Major Crops of India MCQs
1. Which state is the largest producer of Rice in India?
West Bengal is the leading producer of rice in India, producing three crops (Aus, Aman, and Boro) in a year.
2. Which is the most important food crop of India?
Rice is the staple food crop for the majority of the people in India.
3. Wheat cultivation requires which type of climate?
Wheat is a Rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
4. Which state is the largest producer of Wheat in India?
Uttar Pradesh contributes the highest share to the total wheat production in India.
5. Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi are collectively known as:
These are coarse grains but have very high nutritional value.
6. Which crop is used both as food and fodder?
Maize is a crop which is used both as food for humans and fodder for cattle.
7. Which state is the largest producer of Maize?
Karnataka is a major producer of Maize in India.
8. India is the largest producer and consumer of which crop?
India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of pulses in the world.
9. Which state is the largest producer of Pulses?
Madhya Pradesh is the leading producer of pulses in India.
10. Sugarcane is a crop of which climate?
It grows well in hot and humid climates with a temperature of 21°C to 27°C.
11. Which country is the second largest producer of Sugarcane after Brazil?
India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world after Brazil.
12. Groundnut is a __________ crop.
Groundnut is a Kharif crop and accounts for about half of the major oilseeds produced in the country.
13. Which state is the largest producer of Groundnut?
Gujarat is the largest producer of groundnut in India.
14. Mustard is grown in which season?
Mustard is a Rabi crop, sown in winter and harvested in spring.
15. Tea cultivation is an example of which type of agriculture?
Tea is a plantation crop, which is an important beverage crop introduced in India by the British.
16. Which state is the largest producer of Tea in India?
Assam is the leading tea producing state in India.
17. Which variety of Coffee is grown in India?
The Arabica variety brought from Yemen is produced in India, known for its good quality.
18. Coffee cultivation was initially introduced on which hills?
Coffee cultivation was introduced on the Baba Budan Hills in Karnataka.
19. Which state is the largest producer of Coffee in India?
Karnataka accounts for the bulk of coffee production in India.
20. What is 'Horticulture'?
Horticulture involves the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
21. Which state is the largest producer of Rubber?
Kerala is the leading producer of natural rubber in India.
22. Cotton grows best on which soil?
Black soil (Regur) of the Deccan plateau is best suited for cotton cultivation.
23. How many frost-free days does Cotton require?
Cotton requires 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth.
24. Which states are leading producers of Cotton?
Gujarat and Maharashtra are the major cotton-producing states due to the availability of black soil.
25. Which crop is known as the 'Golden Fiber'?
Jute is known as the golden fiber due to its color and value.
26. Which state is the largest producer of Jute?
West Bengal leads in jute production, mainly concentrated in the Hooghly basin.
27. What is 'Sericulture'?
Sericulture is the commercial rearing of silkworms for the production of silk.
28. Which crop is mainly grown in the Zaid season?
Watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumber are crops grown in the short summer season called Zaid.
29. Aus, Aman, and Boro are varieties of which crop?
In states like Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha, three crops of rice are grown in a year named Aus, Aman, and Boro.
30. Which state is the largest producer of Spices?
While Kerala is famous as the 'Spice Garden', recent data shows Rajasthan and MP as top producers by volume (seed spices). However, typically Kerala is associated with spices like pepper/cardamom. (Answer depends on specific spice, but generically Rajasthan leads in total volume).
31. Which of the following is a leguminous crop?
Pulses (except Arhar) help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air.
32. Which revolution is related to the increased production of Oilseeds?
Yellow Revolution is associated with the increase in the production of oilseeds.
33. Which crop requires high rainfall, above 200 cm?
Rubber is an equatorial crop that requires a moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cm.
34. Which state is the largest producer of Soybean?
Madhya Pradesh is often called the 'Soya State' of India.
35. Which crop is a non-food crop?
Rubber, Cotton, and Jute are non-food crops.
36. What is the process of separating fibers from the jute stem called?
Retting is the process where jute bundles are soaked in water to separate the fibers.
37. Ragi is very rich in:
Ragi is a dry region crop and is very rich in iron, calcium, other micronutrients, and roughage.
38. Which state produces the best quality Saffron?
Saffron (Kesar) is primarily cultivated in the Karewa soils of Jammu and Kashmir.
39. The Green Revolution had the maximum impact on the production of:
The Green Revolution was most successful in increasing the yield of Wheat, followed by Rice.
40. 'Viticulture' refers to the cultivation of:
Viticulture is the science, production, and study of grapes.
Major Crops of India
Major crops of India form the backbone of Indian agriculture and rural economy. Understanding these crops, their growing conditions, and distribution is crucial for exams like UPSC, SSC, JKSSB, and State PSCs. This blog post covers all major food and commercial crops of India along with agro-climatic requirements and one-liner facts for quick revision.
Classification of Crops in India
- Food Crops: Rice, Wheat, Maize, Millets, Pulses
- Cash/Commercial Crops: Sugarcane, Cotton, Jute, Oilseeds
- Beverage and Plantation Crops: Tea, Coffee, Coconut, Rubber
- Horticulture Crops: Fruits and Vegetables
Important Food Crops of India
1. Rice
- Type: Kharif crop
- Rainfall: 100–200 cm
- Soil: Alluvial, clayey loam with good water retention
- Temperature: 22–32°C
- Top States: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
2. Wheat
- Type: Rabi crop
- Rainfall: 50–100 cm
- Soil: Well-drained loamy soil
- Temperature: 10–25°C
- Top States: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar
3. Maize
- Type: Both Kharif and Rabi
- Rainfall: 60–80 cm
- Soil: Fertile well-drained alluvial soil
- Top States: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra
4. Millets (Jowar, Bajra, Ragi)
- Type: Kharif crops
- Rainfall: Low (40–60 cm)
- Soil: Shallow red and black soils
- Top States: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
5. Pulses (Gram, Tur, Moong, Masoor)
- Type: Mostly Rabi (gram), some Kharif (tur, urad)
- Importance: Rich in protein, restore soil fertility (nitrogen fixation)
- Top States: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh
Important Commercial Crops
1. Sugarcane
- Type: Tropical long-duration crop
- Rainfall: 75–150 cm
- Soil: Alluvial, loamy soil with good water retention
- Top States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
2. Cotton
- Type: Kharif crop
- Temperature: 21–30°C
- Soil: Black cotton soil (Regur)
- Top States: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
3. Jute
- Type: Kharif crop
- Rainfall: 150–250 cm
- Soil: Alluvial, riverine soil
- Top States: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam
4. Oilseeds (Groundnut, Mustard, Soybean, Sunflower)
- Importance: Used for edible oils and industrial purposes
- Groundnut: Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- Mustard: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana
- Soybean: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
Plantation and Beverage Crops
1. Tea
- Rainfall: 150–250 cm
- Temperature: 20–30°C
- Top States: Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling), Kerala, Tamil Nadu
2. Coffee
- Soil: Well-drained laterite soil
- Top States: Karnataka (largest), Kerala, Tamil Nadu
3. Coconut
- Top States: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
4. Rubber
- Conditions: Hot, humid with rainfall >200 cm
- Main State: Kerala (90% of total production)
Fruits and Vegetables (Horticulture)
- India is the 2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally
- Fruits: Mango (Uttar Pradesh), Banana (Tamil Nadu), Apple (Himachal)
- Vegetables: Potato (Uttar Pradesh), Onion (Maharashtra), Tomato (Karnataka)
Season-wise Crop Classification
| Season | Period | Major Crops |
|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June–October | Rice, Maize, Cotton, Jute, Soybean |
| Rabi | October–March | Wheat, Mustard, Gram, Barley |
| Zaid | March–June | Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber |
Exam‑Relevant One‑Liners
- India’s largest wheat producer: Uttar Pradesh
- Black soil is ideal for: Cotton
- Leading tea producer: Assam
- Top rice producing state: West Bengal
- India’s jute belt: West Bengal and Bihar
- Rubber is grown mainly in: Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh is famous for: Soybean and Pulses
- Soybean Bowl of India: Madhya Pradesh
- Golden Fiber crop: Jute
- State with highest sugarcane production: Uttar Pradesh
- Wheat is a: Rabi crop
- Rice is a: Kharif crop
- Gram is majorly produced in: Madhya Pradesh
- Millets are also called: Coarse grains
- Largest cotton producer: Gujarat
- Mustard is grown in: Rajasthan and Haryana
Conclusion
Understanding the major crops of India is vital for all geography and agriculture-related exams. Questions are often asked on cropping seasons, climatic requirements, and leading producing states. Use the above notes for quick revision and practice MCQs regularly to reinforce concepts.