Correct Option (d)
Statement 3 is correct. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the Government of India issues wheat and rice to States/Union Territories at uniform Central Issue Prices (CIPs). These CIPs are standardized across the country for different categories of beneficiaries, such as Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL), ensuring equitable access to subsidized food grains.
Incorrect Options:
Statement 1 is incorrect. While the Government of India may announce procurement targets for planning and logistical purposes, the operational policy for the procurement of key food grains like wheat and paddy is largely open-ended. This implies that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is mandated to procure all quantities of these grains offered by farmers at the declared Minimum Support Price (MSP), provided they meet specified quality standards, rather than strictly adhering to a fixed target or limiting procurement.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Government of India announces Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for a diverse basket of crops, not exclusively for cereals. Currently, MSPs are declared for 22 mandated crops, which include 7 cereals (paddy, wheat, maize, jowar, bajra, ragi, barley), 5 pulses (tur, urad, moong, masur, gram), 7 oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed/mustard, toria, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, nigerseed), and 4 commercial crops (cotton, jute, sugarcane - Fair and Remunerative Price, copra).