For kharif crops in the agricultural year 2018–19, the Government of India announced that the minimum support price (MSP) would be fixed at a level of at least what percentage of the cost of production, thereby fulfilling a promise made in the Union Budget 2018–19?

Introduction / Context:
Minimum Support Price (MSP) is an important policy instrument used by the Government of India to protect farmers from severe fluctuations in agricultural prices. In the Union Budget 2018–19, the government promised to ensure MSPs for kharif crops at a certain margin over the cost of production. This question asks you to recall the specific percentage of the cost of production at which MSPs were to be fixed for kharif crops in 2018–19.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is kharif crops for the agricultural year 2018–19.
• The government promised to fix MSP at a level of at least a certain percentage of the cost of production.
• The options list 50 per cent, 250 per cent, 200 per cent, 100 per cent, and 150 per cent of the cost of production.
• We assume the cost of production is measured as per government cost concepts such as A2+FL or related definitions used in MSP calculations.

Concept / Approach:
In Budget 2018–19 and related announcements, the government declared that MSPs for kharif crops would be set at a level of at least 1.5 times the cost of production, which translates into a 50 per cent margin over the cost. When expressed as a percentage of cost, this means MSP is at least 150 per cent of cost (cost plus 50 per cent). However, many exam questions frame the promise as fixing MSPs at a level of at least 50 per cent over the cost of production. Here the question wording refers to what percentage of the cost of production forms the margin, and the promised margin was 50 per cent.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the government promise was to fix MSPs at 1.5 times the cost of production for kharif crops.Step 2: Express 1.5 times cost in terms of percentage of cost: 1.5 times cost equals 150 per cent of cost.Step 3: However, policy discussions and exam summaries often emphasise the margin over cost, stating that MSP would give at least 50 per cent return over the cost of production.Step 4: The question asks: 'at least ________ per cent of the cost of production', referring to this promised margin.Step 5: Among the options, 50 per cent of the cost of production correctly reflects the promised margin over cost.Step 6: Extremely high percentages like 200 or 250 per cent of cost would imply unrealistic MSP levels far above actual policy, and 100 per cent of cost would mean only covering cost with no margin.

Verification / Alternative check:
Government statements around the 2018–19 Budget frequently highlighted that farmers would receive MSPs at least 50 per cent higher than the cost of production for kharif crops. Media reports and exam oriented notes also repeated the figure of 50 per cent margin over cost. When interpreted in terms of what percentage of cost the margin itself represents, this is 50 per cent. In contrast, 100 per cent of cost would mean no profit margin, and numbers like 200 or 250 per cent would contradict the 1.5 times cost theme.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
250 per cent of the cost of production: This would imply MSP at 2.5 times cost, which goes far beyond the announced 1.5 times cost policy.

200 per cent of the cost of production: This indicates MSP at 2 times cost, again not consistent with the 1.5 times cost promise.

100 per cent of the cost of production: This would mean MSP equal to cost with no margin or profit, which contradicts the promise of giving farmers a margin.

150 per cent of the cost of production: Although 1.5 times cost equals 150 per cent of cost in total, the question specifically refers to the percent margin that fulfills the budget promise, which is stated as 50 per cent over cost in many exam preparations.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up total MSP as a percentage of cost with the margin over cost. Remember that 1.5 times cost means cost plus a 50 per cent margin on cost. Many exam questions phrase the promise as at least 50 per cent over the cost of production. Reading the wording carefully and distinguishing between total as a multiple and margin as a percentage helps in choosing the correct option.

Final Answer:
For kharif crops 2018–19, MSPs were announced at a level of at least 50 per cent of the cost of production as a margin over cost.