Latest news with #CROPIC
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why CROPIC and the role of AI in agriculture matter for your UPSC prep
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today. (Relevance: Government schemes are one of the favourite topics of the UPSC. With the increased use of AI in various sectors, this scheme and related ones become significant for your UPSC preparation.) Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched CROPIC, a study to gather crop information using field photographs and AI-based models. The study is conducted for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). It aims to assist in creating a rich directory of crop signatures and also lead to the automation of loss assessment and compensation to eligible farmers under PMFBY. 1. CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops. Under this, crops will be photographed four to five times during their cycle, and the pictures will be analysed to assess their health and potential mid-season losses. 2. For the collection of field photographs, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has developed the CROPIC mobile app. The photographs from the field will be crowd-sourced directly from farmers. Then, they will be analysed for information including crop type, crop stage, crop damage, and its extent. 3. It will use an AI-based cloud platform for photo analysis and information extraction, and a web-based dashboard for visualisation. The mobile app will be used to provide compensation or insurance to farmers. 'I see a big role for AI in empowering agriculture, healthcare, education, creating next-generation urban infrastructure and addressing urban issues.' – Prime Minister Narendra Modi 4. CROPIC will serve a dual purpose of monitoring crop health and stress and automation of crop loss assessment and payment of claims to affected farmers using computer vision technology and photo-analytic models. This initiative is part of digital innovations in agriculture for fostering financial resilience. 5. CROPIC will be rolled out initially in at least 50 districts per season. These districts will be well distributed in different agro-climatic zones covering the three major notified crops (notified crops are those covered under insurance schemes like PMFBY) in each district for each season, initially. 6. The Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) under PMFBY is used for funding CROPIC. The FIAT has a total outlay of around Rs 825 crore for different technology innovations under crop insurance schemes. 1. PMFBY was launched in 2016 to replace the existing National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS). It works on the One Nation, One Crop, One Premium. Under the scheme, all farmers including sharecroppers and tenant farmers growing 'notified crops' in the 'notified areas' are eligible for coverage. 2. Under the PMFBY, a farmer is required to pay as a premium 2% of the sum insured or actuarial rate, whichever is less, for all kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops; 1.5% of sum insured or actuarial rate, whichever is less, for all rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops; and 5% for horticultural crops. 1. Kisan e-Mitra: It is an AI-powered chatbot to help farmers in their queries on the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. It aims to enhance the efficiency and reach of the PM-KISAN scheme, while providing the farmers with 'prompt, clear and accurate' responses to their queries. It supports 11 regional languages and is evolving to assist with other government programs 2. National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS): NPSS, launched in August 2024, is an AI-based platform aimed at helping farmers connect with agriculture scientists and experts on controlling pests. It uses AI and ML to provide quick and instant solutions regarding pest attacks, crop diseases, crop damages etc. by issuing real time crop protection advisory to the farmers. 3. YES-TECH: It uses Remote Sensing Technology for yield estimation with a minimum 30 per cent weightage to technology-based yield estimates. Nine states — Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka — are implementing it. 4. WINDS: It envisages setting up Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at the block level and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs) at the Panchayat level. 'Under WINDS, a 5 times increase in current network density is envisaged to develop hyper-local weather data. Under the initiative, only data rental costs are payable by Central and State Governments,' according to Agricultural ministry. 5. Digital Agriculture Mission: It was approved by the Union Budget on September 2, 2024, with a budget outlay of Rs 2,817 crore for the creation of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Three major components of DPI are envisaged under the Digital Agriculture Mission: AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), and Soil Profile Maps. 6. SATHI: Seed AUthentication, Traceability, and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) is a national portal envisioned and created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Govt. of India, in partnership with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) with the vision 'to build a digital ecosystem to effectively monitor the seed production and distribution chain and provide complete traceability of the seeds from the point of origin till they reach the farmer.' SATHI Phase 1 was launched by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, on April 19, 2023. 1. Namo Drone Didi is a central sector scheme that aims to empower women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by equipping them with drone technology to aid agricultural services. It aims to provide drones to 15000 selected SHGs during the period from 2024-25 to 2025-26. Modi had announced that the goal was to create at least two crore Lakhpati Didis (rural women earning in lakhs) in the country through self-help groups (SHGs). 2. In his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address on May 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised these 'women who are working in the fields as well as touching the heights of the sky.' Referring to them as 'sky warriors', Prime Minister Modi said, 'These women are telling us that change comes when technology and determination go together.' 3. Under the scheme, each woman receives a drone worth Rs 10 lakh for just Rs 2 lakh with 80% of the Drone Cost as a Subsidy up to 8 Lakh. Drone Pilot training is also part of the Drone Package. (a) Enhance agricultural efficiency: The use of drone technology aims to enhance the precision application of pesticides and fertilizers. The use of advanced GPS and sensor technology will allow the drones to be programmed to follow precise flight paths over fields and ensure even and targeted application, minimizing the environmental impact with overuse of chemicals. (b) Empower women and skill development: The specialised technology provided to drone didis through training will equip them with advanced skills. This will help them to perform tasks like crop monitoring, soil analysis, and precision farming more efficiently. With the skill sets women can also enhance irrigation management by identifying areas needing more or less water, detecting leaks, and managing water resources efficiently. (c) Community and networking opportunities: It has helped women to connect with a supportive network of participants, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. It helps them to share their experiences, challenges and best practices. The scheme also provides access to industry experts and agricultural professionals, creating avenues for mentorship and professional growth. Consider the following statements: 1. The purpose of CROPIC is to monitor crop health and stress, and assess the payment of claims to affected farmers using computer vision technology and photo-analytic models. 2. The AI-based cloud platform for photo analysis and information extraction is used by CROPIC. 3. The Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) is used for the funding of CROPIC. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Source: Rs 500 crore for Namo Drone Didi scheme, Rs 365 crore for natural farming mission, New scheme to study crops using AI: What is CROPIC, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), Crop Insurance Schemes ) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences and more (Week 114)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Economy to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Consider the following statements about MGNREGS: 1. The government has capped spending under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) at 60 per cent of its annual allocation for the first half of the financial year 2025–26. 2. The Finance Ministry has directed the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) to include MGNREGS under the Monthly/Quarterly Expenditure Plan (MEP/QEP) framework. 3. Till now, the scheme has operated as a demand-driven programme with 40 per cent mandatory capping on the spending limit. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — For the first time, the government has limited spending under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to 60% of its annual allocation during the first half of fiscal year 2025-26. Until now, the rural jobs guarantee scheme has functioned as a demand-driven program with no spending cap. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 3 is not correct. — The Ministry of Finance has informed the Ministry of Rural Development that it would now be subject to the Monthly/Quarterly Expenditure Plan (MEP/QEP), a spending control mechanism from which it was previously free. — The Finance Ministry implemented the MEP/QEP in 2017 to assist ministries in managing cash flow and avoiding wasteful borrowing. MGNREGS remained outside its purview until recently, with the Rural Development Ministry claiming that the scheme's demand-driven nature rendered set spending caps ineffective. However, from the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Finance Ministry is said to have urged the MoRD to incorporate MGNREGS in the MEP/QEP framework as well. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops (CROPIC), which of the following statements are correct? 1. The scheme will gather crop information using field photographs and AI-based models. 2. The study will be carried out for two seasons initially, kharif 2025 and rabi 2025-26. 3. The CROPIC mobile app has been developed by the National Informatics Centre under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 4. It is an initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 1 and 3 only Explanation — The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare intends to establish CROPIC, a project that will collect crop information through field Photos and AI-based models. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — CROPIC stands for 'Collection of Real-Time Observations and Photos of Crops.' Crops will be photographed four to five times throughout their life cycle, and the images will be evaluated to estimate their health and probable mid-season losses. — The study will initially include two seasons: kharif 2025 and rabi 2025-26. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — The study proposes employing a mobile application to capture field images during the crop season. The CROPIC smartphone app was created by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — Photographs from the field will be crowdsourced directly from farmers. Then they will be examined for information such as crop type, crop stage, crop damage, and extent. — The CROPIC model will analyse photos and extract information using an AI-powered cloud platform, with visualisation provided by a web-based interface. — 'CROPIC is a PMFBY initiative that uses computer vision technology and photo-analytic models to monitor crop health and stress, as well as automate crop loss assessment and claim payment to affected farmers.' This program is part of a series of digital agricultural advances aimed at increasing financial resilience. Hence, statement 4 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Recently, MSC IRINA, the world's largest container ship by capacity docked at which port? (a) Jawaharlal Nehru Port (b) Kandla Port (c) Chennai Port (d) Vizhinjam Port Explanation — MSC IRINA, the world's largest container ship by capacity, arrived at Vizhinjam International Seaport, which opened last month. This is the ship's first call to a South Asian port. — 'Kerala welcomes MSC IRINA, the largest container ship to call at any South Asian port, with great pleasure. Her arrival at Vizhinjam, which measures 399.9m in length and 61.3m in breadth and has a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, is a historic event. A proud milestone that highlights our port's key worldwide position and fuels our collective dream of expansion,' Vijayan wrote on X. — The port, administered by Adani Ports and SEZ Private Limited under a design, develop, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model, has made exceptional progress in transshipment container handling. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), consider the following statements: 1. It is the central metric to assess the annual economic growth or the overall size of an economy. 2. The Ministry of Home Affairs regulates and updates the base year for the calculation of GDP. 3. At present, the base year used for the GDP calculations is 2019-20. 4. The first set of estimates of national income (GDP) for India was compiled by the 'National Income Committee', under the chairmanship of PC Mahalanobis in 1949. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Explanation — The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation stated that the ministry is in the process of revising the 'base year' for the calculation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — The GDP is the central metric to assess the annual economic growth or the overall size of an economy and the so-called 'base year' refers to the year that works as a starting point for calculations. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Currently, the base year is 2011-12. In other words, the GDP in 2011-12 serves as a 'base' from which the GDP growth of every subsequent year is measured. The new base year for GDP estimates will be 2022-23, with the revised set of data to be released on February 27, 2026. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — The base year for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) will be amended to 2022-23, while the base year for the Consumer Price Index, which is used to monitor consumer inflation, will be revised to 2023-24. — In 1949, the 'National Income Committee', chaired by PC Mahalanobis compiled the first set of national income (GDP) estimates for India. This committee issued its first and final reports on national income in 1951 and 1954, respectively. Hence, statement 4 is correct. — The Central Statistics Office (CSO) conducted a thorough examination of the methodology used to calculate GDP. Aside from moving the base years of national accounts series, the CSO attempted to improve the compilation of national accounts series in terms of activity coverage, the incorporation of newest datasets, and the application of latest international norms. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. The UPI handle '@valid' was in the news. It has been launched by: (a) Reserve Bank of India (b) National Payment Corporation of India (c) Ministry of Finance (d) Securities and Exchange Board of India Explanation — The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) intends to implement a structured unified payment interface (UPI) address mechanism for its registered intermediaries in order to combat the growing number of unregistered entities in the stock market that are misleading investors. — To improve investor security and combat illegal money collection in the securities market, the Sebi has announced the implementation of a structured and validated UPI address method, which includes the exclusive '@valid' handle for all registered investor-facing intermediaries. — The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) would exclusively allocate the certified UPI handle for payment collection by Sebi-registered intermediaries. The NPCI is the country's umbrella organisation for retail payments and settlement systems, and it owns and operates the UPI platform. UPI, a mobile-based, 365x24x7 'rapid payment' system, allows users to send and receive money instantaneously using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) that they set themselves. — According to Sebi, the new approach will require the intermediary to choose a comprehensible name for the username, followed by a necessary suffix that clearly defines the category. A stock broker's suffix is '.brk', whereas a mutual fund's suffix is '.mf'. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements with reference to Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS): 1. RTGS transactions/transfers have no amount cap set by RBI. 2. The transactions received up to a particular time are processed in batches. 3. The remitter need not use a physical cheque or a demand draft. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation According to — NEFT is an electronic fund transfer system in which the transactions received up to a particular time are processed in batches. Contrary to this, in RTGS, the transactions are processed continuously on a transaction-by-transaction basis throughout the day. — RTGS transactions/transfers have no amount cap set by RBI. — The system is available on all days on a 24x7x365 basis. There is real time transfer of funds to the beneficiary account. — The remitter need not use a physical cheque or a demand draft. — The beneficiary need not visit a bank branch for depositing the paper instruments. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Which of the following was the subject for awarding the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel in 2024? (a) for having advanced our understanding of women's labour market outcomes (b) for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats (c) for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity (d) for research on banks and financial crises Explanation According to — The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2024 was awarded jointly to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Henry Roberts Johnson and James A. Robinson 'for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.' Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements: 1. The committee was tasked with the progress review of the implementation of the banking reforms since 1992 with the aim of further strengthening the financial institutions of India. 2. It focused on issues like size of banks and capital adequacy ratios among other things. 3. It proposed a three-tier banking structure in India through establishment of three large banks with international presence, eight to ten national banks and a large number of regional and local banks. The above given statements are related to which of the following economic committees in India: (a) Rangarajan Committee (b) The Kelkar Committee (c) The Narasimham Committee-I (d) The Narasimham Committee-II Explanation — The Narasimham Committee-II had suggested that financial institutions like IDBI and ICICI should either convert themselves into banks or non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). The committee was tasked with the progress review of the implementation of the banking reforms since 1992 with the aim of further strengthening the financial institutions of India. It focused on issues like size of banks and capital adequacy ratios among other things. He proposed a three-tier banking structure in India through establishment of three large banks with international presence, eight to ten national banks and a large number of regional and local banks. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 114) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 114) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 114) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 113) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Indian Express
New scheme to study crops using AI: What is CROPIC
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to launch CROPIC, a study to gather crop information using field photographs and AI-based models. Why is this study significant and how will it be used? CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops. According to the plan, crops will be photographed four-five times during their cycle, and the pictures will be analysed to assess their health and potential mid-season losses. The study will be carried out for two seasons initially, kharif 2025 and rabi 2025-26. How will CROPIC work on the ground? The study envisages collection of field photographs during the crop season using a mobile application. The CROPIC mobile app has been developed by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. The photographs from the field will be crowd-sourced directly from farmers. Then, they will be analysed for information including crop type, crop stage, crop damage and its extent. The CROPIC model will use an AI-based cloud platform for photo analysis and information extraction, and a web-based dashboard for visualisation. Also, when compensation or insurance is to be paid to farmers, officials will collect the photographs using the CROPIC Mobile App. What is the purpose of the study? The agriculture ministry plans to conduct this study for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). It will assist in creating a rich directory of crop signatures, and will also lead to automation of loss assessment and compensation to eligible farmers under PMFBY. 'CROPIC is an initiative under PMFBY with a dual purpose of monitoring crop health and stress and automation of crop loss assessment and payment of claims to affected farmers using computer vision technology and photo-analytic models. This initiative is part of digital innovations in agriculture for fostering financial resilience,' said a source. What is the timeline of the project? The Agriculture Ministry invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) on June 5 to select agencies to conduct the study. CROPIC will be rolled out initially in at least 50 districts per season. These districts will be well distributed in different agro-climatic zones covering the three major notified crops (notified crops are those covered under insurance schemes like PMFBY) in each district for each season, initially. The government will identify the three crops and the 50 districts. However, all crops notified under PMFBY will eventually be covered under CROPIC. 'CROPIC is as of now under pilot studies for research and development of suitable photo-analytic models. The pilot studies shall continue for the two upcoming seasons, and are expected to be rolled-out nationwide from 2026 for all major crops,' said the source. How much money will be spent on the project? According to agriculture ministry officials, the Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) under PMFBY will be used for funding CROPIC. The FIAT has a total outlay of Rs 825 crore for different technology innovations under crop insurance schemes. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
