UPSC Prelims 2017 Q72: Indian Economy – Agriculture & Rural Development
Consider the following statements: The nation - wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at
1. Expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
2. Enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil
quality.
3. Checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 3 only
Explanation
Soil Health Card Scheme
Launched in February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan.
Motto: 'Swasth Dhara, Khet Hara' (healthy earth, green farm).
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Expanding the cultivable area under irrigation | Incorrect | That is the aim of PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana |
| 2. Enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality | Incorrect | The card has no link to bank loans |
| 3. Checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands | Correct | The card gives crop-wise fertilizer doses based on a soil test |
What the card reports (12 parameters):
| Group | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Macro-nutrients | Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium |
| Secondary nutrient | Sulphur |
| Micro-nutrients | Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Boron |
| Physical | pH, Electrical Conductivity, Organic Carbon |
Answer: (b) 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The scheme neither expands irrigation nor guides bank loans.
- (b) CORRECT. The scheme aims at checking the overuse of fertilizers through soil testing.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false; banks do not use the card to fix loans.
- (d) Incorrect. Only statement 3 is an aim of the Soil Health Card Scheme.
Key point
Soil Health Card Scheme (2015): soil tested on 12 parameters; card advises fertilizer doses; aims at balanced fertilizer use.
Remember
Soil Health Card = 12 parameters, right fertilizer dose.
Common mistakes
- Mixing it up with PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, which is about irrigation.
- Assuming a government card must be linked to credit, like the Kisan Credit Card.
- Forgetting that the card covers micro-nutrients as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Exam tip
Soil Health Card = what to add to the soil. It says nothing about water or loans.
Sources
- Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare — Soil Health Card Scheme guidelines
- Press Information Bureau — Prime Minister launches Soil Health Card Scheme, Suratgarh (19 February 2015)