) Accessibility to food
   c) Sustainability of production
   d) Affordability of food
   Answer: c) Sustainability of production
   Explanation: Food security focuses on availability, accessibility, and affordability, not directly on sustainability, although it is indirectly related.

   3) What event is mentioned as a major cause of food insecurity in India?
   a) Global trade barriers
   b) Natural calamities like droughts and floods
   c) High agricultural exports
   d) Overuse of pesticides
   Answer: b) Natural calamities like droughts and floods
   Explanation: Natural disasters reduce food production, leading to shortages and higher prices, making food inaccessible to vulnerable populations.

   4) What is the impact of famine as described in the chapter?
   a) Improved economic policies
   b) Widespread deaths due to starvation and epidemics
   c) Increased agricultural exports
   d) Enhanced food reserves
   Answer: b) Widespread deaths due to starvation and epidemics
   Explanation: Famine leads to starvation, use of contaminated resources, and widespread deaths, as seen during the Bengal Famine of 1943.

   5) The Bengal Famine of 1943 led to the death of approximately how many people?
   a) 1 lakh
   b) 30 lakh
   c) 10 lakh
   d) 5 lakh
   Answer: b) 30 lakh
   Explanation: The Bengal Famine of 1943 was a devastating event where around 30 lakh people lost their lives.

   6) What major change did Amartya Sen contribute to the understanding of food security?
   a) Introducing the concept of food production
   b) Emphasizing accessibility and entitlements
   c) Promoting international trade in food
   d) Advocating for organic farming
   Answer: b) Emphasizing accessibility and entitlements
   Explanation: Amartya Sen introduced the idea of "entitlements," which focuses on access to food rather than just availability.

   7) What are the two components of India’s food security system?
   a) Green Revolution and industrialization
   b) Buffer stock and public distribution system
   c) Agricultural subsidies and cooperatives
   d) Food imports and fair price shops
   Answer: b) Buffer stock and public distribution system
   Explanation: India’s food security system includes buffer stock (to stabilize supply) and the public distribution system (to ensure affordability).

   8) Which of the following states is NOT mentioned as being prone to food insecurity?
   a) Uttar Pradesh
   b) Punjab
   c) Bihar
   d) Jharkhand
   Answer: b) Punjab
   Explanation: States like UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and others with high poverty levels and natural disaster risks are prone to food insecurity. Punjab, being agriculturally advanced, is less prone.

   9) What is chronic hunger?
   a) Hunger that occurs during harvest cycles
   b) Persistent inadequacy in quantity or quality of food intake
   c) Temporary hunger due to natural calamities
   d) Hunger caused by economic downturns
   Answer: b) Persistent inadequacy in quantity or quality of food intake
   Explanation: Chronic hunger is a result of consistently inadequate diets due to low income or poverty.

   10) Seasonal hunger is commonly found in which group of people?
   a) Factory workers
   b) Agricultural laborers
   c) Government employees
   d) Business owners
   Answer: b) Agricultural laborers
   Explanation: Seasonal hunger is tied to the agricultural cycle when laborers have no work between planting and harvest seasons.

   11) Which program was launched in 1975 to address child malnutrition?
   a) Food-for-Work
   b) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
   c) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
   d) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
   Answer: c) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
   Explanation: ICDS was launched in 1975 to address child nutrition and health concerns.

   12) What is the purpose of buffer stock?
   a) Exporting surplus food
   b) Stabilizing food availability during shortages
   c) Increasing food prices for farmers
   d) Promoting international trade
   Answer: b) Stabilizing food availability during shortages
   Explanation: Buffer stock ensures food availability during shortages or calamities by maintaining reserves.

   13) What is the role of the Public Distribution System (PDS)?
   a) Distributing food internationally
   b) Providing subsidized food to the poor
   c) Promoting cash crop cultivation
   d) Exporting surplus food
   Answer: b) Providing subsidized food to the poor
   Explanation: PDS distributes essential food items at subsidized rates through ration shops.

   14) What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP)?
   a) Price farmers pay for fertilizers
   b) Subsidy given to consumers
   c) Government-set price for farmers’ crops
   d) Price paid to import food
   Answer: c) Government-set price for farmers’ crops
   Explanation: MSP ensures farmers get a fair price for their crops, encouraging production.

   15) Which program was specifically targeted at the poorest of the poor in 2000?
   a) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
   b) Annapurna Scheme
   c) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
   d) Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
   Answer: c) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
   Explanation: AAY was launched to provide foodgrains at highly subsidized rates to the poorest families.

   16) What is the primary function of cooperatives in food security?
   a) Exporting food to other countries
   b) Running fair price shops in rural areas
   c) Promoting cash crop cultivation
   d) Providing loans to farmers
   Answer: b) Running fair price shops in rural areas
   Explanation: Cooperatives play a significant role in ensuring food security by running fair price shops and providing low-priced goods.

   17) Which region recorded significant foodgrain production due to the Green Revolution?
   a) Punjab
   b) Bihar
   c) Odisha
   d) West Bengal
   Answer: a) Punjab
   Explanation: Punjab was at the forefront of the Green Revolution, especially in wheat production.

   18) What has been a major criticism of the Public Distribution System (PDS)?
   a) High food prices
   b) Food wastage and poor quality
   c) Lack of ration shops
   d) Overproduction of coarse grains
   Answer: b) Food wastage and poor quality
   Explanation: Issues like poor grain quality, pilferage, and inefficiencies have been criticisms of PDS.

   19) Which cooperative is associated with the White Revolution?
   a) Mother Dairy
   b) Amul
   c) ADS Grain Bank
   d) Tamil Nadu Fair Price Shops
   Answer: b) Amul
   Explanation: Amul played a pivotal role in the White Revolution, ensuring milk availability across India.

   20) What is the National Food Security Act, 2013 primarily aimed at?
   a) Increasing agricultural exports
   b) Providing food and nutritional security at affordable prices
   c) Reducing government subsidies
   d) Encouraging private food markets
   Answer: b) Providing food and nutritional security at affordable prices
   Explanation: The act ensures food and nutritional security for 75% of rural and 50% of urban populations.

21. 21) What was a significant impact of the Green Revolution on India?
    a) Increased import of foodgrains
    b) Self-sufficiency in foodgrain production
    c) Rise in chronic hunger
    d) Decline in agricultural productivity
    Answer: b) Self-sufficiency in foodgrain production
    Explanation: The Green Revolution significantly increased foodgrain production, particularly wheat and rice, making India self-sufficient.

    22) Which factor led to the introduction of the Public Distribution System (PDS)?
    a) Overproduction of foodgrains
    b) The Bengal Famine of 1943
    c) Demand from international organizations
    d) Increased focus on exports
    Answer: b) The Bengal Famine of 1943
    Explanation: The Bengal Famine highlighted the need for a food distribution system to prevent starvation.

    23) Which type of hunger is associated with the seasonal nature of agriculture?
    a) Chronic hunger
    b) Cyclical hunger
    c) Seasonal hunger
    d) Acute hunger
    Answer: c) Seasonal hunger
    Explanation: Seasonal hunger occurs when agricultural workers face unemployment during non-harvest periods.

    24) What does the term "entitlements," introduced by Amartya Sen, include?
    a) Only state-provided food
    b) Food production and market exchange
    c) Subsidized grains and loans
    d) Nutritional supplements from NGOs
    Answer: b) Food production and market exchange
    Explanation: Entitlements include what individuals can produce, exchange, or receive from social programs.

    25) Which group of people is most vulnerable to food insecurity?
    a) Middle-class families
    b) Agricultural laborers and casual workers
    c) Industrial employees
    d) Entrepreneurs
    Answer: b) Agricultural laborers and casual workers
    Explanation: These groups often face low wages and seasonal unemployment, making them highly vulnerable.

    26) Which state is NOT considered food insecure?
    a) Jharkhand
    b) Bihar
    c) Punjab
    d) Odisha
    Answer: c) Punjab
    Explanation: Punjab, being agriculturally advanced, is less prone to food insecurity compared to states like Bihar and Odisha.

    27) What is the role of "Fair Price Shops"?
    a) Exporting foodgrains
    b) Selling foodgrains at market rates
    c) Providing foodgrains at subsidized rates
    d) Storing food reserves for the government
    Answer: c) Providing foodgrains at subsidized rates
    Explanation: Fair Price Shops sell essential food items at prices lower than the market to ensure affordability for the poor.

    28) What is the main aim of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)?
    a) Provide subsidized food to senior citizens
    b) Provide free food to all citizens
    c) Target the poorest of the poor with highly subsidized food
    d) Encourage agricultural exports
    Answer: c) Target the poorest of the poor with highly subsidized food
    Explanation: AAY provides foodgrains at very low prices to the poorest sections of society.

    29) What is the "Minimum Buffer Stock Norm" for the Food Corporation of India (FCI)?
    a) The minimum amount of food imported annually
    b) The minimum level of food reserves to ensure food security
    c) The minimum number of ration shops in an area
    d) The minimum price offered to farmers for crops
    Answer: b) The minimum level of food reserves to ensure food security
    Explanation: The buffer stock norm ensures adequate food reserves to manage shortages or emergencies.

    30) What is one major problem associated with PDS?
    a) Lack of consumer demand
    b) High-quality grains in ration shops
    c) Malpractices like diversion of grains to the open market
    d) Absence of ration shops in rural areas
    Answer: c) Malpractices like diversion of grains to the open market
    Explanation: PDS has been criticized for issues like pilferage, poor quality grains, and corruption.

    31) Which program provides free meals to schoolchildren in India?
    a) Food-for-Work
    b) Antyodaya Anna Yojana
    c) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
    d) Targeted Public Distribution System
    Answer: c) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
    Explanation: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme aims to provide nutritious meals to children in schools.

    32) Which revolution is associated with the introduction of high-yielding varieties of crops?
    a) Green Revolution
    b) White Revolution
    c) Blue Revolution
    d) Industrial Revolution
    Answer: a) Green Revolution
    Explanation: The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties, especially in wheat and rice.

    33) What is one adverse effect of the Green Revolution?
    a) Increased malnutrition
    b) Environmental degradation due to overuse of water and fertilizers
    c) Decline in agricultural productivity
    d) Overproduction of coarse grains
    Answer: b) Environmental degradation due to overuse of water and fertilizers
    Explanation: The intensive farming practices of the Green Revolution led to soil depletion and water scarcity.

    34) Which organization procures foodgrains to create buffer stocks?
    a) National Food Security Act
    b) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
    c) Indian Agricultural Association
    d) Ministry of Finance
    Answer: b) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
    Explanation: FCI procures foodgrains from farmers to maintain buffer stocks.

    35) What is the main objective of the National Food Security Act, 2013?
    a) Promote agricultural exports
    b) Ensure subsidized food for eligible households
    c) Introduce organic farming practices
    d) Reduce buffer stock levels
    Answer: b) Ensure subsidized food for eligible households
    Explanation: The Act aims to provide food security to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population.

    36) How many types of ration cards are issued under PDS?
    a) One
    b) Two
    c) Three
    d) Four
    Answer: c) Three
    Explanation: The three types of ration cards are Antyodaya cards, BPL cards, and APL cards.

    37) Which cooperative society is associated with the White Revolution?
    a) Amul
    b) Mother Dairy
    c) ADS Grain Bank
    d) Khadi Gram Udyog
    Answer: a) Amul
    Explanation: Amul played a significant role in the White Revolution, increasing milk production in India.

    38) Which factor has led to high carrying costs for buffer stocks?
    a) Poor quality of foodgrains
    b) Lack of demand for PDS foodgrains
    c) Rising MSP and transportation costs
    d) Export bans on foodgrains
    Answer: c) Rising MSP and transportation costs
    Explanation: High MSP and transportation/storage expenses contribute to the high carrying costs of buffer stocks.

    39) What is the main aim of grain banks?
    a) Store surplus food for exports
    b) Ensure food security in remote areas
    c) Promote cash crop cultivation
    d) Provide loans to farmers
    Answer: b) Ensure food security in remote areas
    Explanation: Grain banks help ensure food availability in economically backward or remote areas.

    40) Which state has the highest proportion of ration shops managed by cooperatives?
    a) Gujarat
    b) Tamil Nadu
    c) Maharashtra
    d) Bihar
    Answer: b) Tamil Nadu
    Explanation: Around 94% of ration shops in Tamil Nadu are run by cooperatives, ensuring food security for the poor.

• 41) Which group has a high incidence of malnutrition in India?
  a) Male laborers
  b) Women and children under 5 years
  c) Senior citizens
  d) Industrial workers
  Answer: b) Women and children under 5 years
  Explanation: Women and young children, particularly in economically weaker sections, are highly vulnerable to malnutrition due to inadequate food intake.

• 42) What happens to food supply during a disaster or calamity?
  a) Food prices fall
  b) Food production increases
  c) Food supply decreases
  d) Food import bans are lifted
  Answer: c) Food supply decreases
  Explanation: Natural calamities like droughts and floods reduce food production, creating shortages and higher prices.

• 43) What does the term "Issue Price" refer to in the context of PDS?
  a) The market price of food items
  b) The government’s purchase price from farmers
  c) The subsidized price at which foodgrains are distributed through PDS
  d) The import price of food items
  Answer: c) The subsidized price at which foodgrains are distributed through PDS
  Explanation: Issue Price is the price at which foodgrains are provided to the poor via PDS, often below market rates.

• 44) What was the primary objective of the Food-for-Work (FFW) program?
  a) Increase agricultural exports
  b) Provide employment in exchange for food
  c) Promote cash crops
  d) Provide free meals to schoolchildren
  Answer: b) Provide employment in exchange for food
  Explanation: The FFW program aimed to tackle hunger by offering food as payment for work in rural areas.

• 45) Which of the following regions is prone to food insecurity?
  a) Urban industrial zones
  b) Economically backward states
  c) Coastal fishing zones
  d) Developed metropolitan areas
  Answer: b) Economically backward states
  Explanation: States with high poverty and low agricultural productivity are more vulnerable to food insecurity.

• 46) What caused the decline in per capita rice consumption between 2004-05 and 2011-12?
  a) Increased urbanization
  b) Rising foodgrain prices
  c) Dietary changes and declining purchasing power
  d) Export of rice
  Answer: c) Dietary changes and declining purchasing power
  Explanation: Declining purchasing power among the poor and changes in food habits have reduced per capita rice consumption.

• 47) Which of the following is a measure taken to prevent foodgrain wastage in India?
  a) Increasing Minimum Support Prices (MSP)
  b) Proper distribution of surplus stocks under various schemes
  c) Exporting all surplus grains
  d) Storing foodgrains for longer periods
  Answer: b) Proper distribution of surplus stocks under various schemes
  Explanation: Government schemes like PDS and Mid-Day Meals ensure surplus food is distributed instead of being wasted.

• 48) Which key factor is responsible for environmental degradation due to agriculture in surplus states?
  a) Use of modern farming equipment
  b) Diversion of land to non-agricultural use
  c) Intensive use of water resources for rice cultivation
  d) Over-reliance on coarse grains
  Answer: c) Intensive use of water resources for rice cultivation
  Explanation: Excessive water use for rice cultivation has led to water depletion in states like Punjab and Haryana.

• 49) Which of the following is NOT a feature of the National Food Security Act, 2013?
  a) Subsidized foodgrains for priority households
  b) Coverage of 75% of the rural population
  c) Coverage of 50% of the urban population
  d) Free foodgrains for all citizens
  Answer: d) Free foodgrains for all citizens
  Explanation: The act provides subsidized food for eligible households, not free food for everyone.

• 50) What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) designed to do?
  a) Reduce government procurement costs
  b) Ensure stable income for farmers
  c) Increase consumer subsidies
  d) Discourage wheat and rice production
  Answer: b) Ensure stable income for farmers
  Explanation: MSP protects farmers by guaranteeing a minimum price for their produce, even if market prices fall.

• 51) What is one major drawback of creating high buffer stocks?
  a) Reduced availability of foodgrains
  b) Increased foodgrain exports
  c) High carrying costs and wastage of grains
  d) Lower food prices for consumers
  Answer: c) High carrying costs and wastage of grains
  Explanation: Maintaining excessive stocks leads to high storage costs and loss of quality, sometimes resulting in wastage.

• 52) What is the role of NGOs in food security?
  a) Providing loans to farmers
  b) Facilitating grain banks and food security awareness
  c) Exporting surplus foodgrains
  d) Promoting luxury crops
  Answer: b) Facilitating grain banks and food security awareness
  Explanation: NGOs help set up grain banks, raise awareness, and influence government policies on food security.

• 53) Which program was initiated in 1977-78 as a food security measure?
  a) Food-for-Work (FFW)
  b) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
  c) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
  d) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
  Answer: a) Food-for-Work (FFW)
  Explanation: FFW provided employment in rural areas in exchange for food, tackling hunger and unemployment simultaneously.

• 54) What is a significant achievement of the Green Revolution?
  a) Decline in coarse grain production
  b) Surplus production of rice and wheat
  c) Increase in malnutrition rates
  d) Abandonment of traditional farming techniques
  Answer: b) Surplus production of rice and wheat
  Explanation: The Green Revolution led to significant increases in rice and wheat production, ensuring food security.

• 55) Which government organization plays a crucial role in foodgrain procurement and storage?
  a) Ministry of Finance
  b) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
  c) Reserve Bank of India
  d) Indian Farmers Association
  Answer: b) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
  Explanation: The FCI procures, stores, and distributes foodgrains to ensure food security.

• 56) What has been the primary focus of cooperatives in food security?
  a) Exporting grains to foreign countries
  b) Running fair price shops and ensuring affordable goods
  c) Providing high-interest loans to farmers
  d) Promoting cash crop cultivation
  Answer: b) Running fair price shops and ensuring affordable goods
  Explanation: Cooperatives provide low-priced goods to ensure food security for economically weaker sections.

• 57) Which natural resource is being overexploited due to the Green Revolution?
  a) Coal
  b) Water
  c) Forests
  d) Minerals
  Answer: b) Water
  Explanation: The Green Revolution’s intensive farming practices have led to overuse and depletion of water resources.

• 58) What is the "Revamped Public Distribution System" (RPDS)?
  a) A scheme to export foodgrains
  b) A program targeting backward blocks with improved food access
  c) An initiative to abolish ration cards
  d) A campaign to promote coarse grains
  Answer: b) A program targeting backward blocks with improved food access
  Explanation: RPDS was introduced to provide PDS benefits to remote and backward areas.

• 59) Which sector did the White Revolution focus on?
  a) Poultry farming
  b) Milk and dairy production
  c) Fisheries
  d) Foodgrain cultivation
  Answer: b) Milk and dairy production
  Explanation: The White Revolution, spearheaded by Amul, transformed India into a leading producer of milk and dairy products.

• 60) What is the main objective of the "Targeted Public Distribution System" (TPDS)?
  a) Provide free foodgrains to everyone
  b) Focus food distribution benefits on the poor
  c) Export foodgrains to other countries
  d) Reduce subsidies for foodgrains
  Answer: b) Focus food distribution benefits on the poor
  Explanation: TPDS introduced a differential price policy to target the poor and prioritize their food security needs.