Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years ?

The answer is D, vegetable oils. Edible oils such as palm, soyabean and sunflower oil have been India's largest agricultural import by value for years, typically somewhere around 15 to 20 billion dollars a year. Domestic oilseed output meets only about half of the demand, so the gap is filled by imports.

Why the others fail:

• Pulses (C): India is a net importer, and the import bill is large in some years. Still, it stays well below edible oils. Headlines about duty changes on pulses often mislead aspirants into choosing this option.
• Spices (A): India is a net exporter of spices, so exports exceed imports in value terms.
• Fresh fruits (B): Imports are small in value and volume. Apples, some nuts and similar items make up a minor share of agri imports.

The core concept is India's import dependence in agriculture. Mains GS-III (agriculture, food security) and GS-II (external trade) both connect here. The National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (2021) is the government's attempt to reduce this dependence, and you should be ready to discuss its effectiveness.

Trap: choosing pulses because they dominate policy news. Compare the actual import values, not the headlines.