IAS Agriculture-2014
Paper-II
Time Allowed: Three Hours
Maximum Marks: 300

Candidates should attempt Questions 1 and 5 which are compulsory and any three of the remaining questions selecting at least one question from each Section. Section A
Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20 × 3 60

Briefly describe leucoplastids and chromoplastids.
Define DNA and RNA, and compare them with each other.
What is heterosis? Explain its role in crop improvement.
Define mass selection. Describe the procedure of mass selection in brief.

Answer the following questions Define transpiration.
What are the factors affecting transpiration? 20
Give an account in brief on hybrid rice production. 20
Define insect resistance in plants. Narrate achievements and accomplishments attained so far. 20

Answer the following questions Define pure line selection.
Discuss the merits and demerits of pure line selection. 20
What is clone? Compare clones, inbreds and pure lines. 20
Define photosynthesis in plants. Narrate the sequential processes occurring therein with an illustration. 20

Answer the following questions Define disease epidemic.
Discuss in brief the causes of epidemics. 20
What is distant hybridization? Describe in brief the limitations of distant hybridization in crop improvement. 20
Focus objectives and activities of grain storage institutions in India. 20

Section B
Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20 × 3 60
Briefly explain the various classes of seeds. Describe the requirements for certified seeds.
Define pest. Bring out various groups of crop pestsquoting an insect for each and discuss how an insect outbreak occurs.
Describe in brief the package of practices for cultivation of papaya.
Define microbial control. Describe the procedurefor mass production of NPV of a lepidopteran pest.

Answer the following questions
Discuss in brief the factors responsible to low yield of vegetables in India.
What measures are necessary to increase their production? 20 Define pest forecasting.
Describe how the pest fore casting is done in India and the fruits are made available to the farmers. 20
Discuss in brief the significance of Integrated Pest Management in crop production.
Suggest suitable IPM measures for sugarcane. 20

Answer the following questions
Describe in brief the requirements of certified seeds. 20
Briefly mention the use of fungicides for the control of diseases of potato. 20
Discuss in brief the microbial toxins. 20

Write short notes on the following: 20 × 3 60
Preservation methods of fruits and vegetables
Stored grain pests
Bacillus thuringiensis