Read the given passage carefully and answer the following five questions:
Indian agricultural economy was largely subsistence in nature before Independence. It had dismal performance in the first half of twentieth century. This period witnessed severe droughts and famines. During partition about one-third of the irrigated land in undivided India went to Pakistan. This reduced the proportion of irrigated area in Independent India. After Independence, the immediate goal of the Government was to increase foodgrains production by (i) switching over from cash crops to food crops; (ii) intensification of cropping over already cultivated land; and (iii) increasing cultivated area by bringing cultivable and fallow land under plough. Initially, this strategy helped in increasing foodgrains production. But agricultural production stagnated during late-1950s. To overcome this problem, Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP) and Intensive Agricultural Area Programme (IAAP) were launched. But two consecutive droughts during mid-1960s resulted in food crisis in the country. Consequently, foodgrains were imported from other countries.
New seed varieties of wheat (Mexico) and rice (Philippines) known as high yielding varieties (HYVs) were available for cultivation by mid-1960s. India took advantage of this and introduced package technology comprising HYVs, along with chemical fertilisers in irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Assured supply of soil moisture through irrigation was a basic pre-requisite for the success of this new agricultural technology. This strategy of agricultural development paid dividends instantly and increased the foodgrains production at very fast rate. This spurt of agricultural growth came to be known as 'Green Revolution'. This also gave fillip to the development of a large number of agro-inputs, agro-processing industries and small-scale industries. This strategy of agricultural development made the country self-reliant in foodgrain production.
Which of the following was NOT an immediate goal of the Government of India to increase foodgrains production after Independence?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Bringing land put to non-agriculture uses to agriculture
The passage states: “After Independence, the immediate goal of the Government was to increase foodgrains production by (i) switching over from cash crops to food crops; (ii) intensification of cropping over already cultivated land; and (iii) increasing cultivated area by bringing cultivable and fallow land under plough.”
Option (1) Switching over from cash crops to food crops — An immediate goal. This is the first of the three measures.
Option (2) Bringing land put to non-agriculture uses to agriculture — Not an immediate goal. The third measure brought cultivable and fallow land under the plough. Land already put to non-agricultural uses was not part of the plan.
Option (3) Intensification of cropping over already cultivated land — An immediate goal. This is the second measure.
Option (4) Increasing cultivated area by bringing cultivable and fallow land under plough — An immediate goal. This is the third measure.