(Paper) IAS Mains Previous Years Paper : Agriculture (2002)

IAS Mains Previous Years Paper : Agriculture (2002)

PAPER - I
SECTION A
1. Write short notes in about 200 words each on any three of the following:
(a) Production Economics
(b) Producer's Surplus
(c) Integrated Nutrient Management
(d) Role of Agricultural Extension

2. What are the advantages and principle characteristic of farm planning? Name the different techniques which can be used for farm planning under ideal conditions.

3. Suggest suitable measures for evergreen revolution on sustainable basis to meet food and nutritional requirements in the new millenium.

4. Discuss the criteria for scheduling irrigation in field crops. Give their merits and demerits also.

SECTION B
5. Write short notes in about 200 words each on any three of the following:
(a) Crop Diversification
(b) Azolla as Bio-fertilizer
(c) Land Equivalent Ratio
(d) Wind Erosion

6. Why is rice-wheat cropping sequence considered important among other crop sequences in the country? Describe briefly the limiting factors and remedial measures associated with this crop sequence for their higher production.

7. Give in tabular form sowing time, seed rate, spacing, fertilizer and irrigation schedules of paddy, wheat, pigeon pea, mustard, linseed and berseem for their higher productivity.

8. Write the role of dryland agriculture and its problems. Briefly describe the suitable technologies for increasing and stabilising agricultural production from such areas on watershed basis.

PAPER - II
SECTION A
1. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each:
(a) Define dichogamy. Describe in brief protogyny and protandry.
(b) What is self-incompatibility? Describe in brief the mechanism of self incompatibility.
(c) What is biometry? Discuss the usefulness of biometrical techniques to the plant breeders.
(d) Define hybridization. Describe in- brief the various types of hybridization.

2. (a) Describe in brief emasculation and discuss the various methods of emasculation.
(b) What is inbreeding? Discuss in brief the effects of inbreeding.
(c) Define mass selection. Explain the procedure of mass selection and discuss its merits and demerits.

3. (a) Briefly describe the bulk method of breeding and its applications in crop improvement programme.
(b) Discuss in brief the progeny selection and describe its merits and demerits.
(c) Define and discuss plant growth regulators and their use in agriculture.

4. Write short notes on the following:
(a) Transgenic plants
(b) Pheromones
(c) Disease complex of cotton

SECTION B
5. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words:
(a) Define and discuss insecticide resistance management (I. R. M.) for a pest.
(b) Define Grain storage and describe integrated pest management of a storage pest.
(c) Discuss in brief the package of practices for the cultivation of tomato.
(d) Briefly describe the Indian Seed Act (1966).

6. Describe the nature of damage, life history and management of following insect-pests and diseases:
(a) Melong fruit fly
(b) Spotted ball worm of cotton
(c) Rice Tungro Virus

7. (a) List the various international agencies and institutes concerned with the improvement of agriculture production. Briefly describe the objectives and functions of any two of them.
(b) Give an account in brief on Genetically Modified Crops.
(c) Discuss in brief the post harvest losses in fruits and vegetables, and the measures to minimize these losses.

8. Write short notes on the following:
(a) Carbamate insecticides
(b) Methods of raising ornamental plants
(c) Neem in pests control