Question 1

India is entirely self-sufficient in edible oils due to its massive agricultural output.

Accepted Answer

India relies heavily on imports, fulfilling around 55-60% of its total edible oil demand (about 15-16 million tonnes annually) from foreign sources like Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina, and Brazil.

Question 2

NMEO-Oil Palm and NMEO-Oilseeds are the same scheme.

Accepted Answer

They are two distinct components of the broader National Mission on Edible Oils. NMEO-OP (2021) focuses exclusively on expanding oil palm cultivation, primarily in the Northeast and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, while NMEO-Oilseeds (2024) focuses on traditional primary oilseeds like mustard and soybean across the mainland.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds):
1. The scheme will introduce an online 5-year rolling seed plan via the SATHI Portal.
2. India currently meets over 80% of its domestic edible oil requirement through indigenous production.
3. A key strategy of the mission is to expand oilseed cultivation by utilizing rice and potato fallow lands.

Accepted Answer

(b) Only two — Statement 1 is correct; the SATHI portal will be used for seed traceability and advance tie-ups. Statement 2 is incorrect; India currently meets only about 40-45% of its demand domestically, importing the remaining 55-60%. Statement 3 is correct; targeting 40 lakh hectares of expansion largely through rice and potato fallow lands is a core strategy to avoid cannibalizing staple crop acreage.

Question 4

Match List I (Initiative/Scheme) with List II (Key Feature/Focus):
List I:
A. Yellow Revolution
B. ISOPOM
C. NMEO-OP
D. NMEO-Oilseeds

List II:
1. Launched in 1986 to boost oilseed production via a technology mission
2. Integrated scheme launched in 2004 covering maize and pulses as well
3. Special geographic focus on Andaman & Nicobar and Northeast India
4. Creation of over 600 value chain clusters across 347 districts

Accepted Answer

(a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 — The Yellow Revolution (1986) was India's first major tech mission for oilseeds. ISOPOM (2004) integrated oilseeds, pulses, oil palm, and maize. NMEO-OP (Oil Palm) specifically targets the Northeast and A&N islands. NMEO-Oilseeds targets traditional primary oilseeds through a cluster-based approach (600 value chain clusters).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The NMEO-Oilseeds places a strong emphasis on extracting oil from secondary sources like rice bran and cottonseed.
Reason (R): Expanding the geographical area for primary oilseed cultivation is infinitely scalable without affecting the production of staple food grains like wheat and rice.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(c) A is true but R is false — The assertion is true; NMEO-Oilseeds explicitly targets secondary extraction efficiency (cottonseed, rice bran, tree-borne oils) to maximize output. The reason is false; agricultural land is limited, and expanding oilseed area is not infinitely scalable. The mission specifically targets fallow lands and intercropping precisely because taking land away from staple food crops is not a viable option.

NMEO-Oilseeds Scheme Funded in Union Budget

88th SC-NBWL meeting clears strategic projects