Statement — Although India is still heavily dependent on agriculture, its share in global agricultural trade is low and even less than agriculture’s share in India’s total exports. Courses of Action — I. Efforts should be made to increase agricultural production. II. The exports of non-agricultural commodities should be reduced.
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Aif only I follows
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Bif only II follows
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Cif either I or II follows
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Dif neither I nor II follows
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Eif both I and II follow
Answer
Correct Answer: if only I follows
Explanation
Introduction / Context:The statement highlights an export-composition gap: agriculture is central domestically but under-represented in global trade from India. Remedies should aim at competitiveness, quality, scale, and market access for farm goods—not at arbitrarily suppressing other export sectors.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Status: agriculture is vital domestically; agri share in global trade is low.
- COA I: raise agricultural production (implicitly with quality, logistics, and standards).
- COA II: reduce non-agricultural exports.
Concept / Approach:A valid action should expand capacity/competitiveness in the underperforming segment. Increasing agricultural production (I), if coupled with quality control, infrastructure, and export standards, directly increases the potential exportable surplus and improves global presence. Reducing non-agri exports (II) does nothing to raise agri competitiveness; it merely distorts totals and could harm the broader economy, jobs, and foreign exchange.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify target: increase agri share in global trade.2) Action I expands supply base and potential export volume → relevant.3) Action II shrinks other sectors → irrelevant/harmful to objective.4) Conclude only I follows.Verification / Alternative check:Even if non-agri exports grow, a competitive agri sector can still raise its share by growing faster; cutting others is not a rational lever.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only II/Either/Both: incorrectly treat suppression as a strategy.Neither: ignores the sensible supply-side remedy in I.Common Pitfalls:Confusing relative share with absolute volumes; a sector’s share rises by its own growth, not by damaging others.
Final Answer:Only I follows.