Key Announcements:

Direct Rice Purchase of Rice by the States:

• States can procure rice directly from FCI at ₹2,800 per quintal (excluding transportation cost), down from the earlier rate of ₹2,900 per quintal.
• This new rate applies to rice procured over the stipulated 5 kg of free grain per individual under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

Launch of Price Monitoring System (PMS) 4.0:

• Minister Joshi launched the 4.0 version of the Price Monitoring System (PMS) mobile app.
• The app, which previously monitored prices of 22 commodities daily, will now include 38 commodities.
• The additional 16 food items are bajra (whole), jowar (whole), ragi (whole), suji (wheat), maida (wheat), besan, ghee, butter (pasteurised), brinjal, egg, black pepper, coriander, cumin seed, red chillies, turmeric powder, and banana.

1. Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction.
2. Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction by dedicated movement.
3. Sale of Raw Rice Grade ‘A’ to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction.

PYQ:

[2017] Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ scheme?

1. It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.

2. It provides the farmers access to nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2