Correct Answer: Slum settlements

Solution : Urbanisation in India has led to the growth of slum settlements, as many migrants from rural areas settle in informal and often inadequate housing due to the lack of affordable urban housing.

Correct Answer: Cereals and pulses
 

Solution : The correct answer is (b) Cereals and pulses.

The e-NAM platform was launched by the Government of India with the aim of creating a unified national market for agricultural commodities. It facilitates online trading of agricultural produce, including cereals (such as wheat, rice, maize) and pulses (such as lentils, chickpeas, beans). The platform enables farmers, traders, and buyers from different states and regions to connect and trade agricultural commodities through a transparent and efficient digital system.

While the e-NAM platform primarily focuses on cereals and pulses, it also includes other commodities like oilseeds, spices, fruits, and vegetables in some states. However, its main emphasis is on creating a national market for cereals and pulses to ensure better price discovery, transparency, and ease of doing business in the agricultural sector.

Correct Answer: what

Solution : The correct choice is the fourth option.

Explanation: For the given sentence, the correct word to use is what. 

The structure implies a definition or explanation of a term, which in this case is the locust plague. 

The word what introduces the explanation.

Therefore, the complete sentence is: These swarms attacking crops and thereby devastating the entire agricultural economy is what is commonly referred to as locust plague.

Correct Answer: Economic growth without a significant increase in employment opportunities

Solution : The correct answer is (a) Economic growth without a significant increase in employment opportunities.

Jobless growth occurs when an economy experiences positive economic growth, such as an increase in GDP, but fails to generate enough employment opportunities to absorb the growing labor force or reduce unemployment rates. In other words, the economy is expanding, but job creation is insufficient to keep pace with the expanding labor force or reduce unemployment levels. This phenomenon can lead to social and economic challenges, as it indicates a mismatch between economic growth and employment generation, potentially resulting in high levels of unemployment or underemployment.

Correct Answer: Industrial purposes
   

Solution : The correct answer is (A) Industrial purposes

Commercial energy sources are primarily used for industrial purposes. These energy sources are utilized by businesses and industries to power their operations, manufacturing processes, and commercial activities. Industrial sectors such as manufacturing, mining, construction, and transportation heavily rely on commercial energy sources for various purposes, including powering machinery and equipment, running production lines, and providing heating and cooling.

Correct Answer: Online agricultural commodity trading
 

Solution : The correct answer is (a) Online agricultural commodity trading.

The e-NAM platform is an online platform that connects agricultural markets (mandis) across the country to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities. It aims to provide farmers with a transparent and efficient system for selling their produce and enable buyers to access a wider range of agricultural commodities from different regions.

Through the e-NAM platform, farmers can register and upload details of their produce, including quantity and expected price, for sale. The platform provides transparent price discovery, eliminates middlemen, and enables farmers to receive fair prices for their produce. It also facilitates online bidding and allows buyers to purchase agricultural commodities directly from farmers.

The e-NAM platform promotes a competitive market environment, reduces transaction costs, enhances market access for farmers, and improves price realization for their agricultural produce. It aims to create a more efficient and integrated agricultural marketing system in the country.

Correct Answer: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A)

Solution : Another significant factor driving farmers to reduce their asking prices is a lack of adequate storage facilities.
To improve agricultural marketing, the Indian government has taken a number of actions.
The government offers MSP (Minimum Support Price) for agricultural products in an effort to aid farmers.
Hence option a is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: Fifth

Solution : The correct answer is Fifth.

Among other goals, the Fifth Five-Year Plan in India prioritised agricultural production, employment generation and Garibi Hatao. Ending poverty, increasing employment rates and achieving self-reliance were the main objectives of the Fifth Five-Year Plan.

Correct Answer: Agricultural activities

Solution : Correct Option: Option 2
Explanation: A common feature of villages in the rural-urban continuum is agricultural activities, as they are typically the main source of livelihood in rural areas.

Correct Answer: National Sample Survey Organisation

Solution : The correct answer is the National Sample Survey Organisation.

The National Sample Survey Organisation's consumer expenditure surveys serve as the basis for measuring poverty. A household is considered impoverished if its expenditures fall below a designated poverty threshold. The Indian government's primary institution for estimating poverty was the former Planning Commission.