(Download) UPSC MAIN EXAM : 2020 AGRICULTURE (Paper-2)


(Download) CS (MAIN) EXAM:2020 AGRICULTURE (Paper II)

  • Exam Name: CS (MAIN) EXAM:2020  AGRICULTURE (Paper II)
  • Marks: 250
  • Time Allowed : Three Hours

SECTION ‘A’

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

(a) Differentiate between the following 

  • (i) Varietal seed production and Hybrid seed production  
  • (ii) Conventional and Molecular breeding  

(b) What is mass selection ? Discuss its applications in varietal improvement.  
(c) Enumerate factors responsible for absorption of nutrients by plants.Explain the mechanism of absorption of nutrients.   
(d) Define synthetic variety. Diseuss the operations involved in the production of synthetic varieties. 10  Jes  
(e) Describe çhromosome under the following headings :

(i) Chromosome number  

(ii) Chemical constituents of chromosomes  

(iii) Chromomere  

(iv) Y chromosomes  

Q2.(a) Explain self-incompatibility and its mechanism. Discuss relevance of self-incompatibility in plant breeding.

(b) What do you understand by the term seed quality' ? Describe the regulatory and certification systems that are in place to ensure seed quality. 

(c) Bnumerate various types of structural chromosomal aberrations with their types, Give detailed account of inversion-type structural aberration. 

Q3.(a) Explain the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001. Give an account of protection provided to farmers, breeders and indigenous property rights under this Act.  

(b) Describe the applications of mutation breeding. Also discuss the limitations of this approach of plant breeding. 

(c) Describe the role of molecular markers and marker-assisted selection in crop improvement. 

Q4.(a) Define plant nutrition. Give an account of essential and beneficial nutrients to plants and their status in Indian soils.

(b) What do you understand by 'genetically modified crop plants' ? Give an account of their uses in management of insect-pests, diseases and weeds.  

(c)  Write short notes on the following:  

(i) Sex-linkage  

(ii) Double cross-over  

(iii) Autosome  

(iv) Cytoplasmic male sterility  

(v)Aneuploids  

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SECTION 'B'

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

(a) Ditferentiate between the following:

(i) Plant hormones and Synthetic plant-growth regulators  

(ii) C3 and C4 plants  

(b) Give a brief account of the effects of drought aud salt stfess on growth and development of erops.  

(c) What is meant by physiological disorders ? Describe physiological disorders of potato  

(d) Discuss the scope and importance of roof-gardening in cities.  

(e) Discuss the role of nutri-cereals in managing malnutrition in India. 

Q6.(a) Classify pesticides according to target pests. Describe the trend in  pesticide consumption in India. 

(b) Describe mango cultivation with respect to propagation, biennial intercroppin8 bearing, fruit drop and black-tip.

(c) What is Public Distribution System (PDS) and what are How its,objectives ? does targeted public distribution system overcome problems with  PDS ?  

Q7.(a) What are the major constraints of food production in lndia ? How will  National Food Policy help in sustainable food security ? 

(b) List biotic and abiotic causes of plant diseases. Give an account of the  elassification of major physiological processes aftected by diseases and symptom types.  

(c) Define plant growth regulators. Elaborate their applications with  suitable examples. 

Q8.(a) Give a brief account of tomato cultivation with respect to climate and soils, sowing time, and nutrient, water and post-harvest management.   

(b) What are the causes of post-harvest deterioration of flowers ? Elaborate  the techniques to enhance shelf-life of flowers. 

(c) Give an account of steps taken by the government to cope up with  constraints in procurement and marketing of agriculture produce. 

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