In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

The correct answer is B. Agricultural markets (mandis) are regulated by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts, which are state laws because agriculture and markets fall under the State List (Entry 14 and Entry 28). Each state enacted its own APMC Act, which notifies market yards, licenses traders and commission agents, and sets up market committees to run regulated mandis.

• A is wrong: The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 controls hoarding, stock limits and trade in essential goods. It does not set up or regulate market yards.
• C is wrong: The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 deals only with quality grading, standards and AGMARK labelling. It does not regulate markets.
• D is wrong: The Food Products Order, 1956 and Meat and Food Products Order, 1973 were issued under the Essential Commodities Act. They regulate processed food and meat products, not mandi trade.

The core concept is the state-market federal divide, which links to Mains questions on agricultural marketing reforms, e-NAM, and the Model APMC Act, 2017. The 2020 farm laws tried to bypass APMC mandis, but those three laws were repealed in 2021, so APMC Acts still govern regulated markets.

Trap: Candidates pick the Essential Commodities Act because it covers agricultural goods broadly. Remember that it regulates trade and stocks, while market regulation comes from state APMC laws.