INDIAN AGRICULTURE — Identify typical Rabi (winter) crops. In the Indian cropping calendar, which set lists main Rabi crops sown after the monsoon and harvested in spring?

Introduction / Context:
India’s agricultural year has two major seasons: Kharif (monsoon) and Rabi (winter). Rabi crops rely on residual soil moisture and irrigation, are sown roughly from October to December, and harvested from March to April. Identifying them is a standard topic in geography and general studies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We must select the option containing classic Rabi crops.
• Rabi crops prefer cooler growing conditions.
• Some listed crops (e.g., rice, jute) are typically Kharif.

Concept / Approach:
Canonical Rabi crops include wheat, barley, gram (chickpea), peas, and oilseeds such as mustard and rapeseed. In contrast, rice and jute are primarily Kharif; maize can be both but is commonly monsoon-sown in many regions; cotton is Kharif in much of India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Match list (A) to classic Rabi profile → all items are standard Rabi.Check (B): rice and jowar are mainly Kharif; mixed season list.Check (C): includes maize (variable) and cotton/jute (generally Kharif) → not a Rabi set.(D) “All of the above” is false because (B) and (C) are incorrect.Hence choose (A).

Verification / Alternative check:
State-agriculture sources consistently classify wheat–barley–gram–pea–mustard/rapeseed as Rabi staples in north and central India.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B) Contains major Kharif crops (rice, jowar).C) Cotton and jute are Kharif; maize is mixed season.D) Incorrect because B and C are not fully Rabi.E) Paddy and jute are Kharif; groundnut is often Kharif in many regions.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming a crop’s season is uniform across India; while irrigation enables flexibility, the classic classification still holds for exam purposes.

Final Answer:
wheat, barley, peas, rapeseed, mustard, gram