UPSC CSE Mains Exam 2017 Agriculture Optional Paper 1

 

UPSC CSE Mains Exam 2017 Agriculture Optional Paper 1

SECTION A

Q1. Describe the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50

Q1.(a) Precision farming (10 Marks)

Q1.(b) Ecological principles for productive and sustainable agriculture (10 Marks)

Q1.(c) Greenhouse effect and global warming (10 Marks)

Q1.(d) Role of Bt cotton in cotton production (10 Marks)

Q1.(e) Soil health (10 Marks)

Q2.(a) How are plant nutrients classified? What role do they play in crop productivity? (20 Marks)

Q2.(b) What is organic farming? How does it help in sustaining the soil fertility and crop productivity? (20 Marks)

Q2.(c) Describe the method of biological weed control with suitable examples. (10 Marks)

Q3.(a) Describe the technologies for seeded and transplanted rice production. (20 Marks)

Q3.(b) Describe the role of afforestation in minimising environmental pollution. (20 Marks)

Q3.(c) Describe the utility of remote sensing and GIS in forest plantation. (10 Marks)

Q4.(a) Describe crop-weed-competition. Discuss the different factors affecting the efficiency of herbicides. (20 Marks)

Q4.(b) Describe the utility of forest products in increasing farmers’ incomes. (20 Marks)

Q4.(c) Describe ‘soil salinity’. Enumerate various methods for soil reclamation. (10 Marks)

SECTION B

Q5. Describe the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50

Q5.(a) Problems of dryland agriculture (10 Marks)

Q5.(b) Soil erosion and its management (10 Marks)

Q5.(c) Small and marginal farmers (10 Marks)

Q5.(d) Self-Help Group (SHG) approach for agriculture and rural development (10 Marks)

Q5.(e) Crop Insurance (10 Marks)

Q6.(a) How are soil and water polluted by industrial effluents? What are the strategies to minimise this problem? (20 Marks)

Q6.(b) What are different techniques used for increasing water use efficiency in relation to crop production? (20 Marks)

Q6.(c) What are the various farm management tools used in farm planning? (10 Marks)

Q7.(a) What is the significance of marketing information in agricultural marketing? Discuss the status of market intelligence in India. (20 Marks)

Q7.(b) What are the target groups in agricultural extension? What role can KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) play to reach such groups? (20 Marks)

Q7.(c) Describe the significance of minimum support prices of agricultural produce in India. How are they worked out? (10 Marks)

Q8.(a) What do you mean by integrated watershed management and what is its significance in dryland agriculture? (20 Marks)

Q8.(b) Describe different measures to improve the drainage of water-logged soils to increase soil fertility and crop productivity. (20 Marks)

Q8.(c) What are the principles of agricultural extension education? How does it differ from formal education? (10 Marks)