In December 2017, which Indian Union minister launched the 'Livestock Disease Forewarning – Mobile Application (LDF-Mobile App)' to help farmers monitor animal health and prevent livestock diseases more effectively?

Introduction / Context:
This general knowledge question tests awareness of recent government initiatives in India, specifically a mobile application launched to help farmers and veterinarians manage livestock health. The Livestock Disease Forewarning – Mobile Application (LDF-Mobile App) was introduced as part of India's efforts to use digital tools for early warning and control of animal diseases that can affect rural livelihoods and the national dairy and livestock sector.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to December 2017 in India.
• The app is named 'Livestock Disease Forewarning – Mobile Application (LDF-Mobile App)'.
• It is linked to livestock disease management and farmer support.
• Four Union ministers are given as options: J. P. Nadda, Radha Mohan Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan, and Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Concept / Approach:
To answer correctly, you need to connect ministries to their subject areas. Livestock health, dairying and animal husbandry fall under the broader agriculture and farmers’ welfare portfolio at the Union level. Therefore, the key step is to identify which minister was holding the agriculture and farmers’ welfare portfolio in December 2017 and is officially recorded as having launched this specific mobile application for livestock disease forewarning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the LDF-Mobile App is about livestock diseases, forewarning systems, and farmer support. Step 2: Recall that in 2017, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was Radha Mohan Singh. Step 3: Recognise that announcements related to animal husbandry, dairying and livestock health were typically made by the agriculture ministry and associated departments. Step 4: Link the specific news item: in December 2017, Radha Mohan Singh officially launched the Livestock Disease Forewarning – Mobile Application to provide early warning of animal disease outbreaks. Step 5: Conclude that among the given options, Radha Mohan Singh is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A good verification strategy is to check reliable current affairs compilations or official press releases from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare around December 2017. These clearly identify Radha Mohan Singh as the minister who launched the LDF-Mobile App. Cross-checking with multiple trustworthy sources, such as government websites and competitive exam digests, will confirm that none of the other listed ministers were associated with this particular app launch.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• J. P. Nadda was associated with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which primarily deals with human health, not livestock-specific apps like LDF-Mobile.
• Ram Vilas Paswan handled Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, focusing on food grains and consumer rights rather than direct livestock health services.
• Harsimrat Kaur Badal was the Minister of Food Processing Industries, concerned with value addition and processing, not forewarning systems for livestock disease outbreaks.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake in such questions is to guess based only on general prominence of ministers or to confuse health-related portfolios, assuming that a human health minister would also be responsible for animal health. Another error is not paying attention to the time frame; ministers and their portfolios can change over time, so you must link the event to the correct year. It is also important not to confuse broader food-related ministries with the agricultural and farmers’ welfare ministry, which is directly responsible for livestock development and associated digital initiatives.

Final Answer:
The Livestock Disease Forewarning – Mobile Application (LDF-Mobile App) launched in December 2017 was introduced by India's Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Radha Mohan Singh.