What is the minimum support price (MSP)?

Pre-announced price paid to farmers

Which act provides food and nutritional security at affordable prices?

National Food Security Act, 2013

What is the function of ration shops?

To sell foodgrains at lower prices

What is Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)?

A scheme for Below Poverty Line families

What is the role of cooperatives in food security?

Setting up shops to sell low priced goods

What does NHFS stand for?

National Health and Family Survey

National Health and Food Survey

National Housing and Food Survey

National Housing and Family Survey

What is the significance of the 1995 World Food Summit declaration?

Food security means affordability of food

Food security means accessibility to food

Food security means availability of food

Food security exists when all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food

What was the major impact of the Green Revolution?

Decrease in foodgrain production

Increase in foodgrain production

What is the full form of ADS?

Association for Development Science

Agricultural Development Society

Academy for Development Studies

Which act categorizes eligible households for food security?

National Food Security Act, 2000

National Food Security Act, 2013

NCERT Solutions Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 – Food Security in India

Name: Food Security in India – Class 9 Economics
Uploaded: 2026-05-31
Description: Food security ensures that all people have access to sufficient, safe, a nd nutritious food at all times. In India, government programs like PDS, buffer stocks, and cooperative initiatives play a vital role in maintaining food security, especially for vulnerable populations. Natural disasters, pandemics, and seasonal unemployment remain major challenges.

Class 9 Economics

Last Updated: 31 May 2026

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Chapter Introduction

Food security ensures that all people have access to sufficient, safe, a nd nutritious food at all times. In India, government programs like PDS, buffer stocks, and cooperative initiatives play a vital role in maintaining food security, especially for vulnerable populations. Natural disasters, pandemics, and seasonal unemployment remain major challenges.

हिंदी में (Hindi)

खाद्य सुरक्षा का मतलब है कि सभी लोगों के पास हमेशा पर्याप्त, सुरक्षित और पौष्टिक भोजन उपलब्ध हो। भारत में सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली (PDS), भंडारण एवं सहकारी प्रयास कमजोर वर्गों के लिए खाद्य सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं। प्राकृतिक आपदाएँ, महामारी और मौसमी बेरोज़गारी बड़ी चुनौतियाँ हैं।

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Important Points

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Practice MCQ Questions (29 questions)

Q1. What does food security imply?

Q2. Which of the following is not a dimension of food security?

Q3. What was the new dimension added by Amartya Sen to food security?

Q4. What is the main objective of buffer stock?

Q5. Which natural disaster affected food security in the story?

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Tough Words (Glossary)

Affordability

Meaning: Ability to pay for something

अर्थ: किसी वस्तु को खरीदने की क्षमता

"Food security requires affordability of nutritious food."

Accessibility

Meaning: The quality of being easy to obtain or use

अर्थ: सुलभता

"Accessibility of food ensures that everyone can reach it."

Availability

Meaning: Being present and ready for use

अर्थ: उपलब्धता

"Food availability is essential during disasters."

Calamity

Meaning: A serious event causing damage or distress

अर्थ: आपदा

"Flood is a natural calamity that affects food production."

Starvation

Meaning: Suffering or death caused by lack of food

अर्थ: भुखमरी

"Starvation was common during the Bengal famine."

Famine

Meaning: Extreme scarcity of food

अर्थ: अकाल

"The Bengal famine of 1943 killed millions."

Entitlement

Meaning: The right to have something

अर्थ: अधिकार

"Food entitlement ensures fair distribution."

Nutrition

Meaning: The process of providing food necessary for health

अर्थ: पोषण

"Proper nutrition is essential for children."

Epidemic

Meaning: A widespread outbreak of a disease

अर्थ: महामारी

"Famines are often accompanied by epidemics."

Granary

Meaning: A storehouse for threshed grain

अर्थ: अनाज कोठार

"Grains are stored in granaries for future use."

Minimum Support Price

Meaning: Government-assured price for crops

अर्थ: न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य

"Farmers sell crops to the government at MSP."

Procurement

Meaning: The action of obtaining something

अर्थ: क्रय

"FCI is responsible for the procurement of grains."

Buffer Stock

Meaning: Stock of food maintained for emergencies

अर्थ: भंडारण

"Buffer stock prevents food shortage during drought."

Distribution

Meaning: The process of sharing things among recipients

अर्थ: वितरण

"PDS ensures the distribution of food to the poor."

Public Distribution System

Meaning: Government-run food supply system

अर्थ: सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली

"PDS helps poor people get subsidized food."

Malnutrition

Meaning: Lack of proper nutrition

अर्थ: कुपोषण

"Malnutrition is a serious issue among children."

Pandemic

Meaning: A global outbreak of disease

अर्थ: महामारी

"Covid-19 pandemic affected food supply chains."

Subsidy

Meaning: Financial aid from the government

अर्थ: अनुदान

"Government gives subsidies to farmers for fertilizers."

Self-sufficiency

Meaning: Ability to fulfill one’s needs independently

अर्थ: आत्मनिर्भरता

"India aims at self-sufficiency in foodgrains."

Cooperative

Meaning: An organization owned and run by members

अर्थ: सहकारी संस्था

"Cooperatives help in providing food security."

Malpractice

Meaning: Improper or illegal activity

अर्थ: कदाचार

"Some ration dealers are accused of malpractice."

Overstocking

Meaning: Accumulating more goods than needed

अर्थ: अतिभंडारण

"Overstocking of grains leads to wastage."

Contaminated

Meaning: Impure or polluted

अर्थ: दूषित

"People died due to contaminated water in famine."

Dignity

Meaning: The state of being worthy of respect

अर्थ: गरिमा

"Food security ensures a life with dignity."

Entitlements

Meaning: Benefits that one has the right to receive

अर्थ: अधिकार

"Entitlements under PDS provide ration at low cost."

Affliction

Meaning: Something that causes pain or suffering

अर्थ: कष्ट

"Starvation is a terrible affliction of poverty."

Intervention

Meaning: Involvement to improve a situation

अर्थ: हस्तक्षेप

"Government intervention is needed during famine."

Vulnerable

Meaning: Exposed to harm

अर्थ: असुरक्षित

"Children are vulnerable to malnutrition."

Nutrition Security

Meaning: Access to balanced and safe diet

अर्थ: पोषण सुरक्षा

"Nutrition security is vital for health."

Crisis

Meaning: A time of great difficulty

अर्थ: संकट

"Food crisis occurs during prolonged droughts."

Surplus

Meaning: An excess amount

अर्थ: अधिशेष

"India exports surplus foodgrains to other countries."

Scarcity

Meaning: Shortage of supply

अर्थ: कमी

"Scarcity of food increases prices."

Sustainability

Meaning: Ability to maintain over time

अर्थ: सततता

"Sustainability in agriculture ensures long-term security."

Overuse

Meaning: Excessive use

अर्थ: अत्यधिक उपयोग

"Overuse of fertilizers harms the soil."

Migration

Meaning: Movement from one place to another

अर्थ: प्रवासन

"Migration occurs during food scarcity."

Irrigation

Meaning: Artificial supply of water to crops

अर्थ: सिंचाई

"Irrigation is essential for crop production."

Revolution

Meaning: A sudden change in system

अर्थ: क्रांति

"The Green Revolution increased food production."

Shortage

Meaning: A state in which something is not enough

अर्थ: अभाव

"Shortage of grains led to famine."

Casual Labour

Meaning: Unskilled temporary work

अर्थ: दैनिक मजदूरी

"Casual labourers face food insecurity."

Chronic Hunger

Meaning: Long-term lack of food

अर्थ: दीर्घकालिक भूख

"Chronic hunger weakens the body."

Seasonal Hunger

Meaning: Hunger due to seasonal unemployment

अर्थ: मौसमी भूख

"Seasonal hunger is common in rural areas."

Nutrition Deficiency

Meaning: Lack of essential nutrients

अर्थ: पोषण की कमी

"Nutrition deficiency causes stunted growth."

Eke out

Meaning: To manage with difficulty

अर्थ: मुश्किल से गुज़ारा करना

"Ahmad eked out survival with PDS ration."

Supplement

Meaning: Something added to complete

अर्थ: पूरक

"Vegetables supplement the diet."

Livelihood

Meaning: Means of securing basic needs

अर्थ: जीविका

"Agriculture is the main livelihood in villages."

Commodity

Meaning: A useful product for trade

अर्थ: वस्तु

"Rice is an important commodity in trade."

Deficit

Meaning: Shortfall or lack of something

अर्थ: घाटा

"Food deficit leads to imports."

Resilience

Meaning: Ability to recover quickly

अर्थ: लचीलापन

"Farmers need resilience during droughts."

Eradication

Meaning: Complete removal

अर्थ: उन्मूलन

"India aims at eradication of poverty."

Allocation

Meaning: Distribution for a specific purpose

अर्थ: आवंटन

"Government ensures allocation of grains to poor."

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Ch 3: Poverty as a Challenge