Passage

Climate change poses potentially devastating effects on India's agriculture. While the overall parameters of climate change are increasingly accepted a 1°C average temperature increase over the next 30 years, sea level rise of less than 10 cm in the same period, and regional monsoon variations and corresponding droughts - the impacts in India are likely to be quite site and crop specific. Some crops may respond favourably to the changing conditions, others may not. This emphasizes the need to promote agricultural research and create maximum flexibility in the system to permit adaptations. The key ingredient for "drought proofing" is the managed recharge of aquifers. To ensure continued yields of important staple crops (e.g. wheat), it may also be necessary to shift the locations where these crops are grown, in response to temperature changes as well as to water availability. The latter will be a key factor in making long term investment decisions. For example, water runoff from the Himalayas is predicted to increase over the next 30 years as glaciers melt, but then decline substantially thereafter. It will be critical to provide incentives to plan for these large-scale shifts in agro-ecological conditions. India needs to make long term investment in research and development in agriculture. India is likely to experience changed weather patterns in future.
QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2014

According to the passage, why is it important to promote agricultural research in India?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement A is incorrect. The passage mentions that agricultural research is needed for flexibility and adaptation to changing conditions, but it does not specifically emphasize predicting variations in monsoon patterns or managing water resources as the primary focus of agricultural research.

Statement B is incorrect. The passage stresses the importance of long-term investment in agricultural research and development but does not directly tie it to economic growth as the primary reason for promoting research.

Statement C is correct. The passage states that agricultural research is needed to create flexibility in the system to adapt to changing conditions, such as shifting crop locations in response to temperature and water availability. This emphasizes the need for wider adaptability of crops.

Statement D is incorrect. While the passage mentions the managed recharge of aquifers as important for drought-proofing, it does not directly link it to the promotion of agricultural research.

Trusted by 2L aspirants

Practice UPSC Prelims PYQs Smarter

Practice Now
  • Track accuracy & weak areas
  • See past trends & repeated themes
Start Practicing Now

Crack UPSC with your
Personal AI Mentor

An AI-powered ecosystem to learn, practice, and evaluate with discipline

SuperKalam is your personal mentor for UPSC preparation, guiding you at every step of the exam journey.

Download the App

Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store
Follow us

ⓒ Snapstack Technologies Private Limited