agriculture paper 1 topic wise upsc questions · 2019-09-22 · upsc agriculture paper 1 topicwise...

UPSC AGRICULTURE PAPER 1 TOPICWISE PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

W W W . I A S J U N I O R . C O M P a g e 1 | 16

AGRICULTURE PAPER 1 TOPIC WISE UPSC QUESTIONS

SYLLABUS PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS ECOLOGY: Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production. Agro ecology; cropping pattern as indicators of environments. Environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans. Climate change International conventions and global initiatives. Green house effect and global warming. Advance tools for ecosystem analysis Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

2018: a. Describe the following in about 150 words each:

Global warming and its impact on crop productivity. b. Discuss the utility of Remote Sensing in context of

Indian Agriculture. 2017: a. Describe the following in about 150 words each:

• Ecological principles for productive and sustainable agriculture

• Greenhouse effect and global warming 2015:

a. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: How are the agro-climatic zones determined?

b. How does soil acidity affect the crops? c. Differentiate and elaborate the following:

Intensive agriculture and Sustainable agriculture d. Answer the following questions in about 150 words

each Describe the agricultural regions of India

2014:

a. Answer the following in about 150 words each • Discuss ecological principles to develop productive

and sustainable ecosystems. • Explain Indian efforts towards environmental

problems at international level. • Describe ecological concept of productivity.

b. Define the theory of tolerance and relate it to the principles of plant distribution and adaptation.

c. What are the important features of xerophytes for ecological adaptation?

d. What are the major causes of global warming? 2013:

a. Discuss the climatic parameters in relation to agro-ecosystem. What are the major threats to agro-ecosystem?

b. What is remote sensing? How can we use it in agriculture?

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c. Differentiate and elaborate the following in about 150 words each: Photoperiodism and Thermoperiodism

d. What are the impacts of climatic change in agriculture? How can the impacts be mitigated in crop environment?

e. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 150 words each: Green house effect and global warming

f. Explain the following in about 150 words each: Intercropping

g. Define sustainable agriculture. What are the criteria of sustainability in agricultural system? What are the various approaches to achieve sustainability?

2012:

a. What are principal agricultural regions? Give importance of intercropping system.

b. Why are agro ecosystems losing diversity? Give characteristics of cropland ecosystem.

c. What is the difference between modern and sustainable agriculture? Give resource management for sustainable agriculture.

d. Differentiate between the following : Cropping system and Cropping pattern

2011:

a. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each Importance of agro-ecological factors in land use planning

AGRONOMY: Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns. Concepts of various cropping and farming systems. Organic and Precision farming. Package of practices for production of important cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibres, sugar, commercial and fodder crops.


Role of hybrids / high yielding varieties to meet national goal of food security

b. Describe the following in about 150 words each Role of organic farming for sustainability and profitability

c. What is the status of oilseed production and constraints of their production in India? Describe the strategies for attaining self-sufficiency in oilseed production.

2017:

a. Describe the following in about 150 words each: • Precision farming • Role of Bt cotton in cotton production

b. What is organic farming? How does it help in sustaining the soil fertility and crop productivity?




c. Describe the technologies for seeded and transplanted rice production.

2016:

a. Write a brief note on the importance of pulses for sustainable future. Describe the international pulse year with its main objectives and strategies to enhance the production and availability of pulses.

b. Describe the following in not more than 150 words each Protected agriculture

2015:

a. Explain multiple cropping, its significance and constraints experienced by farmers.

b. Is curing in tobacco beneficial/ Describe the various curing processes adopted in tobacco growing regions of India.

c. Explain EI Nino effect, its causes and impact on Indian agriculture.

d. Compare direct seeding and transplanting of rice. 2014:

a. Answer the following in about 150 words each • Describe the management of paddy-wheat cropping

system having forecast of poor rain. • Describe the importance of organic farming with

respect to nutritional value addition.

2013: a. What are the advantages of integrated farming system?

Discuss about resource recycling in different integrated farming systems in India.

b. Suggest measures which can help to meet major challenges in agriculture and food security for stabilizing crop yields.

c. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 150 words each: Protected agriculture

d. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 150 words each: Ley farming

2011: a. What are the different methods of planting sugarcane?

FORESTRY: Important features and scope of various types of forestry plantations such

2018: a. Describe the types and benefits of non-conventional

forestry systems. State the characteristics of suitable tree species for non-conventional forestry.




as social forestry, agro-forestry, and natural forests. Propagation of forest plants. Forest products. Agro forestry and value addition. Conservation of forest flora and fauna.

b. Describe the following in about 150 words each Role of forestry in carbon sequestration

2017: a. Describe the role of afforestation in minimizing

environmental pollution. b. Describe the utility of remote sensing and GIS in forest

plantation. c. Describe the utility of forest products in increasing

farmers' incomes. 2016:

a. Describe the following in not more than 150 words each: Agro forestry and Agrostology

b. What do you mean by the terms remote sensing and GIS? What are their applications in agriculture and forestry?

c. Briefly describe the various types of forestry plantations like social forestry, agro forestry and natural forests. What methods are employed for propagation of forest plants?

2015:

a. Elaborate the environmental pollutions along with the role of afforestation in minimizing their effects.

b. Differentiate and elaborate the following: Agro forestry and Agrostology

c. Write about the needs and techniques of forage conservation.

2014:

a. How agro-forestry plantation is helpful to farmers? 2013:

a. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 150 words each: Social forestry

2012: a. What is subsistence agro forestry system? Describe

Taungya cultivation. 2011:

a. Differentiate between the following terms: Agro forestry and social forestry

WEED SCIENCE: 2018:




Weeds, their characteristics, dissemination and association with various crops; their multiplications; cultural, biological, and chemical control of weeds.

a. What is the phenomenon of herbicide resistance in weeds? Discuss the factors responsible for development of herbicide resistance.

b. Describe the following in about 150 words each Innovations in biological weed management

c. What are the advances in chemical weed management? 2017:

a. Describe the method of biological weed control with suitable examples

b. Describe crop-weed-competition. Discuss the different factors affecting the efficiency of herbicides.

2016:

a. Explain the critical period of crop-weed competition with suitable examples.

b. List out the factors affecting efficacy of herbicides. 2015:

a. Discuss about the factors affecting the efficacy of herbicides.

b. Write the approaches of biological weed control with suitable examples.

2014:

a. Write the importance of quarantine check of weed seeds in importing food grain.

b. Describe crop-weed competition. 2013:

a. Discuss the factors affecting crop-weed competition. What do you mean by critical period of crop-weed competition?

b. Differentiate and elaborate the following in about 150 words each: Relative and Obnoxious weeds

c. Write about the factors of development of herbicide resistance in weeds. What are the management options?

d. Explain the following in about 150 words each: Mode of herbicidal action

e. Explain the following in about 200 words each : Persistence of weeds

2012: a. What is crop-weed competition? Give principles of

integrated weed management.




b. What are the factors of herbicide selectivity? Briefly discuss about selective herbicides for rice and wheat.

2011:

a. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each Biological weed control

b. Differentiate between the following terms: Selective and non-selective herbicides

SOIL SCIENCE AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT: Soil- physical, chemical and biological properties. Processes and factors of soil formation. Soils of India. Mineral and organic constituents of soils and their role in maintaining soil productivity. Essential plant nutrients and other beneficial elements in soils and plants. Principles of soil fertility, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations, integrated nutrient management. Biofertilizers, Losses of nitrogen in soil, nitrogen-use efficiency in submerged rice soils, nitrogen fixation in soils. Efficient phosphorus and potassium use. Problem soils and their reclamation. Soil factors affecting greenhouse gas emission.

2018: a. Explain the factors affecting soil organic matter content.

Describe the techniques to increase soil organic matter. b. Describe the comparitive package of practices for direct

seeded aerobic rice and SRI. c. What changes occur in rice puddled soil? Describe the

fate of nitrogen and practices for enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in such soils.

d. Describe the following in about 150 words each Problems and reclamation of saline and sodic soils

e. Discuss the kinds of bio-fertilizers and their application methods. Give the reasons for their limited acceptance among the Indian farmers.

2017:

a. Describe the following in about 150 words each: Soil health.

b. How are plant nutrients classified? What role do they play in crop productivity?

c. Describe 'soil salinity'. Enumerate various methods for soil reclamation.

2016:

a. Describe the following in not more than 150 words each:

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) VS Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)

• Decoy crop VS Trap crop • Fertigation VS Herbigation

b. List out the criteria for essentiality of nutrients. Differentiate between essential, beneficial and functional elements in plant nutrition. How are these nutrient elements absorbed by the plants?

c. Describe the following in not more than 150 words each Phytostabilisation

d. Discuss the mechanism of fixation of minimum support prices of agricultural products.

2015:




a. Differentiate and elaborate the following: • Integrated nutrient management and Integrated

Pest management. • Lime requirement and Leaching requirement.

b. Discuss nitrogen transformation and its management in submerged soil for rice production

c. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each

• What benefits are derived from organic matter in soil? • Elaborate the problems of residual toxicity of herbicide

and its management d. Give the criteria of essentiality of plant nutrients. List

the essential mineral elements required in plant nutrition. State the principal functions of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S.

e. Elaborate the ways to increase fertilizer use efficiency. 2014:

a. What are the important soil animals? Write their contributions to soil.

b. What do you understand by slow release nitrogen from nitrogenous fertilizers? What is its importance?

2013:

a. Differentiate and elaborate the following in about 150 words each: Inorganic fertilizers and Bio-fertilizers

b. Discuss the nitrogen losses from water-logged soil. What are the various practices to increase nitrogen use efficiency in submerged rice?

c. Explain the following in about 200 words each : Factors affecting soil structure

2012:

a. Briefly discuss different aspects of integrated nutrient management and its limitations.

b. Differentiate between the following : Chelates and Boron carriers

c. Briefly discuss about soil management under water stress condition.

d. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : Soil factors affecting greenhouse gases emission

e. Describe the potassium fixation in soil and factors affecting it.

2011:




a. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture

b. Explain the fertilization giving its merits. Give suitable fertilizers of major nutrients used in fertigation through micro-irrigation.

c. Enumerate fertigation equipments along with their merits and demerits.

d. Differentiate between the following terms: • Organic and inorganic colloids of soil • Chemical fertilizers and bio-fertilizers • Mineralization and immobilization

e. Enlist important green house gases. How can agriculture affect climate change? Describe the importance of carbon sequestration.

f. Explain the following: Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) in irrigation water

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION: Soil conservation, integrated watershed management. Soil erosion and its management. Dry land agriculture and its problems. Technology for stabilizing agriculture production in rain fed areas, Water-use efficiency in relation to crop production, criteria for scheduling irrigations, ways and means of reducing run-off losses of irrigation water. Rainwater harvesting. Drip and sprinkler irrigation. Drainage of waterlogged soils, quality of irrigation water, effect of industrial effluents on soil and water pollution, Irrigation projects in India.


Precise water saving irrigation practices to enhance water use efficiency

b. Discuss the importance and method of water harvesting under different agro-ecosystems.

c. What are the different sources of soil and water pollutions? Describe the impact of soil and water pollution on crop productivity and environment.

d. List out the approaches for scheduling of irrigation. e. It is proposed to test the relative efficiency of

scheduling irrigation to groundnut at 25%, 50% and 75% depletion of available soil moisture. Field capacity of soil in the effective root zone depth of 60cm is 16% with a permanent wilting point of 6%. At what respective soil moisture contents, irrigations are to be scheduled with three irrigations?

2017:

a. Describe the following in about 150 words each: • Problems of dry land agriculture • Soil erosion and its management

b. How are soil and water polluted by industrial effluents? What are the strategies to minimize this problem?

c. What are different techniques used for increasing water use efficiency in relation to crop production?

d. What do you mean by integrated watershed management and what is its significance in dry land agriculture?




e. Describe different measures to improve the drainage of water-logged soils to increase soil fertility and crop productivity.

2016:

a. Differentiate between soil fertility and soil productivity. What is meant by the organic matter of good agricultural soil? Compare it with that of forest soil. Suggest ways to maintain soil organic matter content and improve crop productivity.

b. Differentiate between rainfed and irrigated agriculture. List out the major problems of rainfed agriculture. Describe the various soil moisture conservation measures to boost crop production in rainfed farming.

c. Explain various soil conservation methods and integrated watershed management approach. What is soil erosion? Discuss the methods of managing soil erosion.

d. Discuss the significance of quality of irrigation water and rain-water harvesting for crop productivity. Describe how irrigation is scheduled in the critical stage of crop growth.

e. Explain how industrial effluents affect soil and water pollution. What measures can be taken to reduce this impact?

2015:

a. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: • Why is watershed management important in dry

land agriculture? • How is soil erosion caused?

b. Write the concept of soil moisture constraints. Write the role and availability of moisture to plants.

2014:

a. Discuss the impact of short duration and long duration varieties on deterioration of soil health.

b. What are the various drainage systems? Discuss their benefits.

c. Write a note on rain water harvesting and recharge of ground water.

d. How does industrial effluent affect soil and water? Enumerate the methods of effluent management in agriculture.

e. How to increase water absorption and retention capacity of soil?




2013: a. Enumerate the factors influencing soil erosion. Classify

and discuss briefly various types of erosion. b. What are the scientific irrigation scheduling criteria?

What is critical stage approach for scheduling irrigation?

c. Differentiate and elaborate the following in about 150 words each: Gravitational water and Hydroscopic water

d. What are the causes of soil degradation and pollution? What measures may be adopted to control soil pollution?

e. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 150 words each: Quality of irrigation water

f. Explain the following in about 150 words each: Watershed management

2012:

a. Name the important minerals found in different rocks. Describe chemical weathering of soil.

b. What is water harvesting? Why in modern-day agriculture is it becoming increasingly significant?

c. What do you understand by degraded land? Discuss the strategies for rehabilitation of such land.

d. What is permanent wilting point (PWP)? Describe surge-flow irrigation.

e. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : Conservation furrow

f. Describe the factors responsible for soil erosion and agronomic measures to control it.

g. Briefly discuss about runoff harvesting and recycling on watershed basis.

h. Differentiate between the following : • Water distribution efficiency and Water use

efficiency in agriculture • Bio-drainage and Horizontal drainage

i. What is water quality classification? Describe the hazards arising out of water quality

2011:

a. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each Surface and sub-surface drip irrigation

b. Differentiate between the following terms: Sheet erosion and rill erosion




c. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: Importance of available soil moisture in irrigation effluent for water management

d. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: Principles of treatment of industrial effluent for irrigation purpose

e. Explain integrated watershed management as a hydrological unit. Describe the principles and objectives of watershed management. Describe the benefits and causes of deterioration of watershed.

f. Explain the following: • Problems of waterlogged soils • Criteria of scheduling irrigation.

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS: Farm management, scope, importance and characteristics, farm planning. Optimum resource use and budgeting. Economics of different types of farming systems. Marketing management strategies for development, market intelligence. Price fluctuations and their cost; role of co-operatives in agricultural economy; types and systems of farming and factors affecting them. Agricultural price policy. Crop Insurance.


• Contingency planning in dry land / rained agriculture

• Initiatives for improving agricultural marketing in India.

b. Discuss the crop insurance and its implications. Narrate the government initiatives taken for crop insurance.

c. Elaborate the strategies for doubling the farmers income by 2022

d. What are the characteristics of a good farm plan? What techniques will you adopt to solve the farm management problems?

e. What is Front Line Demonstration (FLD)? How does it help in boosting the production and productivity of crops?

2017:

a. Describe the following in about 150 words each: Crop insurance

b. What are the various farm management tools used in farm planning?

c. What is the significance of marketing information in agricultural marketing? Discuss the status of market intelligence in India.

d. Describe the significance of minimum support prices of agricultural produce in India. How are they worked out?

2016:

a. Describe the following in not more than 150 words each: • Farming system VS Mixed farming




• Farm planning and Farm management b. Describe the concept of market intelligence and explain

the various problems in agricultural marketing system in India.

c. What are the important principles of farm management?

2015:

a. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: • Discuss the farm management problems in the

Indian context. • Detail the role of co-operative marketing

b. Why is Broad Based Extension (BBE) multidirectional? What difficulties arise in its implementation?

c. Why is crop diversification more beneficial than traditional monoculture system?

2014:

a. What are suitable agro ecological management strategies?

b. Enumerate the procedures in developing farm plan and budget.

c. Discuss the mechanism of fixation of minimum support prices of agricultural products.

d. Why marketing information is considered important in agricultural marketing? Discuss the status of market intelligence in India.

e. Explain various farm management tools in farm planning.

2013:

a. Discuss briefly the challenges in agricultural marketing system. State the advantages of supply chain management.

b. What are the uses of farm planning and budgeting? Discuss the steps to be followed in farm planning and budgeting.

c. Explain the following in about 150 words each: Principle of limited capital and opportunity cost

d. Explain the following in about 150 words each: Crop diversification

e. Explain the following in about 200 words each : Broad-based extension

2012: a. Differentiate between the following :

Intensification and Diversification of agriculture




b. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : Steps in farm planning and budgeting

c. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : Value addition in agriculture

d. What are the major problems of agricultural marketing in India?

e. Differentiate between the following: Result demonstration and Method demonstration

f. What is farm budgeting? Discuss different types of farm budgeting.

2011:

a. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: Crop insurance

b. What is the importance of agricultural marketing? Explain the physical and institutional infrastructure of marketing and market intelligence.

c. What is expert system? How can it help in disseminating information to the farmers across the country in the scarce situation of human and financial resources to extension?

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION: Agricultural extension, its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programmes, socio-economic survey and status of big, small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers. Training programmes for extension workers. Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) in dissemination of Agricultural technologies. Non Government Organization (NGO) and self- help group approach for rural development.

2018: a. What is the role of Non-Government Organizations

(NGOs) and Self Help Groups in technology dissemination for agricultural development?

b. What are the mandates of Krishi Vigyan Kendras? How KVKs are helping in dissemination of agricultural technologies and upliftment of socio-economic conditions of farmers?

c. Describe the following in about 150 words each Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) in agricultural extension

d. Explain the principles of conservation agriculture. Describe the practices and impact of conservation agriculture in Indian scenario.

2017:

a. Describe the following in about 150 words each: • Small and marginal farmers • Self-Help Group (SHG) approach for agriculture

and rural development b. What are the target groups in agricultural extension?

What role can KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) play to reach such groups?




c. What are the principles of agricultural extension education? How does it differ from formal education?

2016:

a. Describe the package of practices for raising a short duration pigeon pea. Discuss good agricultural practices (GAP) and their implications.

b. Discuss the global initiatives and international conventions on climate change. What does NICRA stand for? What are the initiatives taken by the Indian Government in this regard?

c. Describe the following in not more than 150 words each • Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras • Kisan Credit Card

d. Discuss the various methods of evaluation of extension programmes. Discuss the significance of Self-Help Groups for rural development, with successful examples.

e. Define agricultural extension. Differentiate between extension education and formal education. Discuss its importance in agricultural development.

2015:

a. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

How is 'contract farming' playing an important role in agrifood chain in the Indian context?

b. Differentiate and elaborate the following: Frontline demonstration and Method demonstration

c. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each What is the importance if Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in the context of rural livelihood?

2014:

a. Describe the package of practices for production of pigeonpea.

b. What is the role of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) as a converging agency?

c. How is a new technology assessed and refined? d. Who are the target groups in agricultural extension?

State the mechanism to reach such groups. 2013:

a. Why is evaluation an essential part of any extension programme? State its advantages in brief.

b. Differentiate and elaborate the following in about 150 words each:




Group discussion and Buzz session c. Write short notes on any five of the following in about

150 words each: Participatory rural appraisal

d. Explain the following in about 200 words each : Kisan Credit Card

2012: a. Differentiate between the following :

Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Agricultural Technology Information Centre

b. Describe technology assessment and refinement through institution-village linkage programmes.

c. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : Emerging concepts of transfer of technology

d. Discuss about indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) and its importance.

e. Differentiate between the following : Self-help groups and Farmer interest groups

f. What is private extension? Give agencies involved in this type of technology dissemination.

2011:

a. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: Kisan call centre

b. What is extension programme planning? Explain principles and steps of extension programme planning. How will you evaluate an extension programme?

c. Explain the following: Role of self help group in empowering rural women


agriculture paper 1 topic wise upsc questions · 2019-09-22 · upsc agriculture paper 1 topicwise...

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