Procurement

noun

/prəˈkjʊəmənt/

The government's purchase of agricultural produce (primarily food grains) from farmers at the Minimum Support Price through agencies like the Food Corporation of India, to ensure price support and maintain buffer stocks.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A transparent, rules-based public procurement system — anchored in the General Financial Rules and the Government e-Marketplace — is indispensable for curbing rent-seeking, ensuring value for money, and upholding the constitutional promise of equality of opportunity for bidders.

Synonyms

acquisitionsourcingobtainmentpurchasingsecuringrequisition

Antonyms

disposaldivestmentsalerelinquishment

🌱 Word Family

procure (v), procurer (n), procured (adj), procurable (adj), procuring (v pres.p)

🔡 Root

Late Latin procurare = to manage/take care of; pro- = on behalf of; curare = to take care

📜 Etymology

From Late Latin procurare (to manage, take care of), from pro- (on behalf of) + curare (to take care); the modern sense of "obtaining goods" developed by the late 14th century; in Indian agriculture, government procurement has been a cornerstone of food security policy since the Green Revolution era.

🧠 Memory Hook

PRO + CURE: a department that 'pro-actively takes care of' (Latin curare = to care for) acquiring what an organisation needs — the buyers who 'pro-cure' the supplies.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Mains 2024 · GS4 · 20 marks — Ethics in Public Administration

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Procurement” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

💰 Indian Economy 📖 Seen in: Indian Agriculture — Crops, MSP, Food ...

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