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Past Questions — 2024
Sub soiler plough is best suited for-
A)
Deep ploughing
B)
Breaking hard pan
C)
Making ditches
D)
Intercultural operations
A subsoiler is a specialized primary tillage implement designed to penetrate deep into the soil without turning the soil over. Its primary purpose is to break up 'hard pan' (a compacted, dense layer of soil usually found below the normal plow depth) which restricts root penetration and inhibits water drainage.
Reasoning for other options:
- (a) Deep ploughing: While subsoilers go deep, 'ploughing' typically implies inversion or turning of the soil (like a moldboard plow), whereas subsoiling is a non-inversion process.
- (c) Making ditches: This is the function of a ditcher or a trencher, not a subsoiler.
- (d) Intercultural operations: These are shallow operations performed between rows of crops (like weeding or hoeing), whereas subsoiling is a heavy primary operation performed before planting.
Which communication model emphasizes a one-way flow of information from sender to receiver without feedback?
A)
Shannon and Weaver Model
B)
Schramm Model
C)
Transactional Model
D)
Interactive Model
The Shannon-Weaver Model (1949), often referred to as the 'Mathematical Theory of Communication,' is a linear model of communication. It describes a one-way process where a source encodes a message, transmits it through a channel (which may contain noise), and a receiver decodes it. In its original form, it lacks a feedback loop, making it a unidirectional or 'one-way' flow of information.
Why other options are incorrect:
- b. Schramm Model: This model introduced the concept of 'Field of Experience' and emphasized that communication is a circular process involving encoding, decoding, and interpreting, incorporating feedback.
- c. Transactional Model: This model views communication as a simultaneous process where both parties are senders and receivers at the same time, emphasizing a continuous exchange.
- d. Interactive Model: This model describes communication as a two-way process where the receiver provides feedback to the sender, though not necessarily simultaneously.
The Intensive Agricultural Development Programme popularly known as package programme was started in the year-
A)
1959
B)
1960
C)
1964
D)
1970
The Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP), commonly referred to as the 'Package Programme', was launched by the Government of India in 1960-61. The primary objective of this programme was to demonstrate the potential for increasing agricultural production by providing a 'package' of modern inputs (such as high-yielding variety seeds, chemical fertilizers, and improved irrigation) and technical guidance to farmers in selected districts. This programme served as a precursor to the Green Revolution in India.
- Option (a) 1959: Incorrect. While agricultural planning was ongoing, the specific IADP framework was not launched until 1960.
- Option (c) 1964: Incorrect. This period is associated with the introduction of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of wheat from Mexico, but the IADP had already been operational.
- Option (d) 1970: Incorrect. By this time, the Green Revolution was already well-established across several Indian states.
Which of the following institutions is primarily responsible for price stabilization in agricultural marketing in India?
A)
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
B)
Food Corporation of India (FCI)
C)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
D)
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Price stabilization in Indian agricultural marketing is primarily achieved through the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the nodal agency responsible for implementing this by procuring food grains (like wheat and paddy) from farmers at the MSP when market prices fall below this threshold. This prevents prices from crashing, thereby protecting farmers' incomes. Additionally, FCI manages the buffer stocks used to release grains into the market during shortages to prevent price spikes for consumers.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. NABARD: Primarily a development bank focused on providing credit and refinancing to rural and agricultural sectors, not on direct price stabilization of commodities.
- c. RBI: The central bank of India responsible for monetary policy, inflation control, and currency management, not the specific marketing of agricultural produce.
- d. ICAR: An autonomous organization focused on agricultural research and education to improve productivity and sustainability, not on market price interventions.
Which of the following biochemical properties affects the texture and sensory characteristics of fruits during processing?
A)
Pectin content and cell wall integrity
B)
Carotenoid concentration and fat content
C)
Moisture activity and amino acid profile
D)
Chlorophyll concentration and mineral content
Texture in fruits is primarily determined by the structural components of the plant cell wall. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide found in the primary cell walls and the middle lamella (the layer that glues adjacent cells together). During ripening and processing, enzymes like pectinmethylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) break down pectin, leading to a loss of cell wall integrity and resulting in softening of the fruit texture. This biochemical change directly affects the 'mouthfeel' and sensory characteristics of the processed product.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option b: Carotenoids affect color (sensory), but fat content is generally negligible in most fruits and does not dictate the primary texture.
- Option c: Moisture activity (water activity) affects shelf-life and microbial growth, and amino acid profiles affect nutritional value/flavor, but they are not the primary drivers of structural texture.
- Option d: Chlorophyll affects the green color of the fruit, and mineral content affects nutrition, but neither determines the physical texture or structural integrity of the fruit tissue.
Who coined the term acid rain?
A)
Christ Ralph
B)
Elmer Joseph Clark
C)
Ernest Flower
D)
Robert Angus Smith
The term 'acid rain' was coined by Robert Angus Smith, an English chemist and industrial pollution expert, in 1852 (and further detailed in his 1872 book 'Air and Rain'). While studying the air pollution in Manchester, England, he discovered that the rain contained sulfuric acid due to the combustion of coal in the industrial city.
Analysis of other options:
- Options a, b, and c (Christ Ralph, Elmer Joseph Clark, and Ernest Flower) are not recognized in scientific literature as the originators of the term 'acid rain'. Robert Angus Smith is universally credited in environmental science textbooks as the pioneer who first identified and named the phenomenon.
The primary purpose of silo in agricultural storage is to-
A)
Maintain high moisture levels
B)
Store grain at high temperatures
C)
Store bulk quantities of dry materials for extended periods
D)
Remove pests from stored grains
A silo is a large-scale storage structure designed specifically for the bulk storage of grains, seeds, or fermented feed (silage). The primary objective of a silo is to protect large quantities of agricultural produce from environmental factors, pests, and moisture to ensure they can be stored for extended periods without significant spoilage.
Analysis of options:
- Option (a) is incorrect because high moisture levels lead to fungal growth and spoilage; silos are used to keep grains dry.
- Option (b) is incorrect because high temperatures accelerate the respiration of grains and promote pest activity; silos are often designed for temperature control or aeration to keep grains cool.
- Option (c) is correct as it describes the fundamental engineering purpose of a silo: bulk storage and long-term preservation.
- Option (d) is incorrect because while silos can be fumigated to remove pests, the 'primary purpose' of the structure itself is storage, not the process of pest removal.
For safe storage of rice grain, seed moisture content should be-
A)
6-8%
B)
11-12%
C)
14-16%
D)
16-18%
Safe storage moisture content is the maximum moisture level at which a grain can be stored without significant deterioration from molds, fungi, or insect infestation. For rice (and most cereal grains), the generally accepted safe moisture content for long-term storage is between 11% and 13%.
1. Option (a) 6-8%: This is too low. Drying grains to this level can cause 'stress cracking' or fissuring in rice kernels, which leads to breakage during milling, reducing the head rice recovery (HRR).
2. Option (b) 11-12%: This is the ideal range. It is low enough to inhibit the growth of most storage fungi (like Aspergillus) and reduce the activity of storage pests, while remaining high enough to maintain the physical integrity of the grain.
3. Option (c) 14-16%: This is considered high for long-term storage. At this level, the risk of mold growth and heating of the grain mass increases significantly, especially in humid conditions.
4. Option (d) 16-18%: This is far too high for safe storage and would lead to rapid spoilage, sprouting, or severe fungal infestation.
Demand for goods which are needed for further production is called-
A)
Derived demand
B)
Autonomous demand
C)
Direct demand
D)
Cross demand
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Definition of Derived Demand**: In economics, derived demand occurs when the demand for a good or service results from the demand for another final product. In other words, the good is not desired for its own sake, but because it is a necessary input (factor of production) to produce something else.
2. **Application to Agriculture**: For example, the demand for fertilizers, seeds, or tractors is 'derived' from the consumer demand for crops like wheat or corn. If the demand for wheat increases, the demand for the inputs used to produce it also increases.
3. **Analysis of other options**:
- **Autonomous demand**: This refers to demand that is independent of the level of income or other variables (often used in macroeconomic models).
- **Direct demand**: This is the demand for a final product that provides direct utility to the consumer (e.g., demand for a loaf of bread).
- **Cross demand**: This refers to how the demand for one good changes in response to a price change of another good (substitutes or complements).
Therefore, since the question specifies goods needed for 'further production', it describes Derived Demand.
Demand for agricultural products is relatively-
A)
Less Elastic
B)
More Elastic
C)
Less Inelastic
D)
More Inelastic
In economics, the price elasticity of demand measures how much the quantity demanded of a good responds to a change in the price of that good. Agricultural products, particularly staple foods (like wheat, rice, and corn), are characterized by 'inelastic demand' (or being 'less elastic'). This is because: 1. Necessity: Food is a basic human necessity; people must consume it regardless of price increases. 2. Lack of Substitutes: For many staple crops, there are few close substitutes that can completely replace them in a diet. 3. Low Proportion of Income: For many consumers, the cost of a specific staple crop represents a small fraction of their total budget, making them less sensitive to price changes. Therefore, a significant change in price leads to a relatively small change in the quantity demanded. 'Less Elastic' is synonymous with 'Inelastic' in this context.
The farm from which 50% or more income is derived from a single enterprise is called-
A)
Intensive farming
B)
Specialized farming
C)
Diversified farming
D)
Mixed farming
In agricultural economics and farming systems, farms are categorized based on the distribution of their income sources.
1. **Specialized Farming**: A farm is considered specialized when 50% or more of its total income is derived from a single enterprise (e.g., only wheat production, only dairy, or only poultry). This system focuses on maximizing the efficiency of one specific product.
2. **Diversified Farming**: This is the opposite of specialized farming. A farm is diversified when no single enterprise contributes 50% or more to the total income. It spreads risk across multiple enterprises.
3. **Mixed Farming**: This specifically refers to the integration of crop production and livestock rearing on the same farm. While mixed farming is a form of diversification, the term 'diversified' is the broader economic classification regarding income percentages.
4. **Intensive Farming**: This refers to the input level (high capital, labor, and fertilizer per unit area) rather than the source of income distribution.
Therefore, since the question specifies that 50% or more of the income comes from a single enterprise, it is defined as Specialized Farming.
The central AGMARK lab is located at-
A)
Kolkata
B)
Mumbai
C)
Nagpur
D)
New Delhi
AGMARK is a certification mark employed on agricultural products in India, assuring that they conform to a set of standards approved by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI). The Central AGMARK Laboratory, which serves as the apex body for the testing and standardization of agricultural commodities to ensure quality and purity, is located in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
- Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi may have regional offices or specific testing facilities, but the designated Central AGMARK Laboratory is situated in Nagpur.
- The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) oversees the AGMARK system under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The short-range weather forecasting, period of validity is-
A)
Upto 2 days
B)
Upto 4 days
C)
Upto 5 days
D)
Upto 6 days
In meteorology, weather forecasting is categorized based on the lead time (the period of validity).
1. **Short-range forecasting**: This typically covers a period from a few hours up to 72 hours (3 days). However, in many technical and standardized exam contexts for agricultural meteorology, 'short-range' is specifically defined as forecasts valid for up to 2 or 3 days. Among the given options, 'Upto 2 days' is the most accurate fit for the short-range category.
2. **Medium-range forecasting**: This generally covers the period from 3 to 10 days.
3. **Long-range forecasting**: This covers periods beyond 10 days, extending to weeks, months, or seasons.
Comparing the options:
- Option (a) 'Upto 2 days' falls squarely within the short-range definition.
- Options (b), (c), and (d) extend into the medium-range category (which typically starts after day 3). Therefore, option (a) is the correct choice.
Zero energy cool chamber developed at-
A)
IHR
B)
ICAR
C)
IARI
D)
ICRISAT
The Zero Energy Cool Chamber (ZECC) was developed by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), which is often abbreviated as IHR in various examination contexts. The ZECC is an evaporative cooling structure made of double-walled bricks with a layer of sand in between, which is kept moist. It is designed to store fruits and vegetables at low temperatures without the use of electricity, making it ideal for small-scale farmers in rural areas.
- Option (a) IHR (IIHR) is the correct developer of this technology.
- Option (b) ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) is the apex body for coordinating agricultural research in India, but the specific technology was developed at the institute level (IIHR).
- Option (c) IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) focuses more on general agricultural research and education.
- Option (d) ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) focuses on dryland crops like sorghum and millet, not specifically on post-harvest cooling structures like ZECC.
In food processing, HACCP stands for-
A)
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
B)
Hazard Assessment Critical Control Procedure
C)
Health Analysis and Critical Control Process
D)
Hazard Analysis and Chemical Control Protocol
HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe.
1. **Hazard Analysis**: This involves identifying potential hazards (biological, chemical, or physical) that could occur at any stage of the food production process.
2. **Critical Control Point (CCP)**: This is a step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent, eliminate, or reduce a food safety hazard to an acceptable level.
Analysis of other options:
- Option (b) is incorrect because 'Assessment' and 'Procedure' are not the standard terms used in the acronym.
- Option (c) is incorrect because it uses 'Health Analysis' and 'Process' instead of Hazard Analysis and Control Point.
- Option (d) is incorrect because it limits the scope to 'Chemical Control' and uses 'Protocol' instead of Control Point.
Enrichment of water bodies by nutrient that causes damage to the ecosystem is called-
A)
Plankton
B)
Degradation
C)
Biome
D)
Eutrophication
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Analysis of the process: The question describes the enrichment of water bodies with nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus), which leads to excessive growth of algae (algal blooms). This process depletes dissolved oxygen in the water, leading to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms, thereby damaging the ecosystem.
2. Evaluating Option (d): Eutrophication is the precise scientific term for this process. It often occurs due to runoff from agricultural fertilizers or sewage discharge.
3. Evaluating Option (a): Plankton are microscopic organisms (phytoplankton and zooplankton) that drift in water; they are components of the ecosystem, not the process of nutrient enrichment.
4. Evaluating Option (b): Degradation is a general term referring to the decline in quality of an environment; while eutrophication is a form of degradation, it is not the specific term for nutrient enrichment.
5. Evaluating Option (c): A Biome is a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat (e.g., tundra, tropical rainforest), which is unrelated to the process described.
Translocation of carbohydrates mostly take place in the form of-
A)
Glucose
B)
Sucrose
C)
Fructose
D)
Maltose
Translocation refers to the movement of organic solutes (photosynthates) from source organs (like leaves) to sink organs (like roots, fruits, and tubers) via the phloem.
1. Why Sucrose is correct: Sucrose is the primary form of carbohydrate transported in the phloem because it is a non-reducing sugar. Being non-reducing makes it chemically stable and less reactive during transport, preventing it from reacting with other molecules or being prematurely metabolized by the phloem cells themselves. Additionally, it is highly soluble in water, allowing for efficient transport in the sieve tubes.
2. Why other options are incorrect:
- Glucose (a) and Fructose (c) are reducing sugars. They are more chemically reactive and are typically converted into sucrose in the leaves before translocation to ensure stability.
- Maltose (d) is a reducing disaccharide primarily produced during the breakdown of starch; it is not the primary transport sugar in plants.
Which type of plant pathogen causes “witches’-broom” symptoms?
A)
Virus
B)
Phytoplasma
C)
Fungus
D)
Nematode
Witches'-broom is a characteristic symptom of plant disease characterized by abnormal, dense proliferation of shoots and stunted growth, giving the plant a broom-like appearance. This is primarily caused by Phytoplasmas (formerly known as Mycoplasma-like organisms or MLOs). Phytoplasmas are specialized bacteria that lack a cell wall and reside exclusively in the phloem of plants and are typically transmitted by insect vectors (like leafhoppers). They disrupt the plant's hormonal balance, specifically affecting auxins and cytokinins, which leads to the loss of apical dominance and the proliferation of lateral buds.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Virus: While some viruses can cause stunting or bunchy tops, the classic 'witches'-broom' syndrome is the hallmark of phytoplasma infection.
- c. Fungus: Fungal pathogens typically cause wilts, blights, rots, or rusts, rather than the systemic proliferation of shoots seen in witches'-broom.
- d. Nematode: Nematodes generally cause root galls, lesions, or general nutrient deficiency symptoms, not the specific shoot proliferation associated with witches'-broom.
Hot water treatment for the loose smut of wheat was given by-
A)
Luthra and sattar
B)
Jensen
C)
Johnson
D)
Kataan
Loose smut of wheat (caused by the fungus Ustilago nuda or Ustilago tritici) is an internally seed-borne disease. To control this, various seed treatment methods are used. The hot water treatment (HWT) was specifically developed and standardized by Luthra and Sattar. The standard procedure involves soaking the seeds in hot water (typically around 52°C for 10-15 minutes) to kill the dormant mycelium inside the seed without damaging the embryo. This method is an effective alternative to chemical treatments like Carboxin. Options b, c, and d are not associated with the standardization of hot water treatment for loose smut of wheat in plant pathology literature.
Phyllody disease of sesame spread by-
A)
Leaf hopper
B)
Aphid
C)
Jassids
D)
Whitefly
Phyllody of sesame is a disease caused by a phytoplasma (formerly known as Mycoplasma). Phytoplasmas are specialized bacteria that lack a cell wall and are restricted to the phloem of plants. They cannot move independently and rely on insect vectors for transmission. In the case of sesame phyllody, the primary vector is the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The whitefly acquires the pathogen while feeding on an infected plant and transmits it to healthy plants during subsequent feeding.
Analysis of other options:
- Leaf hopper: While leaf hoppers transmit many phytoplasma diseases (like Little Leaf of Brinjal), they are not the primary vector for sesame phyllody.
- Aphid: Aphids transmit various viruses and some phytoplasmas, but not specifically sesame phyllody.
- Jassids: Jassids are primarily pests that cause hopper burn and transmit certain viruses, but they are not the vectors for this specific disease.
Which is the hereditary material in chromosomes?
A)
RNA
B)
ATP
C)
DNA
D)
ADP
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Chromosomes are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells. 2. They are made of protein and nucleic acids. 3. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the specific nucleic acid that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. 4. DNA is organized into structural units called genes, which are the fundamental physical and functional units of heredity.
Analysis of other options:
- RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is primarily involved in protein synthesis and translating the genetic code from DNA, though it acts as hereditary material in some viruses, not in standard chromosomes.
- ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the primary energy currency of the cell.
- ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) is a molecule formed when ATP releases energy.
Breakdown of vertical resistance imparted by R-gene is called-
A)
Vertifolia effect
B)
Crabtree effect
C)
RNA interference
D)
Gene for Gene interaction
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Vertical resistance is a type of plant resistance controlled by a single dominant gene (R-gene) that provides complete immunity against specific races of a pathogen. 2. This mechanism is governed by the 'Gene-for-Gene' hypothesis proposed by H.H. Flor, which states that for every resistance gene (R) in the host, there is a corresponding avirulence gene (Avr) in the pathogen. 3. Breakdown of vertical resistance occurs when the pathogen undergoes a mutation in the Avr gene, allowing it to evade recognition by the host's R-gene. This results in the emergence of a new virulent race that can overcome the resistance. 4. Analysis of other options: (a) 'Vertifolia effect' is not a recognized term in plant pathology. (b) The 'Crabtree effect' refers to the fermentation of glucose to ethanol in yeast even in the presence of oxygen (biochemistry/microbiology). (c) 'RNA interference' (RNAi) is a biological process where RNA molecules inhibit gene expression, typically used for gene silencing, not the specific mechanism describing the breakdown of R-gene resistance.
The irradiance at which Photosynthesis is equal to respiration rate (net CO, exchange is zero) is called-
A)
Light compensation point
B)
Light saturation point
C)
Solar constant
D)
PAR
The correct answer is the Light Compensation Point. Here is the detailed breakdown:
1. **Light Compensation Point (LCP):** This is the specific intensity of light (irradiance) at which the rate of photosynthesis (which consumes CO2 and produces O2) exactly equals the rate of respiration (which consumes O2 and produces CO2). At this point, there is no net exchange of carbon dioxide or oxygen between the plant and the atmosphere; the net CO2 exchange is zero.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Light saturation point (b):** This is the light intensity beyond which any further increase in light does not increase the rate of photosynthesis because other factors (like CO2 concentration or enzyme kinetics) become limiting.
- **Solar constant (c):** This is a physical constant representing the average amount of solar radiation received per unit area at the outer edge of Earth's atmosphere (approximately 1361 W/m²).
- **PAR (d):** This stands for Photosynthetically Active Radiation. It refers to the spectral range of solar electromagnetic radiation (400 to 700 nanometers) that photosynthetic organisms are able to utilize in the process of photosynthesis. It is a range of light, not a specific irradiance point of equilibrium.
The study of the mechanism by which genes bring about their phenotypic effects is called as-
A)
Epigenetics
B)
Exogenetics
C)
Endogenetics
D)
cytogenetics
The question asks for the study of the mechanism by which genes bring about their phenotypic effects. While the classical term for the process of a gene producing a phenotype is 'gene expression', among the given options, 'Epigenetics' is the most relevant scientific field. Epigenetics studies the heritable changes in gene expression (phenotypic effects) that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence (such as DNA methylation and histone modification).
Analysis of other options:
- b. Exogenetics: This is not a standard term in genetics referring to the mechanism of phenotypic expression.
- c. Endogenetics: This is not a standard term used to describe the general mechanism of gene-to-phenotype expression.
- d. Cytogenetics: This is the study of inheritance in relation to the structure and function of chromosomes (e.g., karyotyping), rather than the molecular mechanism of how a specific gene creates a phenotypic effect.
Note: In some contexts, the general study of how genes produce phenotypes is called 'Genetics' or 'Molecular Biology', but within these specific options, Epigenetics is the only recognized field that focuses on the regulatory mechanisms controlling phenotypic outcomes.
The primary cause of fruit softening during ripening is the breakdown of:
A)
Cellulose
B)
Pectin
C)
Starch
D)
Protein
Fruit softening is a key physiological change during the ripening process. The structural integrity of the fruit cell wall is maintained by the middle lamella, which acts as a 'glue' holding adjacent cells together. This middle lamella is primarily composed of pectin (specifically calcium pectates). During ripening, enzymes such as pectinmethylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG), and pectin lyase are activated. These enzymes break down the pectin polysaccharides into smaller, soluble units, leading to the dissolution of the middle lamella and the subsequent softening of the fruit tissue.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Cellulose: While cellulose provides the primary structural framework of the cell wall, it is much more resistant to degradation during ripening compared to pectin. Its breakdown is minimal during normal ripening.
- c. Starch: Starch breakdown (hydrolysis into sugars) occurs during ripening to increase sweetness, but this affects the taste and energy content, not the structural firmness of the fruit.
- d. Protein: While some proteins are degraded during ripening, they are not the primary structural components responsible for the rigidity or softening of the fruit tissue.