UPSC Mains 2019 Agriculture Optional Paper II questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Agriculture Optional PYQs

Define mutation. Write its classification and role in cropimprovement.
10 marks
Define dormant and hard seeds. Describe the physiological basis of seed dormancy along with methods to overcome this problem.
10 marks
What makes a nutrient element become essential for plant growth and development? Which is the latest addition in the existing list of 16 essential plant nutrients? Mention its deficiency symptoms and functions.
10 marks
How is the patent system different from plant variety protection system?
10 marks
Enlist the storage pests of pulses with their nature of damage. Write their management practices.
10 marks
What are the major components that constitute cell structure? Describe their functions.
20 marks
Define pedigree method and give its importance in crop improvement, with suitable examples.
15 marks
Write important objectives of seed testing along with the methods used for testing of seed viability, seed vigour and genetic purity of a variety.
15 marks
Explain the role of plant growth substances in the various developmental stages of a plant with special reference to horticultural crops.
20 marks
Discuss the reasons for food grain surplus. Describe food grain production and consumption trends in India.
15 marks
Explain sterility systems in crop plants. Describe the role of male sterility in hybrid seed production in vegetable crops with suitable examples.
15 marks
Write the various methods of plant breeding and describe the back cross method with its importance in development of crop varieties.
20 marks
Describe the various types of field and seed standards followed in seed production and certification programmes.
15 marks
Name the major fruit crops along with the states commercially growing these crops. Describe the package of practices for papaya cultivation in India.
15 marks
How are vitamins classified? Name the blood clotting vitamin. Give its various functions and sources.
10 marks
What is polyploidy? Describe its application in crop improvement with its limitations.
10 marks
Describe the role of plant genetic resources conservation in crop improvement.
10 marks
Write the merits and limitations of using genetically modified crops. Present a brief account on the application of GM technology in India.
10 marks
"The rate of transpiration governs the growth of a plant." Justify the statement with reasoning for how transpiration is influenced by the environment.
10 marks
Define protected cultivation along with its major advantages and challenges for adoption in India. Describe the plastic low tunnel technology for off-season cultivation of vegetables.
20 marks
Describe various Laws of Heredity. Explain the Law of Independent Assortment with suitable examples.
15 marks
Write in detail about bacterial diseases of crop plants and their suitable management practices.
15 marks
Give the present status of vegetable cultivation in India and describe the package of practices of rabi and kharif onion cultivation in India.
20 marks
What is pesticide resistance? Differentiate between simple and multiple resistance in insect pests with examples. Prescribe measures to overcome pesticide resistance problems.
15 marks
Describe gene pyramiding and gene introgression with their importance in developing disease resistant varieties.
15 marks
Name the commercial floriculture crops being grown in India. Describe the package of practices of year round cultivation of chrysanthemum in India.
20 marks
Elaborate the role of seed industry in the development of Indian agriculture.
15 marks
Write the principles of biological control of plant pathogens. Describe the recent trends in bio-control strategies in the field of crop disease management.
15 marks

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