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Agriculture & Rural India15 Concepts & Facts

Green Revolution, HYV Seeds & Agricultural Pricing in India GK Questions & Answers

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The Green Revolution transformed Indian agriculture from chronic food dependency into grain self-sufficiency during the late 1960s. Prompted by severe droughts in 1965 and 1966 and diplomatic vulnerability associated with imported grain shipments under the United States Public Law 480 (PL-480) program, the Government of India introduced the High-Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP) during the Kharif season of 1966. Initiated under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Union Agriculture Minister C. Subramaniam, the strategy was guided scientifically by geneticist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan in collaboration with Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico.

The technological package relied on complementary agricultural inputs. Its core component was semi-dwarf, non-lodging High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, including Mexican wheat cultivars Sonora 64 and Lerma Rojo, and IR-8 rice developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). These seeds required intensive chemical fertilizers (NPK), chemical pesticides, and assured canal and tubewell irrigation. Institutional arrangements supported this input package: the National Seeds Corporation (1963) supplied certified seeds, the Agricultural Prices Commission (1965, later CACP) assured floor prices, and the Food Corporation of India (FCI), established under the Food Corporations Act, 1964, executed nationwide procurement and Public Distribution System (PDS) operations. Adoption concentrated in irrigated tracts of Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.

While the Green Revolution secured national food security and transformed India into a cereal exporter, it created significant socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Gains were heavily skewed toward wheat and rice, bypassing pulses and coarse grains, while widening income disparities across farm sizes. Intensive input use resulted in groundwater depletion in northwest India, soil salinization, and pesticide residues. In response, Dr. Swaminathan advocated an 'Evergreen Revolution,' seeking productivity gains without ecological destruction, complemented by initiatives like Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI). In UPSC Civil Services and SSC CGL examinations, questions consistently assess HYV seed characteristics, the roles of Borlaug and Swaminathan, FCI and CACP mandates, regional disparities, and environmental impacts on water tables.

Key Concepts & Self-Assessment15 Key Facts

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#1
Initiated in 1966-67 using semi-dwarf High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds of wheat and rice coupled with chemical inputs and assured irrigation.
#2
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan pioneered Indian field implementation, building upon dwarf wheat genetics developed by Dr. Norman Borlaug.
#3
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 22 mandated crops based on comprehensive A2+FL/C2 cost formulas.
#4
Food Corporation of India (FCI), established under the Food Corporations Act 1964, manages nationwide procurement, storage, and Public Distribution System (PDS) supply.
#5
Unintended ecological impacts include deep water table depletion in northwest India, soil degradation, and nitrate contamination of aquifers.
#6
The semi-dwarf wheat varieties introduced were Lerma Rojo 64-A and Sonora 64, followed by the indigenously adapted amber-grained varieties Kalyan Sona and Sonalika.
#7
The high-yielding miracle rice variety IR-8, developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, was introduced into Indian agriculture in 1966.
#8
The Green Revolution was initially concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh due to pre-existing canal networks and tubewell irrigation infrastructure.
#9
The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (2004–2006), recommended that the MSP should be fixed at least 50% above the weighted average cost of production (C2).
#10
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to subsidized food grains under the Targeted PDS.
#11
The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane is statutorily determined under the Sugarcane (Control) Order 1966, recommended by CACP and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
#12
Operation Greens was launched in 2018 on the lines of Operation Flood to stabilize the supply and prices of TOP crops (Tomato, Onion, Potato) across the country.
#13
The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was formulated under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) to promote climate-resilient farming techniques.
#14
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) were launched in 2015 to promote chemical-free organic farming.
#15
The electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), launched on 14 April 2016, integrates existing APMC mandis across states into a unified digital trading platform for agricultural commodities.

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Educator's Insight
The Green Revolution transformed India from a food-deficient country into a self-reliant agricultural producer during the late 1960s. Led by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan using dwarf wheat genetics developed by Norman Borlaug, the strategy combined High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds with tubewell irrigation, fertilizers, and tractors. To support farmers, the government introduced Minimum Support Prices (MSP) through the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and established the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for nationwide grain procurement and storage.
In UPSC and State PSC exams, agricultural economics and environmental impacts are key themes. Remember that CACP recommends MSP for 22 mandated crops plus Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane using cost formulas like A2+FL. A common question trap targets ecological fallout: excessive fertilizer application and relentless groundwater pumping in Punjab and Haryana caused severe water table depletion, soil salinity, and chemical pollution of aquifers.

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