IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19

Agriculture
For IAS/IFoS Optional
Programme features-
 Complete syllabus covered
 Analysis of previous 10 years question papers.
 Ten (10) mock tests/module wise Test Series
with model answer.
 Faculty- R S MAITRY, ARS Scientist/IARI Alumni
(roopsinghmaitry.com)
 Hand/Class Notes/printed study materials
 Professional and limited seat teaching
Class Start : ____________________
Course duration : _____ days / _____ days
Class timing: _____ pm to _____ pm
Class duration: 2 hours

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IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

Syllabus for AGRICULTURE Optional (CSE Mains) Paper-I

I Paper I Natural Resource Management
A1 Agronomy & Crop Production
A. Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources,
their sustainable management and conservation.
B. Physical and social environment as factors of crop
distribution and production.
C. Agro ecology;
D. Cropping pattern as indicators of environments.
E. Environmental pollution and associated hazards to
crops, animals and humans.
F. Climate change – International conventions and global
initiatives.
G. Green house effect and global warming.
H. Advance tools for ecosystem analysis – Remote sensing
(RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
I. Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the
country.
J. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on
shifts in cropping patterns.
K. Concepts of various cropping and farming systems.
L. Organic and Precision farming.
M. Package of practices for production of important
cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibres, sugar, commercial and
fodder crops.
A2 Forestry & Agroforestry
A. Important features and scope of various types of
forestry plantations such as social forestry, agro-
forestry, and natural forests.
B. Propagation of forest plants.
C. Forest products.
D. Agro forestry and value addition.
E. Conservation of forest flora and Fauna
A3 Weed Management
A. Weeds,
B. Characteristics of Weeds,
C. Dissemination and association of Weeds with various
crops;
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IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

D. Multiplications of Weeds;
E. Cultural, biological and chemical control of weeds.
A4 Soil Science
A. Soil- physical, chemical and biological properties.
B. Processes and factors of soil formation.
C. Soils of India.
D. Mineral and organic constituents of soils and their role
in maintaining soil productivity.
E. Essential plant nutrients and other beneficial elements
in soils and plants.
F. Principles of soil fertility,
G. Soil testing and fertilizer recommendations,
H. Integrated nutrient management.
I. Biofertilizers.
J. Losses of nitrogen in soil,
K. Nitrogen-use efficiency in submerged rice soils, nitrogen
fixation in soils.
L. Efficient phosphorus and potassium use.
M. Problem soils and their reclamation.
N. Soil factors affecting greenhouse gas emission.
O. Soil conservation,
P. Integrated watershed management.
Q. Soil erosion and its management.
A5 Dryland Agriculture
A. Dry land agriculture and its problems.
B. Technology for stabilizing agriculture production in rain
fed areas.
C. Water-use efficiency in relation to crop production,
D. Criteria for scheduling irrigations, ways and means of
reducing run-off losses of irrigation water.
E. Rainwater harvesting.
F. Drip and sprinkler irrigation.
G. Drainage of waterlogged soils,
H. Quality of irrigation water,
I. Effect of industrial effluents on soil and water pollution.
J. Irrigation projects in India.
A6 Agricultural Economy:
A. Farm management, scope, importance and
characteristics, farm planning.
B. Optimum resource use and budgeting.
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 IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

C. Economics of different types of farming systems.

D. Marketing management – strategies for development,
market intelligence.
E. Price fluctuations and their cost;
F. Role of co-operatives in agricultural economy;
G. Types and systems of farming and factors affecting
them.
H. Agricultural price policy.
I. Crop Insurance
A7 Agricultural extension:
A. Agricultural extension,
B. Its importance and role,
C. Methods of evaluation of extension programmes,
D. Socioeconomic survey and status of big, small and
marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers.
E. Training programmes for extension workers.
F. Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in dissemination of
Agricultural technologies.
G. Non Government Organization (NGO) and self-help
group approach for rural development.

Standard Authentic Reference Books

SN Std. Reference Books Author
1. Handbook of Agriculture ICAR
2. Principles of Agronomy S R Reddy
3. Textbook of Soil Science ICAR
4. 50 Years of Crop Production ICAR
5. Annual Report – Latest Mini. of Agri. & farmers welfare
6. Annual Report – Latest Min. of Food and Consumer affairs
7. Annual Report – Latest Min.of Envi., Forest & Climate change
8. Annual Report – Latest ICAR
9. Annual Report – Latest IARI
10. States of Indian Agriculture Latest Min. of Agriculture and farmers welfare
11. Union Budget Latest Govt of India
12. Economic Survey Latest Govt of India

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IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

Syllabus for AGRICULTURE Optional (CSE Mains) Paper-II

II Paper II Crop Science

A1 Genetics:
A. Cell structure,
B. Cell function and cell cycle.
C. Synthesis, structure and function of genetic
material.
D. Laws of heredity.
E. Chromosome structure,
F. Chromosomal aberrations,
G. Linkage and cross-over, and their significance in
recombination breeding.
H. Polyploidy, euploids and aneuploids.
I. Mutations – and their role in crop improvement.
J. Heritability, Sterility and incompatibility,
classification and their application in crop
improvement.
K. Cytoplasmic inheritance,
L. Sex-linked, sex-influenced and sex-limited
characters
A2 Plant Breeding:
A. History of plant breeding.
B. Modes of reproduction, selfing and crossing
techniques.
C. Origin, evolution and domestication of crop
plants,
D. Center of origin,
E. Law of homologous series,
F. Crop genetic resources- conservation and
utilization.
G. Application of principles of plant breeding,
H. Improvement of crop plants.
I. Molecular markers and their application in plant
improvement.
J. Pure-line selection, pedigree, mass and recurrent
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IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

selections,
K. Combining ability, its significance in plant
breeding.
L. Heterosis and its exploitation.
M. Somatic hybridization.
N. Breeding for disease and pest resistance.
O. Role of interspecific and intergeneric
hybridization.
P. Role of genetic engineering and biotechnology in
crop improvement.
Q. Genetically modified crop plants.
A3 Seed Science:
A. Seed production and processing technologies.
B. Seed certification, seed testing and storage.
C. DNA finger printing and seed registration.
D. Role of public and private sectors in seed
production and marketing.
E. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues, WTO
issues and its impact on Agriculture.
F. Principles of Plant Physiology with reference to
plant nutrition, absorption, translocation and
metabolism of nutrients.
G. Soil water-plant relationship.
A4 Biochemistry and Plant Physiology:
A. Enzymes and plant pigments;
B. Photosynthesis-modern concepts and factors
affecting the process, aerobic and anaerobic
respiration;
C. C3, C4 and CAM mechanisms.
D. Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.
E. Growth and development;
F. Photoperiodism and vernalilzation.
G. Plant growth substances and their role in crop
production.
H. Physiology of seed development and germination;
I. Dormancy.
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IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

J. Stress physiology – draught, salt and water stress.

A5 Horticulture:
A. Major fruits, Plantation crops,
B. Vegetables, Spices and Flower crops.
C. Package practices of major horticultural crops.
D. Protected cultivation and high tech horticulture.
E. Post harvest technology and value addition of
fruits and vegetables.
F. Landscaping and commercial floriculture.
G. Medicinal and aromatic plants.
H. Role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition.
A6 Crop Protections:
A. Diagnosis of pests and diseases of field crops and
their economic importance
B. Diagnosis of pests and diseases of vegetables and
their economic importance
C. Diagnosis of pests and diseases of orchard and
plantation crops and their economic importance.
D. Classification of pests and diseases and their
management.
E. Integrated pest and disease management.
F. Storage pests and their management.
G. Biological control of pests and diseases.
H. Epidemiology and forecasting of major crop pests
and diseases.
I. Plant quarantine measures.
J. Pesticides, their formulation and modes of action
A7 Food Science:
A. Food production and consumption trends in India.
B. Food security and growing population – vision
2020.
C. Reasons for grain surplus.
D. National and international food policies.
E. Production, procurement, distribution
constraints.
F. Availability of food grains, per capita expenditure
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 IAS/IFoS Exam Target 2018-19 AGRICULTURE(Optional)

on food.
G. Trends in poverty,
H. Public Distribution System and
I. Below Poverty Line population,
J. Targeted Public Distribution System (PDS),
K. Policy implementation in context to globalization.
L. Processing constraints.
M. Relation of food production to National Dietary
Guidelines and food consumption pattern.
N. Food based dietary approaches to eliminate
hunger.
O. Nutrient deficiency –
P. Micro nutrient deficiency:
Q. Protein Energy Malnutrition or
R. Protein Calorie Malnutrition (PEM or PCM)
S. Micro nutrient deficiency and HRD in context of
work capacity of women and children.
H. Food grain productivity
I. Food security.

Standard Authentic Reference Books

SN Std. Reference Books Author
13. Handbook of Horticulture ICAR
14. 50 Years of Crop Science ICAR
15. Genetics and Plant Breeding B D Singh
16. Plant Biotechnology B D Singh
17. Plant Physiology Teiz and Ziger
18. Crop protection ICAR
19. Annual Report – Latest Min. of Agriculture and farmers welfare
20. Annual Report – Latest Mini. of Food and Consumer affairs
21. Annual Report – Latest ICAR
22. Annual Report – Latest IARI
23. Annual Report – Latest National Institute of Plant Health (GoI)
24. States of Indian Agriculture Latest Min. of Agriculture and farmers welfare
25. Annual Report – Latest National Horticultural Board
26. Economic Survey Latest Govt of India

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