UPSC Prelims 2026Question 28Government Schemes

Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
1. Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
Select the answer using the code given below:

Options

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)3 only

Correct answer: d

Decision rule

A scheme's objectives cannot contradict its own name: reject aims pointed at the opposite category — monoculture, or irrigated land, under a rainfed diversification mission.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(d) 3 only

Explanation of the Correct Answer

Only statement 3 is correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect:
The Rainfed Area Development initiative does not encourage monoculture. It promotes diversified and integrated farming systems, including multi-cropping, mixed cropping, inter-cropping, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and other allied activities. Official information on NMSA notes that RAD encourages Integrated Farming Systems for diversified and risk-resilient agriculture.
Statement 2 is incorrect:
RAD is not meant to increase rice cultivation in irrigated regions. Its focus is on rainfed areas, where farming is vulnerable to rainfall variability, drought and climate risks.
Statement 3 is correct:
RAD aims to enhance productivity and reduce climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS). The NMSA portal states that NMSA focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity, especially in rainfed areas, with emphasis on integrated farming, water-use efficiency and soil health management.

Therefore, the correct answer is (d) 3 only.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Verdict	Explanation
(a) 1 only	Incorrect	RAD does not promote monoculture; it promotes diversified Integrated Farming Systems.
(b) 1 and 2	Incorrect	Both statements are incorrect. RAD is neither for monoculture nor for increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions.
(c) 2 and 3	Incorrect	Statement 3 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect because RAD focuses on rainfed areas, not irrigated rice regions.
(d) 3 only	Correct	RAD enhances productivity and minimizes climate risks through Integrated Farming Systems.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Rainfed Area Development under NMSA

Aspect	Details
Full form	Rainfed Area Development
Parent mission	National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
Implementation since	2014–15
Main focus area	Rainfed agriculture
Core approach	Integrated Farming Systems
Objective	Productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate-resilient agriculture
Major components	Crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, agroforestry and allied activities
Risk reduction method	Diversification of farm income and supplementary production systems
Not focused on	Monoculture or expansion of irrigated rice cultivation

Integrated Farming System under RAD

Component	How It Helps Rainfed Farmers
Crop diversification	Reduces dependence on one crop and spreads risk
Mixed cropping	Protects against total crop failure
Inter-cropping	Improves land-use efficiency and income stability
Horticulture	Adds higher-value produce and income diversification
Livestock	Provides regular income, manure and resilience during crop failure
Fisheries	Adds livelihood support where water bodies are available
Agroforestry	Improves soil, biomass, carbon storage and income
Soil and moisture conservation	Improves water availability in rainfed farming systems

RAD vs Monoculture Approach

Basis	RAD / IFS Approach	Monoculture Approach
Farming model	Diversified	Single crop-based
Climate resilience	Higher	Lower
Risk of crop failure	Distributed across activities	Concentrated in one crop
Income source	Multiple sources	One main source
Suitability for rainfed areas	High	Risky
Soil health	Better through integration	Often vulnerable to nutrient depletion
Objective under NMSA	Sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture	Not the objective

Key Takeaways from the Tables

RAD is for rainfed areas, not irrigated rice regions.
It promotes Integrated Farming Systems, not monoculture.
IFS reduces climate risks by combining crops with livestock, horticulture, fisheries, agroforestry and allied activities.
RAD aims to make agriculture productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate-resilient.
The correct answer is statement 3 only.

Point	Explanation
RAD is part of NMSA	It supports sustainable agriculture in rainfed regions.
IFS is central to RAD	Integrated Farming Systems reduce climatic and income risks.
Monoculture is not promoted	RAD favours diversification, not single-crop dependence.
Irrigated rice expansion is not the objective	RAD focuses on rainfed farming systems.
Climate resilience is the main logic	RAD helps farmers cope with drought, rainfall variability and crop failure.
Statement 3-type framing is correct	Productivity enhancement and climatic risk minimization through IFS is the core objective.

Context and Current Relevance

Rainfed agriculture is highly vulnerable to drought, rainfall variability and climate change.
RAD is important because it shifts farmers from single-crop dependence to diversified livelihood systems.
This makes rural incomes more stable and improves climate resilience in vulnerable agricultural regions.

Table: Rainfed Area Development (RAD) under NMSA

Aspect	Details
Full form	Rainfed Area Development
Parent mission	National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
Main focus	Sustainable development of rainfed farming areas
Core approach	Integrated Farming Systems
Primary objective	Enhancing productivity and minimizing climatic risks
Target area	Rainfed and dryland agricultural regions
Not an objective	Encouraging monoculture
Not focused on	Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
Key strategy	Diversification of crops and allied activities
Climate relevance	Reduces risk from rainfall variability, drought and crop failure

Table: Components of Integrated Farming System under RAD

Component	Role in Rainfed Agriculture	Benefit to Farmers
Field crops	Main source of food and income	Basic agricultural production
Horticulture	Fruits, vegetables, plantation crops	Higher income and crop diversification
Livestock	Cattle, goats, sheep, poultry etc.	Regular income, manure and risk reduction
Fisheries	Fish farming where water bodies exist	Additional livelihood source
Agroforestry	Trees integrated with crops/livestock	Soil protection, biomass and long-term income
Mixed cropping	Growing multiple crops together	Reduces risk of complete crop failure
Inter-cropping	Growing compatible crops in rows or patterns	Better land use and income stability
Soil and moisture conservation	Mulching, bunding, water harvesting	Improves water availability and productivity

Table: RAD Approach vs Monoculture Approach

Basis	RAD / Integrated Farming System	Monoculture
Farming pattern	Diversified	Single-crop based
Risk level	Lower risk	Higher risk
Climate resilience	High	Low
Income source	Multiple income sources	One main income source
Suitability for rainfed areas	Highly suitable	Risky
Response to drought	More resilient due to diversification	Vulnerable to total crop failure
Soil health	Better through crop-livestock-tree integration	May lead to soil nutrient depletion
RAD objective?	Yes	No

Table: Rainfed Agriculture vs Irrigated Agriculture

Feature	Rainfed Agriculture	Irrigated Agriculture
Water source	Mainly rainfall	Canal, tube well, tank or other irrigation sources
Risk	High due to rainfall uncertainty	Comparatively lower
Common crops	Millets, pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, dryland crops	Rice, wheat, sugarcane and other water-intensive crops
Climate vulnerability	High	Moderate, depending on water availability
Policy need	Risk reduction, water conservation, diversification	Efficient irrigation and water-use management
RAD relevance	Directly relevant	Not the primary focus
Best strategy	Integrated Farming Systems	Efficient water management and crop planning

Table: Major Objectives of NMSA

Objective	Explanation
Sustainable agriculture	Promote farming practices that conserve natural resources
Climate resilience	Reduce vulnerability to drought, rainfall variability and climate shocks
Soil health management	Improve fertility, nutrient balance and soil productivity
Water-use efficiency	Promote efficient and sustainable use of water
Rainfed area development	Improve productivity and livelihoods in rainfed regions
Integrated farming	Combine crops, livestock, horticulture, fisheries and other activities
Resource conservation	Protect soil, water and biodiversity
Livelihood diversification	Reduce dependence on a single crop or income source

Table: Common Confusions Related to RAD and NMSA

Confusion	Correct Understanding
RAD encourages monoculture	Incorrect. RAD promotes diversified Integrated Farming Systems.
RAD is mainly for irrigated rice cultivation	Incorrect. RAD focuses on rainfed areas.
Integrated Farming System means only crop cultivation	Incorrect. It includes crops, livestock, horticulture, fisheries, agroforestry and allied activities.
Rainfed agriculture is always unproductive	Incorrect. With proper soil, water and farming-system management, productivity can improve.
Climate resilience means only emission reduction	Incorrect. In agriculture, it includes adaptation, risk reduction, water conservation and livelihood stability.
RAD is only a crop-production scheme	Incorrect. It is a broader farming-system and livelihood-resilience initiative.

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