Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct: India is an active member of the International Grains Council (IGC). India operates under the framework of the Grains Trade Convention (GTC), 1995, and participates as an exporting/importing member representing its substantial agricultural footprint.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: Membership in the International Grains Council is not mandatory for conducting international trade in grains. The IGC is an intergovernmental forum designed to foster market transparency, cooperation, and data exchange—it does not enforce restrictive regulatory licensing or prohibit non-member countries from exporting or importing rice, wheat, or any other food grains.

Hence, Option A is the correct answer (1 only).

Additional Key Facts (International Grains Council – IGC):

• Nature & Mandate: An intergovernmental organization established to promote cooperation in global grain trade, enhance market transparency, and monitor market conditions.
• Governing Treaty: Operates under the Grains Trade Convention (GTC), 1995, which forms part of the broader International Grains Agreement, 1995 (alongside the Food Assistance Convention).
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
• Historical Evolution: Originally established in 1949 as the International Wheat Council; renamed the International Grains Council in 1995 to broaden its coverage to include coarse grains, rice, and oilseeds.
• Commodities Monitored: Wheat, coarse grains (maize, barley, sorghum, oats, rye), rice, and oilseeds/copra/soyabean.
• Key Function: Publishes regular market reports, supply-demand balances, and the widely tracked IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI).