MCQs – Class 10 Geography Chapter 4: Agriculture | CBSE | GPN

🧠 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - Chapter 4: Agriculture

Test your knowledge of Indian agriculture with these 30 questions. The set follows the CBSE exam pattern and covers farming types, crops, reforms, and challenges.

Standard MCQs (1 Mark Each)

Choose the single correct option for questions 1 to 20.

Which of the following types of economic activity is agriculture?

(a) Primary activity

(b) Secondary activity

(c) Tertiary activity

(d) Quaternary activity

Answer: (a) Primary activity
Explanation: Agriculture involves the direct extraction and production of natural resources (crops, livestock), classifying it as a primary economic activity.
‘Slash and burn’ agriculture is known as ‘Milpa’ in:

(a) Brazil

(b) Central America and Mexico

(c) Indonesia

(d) Vietnam

Answer: (b) Central America and Mexico
Explanation: Shifting cultivation has local names worldwide. 'Milpa' is the term used in Mexico and Central America.
Which of the following is a feature of primitive subsistence farming?

(a) Use of modern machinery

(b) High doses of chemical fertilizers

(c) Dependence on monsoon and natural fertility

(d) Commercial production for market

Answer: (c) Dependence on monsoon and natural fertility
Explanation: Primitive subsistence farming relies on natural factors like rainfall and soil fertility, using simple tools and no modern inputs.
Plantation agriculture is a type of:

(a) Subsistence farming

(b) Commercial farming

(c) Shifting cultivation

(d) Mixed farming

Answer: (b) Commercial farming
Explanation: Plantation agriculture involves large estates growing a single cash crop (tea, coffee, rubber) primarily for sale and export, making it commercial farming.
Which one of the following is a rabi crop?

(a) Rice

(b) Jowar

(c) Cotton

(d) Peas

Answer: (d) Peas
Explanation: Rabi crops are sown in winter (Oct-Dec) and harvested in summer (Apr-Jun). Peas, along with wheat, barley, and mustard, are rabi crops.
The largest producer of rice in India is:

(a) Punjab

(b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) West Bengal

(d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: (c) West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal is the leading rice-producing state in India, benefiting from favorable climate and fertile deltaic soils.
Which state is the largest producer of bajra (pearl millet) in India?

(a) Rajasthan

(b) Maharashtra

(c) Gujarat

(d) Haryana

Answer: (a) Rajasthan
Explanation: Bajra is a hardy kharif crop grown in areas of low rainfall. Rajasthan is the top producer, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
The ‘Green Revolution’ was most successful in which of the following crops?

(a) Wheat and Rice

(b) Tea and Coffee

(c) Pulses and Oilseeds

(d) Cotton and Jute

Answer: (a) Wheat and Rice
Explanation: The Green Revolution of the 1960s, based on High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, primarily increased the production of wheat and rice.
Which one of the following crops is a leguminous crop?

(a) Wheat

(b) Rice

(c) Pulses

(d) Sugarcane

Answer: (c) Pulses
Explanation: Leguminous crops (pulses like gram, tur, moong) have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules, which help restore soil fertility.
The ‘Bhoodan-Gramdan’ movement was initiated by:

(a) Mahatma Gandhi

(b) Jawaharlal Nehru

(c) Vinoba Bhave

(d) Sardar Patel

Answer: (c) Vinoba Bhave
Explanation: The Bhoodan (land gift) and Gramdan (village gift) movements were land reform initiatives led by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in the 1950s.
Which of the following is NOT a kharif crop?

(a) Cotton

(b) Groundnut

(c) Maize

(d) Gram

Answer: (d) Gram
Explanation: Kharif crops are sown with the onset of monsoon and harvested in Sep-Oct. Gram is a rabi crop. Cotton, groundnut, and maize are kharif crops.
Rearing of silkworms for the production of silk is known as:

(a) Pisciculture

(b) Horticulture

(c) Sericulture

(d) Viticulture

Answer: (c) Sericulture
Explanation: Sericulture is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. India is a major producer of silk, especially mulberry silk.
The leading producer of rubber in India is:

(a) Tamil Nadu

(b) Karnataka

(c) Kerala

(d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: (c) Kerala
Explanation: Rubber requires hot and humid climate with heavy rainfall. Kerala, followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, is the largest producer.
Which one of the following describes a system of agriculture where a single crop is grown on a large area?

(a) Shifting cultivation

(b) Plantation agriculture

(c) Horticulture

(d) Intensive subsistence farming

Answer: (b) Plantation agriculture
Explanation: Plantation agriculture is characterized by large estates (plantations) dedicated to a single cash crop like tea, coffee, or rubber.
What is the main objective of the Prime Minister’s ‘Krishi Sinchai Yojana’?

(a) To provide crop insurance

(b) To ensure ‘Per Drop More Crop’ (improve water use efficiency)

(c) To distribute free seeds

(d) To set minimum support prices

Answer: (b) To ensure ‘Per Drop More Crop’ (improve water use efficiency)
Explanation: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) aims to expand irrigation coverage and improve water use efficiency with the motto 'Har Khet Ko Paani'.
‘Operation Flood’ is related to the development of:

(a) Fisheries

(b) Milk production (White Revolution)

(c) Oilseed production (Yellow Revolution)

(d) Food grain production

Answer: (b) Milk production (White Revolution)
Explanation: Operation Flood, launched in 1970, transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world's largest milk producer, led by Dr. Verghese Kurien.
Which of the following is a zaid crop?

(a) Watermelon

(b) Wheat

(c) Rice

(d) Cotton

Answer: (a) Watermelon
Explanation: Zaid crops are grown in the short season between the rabi and kharif seasons (March-June). Examples include watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and vegetables.
Which state is the leading producer of jute in India?

(a) Bihar

(b) Assam

(c) West Bengal

(d) Odisha

Answer: (c) West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal, particularly the Hooghly basin, is the largest producer of jute, accounting for about half of India's production.
What percentage of India’s population is engaged in agricultural activities (as per 2011 census)?

(a) About 30%

(b) About 50%

(c) About 70%

(d) About 90%

Answer: (b) About 50%
Explanation: As per the 2011 census, around 54.6% of the workforce was engaged in agriculture and allied activities, showing a decline but still a significant portion.
The minimum support price (MSP) is announced by the:

(a) Food Corporation of India

(b) Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

(c) State Governments

(d) NITI Aayog

Answer: (b) Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
Explanation: The MSP for various crops is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and approved by the central government.

Assertion-Reasoning Questions (1 Mark Each)

Directions: For questions 21 to 25, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option:

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

(d) A is false but R is true

Assertion (A): Indian farmers should diversify their cropping pattern.
Reason (R): Over-reliance on rice and wheat has led to depletion of groundwater and soil nutrients.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Diversification (to pulses, oilseeds, horticulture) is needed to reduce pressure on water and soil resources caused by intensive rice-wheat cultivation, as stated in R.
Assertion (A): The Green Revolution had limited impact on Eastern India initially.
Reason (R): HYV seeds required assured irrigation which was lacking in many eastern states.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The Green Revolution's success in Punjab-Haryana was due to irrigation. Eastern states like Bihar and E. UP lagged due to inadequate irrigation, explaining the limited impact.
Assertion (A): Organic farming is being promoted in India.
Reason (R): Organic farming uses chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase yield.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Explanation: Organic farming is indeed promoted for sustainability. However, it specifically avoids synthetic chemicals, relying on organic manure and biopesticides instead.
Assertion (A): Shifting cultivation is damaging to forests.
Reason (R): It involves clearing plots of forest by burning for cultivation, leading to soil degradation and deforestation.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The reason accurately describes the practice of shifting cultivation (slash and burn) and its direct negative environmental impacts, explaining the assertion.
Assertion (A): Horticulture has significant importance in India.
Reason (R): India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables but most of it is wasted due to poor storage.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Both statements are true. However, the importance of horticulture stems from its high economic value, employment generation, and nutritional security, not from post-harvest losses. R states a problem, not the reason for its importance.

Case-Based Questions (1 Mark Each)

For questions 26 to 30, read the case/source carefully and answer.

Case: "In India, farming has seen significant technological changes. Tractors, harvesters, and tubewells are now common in prosperous regions. However, in many small holdings, farmers still use bullocks and traditional methods."
What does this contrast highlight about Indian agriculture?

(a) Uniform development across the country

(b) The co-existence of advanced technology and traditional methods (technological dualism)

(c) Complete lack of modernization

(d) That all farmers are rich

Answer: (b) The co-existence of advanced technology and traditional methods (technological dualism)
Explanation: The case points to the uneven adoption of technology, where capital-intensive farms use modern machinery while small and marginal farmers continue with age-old techniques.

Case: Study the data on the average size of land holdings in India:

Category of Holding	Percentage of Total Holdings	Average Size (Hectares)
Marginal (<1 ha)	~68%	<1
Small (1-2 ha)	~18%	~1.4
Semi-Medium (2-4 ha)	~9%	~2.7
Medium (4-10 ha)	~4%	~6.1
Large (>10 ha)	~1%	>10

What is the major challenge for agricultural productivity suggested by this data?

(a) Land holdings are too large to manage.

(b) The vast majority of holdings are small and marginal, making economies of scale difficult.

(d) Average size is increasing.

Answer: (b) The vast majority of holdings are small and marginal, making economies of scale difficult.
Explanation: With over 85% of holdings being small or marginal, it is challenging to adopt expensive technology or get high marketable surplus, impacting productivity and income.

Case: "Farmers in Punjab and Haryana grow rice extensively. This has led to a serious fall in the water table in these states, causing ecological and sustainability concerns."
What is the fundamental issue highlighted in this case?

(a) Rice is not a profitable crop.

(b) Cropping patterns are not aligned with the natural resource endowment of the region.

(c) There is too much rainfall in these states.

(d) Farmers do not use fertilizers.

Answer: (b) Cropping patterns are not aligned with the natural resource endowment of the region.
Explanation: Rice is a water-intensive crop. Growing it in regions with semi-arid climates (like Punjab) using groundwater is unsustainable, indicating a mismatch between crop choice and regional water availability.
Case: "The Government of India has introduced crop insurance schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to provide financial support to farmers in case of crop failure due to natural calamities."
What is the primary goal of such schemes?

(a) To increase crop prices

(b) To reduce the risk burden on farmers and encourage investment in agriculture

(c) To replace the MSP system

(d) To promote only organic farming

Answer: (b) To reduce the risk burden on farmers and encourage investment in agriculture
Explanation: Crop insurance mitigates the financial risk from unpredictable weather, giving farmers the confidence to invest in better inputs and technology without fear of total loss.
Case: Read about agricultural marketing: "Farmers often sell their produce at low prices to local traders immediately after harvest due to the need for cash and lack of storage. Later, the same produce is sold at much higher prices in cities."
What does this situation emphasize the need for?

(a) Abolishing markets

(b) Strengthening agricultural marketing infrastructure (storage, transport, MSP procurement)

(c) Stopping farming

(d) Increasing the number of middlemen

Answer: (b) Strengthening agricultural marketing infrastructure (storage, transport, MSP procurement)
Explanation: The case highlights the problem of distress sales and the exploitation by middlemen. Better storage (warehouses), transportation, and access to government procurement at MSP can help farmers get fair prices.

📖 Study Approach for Best Results

Independent solve: Complete the entire set without assistance first.

Verify answers: Carefully check your responses against the correct ones.

Concept review: For errors, study the underlying topic from your primary source.

Speed practice: Time your next attempt to complete within 30 minutes.

Retention test: Revisit the entire chapter's MCQs after a few days to ensure long-term retention.

GuidedPathNoida.in