Major Crops of India – UPSC & SSC Exam Notes | JKSSB Mock Test
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.
