IAS Mains Previous Years Paper : Agriculture (2003)

PAPER - I
SECTION A
1. Write short notes in about 200 words each on any three of the following:
(20 x 3 = 60)
(a) Sustainable agriculture
(b) Environmental pollution hazards to crops
(c) Shifting cultivation and Taungya system
(d) Fixation of phosphorus and potassium in soil

2. Write the characteristics and process of formation of acidic soil. What part of India is affected by acidic soils? How these soils can be cultivated for efficient crop production? (60)

3. What are the losses caused by weeds? Suggest chemical control of weeds in direct sown and transplanted rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane and soybean. (60)

4. Give in tabular form seeding time, seeding rate, spacing, fertilizer and average yield per hectare in India of maize, wheat, cotton, potato, pigeonpea and groundnut for higher production. (60)

SECTION B
5. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each:
(20 x 3 = 60)
(a) Water harvesting and run-off recycling
(b) Carbon: Nitrogen ratio
(c) Law of diminishing return
(d) Cooperative marketing and regulated market

6. What are the major challenges in agriculture and food security in our quest for elevating and stabilising crop yields and remunerative self-employment? Suggest measures which can help to meet these challenges. (60)

7. Differentiate dryland agriculture from rainfed agriculture. Suggest soil and water conservation measures and management practices to improve productivity in dryland areas. (60)

8 What is water use efficiency? Enlist the factors affecting water use efficiency. Suggest measures to increase water use efficiency in crops. (60)

PAPER - II
SECTION A
1. Answer any THREE of the following in about 200 words each:
(a) Define the chromosome theory of hereditary and discuss about inter chromosomal linkage.
(b) Discuss the role of biotechnology in hybrid and improved varieties production in crops and explain the hybrid vigour.
(c) Discuss in detail the storage pest problem of pulses and their control.
(d) Define the host plant resistance and discuss about its importance in cropping system.

2. (a) Describe the causal organism, life history, nature of damage and control of powdery mildew disease of grapes.
(b) Discuss the mechanism and management of insecticidal resistance in insect pest.
(c) Describe the breeding procedures which -are used for producing new varieties of self pollinated crops.

3. (a) Describe the role of polyploidy in plant breeding.
(b) Discuss the foundation and certified seed production.
(c) Describe the causes and control of mango malformation.

4. Write notes on the following:
(a) Osmotic pressure cell sap
(b) Plant pigments
(c) Pollination and Fertilization
(d) National and International food policies

SECTION B
5. (a) Define the nucleic acids and discuss their structure and functions.
(b) Describe the cultivation of roses and its marketing.
(c) Discuss the role of photoperiodism and vernalization.

6. Explain the following with examples:
(a) Combining ability and its significance in plant breeding
(b) Fruit production, processing and distribution in India
(c) Marketing problems of fruits and vegetables in India

7. Comments in detail:
(a) Mass and recurrent selection
(b) Layout of lawn and garden
(c) Red rot of sugarcane

8. Write notes on:
(a) Germination and dormancy
(b) The role of vegetables in human nutrition
(c) Mutant varieties