Current Affairs

Soybean varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270 yield about 20 quintals/ha despite bad weather

14-10-2026 · English

Soybean varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270 yield about 20 quintals/ha despite bad weather

Topics: Agriculture · 14 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

At a 'Soybean Harvest Day' held on 9 Oct 2026 by ICAR–National Soybean Research Institute (NSRI), Indore, its improved varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270 gave a preliminary yield of about 20 quintals per hectare despite adverse weather (the national average is about 10–11 q/ha). ICAR Director General Dr M.L. Jat called the results encouraging.

Key facts

VarietiesNRC 268, NRC 270 – improved soybean varieties
InstituteICAR–National Soybean Research Institute (NSRI), Indore (formerly Indian Institute of Soybean Research; began 1987 as NRC for Soybean)
YieldAbout 20 q/ha (preliminary) – national average 10–11
EventSoybean Harvest Day – 9 Oct 2026, Indore
NoteNo formal 'release' was reported – the news is about yield results

Background

  • Soybean: the 'golden bean' / 'miracle crop'; about 40% protein and 20% oil; a kharif legume that fixes nitrogen. Madhya Pradesh is called the 'Soya State'; Maharashtra is also a major producer.
  • National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds): approved in 2024, running 2024–25 to 2030–31 – for self-reliance in oilseeds. India depends heavily on edible-oil imports.
  • The 'Yellow Revolution' – the drive to raise oilseed output (1986 Technology Mission on Oilseeds; Sam Pitroda).

Tamil Nadu link: groundnut is Tamil Nadu's main oilseed; soybean is a minor crop here. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University's Oilseeds Research Station is at Tindivanam.

Source: Global Agriculture, Konni Vartha, Oct 2026; InsightsIAS

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