Ministry Of Culture
Official policy releases, schemes, circulars, and Prelims practice questions from Ministry Of Culture distilled for UPSC Civil Services Examination.
🎯 Ministry Of Culture UPSC Practice Questions
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to agrarian price stabilization, fertilizer subsidy rationalization, and primary cooperative modernization under the Ministry of Cooperation and allied domains, consider the following statements: 1. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Kharif and Rabi crops with a stated objective of ensuring a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. 2. The Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers oversees the connection and digitization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to common cloud accounting. 3. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was established as a Tier-2 statutory apex regulator via a dedicated Act of Parliament to oversee national agricultural sensor integration and soil health monitoring.
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1: Correct (Anchor). CCEA MSP approval policy framework guaranteeing at least 1.5x production cost. Statement 2: Incorrect (PSY_01_INST_SWAP). Attrbuted PACS cloud accounting integration to Department of Fertilizers instead of the Ministry of Cooperation. -> Truth: Connecting Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to common cloud accounting is anchored under the Ministry of Cooperation, not the Department of Fertilizers. Statement 3: Incorrect (PSY_03_LEGAL_TIER). Claimed India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is a Tier-2 statutory regulator established by an Act of Parliament. -> Truth: ISM is a Tier-3 Executive Business Division set up under an Executive Resolution through the Digital India Corporation (a Section 8 Company), not via a parliamentary statute.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the recent national roadmap prepared for millets-based agricultural transformation in Odisha, consider the following statements: 1. The roadmap aims to expand millet cultivation to 5 lakh hectares and achieve 8 lakh metric tonnes of production by the year 2047. 2. It highlights the conservation of 163 recorded varieties of finger millet alongside traditional varieties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct according to the policy briefing. The roadmap emphasizes expanding millet cultivation to 5 lakh hectares and achieving 8 lakh metric tonnes of production by 2047, and it highlights the conservation of 163 recorded varieties of finger millet along with traditional varieties.
Official Policy Notifications & Dossiers
12 Briefs-
PIB
Odisha Unveils National Roadmap for Millets-Based Agricultural Transformation Targeting 2047 Production Goals
- Odisha prepared a national roadmap for millets-based agricultural transformation, aiming to expand millet cultivation to 5 lakh hectares and achieve 8 lakh metric tonnes of production by 2047.
- The initiatives highlighted the success of 'Odisha Shree Anna Abhiyan' as a national model and emphasized the conservation of 163 recorded varieties of finger millet along with traditional varieties.
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PIB
Sacred Relics of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha Arrive at Thubchog Gatsel Ling Monastery in Bomdila
- The sacred relics were transported from Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) to Bomdila via an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter, and will later travel to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai before returning to the National Museum in New Delhi.
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PIB
Over 31,000 Devotees Pay Obeisance as Sacred Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha Conclude Successful Exhibition at Tawang Monastery
- Under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Government and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha were exhibited at Tawang Monastery from October 31 to November 7, 2026, drawing over 31,000 devotees.
- The exhibition featured special displays including 'Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa' by IBC and 'Crossroads of Dhamma' by the National Museum, alongside an international conference on the dissemination of Buddhism in the Himalayan region.
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PIB
Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha to be Displayed for Public Worship in Arunachal Pradesh from October 31 to November 21, 2026
- The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government and the International Buddhist Confederation, is exhibiting the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha in Tawang, Bomdila, and Namsai from October 31 to November 21, 2026.
- The holy relics originating from the National Museum, New Delhi, belong to the ancient Kapilvastu site (Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh), discovered through excavations led initially by W.C. Peppe in 1898 and later by K.M. Srivastava (1971-1977).
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PIB
ICAR Scientists and KVK Experts Engage Delhi Farmers Under Khet Bachao Abhiyan to Promote Soil Health and Rabi Crop Management
- Under this initiative, multidisciplinary extension teams comprising agricultural scientists, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) experts, officials, and innovative farmers are engaging directly with local farming communities.
- The campaign focuses on soil health preservation, balanced fertilizer application, timely rabi crop management, integrated pest management for wheat and mustard, and the adoption of natural farming techniques.
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PIB
Ministry of Culture and Bibliothèque nationale de France Sign MoU to Strengthen India's Manuscript Heritage Preservation
- The Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bibliothèque nationale de France to strengthen the preservation of India's manuscript heritage under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
- The partnership focuses on five key areas: digitization, sharing on a national digital repository, technology exchange, conservation, and research and development.
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PIB
Prime Minister Modi's Digital Agriculture Mission Milestone: Eleven Crore Farmer IDs Generated Ahead of Schedule
- Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, 11 crore Farmer IDs have been successfully generated 5 months ahead of the March 2027 deadline.
- The Farmer ID system streamlines access to bank loans, Kisan Credit Cards, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, disaster relief, and minimum support price procurement without paperwork.
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PIB
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from Karnal to safeguard farmland and human life
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched the nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (October 22 – November 30, 2026) from Taraori, Haryana, urging farmers to adopt Soil Health Cards, balanced fertilization, and natural farming formulations like Bijamrit and Ghan Jeevamrit.
- To counter soil degradation and optimize the annual fertilizer subsidy outlay exceeding ₹1.5 lakh crore, the government stressed crop diversification, stopping stubble burning, and transitioning to Green Ammonia for fertilizer self-reliance.
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PIB
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to Launch 40-Day Nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan in Haryana on October 22
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan will launch the 40-day nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' from Taraori in Karnal, Haryana on October 22, focusing on soil health, balanced fertilizers, and stubble management.
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PRS
Changes in Agricultural Marketing laws across states
- Agriculture is a subject under the State List of the Constitution, with agricultural marketing in most states regulated by APMCs established under state legislation.
- The central government released the model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2017, with the 15th Finance Commission recommending financial incentives for adopting states.
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PRS
Assam’s new cattle preservation law
- The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, which prohibits the slaughter of cows of all ages and allows the slaughter of bulls or bullocks only if they are over 14 years old or permanently incapacitated.
- The Bill permits inter‑state and intra‑state transport of cattle only for agricultural or animal‑husbandry purposes with a permit, and restricts transport through Assam unless such a permit is obtained.
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THE HINDU
Testing times: On India’s GDP growth data - The Hindu
- The provisional estimates of India's GDP growth for 2025-26 have been pegged at 7.7%, marginally higher than the 7.6% predicted by the government in February.
- The growth in key sectors such as manufacturing and several services sectors was double-digit, while private final consumption expenditure and gross fixed capital formation grew faster in 2025-26 than the previous year.