Assertion (A): Policy changes such as reduction in import duties on agricultural products and lifting of quantitative restrictions on their imports have adversely affected Indian farmers in the post-1991 reform period.
Reason (R): Indian farmers now have to face increased international competition.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Assertion (A): Policy changes such as reduction in import duties on agricultural products and lifting of quantitative restrictions on their imports have adversely affected Indian farmers in the post-1991 reform period. — True. These changes have adversely affected Indian farmers.
Reason (R): Indian farmers now have to face increased international competition. — True. Farmers now face increased international competition.
Why R explains A?
Lower import duties and the end of quantitative restrictions let cheaper farm imports into India. Indian farmers must now compete with them, and this competition is why the policy changes hurt them.
NCERT (2026-27): “Reforms in Agriculture: … This sector has been experiencing a number of policy changes such as reduction in import duties on agricultural products, low minimum support price and lifting of quantitative restrictions on the imports of agricultural products. These have adversely affected Indian farmers as they now have to face increased international competition. Moreover, because of export-oriented policy strategies in agriculture, there has been a shift from production for the domestic market towards production for the export market focusing on cash crops in lieu of production of food grains. This puts pressure on prices of food grains.” |