The UPSC Optional Syllabus of Agriculture consists of two papers, Paper I and Paper II, each carrying a weightage of 250 marks. Both the papers are divided into different sections, and candidates must choose one subject from each section. Let us look into the details of each paper.
UPSC Agriculture Optional Syllabus
UPSC Agriculture’s syllabus includes subjects like Forestry, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Plant Genetics etc. Agriculture is considered a technical subject and is ideal for those interested in farming and other agricultural activities. Additionally, most of the questions asked from the UPSC Agriculture Optional course are direct and predictable, guaranteeing good results.
| UPSC Agriculture Syllabus | Topics |
| Paper I | EcologyAgronomy Forestry Weed Science Soil Science and Nutrient Management Soil and Water Conservation Agricultural Economics Agricultural Extension |
| Paper II | Cell Biology/ Plant Genetics Plant Breeding Seed Production and Technology Plant Physiology Horticulture and Landscaping Plant Protection Food Production and Nutrition Management |
UPSC Agriculture Optional Syllabus for Paper-I
Ecology
- Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation.
- Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production.
- Agro ecology; cropping pattern as indicators of environments.
- Environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans.
- Climate change—International conventions and global initiatives.
- Greenhouse effect and global warming.
- Advanced tools for ecosystem analysis—Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Agronomy
- Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country.
- Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns.
- Concepts of various cropping, and farming systems.
- Organic and Precision farming. Package of practices for production of important cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibres, sugar, commercial and fodder crops.
Forestry
- Important features, and scope of various types of forestry plantations such as social forestry, agroforestry, and natural forests: Propagation of forest plants.
- Forest products.
- Agro-forestry and value addition.
- Conservation of forest flora and fauna.
Weed Science
- Weeds, their characteristics, dissemination and association with various crops; their multiplications; cultural, biological, and chemical control of weeds.
Soil Science and Nutrient Management
- Soil—physical, chemical and biological properties.
- Processes and factors of soil formation.
- soils of India.
- Mineral and organic constituents of soils and their role in maintaining soil productivity.
- Essential plant nutrients and other beneficial elements in soils and plants.
- Principles of soil fertility, soil testing and fertiliser recommendations, integrated nutrient management Biofertilizers.
- Losses of nitrogen in soil, nitrogen-use efficiency in submerged rice soils, and nitrogen fixation in soils.
- Efficient phosphorus and potassium use. Problem soils and their reclamation.
- Soil factors affecting greenhouse gas emission.
Soil and Water Conservation
- Soil conservation, integrated watershed management.
- Soil erosion and its management. Dry land agriculture and its problems.
- Technology for stabilising agriculture production in rainfed areas.
- Water-use efficiency with crop production, criteria for scheduling irrigations, ways and means of reducing run-off losses of irrigation water.
- Rainwater harvesting.
- Drip and sprinkler irrigation.
- Drainage of water-logged soils, quality of irrigation water, the effect of industrial effluents on soil and water pollution.
- Irrigation projects in India.
Agricultural Economics
- Farm management, scope, importance and characteristics, farm planning.
- Optimum resource use and budgeting. Economics of different types of farming systems.
- Marketing management strategies for development, and market intelligence.
- Price fluctuations and their cost; role of co-operatives in agricultural economy; types and systems of farming and factors affecting them.
- Agricultural price policy.
- Crop Insurance.
Agricultural Extension
- Agricultural extension, its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programmes, socio-economic survey and status of big, small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers; Training programmes for extension workers.
- Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in the dissemination of Agricultural technologies.
- Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and self-help group approach for rural development.
UPSC Agriculture Optional Syllabus for Paper-II
Cell Biology/Plant Genetics
- Cell structure, function and cell cycle.
- Synthesis, structure and function of genetic material.
- Laws of Heredity.
- Chromosome structure, chromosomal aberrations, linkage and cross-over, and their significance in recombination breeding. Polyploidy, euploids and aneuploids.
- Mutation—and their role in crop improvement.
- Heritability, sterility and incompatibility, classification and their application in crop improvement.
- Cytoplasmic inheritance, sex-linked, sex-influenced and sex-limited characters.
Plant Breeding
- History of plant breeding. Modes of reproduction, selfing and crossing techniques.
- Origin, evolution and domestication of crop plants, center of origin, the law of homologous series, crop genetic resources— conservation and utilization.
- Application of principles of plant breeding, and improvement of crop plants.
- Molecular markers and their application in plant improvement.
- Pure-line selection, pedigree, mass and recurrent selections, combining ability, and its significance in plant breeding.
- Heterosis and its exploitation. Somatic hybridization.
- Breeding for disease and pest resistance.
- Role of interspecific and intergeneric hybridization.
- Role of genetic engineering and biotechnology in crop improvement Genetically modified crop plants.
Seed Production and Technology
- Seed production and processing technologies.
- Seed certification, Seed testing and storage.
- DNA finger printing and seed registration.
- Role of public and private sectors in seed production, and marketing.
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues, WTO issues and its impact on Agriculture.
Plant Physiology
- Principles of Plant Physiology regarding plant nutrition, absorption, translocation and metabolism of nutrients.
- Soil-water-plant relationship.
- Enzymes and plant pigments; photosynthesis—modern concepts and factors affecting aerobic and anaerobic respiration; C3, C4 and CAM mechanisms.
- Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.
- Growth and development; photoperiodism and vernalization.
- Plant growth substances and their role in crop production.
- Physiology of seed development and germination; dormancy.
- Stress physiology—draught, salt and water stress.
Horticulture and Landscaping
- Major fruits, plantation crops, vegetables, spices and flower crops.
- Package practices of major horticultural crops.
- Protected cultivation and high-tech horticulture.
- Post-harvest technology and value addition of fruits and vegetables.
- Landscaping and commercial floriculture.
- Medicinal and aromatic plants.
- Role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition.
Plant Protection
- Diagnosis of pests and diseases of field crops, vegetables, orchard and plantation crops and their economic importance.
- Classification of pests and diseases and their management.
- Integrated pest and disease management.
- Storage pests and their management.
- Biological control of pests and diseases.
- Epidemiology and forecasting of major crop pests and diseases.
- Plant quarantine measures.
- Pesticides, their formulation and modes of action.
Food Production and Nutrition Management
- Food production and consumption trends in India.
- Food security and growing population—vision 2020.
- Reasons for grain surplus. National and International food policies.
- Production, procurement, and distribution constraints.
- Availability of food grains, per capita expenditure on food.
- Trends in poverty, Public Distribution System and Below Poverty Line population, Targeted Public Distribution System (PDS), policy implementation in context to globalization. Processing constraints.
- Relation of food production to National Dietary Guidelines and food consumption patterns.
- Food-based dietary approaches to eliminate hunger.
- Nutrient deficiency—Micro nutrient deficiency: Protein Energy Malnutrition or Protein Calorie Malnutrition (PEM or PCM), Micro nutrient deficiency and HRD in the context of work capacity of women and children.
- Food grain productivity and food security.
Tips to Prepare for UPSC Agriculture Syllabus
- Understand the syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the entire syllabus and identify the areas where you need more attention. This will help you plan your preparation strategy accordingly.
- Solve Previous Year Question Papers: Practice solving previous years’ question papers to understand the exam pattern and type of questions asked. This will also help in time management during actual examinations.
- Seek Guidance: If necessary, enrol in coaching institutes or seek guidance from experienced mentors who can provide valuable insights and strategies to tackle the UPSC Agriculture Optional syllabus.
- Practice Regularly: Dedicate adequate time to practice solving agricultural problems. This will improve your speed and accuracy and increase your understanding of various concepts.
- Develop Short Notes: Prepare short notes on important theorems, formulas and concepts. These notes will serve as quick revision material during the last days before the exam.
- Test Yourself: Give regular mock tests to assess your preparation level and identify areas that need improvement. Analyze your performance and work on your weaknesses.
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