Class 9 Social Science-Economics Chapter 4: Food Security in India

1. Short Notes for Revision

  • Food Security Definition: Availability, accessibility, affordability of food to all at all times. Dimensions: Production/imports/stock (availability); reach to all (accessibility); enough money for nutritious food (affordability).
  • Need for Food Security: Poor vulnerable during calamities (drought, flood, famine). Calamity reduces production, raises prices; some can’t buy, leading to starvation/famine (widespread deaths/epidemics).
  • Evolution of Concept: 1970s: Adequate supply (UN). Amartya Sen: Access via ‘entitlements’ (produce/exchange/state). 1995 World Food Summit: Physical/economic access to safe/nutritious food.
  • Food Insecure Groups: Rural: Landless labourers, traditional artisans, petty sellers. Urban: Casual labourers, seasonal workers. Calamity-prone: Drought/flood areas. Vulnerable: SCs/STs, women-headed households.
  • Hunger Types: Chronic (persistent undernourishment), seasonal (off-season food shortage). India: 194 million undernourished (2014-16); Global Hunger Index 94th/107 (2020).
  • Bengal Famine 1943: 3 million deaths; showed entitlement failure, not just shortage.
  • India’s Food Security System: Self-sufficiency post-Green Revolution (wheat/rice surplus). Buffer stock: FCI procures at MSP, stores for distribution. PDS: Fair price shops provide subsidised food (35 kg/family under AAY).
  • Public Distribution System (PDS): Evolved from 1960s; 1992 TPDS targeted poor. 1997: Separate BPL/APL rates. Issues: Malpractices, poor quality, high costs.
  • Special Schemes: AAY (2000, poorest 35 kg grains), APS (elderly/disabled), Mid-day Meal (school nutrition), ICDS (children/mothers). NFSA 2013: Legal right to food for 75% rural/50% urban.
  • Cooperatives’ Role: Amul (milk), Mother Dairy (Delhi veggies). Ensure fair prices, reduce exploitation.
  • Current Issues: Buffer stock excess (59 million tonnes 2020 vs 21 needed), storage losses. PDS reforms: Aadhaar linking, door delivery.
  • Successes: No famine post-independence; self-sufficiency in grains. Declined hunger but malnutrition persists.

2. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

  1. Food security dimensions: A) Only availability B) Availability, accessibility, affordability C) Only affordability D) Production only
  2. Food insecure during calamity: A) Rich B) Poor C) Farmers D) Traders
  3. Famine characterised by: A) High production B) Widespread deaths/starvation C) Low prices D) Surplus stock
  4. Amartya Sen emphasised: A) Production B) Entitlements/access C) Imports D) Storage
  5. 1995 World Food Summit definition includes: A) Only supply B) Physical/economic access to nutritious food C) Calories only D) Grains only
  6. Chronic hunger: A) Seasonal B) Persistent undernourishment C) During famine D) Urban only
  7. Bengal Famine year: A) 1943 B) 1972 C) 1967 D) 2000
  8. Green Revolution for: A) Pulses B) Wheat/rice self-sufficiency C) Oilseeds D) Fruits
  9. FCI role: A) Import food B) Procure/store at MSP C) Export grains D) Set prices
  10. PDS full form: A) Public Distribution System B) Private Delivery System C) Public Development Scheme D) Poverty Decline System
  11. TPDS year: A) 1997 B) 2000 C) 1960 D) 2013
  12. AAY for: A) All B) Poorest of poor C) APL D) BPL only
  13. Mid-day Meal for: A) Adults B) School children C) Elderly D) Workers
  14. NFSA year: A) 2000 B) 2013 C) 1992 D) 1975
  15. Amul is: A) Cooperative for milk B) Government scheme C) PDS shop D) Buffer stock
  16. Buffer stock excess issue: A) Shortage B) Storage losses/waste C) Low procurement D) High exports
  17. PDS reforms include: A) Aadhaar linking B) Increase prices C) Close shops D) Reduce subsidies
  18. India’s undernourished (2014-16): A) 194 million B) 100 million C) 50 million D) 300 million
  19. GHI rank 2020: A) 1st B) 94th/107 C) 50th D) Last
  20. Success: No famine since: A) 1947 B) Independence C) 1972 D) 2000

Answer Key: 1-B, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-B, 6-B, 7-A, 8-B, 9-B, 10-A, 11-A, 12-B, 13-B, 14-B, 15-A, 16-B, 17-A, 18-A, 19-B, 20-B

3. Very Short Answer Type Questions (VSAQs)

  1. Define food security. Answer: Availability, accessibility, affordability of food to all always.
  2. Dimensions of food security? Answer: Availability, accessibility, affordability.
  3. Who vulnerable? Answer: Poor households during shortages/calamities.
  4. Famine? Answer: Widespread starvation/deaths from crop failure.
  5. Sen’s contribution? Answer: Emphasised access/entitlements over supply.
  6. 1995 Summit definition? Answer: Physical/economic access to safe/nutritious food.
  7. Chronic hunger? Answer: Persistent low diet/undernourishment.
  8. Seasonal hunger? Answer: Food shortage during certain seasons.
  9. Bengal Famine deaths? Answer: 3 million.
  10. Green Revolution crops? Answer: Wheat and rice.
  11. Buffer stock? Answer: Government grain reserves for security.
  12. FCI full form? Answer: Food Corporation of India.
  13. PDS? Answer: Public Distribution System via fair price shops.
  14. TPDS year? Answer: 1997.
  15. AAY year? Answer: 2000.

4. Short Answer Type Questions (SAQs)

  1. Explain food security need. Answer: Ensures no starvation during shortages/calamities. Poor can’t afford high prices; government action via PDS/vigilance needed.
  2. Food security dimensions? Answer: Availability (production/imports/stock), accessibility (reach to all), affordability (money for nutritious food).
  3. Hunger types? Answer: Chronic (ongoing undernourishment, poor quality), seasonal (cyclical shortage in agriculture/urban casual work).
  4. Bengal Famine lessons? Answer: 1943; not shortage but poor entitlements. Showed need for access beyond production.
  5. India’s self-sufficiency? Answer: Green Revolution increased wheat/rice; surplus buffer stock. No famine post-independence.
  6. Buffer stock/FCI role? Answer: FCI procures at MSP, stores for PDS/emergencies. Maintains security against shortages.
  7. PDS evolution? Answer: 1960s universal; 1992 RPDS for backward areas; 1997 TPDS targeted BPL/APL.
  8. PDS issues? Answer: Malpractices (diversion), poor quality grains, high admin costs, storage waste.
  9. Special schemes? Answer: AAY (poorest 35 kg grains), Mid-day Meal (school nutrition), ICDS (children/mothers food).
  10. Cooperatives? Answer: Amul (milk marketing), Mother Dairy (veggies). Ensure fair prices, farmer benefits.
  11. NFSA 2013? Answer: Legal right to food; 75% rural/50% urban coverage at subsidised prices.
  12. Current challenges? Answer: Excess buffer (59 mt vs 21 needed), waste, malnutrition despite grains. PDS reforms needed.
  13. Successes? Answer: Self-sufficiency, no famines, poverty reduction via food access.
  14. Food insecure groups? Answer: Rural landless/artisans/providers; urban casual/migrants. Calamity-prone areas.
  15. GHI status? Answer: 94th/107 (2020); serious hunger despite progress.

5. Long Answer Type Questions (LAQs)

  1. Explain food security concept/evolution. Answer: Food security: Availability/accessibility/affordability always. 1970s focus supply; Sen added entitlements (produce/exchange/state aid). 1995 Summit: Physical/economic access to nutritious food for active life. Poverty eradication key. India uses this for PDS/schemes ensuring no barriers.
  2. Food insecurity during calamities. Answer: Calamity (drought/flood) reduces production, raises prices. Poor can’t afford; starvation/famine if widespread/long. Famine: Deaths/epidemics. Bengal 1943 example: 3 million died despite food; entitlement failure. Government vigilance/stock/PDS prevent.
  3. India’s food security system. Answer: Green Revolution self-sufficiency in grains. Buffer stock: FCI procures/stores. PDS: Fair price shops subsidised grains (BPL 35 kg Rs 2-3/kg). Evolves from universal to targeted (TPDS 1997). Schemes: AAY poorest, Mid-day Meal schools, ICDS children. Success: No famine, but malnutrition persists.
  4. PDS issues/successes. Answer: Issues: Diversion to market, poor grains, high costs, exclusion errors. Successes: Food access to poor, poverty alleviation, price stability. Reforms: Aadhaar linking, door delivery. Cooperatives like Amul supplement.
  5. Special measures/schemes. Answer: AAY (2000): 1 crore poorest families 35 kg grains Rs 2-3/kg. APS: Elderly/disabled. Mid-day Meal: Improves enrollment/nutrition. ICDS: Supplementary food for under-6/mothers. NFSA 2013: Legal right, covers 67% population. Address multi-dimensional hunger.
  6. Current issues/challenges. Answer: Excess buffer waste (59 mt 2020), FCI costs high. Malnutrition despite grains (stunting 35%). Climate change threatens production. COVID increased vulnerability. Need efficient PDS, diverse nutrition, sustainable agriculture.
  7. Global comparison. Answer: India no famines but high undernourished (194 million). GHI serious. Global: Focus SDGs, eradication 2030. India’s schemes model for developing countries but need better targeting.

6. Source-Based / Case-Based Assessment Questions

Source Extract: (From textbook) Food security means availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all people at all times… (a) availability… (b) accessibility… (c) affordability…

Questions:

  1. Define food security.
  2. Availability means?
  3. Accessibility?
  4. Affordability?
  5. Why all three needed?

Answer Key:

  1. Availability/accessibility/affordability always.
  2. Production/imports/stock.
  3. Food within reach.
  4. Money for nutritious food.
  5. Ensures no barriers; all must for security.

Source Extract: (From famine) A Famine is characterised by wide spread deaths due to starvation and epidemics… Bengal famine killed thirty lakh people in the year 1943.

Questions:

  1. Famine features?
  2. Bengal year/deaths?
  3. Cause?
  4. Post-independence?
  5. Prevention?
  6. Sen’s view?

Answer Key:

  1. Deaths from starvation/epidemics.
  2. 1943, 30 lakh.
  3. Not shortage but entitlements.
  4. No famines.
  5. PDS, buffer stock.
  6. Access failure.

Source Extract: (From PDS) The food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration shops… known as Public Distribution System (PDS).

Questions:

  1. FCI role?
  2. PDS?
  3. TPDS?
  4. Issues?
  5. Reforms?

Answer Key:

  1. Procure/store grains.
  2. Fair price shops for subsidised food.
  3. Targeted Public Distribution System (BPL/APL).
  4. Malpractices, poor quality.
  5. Aadhaar, direct transfer.

7. Solved Exercise-End Questions (NCERT Solutions)

  1. How is food security ensured in India? Answer: Through buffer stock (FCI procures/stores), PDS (ration shops subsidised food), schemes (AAY, Mid-day Meal). Vigilance during calamities.
  2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity? Answer: Landless labourers, casual workers, SCs/STs, calamity-prone, women/elderly/children. Rural agricultural, urban migrants.
  3. Which states are more food insecure in India? Answer: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts MP/ Maharashtra. High rural poverty.
  4. Do you believe that green revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How? Answer: Yes; increased wheat/rice production via HYV/irrigation. Surplus buffer; no imports needed.
  5. A section of people in India are still without food. Why? Answer: Despite surplus, poor access due poverty, unequal distribution, PDS issues. Vulnerability in remote areas.
  6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or a calamity? Answer: Production falls, shortage, prices rise. Poor can’t afford; starvation if no intervention.
  7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger? Answer: Seasonal: Cyclical in agriculture/casual work. Chronic: Persistent low income/diet.
  8. What has our government done to provide food security to the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government? Answer: Buffer/PDS system. Schemes: AAY (35 kg grains poorest), Mid-day Meal (school nutrition to reduce hunger/improve enrollment).
  9. Why buffer stock is created by the government? Answer: For emergencies/calamities; ensure supply during shortages. Procured at MSP from surplus areas.
  10. Give any three reasons for the rise in the price of foodgrains. Answer: Calamity reduces supply; hoarding; high demand from population growth.
  11. Write notes on: (a) Minimum support price (b) Buffer stock (c) Issue price (d) Fair price shops Answer: (a) MSP: Minimum FCI pays farmers for procurement. (b) Buffer: Stored grains for security. (c) Issue price: Subsidised PDS rate. (d) FPS: Ration shops distributing subsidised food.
  12. What are the three dimensions of food security? Answer: Availability (production/stock), accessibility (reach), affordability (money for food).
  13. What are the two special schemes launched for food security? Explain. Answer: AAY: 35 kg grains Rs 2-3/kg for 2.5 crore poorest. APS: 35 kg for elderly/disabled without support.
  14. Explain the role of cooperatives in providing food security in different states in the country. Answer: Like Amul (milk), Mother Dairy (veggies); procure directly, fair prices to farmers, affordable to consumers. Reduce middlemen exploitation.

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