Syllabus for IAS Agriculture Optional Paper

1.1.0 Agronomy & Crop Production

1.1.1 Ecology and Its Relevance to Man, Natural Resources, Their Sustainable Management, and Conservation

1.1.2 Physical and Social Environment as Factors of Crop Distribution and Production

1.1.3 Agroecology

1.1.4 Cropping Patterns as Indicators of Environments

1.1.5 Environmental Pollution and Associated Hazards to Crops, Animals, and Humans

1.1.6 Climate Change, International Conventions, and Global Initiatives

1.1.7 Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

1.1.8 Advanced Tools for Ecosystem Analysis: Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

1.1.9 Cropping Patterns in Different Agro-Climatic Zones of the Country

1.1.10 Impact of High-Yielding and Short-Duration Varieties on Shifts in Cropping Patterns

1.1.11 Concepts of Various Cropping and Farming Systems

1.1.12 Organic Farming and Precision Farming

1.1.13 Package of Practices for Production of Important Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds, Fibres, Sugar, Commercial, and Fodder Crops

1.2.0 Forestry & Agroforestry

1.2.1 Important Features and Scope of Various Types of Forestry Plantations such as Social Forestry, Agroforestry, and Natural Forests

1.2.2 Propagation of Forest Plants

1.2.3 Forest Products

1.2.4 Agroforestry and Value Addition

1.2.5 Conservation of Forest Flora and Fauna

1.3.0 Weed Management

1.3.1 Weeds and Their Characteristics

1.3.2 Dissemination and Association of Weeds with Various Crops

1.3.3 Multiplication of Weeds

1.3.4 Cultural, Biological, and Chemical Control of Weeds

1.4.0 Soil Science

1.4.1 Soil: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties

1.4.2 Processes and Factors of Soil Formation

1.4.3 Soils of India

1.4.4 Mineral and Organic Constituents of Soils and Their Role in Maintaining Soil Productivity

1.4.5 Essential Plant Nutrients and Other Beneficial Elements in Soils and Plants

1.4.6 Principles of Soil Fertility

1.4.7 Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendations

1.4.8 Integrated Nutrient Management

1.4.9 Biofertilizers

1.4.10 Losses of Nitrogen in the Soil

1.4.11 Nitrogen-Use Efficiency in Submerged Rice Soils

1.4.12 Nitrogen Fixation in Soils

1.4.13 Efficient Phosphorus and Potassium Use

1.4.14 Problem Soils and Their Reclamation

1.4.15 Soil Factors Affecting Greenhouse Gas Emission

1.4.16 Soil Conservation

1.4.17 Integrated Watershed Management

1.4.18 Soil Erosion and Its Management

1.5.0 Dryland Agriculture

1.5.1 Dryland Agriculture and Its Problems

1.5.2 Technology for Stabilizing Agricultural Production in Rainfed Areas

1.5.3 Water-Use Efficiency in Relation to Crop Production

1.5.4 Criteria for Scheduling Irrigations

1.5.5 Ways and Means of Reducing Runoff Losses of Irrigation Water

1.5.6 Rainwater Harvesting

1.5.7 Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation

1.5.8 Drainage of Waterlogged Soils

1.5.9 Quality of Irrigation Water

1.5.10 Effect of Industrial Effluents on Soil and Water Pollution

1.5.11 Irrigation Projects in India

1.6.0 Agricultural Economy

1.6.1 Farm Management: Scope, Importance, and Characteristics

1.6.2 Farm Planning

1.6.3 Optimum Resource Use and Budgeting

1.6.4 Economics of Different Types of Farming Systems

1.6.5 Marketing Management: Strategies for Development and Market Intelligence

1.6.6 Price Fluctuations and Their Cost

1.6.7 Role of Cooperatives in the Agricultural Economy

1.6.8 Types and Systems of Farming and Factors Affecting Them

1.6.9 Agricultural Price Policy

1.6.10 Crop Insurance

1.7.0 Agricultural Extension

1.7.1 Agricultural Extension: Importance and Role

1.7.2 Methods of Evaluation of Extension Programmes

1.7.3 Socio-Economic Survey and Status of Big, Small, and Marginal Farmers and Landless Agricultural Labourers

1.7.4 Training Programmes for Extension Workers

1.7.5 Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the Dissemination of Agricultural Technologies

1.7.6 Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Self-Help Group Approach for Rural Development

2.1.0 Genetics

2.1.1 Cell Structure, Function, and Cell Cycle

2.1.2 Synthesis, Structure, and Function of Genetic Material

2.1.3 Laws of Heredity

2.1.4 Chromosome Structure

2.1.5 Chromosomal Aberrations

2.1.6 Linkage and Crossover, and Their Significance in Recombination Breeding

2.1.7 Polyploidy, Euploidy, and Aneuploidy

2.1.8 Mutations and Their Role in Crop Improvement

2.1.9 Heritability, Sterility, Incompatibility, Classification, and Their Application in Crop Improvement

2.1.10 Cytoplasmic Inheritance

2.1.11 Sex-Linked, Sex-Influenced, and Sex-Limited Characters

2.2.0 Plant Breeding

2.2.1 History of Plant Breeding

2.2.2 Modes of Reproduction, Selfing, and Crossing Techniques

2.2.3 Origin, Evolution, and Domestication of Crop Plants, Centre of Origin, Law of Homologous Series, Crop Genetic Resources – Conservation and Utilization

2.2.4 Application of Principles of Plant Breeding and Improvement of Crop Plants

2.2.5 Molecular Markers and Their Application in Plant Improvement

2.2.6 Pure-Line Selection, Pedigree, Mass, and Recurrent Selections

2.2.7 Combining Ability and Its Significance in Plant Breeding

2.2.8 Heterosis and Its Exploitation

2.2.9 Somatic Hybridization

2.2.10 Breeding for Disease and Pest Resistance

2.2.11 Role of Interspecific and Intergeneric Hybridization

2.2.12 Role of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Crop Improvement

2.2.13 Genetically Modified Crop Plants

2.3.0 Seed Science

2.3.1 Seed Production and Processing Technologies

2.3.2 Seed Certification, Seed Testing, and Storage

2.3.3 DNA Fingerprinting and Seed Registration

2.3.4 Role of Public and Private Sectors in Seed Production and Marketing

2.3.5 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Issues, WTO Issues, and Their Impact on Agriculture

2.4.0 Biochemistry and Plant Physiology

2.4.1 Principles of Plant Physiology with Reference to Plant Nutrition, Absorption, Translocation, and Metabolism of Nutrients

2.4.2 Soil–Water–Plant Relationship

2.4.3 Enzymes and Plant Pigments

2.4.4 Photosynthesis: Modern Concepts and Factors Affecting the Process

2.4.5 Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

2.4.6 C₃, C₄, and CAM Mechanisms

2.4.7 Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat Metabolism

2.4.8 Growth and Development

2.4.9 Photoperiodism and Vernalization

2.4.10 Plant Growth Substances and Their Role in Crop Production

2.4.11 Physiology of Seed Development, Germination, and Seed Dormancy

2.4.12 Stress Physiology: Drought, Salt, and Water Stress

2.5.0 Horticulture

2.5.1 Major Fruits, Plantation Crops, Vegetables, Spices, and Flower Crops

2.5.2 Package Practices of Major Horticultural Crops

2.5.3 Protected Cultivation and High-Tech Horticulture

2.5.4 Post-Harvest Technology and Value Addition of Fruits and Vegetables

2.5.5 Landscaping and Commercial Floriculture

2.5.6 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

2.5.7 Role of Fruits and Vegetables in Human Nutrition

2.6.0 Crop Protection

2.6.1 Diagnosis of Pests and Diseases of Field Crops, Vegetables, Orchards, and Plantation Crops and Their Economic Importance

2.6.2 Classification of Pests and Diseases and Their Management

2.6.3 Integrated Pest and Disease Management

2.6.4 Storage Pests and Their Management

2.6.5 Biological Control of Pests and Diseases

2.6.6 Epidemiology and Forecasting of Major Crop Pests and Diseases

2.6.7 Plant Quarantine Measures

2.6.8 Pesticides, Their Formulation, and Modes of Action

2.7.0 Food Science

2.7.1 Food Production and Consumption Trends in India

2.7.2 Food Security and Growing Population: Vision 2020

2.7.3 Reasons for Grain Surplus

2.7.4 National and International Food Policies

2.7.5 Production, Procurement, and Distribution Constraints

2.7.6 Availability of Food Grains and Per Capita Expenditure on Food

2.7.7 Trends in Poverty, Public Distribution System, Below Poverty Line Population, and Targeted Public Distribution System (PDS)

2.7.8 Policy Implementation in the Context of Globalization

2.7.9 Processing Constraints

2.7.10 Relation of Food Production to National Dietary Guidelines and Food Consumption Patterns

2.7.11 Food-Based Dietary Approaches to Eliminate Hunger

2.7.12 Nutrient Deficiency: Macronutrient Deficiency, Protein-Energy Malnutrition or Protein-Calorie Malnutrition (PEM or PCM)

2.7.13 Micronutrient Deficiency and HRD in the Context of Work Capacity of Women and Children

2.7.14 Food Grain Productivity and Food Security