Written by Faiz Sir, NABARD Grade A mentor at Clarity4Sure, with experience across multiple NABARD Grade A and UPSC CSE exam cycles. Updated . Companion pages: NABARD ESI · NABARD ARD weightage · NABARD Grade A guide.← 2022 questions · All years & cut-offs
Try each question before opening the answer. For cut-offs, year-wise analysis, subject-wise trends and videos, see the NABARD Grade A PYQ repository (2021–2025).
NABARD 2021 questions with answers
NABARD 2021 Phase 1 ESI Questions with Answers (38)
The 2021 ESI paper mixed international organisations (ASEAN, SCO, NDB, FAO), polity (8th Schedule, Article 24, PAC), Budget 2021-22 (six pillars, 6.8% fiscal deficit), NEP 2020, banking (Banks Board Bureau, SFBs, EASE index, InvITs) and schemes (PM-KUSUM, AIF, APY, PMAY-U, MUDRA, DAY-NRLM).
▶ Video: ESI question analysis, 2021–2024
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Answer: India.
Analysis: India is a dialogue partner, not a member. ASEAN has 10 members (Timor-Leste admitted in 2025).
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Answer: Afghanistan (it was an observer).
Analysis: Iran joined in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
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Answer: “NDB cannot lend to countries other than BRICS members.” It can, and has admitted Bangladesh, UAE, Egypt and others.
Analysis: NDB is headquartered in Shanghai.
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Answer: “FAO is headquartered in Geneva.” It is headquartered in Rome.
Analysis: IFAD and WFP are also based in Rome.
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Answer: Women’s livelihoods and entrepreneurship in rural India.
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Answer: 22.
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Answer: Article 24.
Analysis: Article 24 prohibits employment of children below 14 in factories, mines and hazardous work.
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Answer: The Banks Board Bureau.
Analysis: It was replaced by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) in 2022.
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Answer: “All members are from the Rajya Sabha.” The PAC has 15 Lok Sabha and 7 Rajya Sabha members.
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Answer: 8%.
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Answer: 1 April 2021 (covering 2021-22 to 2025-26).
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Answer: 95%.
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Answer: Six.
Analysis: Health and well-being; physical and financial capital and infrastructure; inclusive development; human capital; innovation and R&D; minimum government, maximum governance.
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Answer: 6.8% of GDP.
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Answer: 2035.
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Answer: Dr K. Kasturirangan.
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Answer: To ensure foundational literacy (reading with understanding) and numeracy for every child by the end of Grade 3.
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Answer: The Malegam Committee (2010).
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Answer: Retail and wholesale traders.
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Answer: RBI (twice a year).
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Answer: Trusts (under the Indian Trusts Act, regulated by SEBI).
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Answer: The Ken–Betwa link project.
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Answer: Vijay Jardhari.
Analysis: It is a seed-conservation movement in Uttarakhand.
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Answer: Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Analysis: RBI’s inflation target is CPI 4% ± 2%.
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Answer: Current account of the Balance of Payments (trade balance).
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Answer: 2018.
Analysis: It merged SSA, RMSA and Teacher Education.
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Answer: Child sex ratio.
Analysis: It was launched in 2015 at Panipat.
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Answer: ₹50 lakh.
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Answer: Farmers can earn income by selling surplus solar power to distribution companies.
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Answer: “The credit guarantee fee is paid by the borrower.” The government pays the guarantee fee (CGTMSE cover up to ₹2 crore).
Analysis: AIF offers 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹2 crore.
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Answer: It is for citizens aged 18–40, and gives a guaranteed pension of ₹1,000–5,000 a month from age 60.
Analysis: Since October 2022, income-tax payers cannot join.
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Answer: DAY-NRLM.
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Answer: “It was launched in 2016.” PMAY-U was launched on 25 June 2015; PMAY-G followed in 2016.
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Answer: Each public-sector bank’s performance on 100+ objective metrics.
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Answer: 5 kg.
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Answer: Shishu.
Analysis: Kishore is up to ₹5 lakh, Tarun up to ₹10 lakh and Tarun Plus up to ₹20 lakh.
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Answer: Small Finance Banks.
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Answer: A girl below 18 years or a boy below 21 years.
NABARD 2021 Phase 1 ARD Questions with Answers (35)
A largely static paper: livestock terms (buck, layers, wallowing), soils (red soil, porosity), horticulture (quincunx, pomology), irrigation (drip, medium-project CCA), agroforestry (alley cropping) and extension (result demonstration). NABARD-specific items included EShakti and DAY-NRLM interest subvention. Quincunx, wallowing and the small-farmer holding size were asked again in later years.
▶ Topic videos with PYQs: Agronomy · Soil & Water · Seed, Forestry & Environment · Extension & Engineering · Horticulture · Animal Husbandry
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Answer: Buck.
Analysis: A female goat is a doe and a young goat a kid.
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Answer: Operation Greens (originally for tomato, onion and potato; later extended to all fruits and vegetables).
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Answer: Nitrogen, 46%.
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Answer: Red soil.
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Answer: Fruit trees (orchards).
Analysis: This was asked again in 2025.
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Answer: Catla catla.
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Answer: Hygrometer.
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Answer: Bihar.
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Answer: EShakti.
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Answer: PAU bin (galvanised iron bin).
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Answer: Trans-Gangetic Plains Region.
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Answer: Drip irrigation.
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Answer: Cow dung (farmyard manure).
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Answer: One-third (two-thirds in hills).
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Answer: Porosity.
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Answer: China.
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Answer: Pomology.
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Answer: 1–2 hectares.
Analysis: This was asked again in 2024 Phase II.
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Answer: About 4.19%.
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Answer: 88.7%.
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Answer: Maharashtra.
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Answer: Result demonstration.
Analysis: The contrast with method demonstration was tested in 2024.
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Answer: Curing.
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Answer: Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY).
Analysis: SGSY became NRLM in 2011 and was renamed DAY-NRLM in 2016.
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Answer: e-Choupal.
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Answer: Cereals.
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Answer: Alley cropping.
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Answer: Intercropping.
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Answer: Weeding (interculture).
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Answer: Mulching.
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Answer: Improving groundwater management through community participation.
Analysis: It covers water-stressed blocks in seven states.
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Answer: 2,000–10,000 ha.
Analysis: Minor projects are below 2,000 ha, and major projects above 10,000 ha.
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Answer: Layers.
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Answer: Wallowing.
Analysis: This was asked again in 2025.
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Answer: 5.5%.
NABARD 2021 Phase 2 ESI & ARD Objective Questions (27)
The 2021 Phase II objective paper used passages on the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act for cooperatives, organic farming, PM-JAY, NEP 2020 and NMSA, along with one-liners on horticulture statistics, SBM-U 2.0, MGNREGA and ONORC.
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Answer: West Bengal.
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Answer: About 329 million tonnes.
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Answer: CHAMAN.
Analysis: CHAMAN is Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using geoiNformatics.
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Answer: Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (as amended in 2020).
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Answer: Section 45.
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Answer: All three: (1) it does not apply to PACS and cooperatives giving long-term agricultural finance; (2) RBI can start reconstruction or amalgamation without a moratorium; (3) state registrars of cooperative societies keep their existing powers under state laws.
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Answer: Sikkim (2016).
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Answer: Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
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Answer: Madhya Pradesh.
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Answer: Oilseeds.
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Answer: It covers 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses, includes non-intensive and intensive care, and covers food services.
Analysis: Cover is ₹5 lakh per family per year.
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Answer: “There is a restriction on family size, age or gender” and “services are not portable across the country.” There is no such restriction, and services are portable nationally.
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Answer: All of them: home-based workers, tailors, construction workers, mechanics, painters and handicraft workers.
Analysis: Urban beneficiaries are identified by occupational categories in SECC 2011.
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Answer: Leadership. The five pillars are access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability.
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Answer: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG 4).
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Answer: 5+3+3+4.
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Answer: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.
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Answer: The Soil Health Card scheme.
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Answer: Rainfed Area Development.
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Answer: About ₹1.41 lakh crore.
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Answer: ₹10 lakh (raised to ₹20 lakh in 2024 with Tarun Plus).
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Answer: 15 days.
Analysis: If not, an unemployment allowance is payable. This was asked again in 2023 Phase II.
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Answer: Mera Ration.
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Answer: 2026.
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Answer: Hardening.
Analysis: This was asked again in 2023 Phase I.
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Answer: Agronomy.
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Answer: Extension forestry.
Analysis: This was asked again in 2023 Phase I.
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NABARD 2021 Phase 2 descriptive questions (English, ESI & ARD)
NABARD 2021 Phase 2 ESI & ARD descriptive questions
| Paper | Marks | Question | What the answer needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARD | 15 (compulsory) | What is cross-breeding? Explain its methods, advantages and disadvantages. | Definition + methods + advantages + disadvantages. |
| ESI | 15 (choice) | Review the Minimum Support Price policy. OR “WTO agriculture policies have a dual effect on the Indian economy.” Comment. | “Review” and “comment” both need balance: purpose + achievements + limitations + reform. |
| ARD | 10 (compulsory) | Farmers’ dependence on non-institutional sources of finance is declining. Comment. | Trends → drivers (KCC, PACS) → persistent gaps → regional and small-farmer disparity. |
| ARD | 10 (choice) | What is drip irrigation? How can it change the face of agriculture? Discuss its advantages and limitations. OR What is social forestry? Explain its objectives and components. | Potential → advantages → limitations → PDMC. |
How to write these answers: answer writing strategy and essay writing strategy.
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← 2022 questions · All years & cut-offs
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