Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics

Current Context: The Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg) is a new initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA & FW) to provide reliable and objective data on various aspects of the agriculture sector in India. The portal was launched by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand on September 15, 2023.

• The UPAg portal aims to streamline and enhance data management in the agricultural domain by integrating data from various sources such as crop surveys, price monitoring, trade statistics, procurement and stock information, etc.
• The portal also offers features such as data visualization, analysis, and dissemination. The portal is expected to benefit various stakeholders such as policymakers, researchers, farmers, and consumers by providing them with easy access to credible, granular, and standardized information on the agriculture sector.
• The UPAg portal is part of the larger efforts by the DA & FW to improve data governance and accuracy in agriculture. Some of the other initiatives undertaken by the department include Krishi Decision Support System, farmer registry, crop survey, etc.
• The UPAg portal is envisaged as a public good that will empower stakeholders to make informed decisions and pave the way for more responsive and efficient agricultural policies.

Question:

Q.1 Who launched the UPAg portal on September 15, 2023?
a. NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand
b. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
c. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
d. President Ram Nath Kovind