NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 Questions and Answers - FREE PDF Download
Learn with Vedantu through the Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 NCERT Solutions. This resource offers access to the Food Security In India Class 9 PDF. Enhance your understanding with Class 9 Economics NCERT Solutions and gain deeper insights into rural economic activities and structures.
Table of Content
By exploring Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 questions and answers, students gain a deep understanding of key concepts. This chapter is about food security means the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food to all people at all times. Food security depends on the Public Distribution System (PDS) and government vigilance and action at times when this security is threatened. Check out the revised class 9 social science syllabus and start with Vedantu for academic excellence.
FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Economics Chapter 4 Food Security In India
1. What are the three main dimensions of food security as explained in Class 9 Economics Chapter 4?
According to the NCERT textbook for the 2025-26 session, food security has three key dimensions:
- Availability of food: This means food production within the country, food imports, and the previous years' stock stored in government granaries.
- Accessibility of food: This means food is within reach of every person, without any physical or social barriers.
- Affordability of food: This implies that an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs.
2. How does the government use a buffer stock and the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure food security?
The government's food security system has two main components. First, it creates a buffer stock by purchasing surplus food grains like wheat and rice from farmers. This stock is then distributed among the poorer sections of society at a subsidised price through the Public Distribution System (PDS), which operates via a network of ration shops.
3. What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and what is its role in building the buffer stock?
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the pre-announced price at which the government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), purchases crops from farmers. This system provides an incentive for farmers to increase production of the desired crops. The grains purchased at MSP are then stored in granaries to create the nation's buffer stock.
4. Explain the term 'Issue Price' as it is used in the NCERT solutions for this chapter.
The Issue Price is the price at which the government sells food grains from the buffer stock to the poorer sections of society through ration shops. This price is significantly lower than the market price, making it a form of subsidy to ensure food affordability for vulnerable households.
5. What is the function of Fair Price Shops in India's food security system?
Fair Price Shops, commonly known as ration shops, are the distribution arm of the Public Distribution System (PDS). Their primary function is to sell essential commodities like food grains (wheat, rice), sugar, and kerosene to eligible households at a subsidised rate, known as the Issue Price. This ensures that the poor have access to food at affordable prices.
6. How would you differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger as per the NCERT textbook?
The key difference between the two types of hunger is their duration and cause:
- Seasonal Hunger is related to the cycles of food growing and harvesting. It is common in rural areas where casual labourers may be unemployed for parts of the year, and in urban areas among casual construction labourers.
- Chronic Hunger is a long-term condition resulting from diets that are persistently inadequate in terms of quantity or quality. It is caused by a continuous lack of income and the inability to afford food.
7. According to the NCERT chapter, which social and economic groups are most vulnerable to food insecurity?
The chapter identifies several groups as being more prone to food insecurity. These include landless agricultural labourers, traditional artisans, petty self-employed workers, and beggars. Socially, people from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and some sections of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are highly vulnerable.
8. What happens to the food supply and prices during a natural calamity, as explained in Chapter 4?
During a natural calamity like a drought or flood, the total production of food grains decreases. This creates a shortage of food in the affected area, leading to a sharp rise in prices. At these high prices, some people cannot afford to buy food. If the calamity is widespread or persists for a long time, it may cause a situation of starvation, which can turn into a famine.
9. What are some of the key problems in the functioning of ration shops mentioned in the chapter?
The chapter highlights several issues with the functioning of ration shops, including:
- Malpractices by dealers, such as diverting grains to the open market for a better price.
- Selling poor-quality grains that are not fit for consumption.
- Irregular opening times, causing inconvenience to people.
- Inaccurate entries made on the ration cards of the beneficiaries.
10. Explain the role of cooperatives in providing food security in different parts of India.
Cooperatives play a significant role in ensuring food security, especially in the southern and western parts of India. They set up shops to sell low-priced goods to poor people. For example, Mother Dairy in Delhi provides milk and vegetables at controlled rates, while Amul from Gujarat is a successful cooperative in milk and milk products. These initiatives help in making essential items affordable and accessible.
11. Why do some sections of people in India remain food-insecure despite the country having surplus food grains?
Despite having a surplus of food grains at the national level, food insecurity persists due to several factors. The primary reason is poverty; many people lack the purchasing power to buy food. Additionally, flaws in the Public Distribution System (PDS), such as poor targeting of beneficiaries and corruption, mean that food does not always reach the neediest people. This creates a paradox of 'hunger amidst plenty'.
12. How are the concepts of Minimum Support Price (MSP), buffer stock, and Issue Price interconnected within India's food security system?
These three concepts form a connected process to manage food security. The process works as follows:
- The government announces the MSP to encourage farmers and purchases their surplus grain.
- This procured grain is stored to create a national buffer stock.
- Finally, grains from this buffer stock are released and sold at a subsidised Issue Price through ration shops to ensure the poor can afford it.
13. Critically evaluate the impact of the Green Revolution. While it increased production, what were some of its limitations?
While the Green Revolution made India self-sufficient in food grains, it had significant limitations. Its success was primarily limited to crops like wheat and rice and benefited states like Punjab and Haryana more than others. Overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides led to environmental degradation and soil infertility. Furthermore, the high cost of HYV seeds and inputs made it difficult for small farmers to adopt the new technology.
14. How does the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme specifically target the 'poorest of the poor'?
The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is a highly targeted scheme designed to reach the most vulnerable households. Unlike the general PDS, which covers a broader Below Poverty Line (BPL) population, AAY identifies the 'poorest of the poor' among the BPL families. These identified families are then provided with 35 kg of food grains per month at a highly subsidised rate, making it a more focused approach to fighting severe hunger.
15. Using the case study of Ramu from the textbook, explain how seasonal unemployment directly contributes to food insecurity.
Ramu's case illustrates the direct link between employment and food security. As a casual agricultural labourer, he finds work only during peak farming seasons like sowing and harvesting. For about four months a year, when there is no farm work, he is unemployed. During this period of seasonal unemployment, he has no regular income, which makes it extremely difficult for his family to afford two square meals a day, thus pushing them into a state of food insecurity.
