(Download) UPSC IAS Mains Exam Paper - 2017 : Agriculture

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(Download) UPSC IAS Mains Exam Paper - 2017 : Agriculture

AGRICULTURE
(Paper I)

Time Allowed : Three Hours

Maximum Marks : 250

Question Paper Specific Instructions

Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions :

There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and ENGLISH .

Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.

Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each section.

The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.

Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the spaceprovided. A marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.

Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.

Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

SECTION A

Q1. Describe the following in about 150 words each :

(a) Precision farming
(b) Ecological principles for productive and sustainable agriculture
(c) Greenhouse effect and global warming
(d) Role of Bt cotton in cotton production
(e) Soil health

Q2. (a) How are plant nutrients classified ? What role do they play in crop productivity ?
(b) What is organic farming ? How does it help in sustaining the soil fertility and crop productivity ?
(c) Describe the method of biological weed control with suitable examples.

Q3. (a) Describe the technologies for seeded and transplanted rice production.
(b) Describe the role of afforestation in minimising environmental pollution.
(c) Describe the utility of remote sensing and GIS in forest plantation.

Q4. (a) Describe crop-weed-competition. Discuss the different factors affecting the efficiency of herbicides.
(b) Describe the utility of forest products in increasing farmers' incomes.
(c) Describe soil salinity'. Enumerate various methods for soil reclamation.

SECTION B

Q5. Describe the following in about 150 words each :

(a) Problems of dryland agriculture
(b) Soil erosion and its management
(c) Small and marginal farmers
(d) Self-Help Group (SHG) approach for agriculture and rural development
(e) Crop Insurance

Q6. (a) How are soil and water polluted by industrial effluents ? What are the strategies to minimise this problem?
(b) What are different techniques used for increasing water use efficiency in relation to crop production ?
(c) What are the various farm management tools used in farm planning ?

Q7. (a) What is the significance of marketing information in agricultural marketing ? Discuss the status of market intelligence in India.
(b) What are the target groups in agricultural extension ? What role can KVKS (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) play to reach such groups ?
(c) Describe the significance of minimum support prices of agricultural produce in India. How are they worked out ?

Q8. (a) What do you mean by integrated watershed management and what is its significance in dryland agriculture ?
(b) Describe different measures to improve the drainage of water-logged soils to increase soil fertility and crop productivity.
(c) What are the principles of agricultural extension education ? How does it differ from formal education ?

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AGRICULTURE
(PAPER-II)

Time Allowed : Three Hours

Maximum Marks : 250

QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)

There are EIGHT questions divided in two Sections and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.

Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.

Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each Section.

The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.

Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.

Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.

SECTION-A

Q1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each :

(a) What is cell? Enlist different organelles of plant cell with brief description of functions of mitochondria.
(b) Give a brief account of conservation of crop genetic resources.
(c) What are the genetic and agronomic principles of seed production?
(d) What do you mean by male sterility? List various types of male sterility systems found in plants and discuss the chemically induced male sterility.
(e) What is embryo rescue? Write its advantages in crop improvement. Indicate the technique with special reference to interspecific and intergeneric hybridization.

Q2. (a) Describe various steps involved in seed certification and the institutions associated in the production of certified seeds.
(b) Describe the applications of molecular markers in crop improvement.
(c) Explain cytoplasmic inheritance and its characteristics.

Q3. (a) Define heterosis. How is heterosis being exploited in the development of hybrids?
(b) What is polyploidy? Briefly discuss its application and limitations in crop improvement.
(c) Narrate the role of genetic engineering in crop improvement.

Q4. (a) What are mutations? Indicate the use of induced mutation in varietal development.
(b) Explain the mechanism involved in breeding for resistance to insect-pests.
(c) Discuss the impact of PPV & FRA in varietal protection of crop plants.

SECTION-B

Q5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each :

(a) What are plant growth regulators? How do they differ from phytohormones? Indicate the applications of plant growth regulators in agriculture.
(b) Describe the criteria of essentiality of nutrients. Classify the essential nutrients for plants. Discuss the role of phosphorus and calcium in crops with special reference to pulses.
(c) Give a brief account of post-harvest losses in fruits. Suggest various management techniques to avoid losses due to post-harvest diseases.
(d) What are nutrition challenges? Discuss the factors contributing to the undernutrition at different stages of life cycle.
(e) Define medicinal and aromatic plants. Discuss their importance and uses.

Q6. (a) Define 'evapotranspiration'. How is it affected by various factors? Briefly discuss the passive absorption of water by plants.
(b) What is photophosphorylation? Distinguish between cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation. Give schematic structure of both the pathways. 20
(c) How does high-tech horticulture technology play role in enhancing resource use efficiency and farmers' income?

Q7. (a) Give a brief account of major pests and diseases of mango with their management measures.
(b) Suggest the measures to prevent the spread of exotic pests and diseases in the country.
(c) Differentiate between symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation. How does symbiotic nitrogen fixation take place in crop plants?

Q8. (a) What are various ways of value addition in fruits and vegetables?
(b) What is protein energy malnutrition? Give micronutrient deficiency in women and children.
(c) What is food security? Indicate the major constraints in food procurement and distribution.