Rural Society MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Rural Society - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - Only II, III, and IV are correct.

Key Points

• Increased inequalities in rural society (Option II):
  • The Green Revolution benefited wealthier farmers who could afford new technology, fertilizers, and irrigation systems.
  • Smaller farmers and tenant cultivators faced economic hardships as they struggled to compete.
• Displacement of tenant-cultivators (Option III):
  • With mechanization, many landlords preferred to evict tenants and directly cultivate their lands.
  • This led to a decline in sharecropping and an increase in landlessness.
• Decrease in rural-urban migration (Option IV):
  • As agricultural productivity increased, employment opportunities in rural areas temporarily improved.
  • This led to a short-term decline in rural-to-urban migration.
• Why Option I is incorrect?:
  • Increased agricultural productivity is an economic consequence, not a direct social consequence.
  • Social consequences focus on inequality, land ownership patterns, and migration.

Additional Information

• Key Features of the Green Revolution in India:
  • Introduced High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • Increased irrigation facilities and promoted mechanization.
  • Led to a rise in agricultural production, especially in wheat and rice.
• Economic and Political Impact:
  • Strengthened the position of large landowners, reducing the bargaining power of small farmers.
  • Led to the formation of farmer movements demanding better policies for small and marginal farmers.
• Regional Disparities:
  • Benefits were concentrated in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, leaving other regions behind.
  • Eastern and Southern states lagged in technological adoption.

The correct answer is - Only II and III are correct.

Key Points

• Land reforms aimed at equitable land distribution:
  • The objective was to ensure a fair distribution of land, preventing concentration in the hands of a few landlords.
  • Key policies included the abolition of the Zamindari system and the introduction of land ceiling laws.
• Increasing agricultural productivity:
  • Redistributing land aimed to empower small farmers, leading to better land utilization and higher productivity.
  • Land reform laws also promoted tenancy rights and security, encouraging long-term investment in farming.
• Why Options I and IV are incorrect?:
  • Abolishing the caste system (Option I): While land reforms indirectly affected social structures, their primary goal was economic, not directly targeting caste abolition.
  • Promoting industrial development (Option IV): Land reforms focused on agriculture, not shifting focus to industries.

Additional Information

• Major Land Reform Policies in India:
  • Abolition of Intermediaries: Removed middlemen like Zamindars to provide direct land ownership to cultivators.
  • Land Ceiling Acts: Set a maximum landholding limit to prevent large-scale ownership by a few.
  • Tenancy Reforms: Granted land rights and security to tenants and sharecroppers.
• Challenges in Implementing Land Reforms:
  • Resistance from landlords led to loopholes and evasion in implementation.
  • Lack of proper land records and bureaucratic inefficiencies slowed down reforms.

The correct answer is - Artisans such as potters and weavers

Key Points

• Artisans such as potters and weavers faced a significant decline during the colonial period.
  • The British policy of importing cheap, mass-produced goods from England led to the destruction of local handicrafts.
  • Handloom weavers, blacksmiths, potters, and other artisans could not compete with factory-made textiles and metal goods.
  • Many artisans lost their livelihoods and were forced to become agricultural laborers or migrate to cities.
• Impact of British Economic Policies:
  • The British imposed heavy taxes on Indian handicrafts while allowing duty-free entry of British goods.
  • Traditional artisan industries were replaced by British-manufactured goods in local markets.

Additional Information

• Comparison with Other Options:
  • Agricultural laborers (Option A): Their numbers increased as artisans lost their livelihoods and turned to farm work.
  • Landowners (Option B): The British revenue system (like the Zamindari system) affected small landowners, but they did not decline as rapidly as artisans.
  • Astrologers and priests (Option D): Their role remained stable in rural society, as religious and cultural traditions persisted.
• British Colonial Economic Policies:
  • Deindustrialization: India transformed from an exporter of finished goods to a supplier of raw materials.
  • Railway expansion: Facilitated the transport of British goods, further destroying local industries.
  • Drain of wealth: Economic policies led to large-scale poverty and unemployment.

The correct answer is - Agricultural land

Key Points

• Agricultural land is the most important productive resource in rural Indian society.
  • It serves as the primary means of livelihood for a majority of rural households.
  • The possession of land determines social status, wealth, and power in traditional rural hierarchies.
  • It is a crucial inheritable asset, ensuring intergenerational wealth transfer.
• Economic Significance:
  • More than 50% of India’s workforce is engaged in agriculture.
  • Land is essential for crop production, animal husbandry, and rural employment.
  • Government schemes such as PM-KISAN and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) directly impact landowners.
• Social and Political Influence:
  • Landownership plays a significant role in caste and class-based inequalities.
  • Access to agricultural land has historically influenced rural voting patterns and political power structures.

Additional Information

• Comparison with Other Resources:
  • Livestock (Option A): A valuable asset but dependent on land for fodder and grazing.
  • Water resources (Option B): Essential for irrigation, but not an individually owned form of wealth.
  • Forest produce (Option D): Important for tribal economies but not the dominant property form in rural India.
• Land Reforms and Rural Development:
  • Zamindari Abolition (1950s): Ended the feudal landlord system and distributed land to tenants.
  • Bhoodan Movement (1951): Initiated by Vinoba Bhave to promote voluntary land donations.
  • Tenancy Reforms: Gave land rights to tenant farmers, reducing landlord exploitation.
• Challenges in Land Ownership:
  • Fragmentation of land holdings due to inheritance laws.
  • Unequal distribution, especially among marginalized communities.
  • Landlessness remains a major issue, impacting agricultural productivity.

The correct answer is - Farmers switched to Multi-crop system from Mono-crop system

Key Points

• Farmers switched to Multi-crop system from Mono-crop system
  • This statement is NOT true about the second phase of the Green Revolution. In reality, the Green Revolution often led to an increase in monoculture practices where farmers focused on growing a single high-yielding variety crop, usually with heavy reliance on chemical inputs and irrigation.
  • This monocropping system was encouraged to maximize productivity and marketable surplus, but it also raised concerns about soil degradation, pest vulnerability, and long-term sustainability.

Additional Information

• Increasing dependence on market
  • The Green Revolution led to increased dependence on the market for seeds, fertilizers, and outputs. Farmers became more market-oriented to sell their produce, which was required to bear the higher input costs associated with high-yielding varieties.
• Green revolution resulted in increased regional inequalities
  • The Green Revolution's benefits were uneven, with more developed regions with better infrastructure and irrigation facilities reaping more advantages, thus exacerbating regional inequalities in agricultural productivity and income.
• Increased risks for farmers
  • With the advent of high-cost inputs and market dependencies, the risks for farmers increased. They faced greater financial exposure in case of crop failure, fluctuating market prices, or adverse weather conditions.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The Green Revolution refers to a period of significant agricultural transformation that took place in India in the mid-20th century.
• The introduction of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, along with the use of modern irrigation techniques and chemical fertilizers, played a crucial role in increasing agricultural productivity.
• The Green Revolution was primarily led by agricultural scientists and policymakers, with the support of the Indian government. 
• One of the key figures associated with the Green Revolution in India is Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, an eminent agricultural scientist. His research and efforts in developing high-yielding crop varieties helped revolutionize Indian agriculture. 
• The implementation of the Green Revolution resulted in significant increases in agricultural production, particularly in wheat and rice.

The correct answer is It covered the period of the 1980s.Key Points

• Period: The second phase of the Green Revolution was introduced in the 1980s.
• Second Phase: The second phase did involve the introduction of new technologies in areas with irrigation facilities.
• Technological Introduction: The Green Revolution was a period of increased agricultural productivity in the mid-20th century, largely due to the introduction of new technologies, such as high-yielding crop varieties, irrigation, and fertilizers.

Additional Information

• The first phase of the Green Revolution occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.
• During this period, only certain states such as Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, etc. were using HYV seeds.
• The second phase of the Green Revolution did involve the introduction of new technologies in areas with irrigation facilities.
• The Second Green Revolution refers to the shift in agricultural production that is generally accepted as being required to feed and support the planet's expanding population.
• These calls were prompted, among other things, by concerns about peak oil and rising food commodity prices.
• Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were two of the regions where the Green Revolution was first introduced in India.

The correct answer is Wheat, rice.Key Points

• The first phase of the Green Revolution was focused on increasing the yield of wheat and rice crops.
• Wheat and rice were chosen because they are staple food crops in many parts of the world.
• The regions where the Green Revolution was implemented include South Asia, Mexico, and parts of South America.
• The Green Revolution aimed to increase food production and reduce poverty by introducing high-yielding crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and irrigation systems.

Additional Information

• The Green Revolution was a period of agricultural innovation that began in the 1940s and continued through the 1960s and 1970s.
• The term "Green Revolution" was coined by William Gaud, a director at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in 1968.
• The Green Revolution had a significant impact on global food production and helped to alleviate hunger and poverty in many developing countries.
• In addition to wheat and rice, the Green Revolution also led to the development of high-yielding varieties of other crops, including maize, sorghum, and soybeans.

​​The correct answer is option i and ii.

Key Points

• Sir William Gaud, a British economist, first used the term "Green Revolution" in a 1968 speech to describe the rapid increase in agricultural productivity in Asia and Latin America.
• Norman Borlaug, an American plant scientist, is widely regarded as the Father of Green Revolution for his pioneering work in developing new wheat varieties that were resistant to disease and had higher yields.

Additional Information

• The Green Revolution refers to a period of significant agricultural productivity growth that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, mainly in developing countries.
• It involved the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and improved irrigation and fertilization practices.
• MS Randhawa was a prominent Indian botanist and agricultural scientist, but he is not considered the Father of Green Revolution in India.
• M.S. Swaminathan, is known as the Father of Green Revolution in India, who played a key role in introducing high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat in the country.

The correct answer is HYV Seeds.Key Points

• Green Revolution stands for a major technological breakthrough in India based on 
• improved seeds of high-yielding varieties (HYV),
• adequate and assured supply of water for irrigation, and
• increased and appropriate application of chemical fertilizers for increasing agricultural production. 

Additional Information 

• The stagnation in agriculture during the colonial rule was permanently broken by the green revolution.
• This refers to the large increase in production of food grains resulting from the use of high yielding variety (HYV) seeds especially for wheat and rice. 
• The use of these seeds required the use of fertiliser and
  pesticide in the correct quantities as well as regular supply of water; the application of these inputs in correct proportions is vital. 

The correct answer is National food security.

Key Points

•  Green Revolution was a significant agricultural transformation that took place in India during the 1960s and 1970s.
• The aim of this revolution was to increase the productivity of agricultural crops, particularly wheat and rice, through the use of high-yielding varieties, modern farming techniques, and better irrigation facilities.
• M.S. Swaminathan, the renowned agricultural scientist, is referred to as the "Father of the Green Revolution."
• The Green Revolution played a crucial role in addressing India's food security concerns by increasing food production and reducing the country's dependence on food imports.

Additional InformationSome important revolutions in India:

The correct answer is (i), (ii) and (iii).Key Points

• Green Revolution:-
  • It​ was a significant development in India's agricultural sector that aimed to increase agricultural productivity and reduce food insecurity.
  • However, it also had some negative effects.
• Depletion of groundwater table:-
  • The Green Revolution promoted the use of high-yielding crop varieties, which required more water for irrigation.
  • As a result, farmers started extracting groundwater at an unsustainable rate, leading to a decline in the groundwater table.
  • This, in turn, led to water scarcity and affected the livelihoods of farmers who depended on groundwater for irrigation.
• Deterioration in the quality of soil:-
  • The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides was a key feature of the Green Revolution.
  • Over time, this led to soil degradation, loss of soil fertility, and reduced crop yields.
  • Soil erosion, salinization, and acidification were some of the other negative impacts on soil quality.
• Increased input cost:-
  • The adoption of new technologies and practices under the Green Revolution required farmers to invest in expensive inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and machinery.
  • This increased the cost of cultivation, making it difficult for small and marginal farmers to afford these inputs.
  • As a result, they had to borrow money from moneylenders at high-interest rates, leading to a cycle of debt and poverty.

Additional Information

• Green Revolution: It refers to the period of rapid agricultural development in the 1960s and 1970s, which aimed to increase food production through the use of high-yielding crop varieties, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
• Positive Effects: The Green Revolution led to a significant increase in food production, reduced food prices, and improved food security in India.
  • It also created new job opportunities and increased rural income.
• Sustainable Agriculture: It refers to an agricultural system that is environmentally friendly, socially just, and economically viable.
  • It promotes the use of organic farming practices, crop diversification, and conservation of natural resources.

The correct answer is Self-sufficiency in food grains.Key Points

• The Green Revolution was a period of technological innovation in agriculture that began in the 1940s and continued through the 1960s.
• This period saw significant increases in crop yields and food production, particularly in developing countries.
• Benefits of the Green Revolution:
  • Self-sufficiency in food grains: The Green Revolution helped countries achieve self-sufficiency in food grains, reducing their dependence on imports and increasing their food security.
  • Increase in agricultural productivity: The use of high-yielding crop varieties, better irrigation systems, and improved fertilizers and pesticides led to significant increases in agricultural productivity.
  • Reduction in poverty: The increased agricultural productivity and self-sufficiency in food grains helped reduce poverty by providing more food and income to farmers.
  • Technological innovation: The Green Revolution brought about significant technological innovation in agriculture, which has continued to benefit farmers to this day.

Additional Information

• Option 2: Decrease in food grain stock of government - This option is incorrect as the Green Revolution led to an increase in food production and self-sufficiency, which would have resulted in an increase in food grain stock rather than a decrease.
• Option 3: Increase in the price of food grains - This option is incorrect as the Green Revolution led to an increase in food production and self-sufficiency, which would have resulted in a decrease in the price of food grains rather than an increase.
• Option 4: Increase in the import of food grains - This option is incorrect as the Green Revolution led to an increase in food production and self-sufficiency, which would have reduced the need for importing food grains.

The correct answer is mid-1970s to mid-1980s.Key Points

• The second phase of the green revolution in India existed from mid-1970s to mid-1980s.
• It was characterized by the introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds, increased use of fertilizers, and improved irrigation facilities.
• The objective was to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security in the country.
• The second phase was successful in increasing food production and reducing the dependence on food imports.

Additional Information

• Option 1: The mid-1950s to mid-1960s was the first phase of the green revolution in India, which focused on the introduction of new crop varieties and modern agricultural techniques.
• Option 2: The mid-1960s to mid-1970s was a transitional phase between the first and second phase of the green revolution in India.
• Option 4: The mid-1980s to mid-1990s saw the introduction of new agricultural policies, such as liberalization and privatization, which aimed to increase efficiency and reduce government intervention in the agricultural sector.

The correct answer is Karnataka.

Key Points

• The Green Revolution, which refers to the large-scale introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides in agriculture, has been criticized for its negative impact on small farmers.
• the Government of India launched the Green Revolution in 1965 under the Third Five-Year Plan(1961-66).
• In the first phase of the Green Revolution, the use of HYV seeds was limited to the more prosperous states of Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Western Uttar Pradesh.​

Additional Information

• HYV seeds refer to high-yielding varieties of seeds that were developed during the Green Revolution to increase crop yields.
  • These are resistant to insects and diseases and have a high yield capacity.
• MS Swaminathan is considered the father of the Green Revolution in India.
• Norman Borlaug is known as the 'Father of Green Revolution' in the world.
• In India, the aim of this revolution was to increase the productivity of agricultural crops, particularly wheat and rice.
  • The main focused crops were Wheat, Rice, Jowar, Bajra and Maize.