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15 marks 250 words Critically examine
“Minimum Support Price is necessary for farmer income security but has distorted Indian agriculture.” Critically examine.

Decoding the directive: “Critically examine”

Weigh MSP’s protective role against its distortions and give a reasoned verdict with reforms.

What UPSC is really asking

Explain MSP’s rationale (price risk, income security), then the distortions — crop skew towards wheat/paddy, water depletion, fiscal and storage burden, regional concentration — and suggest balanced reforms.

Dimensions the examiner expects

Cover these dimensions
  • Rationale — price risk protection, food security incentive
  • Distortions — cereal bias, groundwater stress (Punjab/Haryana), soil degradation
  • Fiscal & storage burden — FCI, buffer stocks
  • Regional & crop inequity
  • Reforms — crop diversification, PDPS, income support (PM-KISAN)

Concepts & keywords to name

Use the right vocabulary
  • MSP & CACP — how support prices are set
  • Swaminathan formula (C2+50%) — the MSP demand
  • PM-KISAN / PDPS — alternative income-support routes
  • FCI buffer stock & food subsidy

Common mistakes to avoid

Don’t do this
  • One-sided answer (only support or only criticism)
  • No data / no named crops or states
  • Ignoring alternatives like income transfers

Quick hints before you write

Structuring tips
  • Name the specific crops and states where distortion is worst.
  • Offer at least two concrete reform options.

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