UPSC Prelims 2007 Q72: Geography – Indian Agriculture & Land Use
Which one of the following is the correct sequence in the decreasing order of production (in
million tonnes) of the given food grains in India?
- (a) Wheat - Rice - Pulses - Coarse Cereals
- (b) Rice - Wheat - Pulses - Coarse Cereals
- (c) Wheat - Rice - Coarse Cereals - Pulses
- (d) Rice - Wheat - Coarse Cereals - Pulses
Answer: (d) Rice - Wheat - Coarse Cereals - Pulses
Explanation
Food grain production order in India
| Rank | Crop group | 2006-07 (approx.) | 2023-24 (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice | ~93 MT | ~137 MT |
| 2 | Wheat | ~76 MT | ~113 MT |
| 3 | Coarse cereals (maize, millets, barley) | ~34 MT | ~55 MT |
| 4 | Pulses | ~14 MT | ~24 MT |
The order Rice > Wheat > Coarse cereals > Pulses has stayed the same for decades.
Maize is now the largest coarse cereal.
Answer: (d) Rice - Wheat - Coarse Cereals - Pulses.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Wheat is second, not first, and pulses are last.
- (b) Incorrect. Coarse cereals are produced more than pulses.
- (c) Incorrect. Rice, not wheat, is India's largest food grain.
- (d) CORRECT. Rice > Wheat > Coarse cereals > Pulses — the stable order in India.
Key point
Food grain order: Rice > Wheat > Coarse cereals > Pulses. Pulses are always last.
Remember
India's food grains: Rice > Wheat > Coarse cereals > Pulses.
Common mistakes
- Putting wheat first because of the Green Revolution focus on wheat.
- Placing pulses above coarse cereals — India still imports pulses because output is low.
- Forgetting that maize pushes coarse cereals well above pulses.
Exam tip
R-W-C-P: 'Rice Wins, Cereals Pass'. Pulses at the bottom explains India's pulse imports.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture — Advance Estimates of Foodgrain Production
- Economic Survey — Agriculture chapter
- NCERT Class X — Contemporary India II, Ch 4 (Agriculture)