Consider the following:

1. Areca nut
2. Barley
3. Coffee
4. Finger millet
5. Groundnut
6. Sesamum
7. Turmeric

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has announced the Minimum Support Price for which of the above?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 7 only

(b) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only

(c) 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Answer: (b)        

Explanation:

• Every year, the government announces the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for various agricultural commodities based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
• At present, the CACP suggests MSPs for 23 commodities, including 7 cereals (such as paddy, wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, barley, and ragi), 5 pulses (like gram, tur, moong, urad, and lentil), 7 oilseeds (including groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sesamum, sunflower, safflower, and nigerseed), and 4 commercial crops (namely copra, sugarcane, cotton, and raw jute).