Chapter 16 — Environment, monsoon and agricultural price support

Coverage window: 1 January–10 October 2026

Revision checked: 11 October 2026

Question set: CA26-ENV-001 to CA26-ENV-025

This chapter connects climate administration with agriculture and statistical status. A monsoon forecast is not a rainfall observation; the announcement of an MSP is not proof that every farmer sold at that price; and a voluntary net-zero portal does not itself certify that an entity has achieved net zero. The source stage and the exact measure matter.

1. Kharif MSP for marketing season 2026–27

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved Minimum Support Prices for 14 Kharif crops for Marketing Season 2026–27 on 13 May 2026. The government release says the recommendations were intended to provide remunerative prices. It lists the highest absolute increase over the previous year as ₹622 per quintal for sunflower seed, followed by cotton at ₹557, nigerseed at ₹515 and sesamum at ₹500.

The official table reports MSP per quintal. For example, paddy common is ₹2,441, ragi ₹5,205, moong ₹8,780 and sunflower seed ₹8,343 per quintal in the 2026–27 table. These figures are announced support prices for the marketing season. Actual procurement depends on government procurement arrangements, crop eligibility, quality rules, procurement windows and the farmer’s sale. Do not describe the MSP notification as a guarantee that every quantity produced will be purchased.

2. Monsoon forecast versus observed withdrawal

On 29 May 2026, the India Meteorological Department’s second-stage long-range forecast said the southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall for June–September was most likely to be normal. This was a forecast published before or near the start of the season. It does not establish how much rain eventually fell. A season-end report or dated observation is required to state actual seasonal rainfall.

On 18 September, IMD said conditions were becoming favourable for withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from some parts of West Rajasthan around 19 September. Its release dated 19 September confirmed withdrawal from some parts of West Rajasthan that day. That is a local and staged withdrawal statement. It should not be rewritten as withdrawal from the entire country or the end of all rainfall. The monsoon progresses and withdraws in stages across geographic regions.

For Andhra Pradesh candidates, the exam method is geographical: determine which region the source names, note whether the report is a forecast or observation, and keep the date. A national forecast should not be used as an AP district rainfall measurement. Use IMD or a state disaster-management/meteorological bulletin for location-specific conditions.

3. Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard

On 16 September 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the launch of India’s Net Zero Portal and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) Dashboard on World Ozone Day. The ministry describes the Net Zero Portal as a national platform for voluntary net-zero commitments by entities. It describes the NAPCC Dashboard as a platform for consolidated monitoring of progress across the National Missions on climate change.

The two tools have different functions. One records voluntary commitments; the other supports monitoring across national climate missions. A portal launch is not an emissions-reduction result. A registered commitment is not proof that an entity has reached net zero. Verification needs measurements, boundaries, a baseline year, reporting periods and an accepted validation approach. In exam questions, answer only the status the release supports.

4. Revision table

Quick recall

• Which body approved the Kharif MSPs and for how many crops?
• What crop had the largest absolute increase, and what unit applies?
• Why does a May forecast not establish actual September rainfall?
• What region did IMD identify in the first withdrawal announcement?
• Which platform records voluntary commitments, and which monitors National Missions?
• Why is neither portal launch nor MSP approval proof of an achieved outcome?

Complete the 25 original questions. Mark whether each statement is an approval, forecast, observation, platform launch or verified outcome.

Figure 16.1 — Monsoon, climate and environment. Original teaching visual; schematic, not to scale unless the chapter specifies units.

Original practice questions

1. How many Kharif crops had MSPs approved for Marketing Season 2026–27?

A. 14

B. 22

C. 11

D. 7

Answer: A. CCEA approved MSPs for 14 Kharif crops. Source CA26-065.

2. Which body approved the Kharif MSPs on 13 May 2026?

A. Election Commission of India

B. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

C. Olympic Council of Asia

D. National Disaster Management Authority

Answer: B. The CCEA approved the 2026–27 Kharif MSPs. Source CA26-065.

3. Which crop had the highest absolute MSP increase over the previous year?

A. Cotton

B. Nigerseed

C. Sunflower seed

D. Sesamum

Answer: C. The release lists a ₹622-per-quintal increase for sunflower seed, the largest absolute rise. Source CA26-065.

4. What was the announced absolute MSP increase for sunflower seed?

A. ₹557 per quintal

B. ₹515 per quintal

C. ₹500 per quintal

D. ₹622 per quintal

Answer: D. The government release gives ₹622 per quintal. Source CA26-065.

5. Which crop had the second-highest absolute increase among those listed in the release?

A. Cotton

B. Sunflower seed

C. Nigerseed

D. Sesamum

Answer: A. Cotton’s increase was ₹557 per quintal, after sunflower seed. Source CA26-065.

6. What unit does the MSP table use?

A. Rupees per hectare

B. Rupees per quintal

C. Tonnes per district

D. Rupees per farmer family

Answer: B. The MSP table labels values in rupees per quintal. Source CA26-065.

7. What MSP did the 2026–27 table list for ragi?

A. ₹8,343 per quintal

B. ₹2,441 per quintal

C. ₹5,205 per quintal

D. ₹8,780 per quintal

Answer: C. The official table gives ragi’s MSP as ₹5,205 per quintal. Source CA26-065.

8. Which statement about MSP approval is most accurate?

A. It certifies the final output of every farm

B. It guarantees every crop has already been purchased

C. It is an estimate of rainfall

D. It announces a support price; it does not prove every produce lot was procured

Answer: D. Approval and actual procurement are different stages. Source CA26-065.

9. When did IMD issue its second-stage long-range southwest monsoon forecast?

A. 29 May 2026

B. 19 September 2026

C. 16 September 2026

D. 13 May 2026

Answer: A. The second-stage forecast was issued on 29 May. Source CA26-066.

10. What seasonal outlook did IMD give for June–September 2026 rainfall in the May forecast?

A. Certain to be drought

B. Most likely to be normal

C. All-India rainfall had already ended

D. No monsoon was expected anywhere

Answer: B. IMD’s forecast described seasonal rainfall as most likely normal. It was a forecast, not an observed final. Source CA26-066.

11. Why is a long-range forecast different from actual seasonal rainfall?

A. Forecasts are audited accounts

B. Actual rainfall is always identical to forecast

C. A forecast is issued before the season outcome is measured

D. Forecasts only describe past decades

Answer: C. The May release was a projection; actual rainfall requires later observations. Source CA26-066.

12. On 18 September, from which area did IMD say withdrawal conditions were becoming favourable?

A. All districts of Andhra Pradesh

B. The entire Indian coastline

C. All of Northeast India

D. Some parts of West Rajasthan

Answer: D. The IMD release named parts of West Rajasthan. Source CA26-067.

13. On what date did IMD confirm withdrawal from some parts of West Rajasthan?

A. 19 September 2026

B. 18 September 2026

C. 29 May 2026

D. 16 September 2026

Answer: A. IMD’s 19 September release confirmed the staged withdrawal there. Source CA26-067.

14. What does “withdrawal from some parts of West Rajasthan” not mean?

A. It means a local area was identified

B. It does not mean withdrawal from the whole country

C. It is a dated IMD observation

D. Withdrawal occurs by geographic stages

Answer: B. The release is geographically limited and does not say the entire country’s monsoon had withdrawn. Source CA26-067.

15. Which body issued the monsoon forecast and withdrawal releases?

A. Reserve Bank of India

B. National Payments Corporation of India

C. India Meteorological Department

D. AP Finance Department

Answer: C. IMD is the issuing meteorological authority. Sources CA26-066 and CA26-067.

16. On what occasion did the Ministry launch the Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard?

A. World Post Day 2026

B. International Day of Yoga

C. World Habitat Day 2026

D. World Ozone Day 2026

Answer: D. The launch occurred on World Ozone Day, 16 September 2026. Source CA26-068.

17. Which ministry launched the Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard?

A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

B. Ministry of Finance

C. Ministry of External Affairs

D. Ministry of Textiles

Answer: A. MoEFCC announced and launched the platforms. Source CA26-068.

18. What is the stated function of India’s Net Zero Portal?

A. National rainfall forecast portal

B. Platform for voluntary net-zero commitments by entities

C. Farm procurement guarantee

D. Bank-payment settlement system

Answer: B. The Ministry describes it as a platform for voluntary entity commitments. Source CA26-068.

19. What is the stated function of the NAPCC Dashboard?

A. Issuing MSP payments

B. Ranking Asian Games medal tables

C. Consolidated monitoring across National Missions on Climate Change

D. Monitoring UPI bank accounts

Answer: C. The dashboard supports consolidated monitoring across the national climate missions. Source CA26-068.

20. What does NAPCC stand for in the dashboard’s name?

A. National Agriculture Procurement and Crop Council

B. New Andhra Pradesh Climate Centre

C. National Accounts Publication and CPI Committee

D. National Action Plan on Climate Change

Answer: D. The Ministry expands NAPCC as National Action Plan on Climate Change. Source CA26-068.

21. Which statement about a voluntary net-zero commitment is correct?

A. Registration does not itself prove the entity has achieved net zero

B. It is a verified emissions-reduction certificate automatically

C. It is an MSP procurement receipt

D. It confirms all emissions have already stopped

Answer: A. A commitment and a verified achievement are separate. Source CA26-068.

22. What was the NAPCC Dashboard designed to strengthen, according to the release?

A. National fruit procurement

B. Monitoring of progress across climate missions

C. Spacecraft launch control

D. AP district boundary changes

Answer: B. MoEFCC says the dashboard enables consolidated monitoring of National Missions. Source CA26-068.

23. Where was the September 2026 Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard launch event held?

A. Hyderabad

B. Nagoya

C. Mumbai

D. Amaravati

Answer: C. The PIB release locates the launch in Mumbai. Source CA26-068.

24. Which pairing is accurate?

A. Net Zero Portal—monsoon forecast; NAPCC Dashboard—MSP payment

B. Net Zero Portal—bank regulator; NAPCC Dashboard—space launch registry

C. Both—completed emissions audit for every entity

D. Net Zero Portal—voluntary commitments; NAPCC Dashboard—mission monitoring

Answer: D. The two platforms have distinct functions. Source CA26-068.

25. Which source would be appropriate to determine actual rainfall after the season?

A. A dated IMD observation or season-end report

B. The May long-range forecast alone

C. A budget speech

D. A pre-season crop price table

Answer: A. An observation or final report is needed to establish actual rainfall. Source CA26-066 and CA26-067.