With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements:1.'The National Programme for Organic Production' (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.2.'The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority' (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.3.Sikkim has become India's first fully organic State.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A

   1 and 2 only

   (a) 1 and 2 only. APEDA does serve as the NPOP secretariat, but NPOP is operated under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not Rural Development. Statement 1 is false. This option is not the key.

2. B

   2 and 3 only

   (b) 2 and 3 only. NPOP’s secretariat is APEDA, and Sikkim was declared India’s first fully organic State (2016). Statement 1 names the wrong ministry. Hence 2 and 3. This option is the official key.

3. C

   3 only

   (c) 3 only. Sikkim’s status is true, but dropping the correct APEDA statement under-counts. This option is not the key.

4. D

   1, 2 and 3

   (d) 1, 2 and 3. The Rural Development claim knocks out the full set. This option is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (b) 2 and 3 only. The National Programme for Organic Production sits with the Commerce ministry; APEDA is its implementing secretariat. Sikkim completed a statewide organic conversion, the first Indian State to do so. Statement 1 is therefore wrong and statements 2 and 3 are right. That pair is option (b).