Agriculture 2022 Paper II 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

Q5

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50 (a) Give a detailed account of sucrose metabolism in plants. (b) Enlist and explain the symptoms of plant diseases which disrupt the photosynthesis function. (c) What are pesticide formulations? Discuss the different types of formulations used in pest control. (d) Enlist and explain the salient features of Public Distribution System as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013. (e) Enlist and explain the efforts of the Government of India in streamlining the current levels of poverty.

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित प्रश्नों में से प्रत्येक का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए : 10×5=50 (क) पौधों में इक्षु-शर्करा (सुक्रोज) उपापचय का विस्तृत विवरण दीजिए। (ख) प्रकाश-संश्लेषण कार्य को बाधित करने वाली पौधों की बीमारियों के लक्षणों को सूचीबद्ध कीजिए और उनकी व्याख्या कीजिए। (ग) कीटनाशक संस्करण (फॉर्म्युलेशन) क्या है? कीट नियंत्रण में उपयोग में लाए जाने वाले विभिन्न प्रकार के संस्करणों का विवरण दीजिए। (घ) राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिनियम, 2013 के प्रावधानों के अनुसार सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली की प्रमुख विशेषताओं को सूचीबद्ध कीजिए और उनकी व्याख्या कीजिए। (ङ) गरीबी के वर्तमान स्तरों को सुसंगठित करने में भारत सरकार के प्रयासों की सूची बनाइए और उनकी व्याख्या कीजिए।

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Directive word: Explain

This question asks you to explain. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'explain' demands clear, logical exposition of mechanisms and features across all five sub-parts. Allocate approximately 30 words each for (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) — roughly equal distribution since each carries 10 marks. Structure each sub-part as: definition → key components/process → significance/example. No introduction or conclusion needed; dive directly into each numbered response.

Key points expected

(a) Sucrose metabolism: synthesis in cytosol via sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose-6-phosphate phosphatase; cleavage by invertase or sucrose synthase; source-sink transport and regulation
(b) Photosynthesis-disrupting diseases: leaf spot/blight (reduced surface area), mosaic viruses (chlorophyll destruction), rusts and mildews (stomatal blockage), bacterial blight (toxin production affecting chloroplasts)
(c) Pesticide formulations: active ingredient + inert carriers; types include EC (emulsifiable concentrates), WP (wettable powders), SC (suspension concentrates), GR (granules), ULV (ultra-low volume)
(d) NFSA 2013 PDS features: legal entitlement to 5kg/person/month foodgrains at ₹3/2/1 for rice/wheat/coarse cereals; priority vs. Antyodaya households; women-headed ration cards; grievance redressal
(e) Poverty alleviation efforts: MGNREGA wage employment, PM-KISAN income support, National Social Assistance Programme pensions, Ayushman Bharat health security, Skill India for employability

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Concept correctness	25%	12.5	Accurately describes enzymatic pathways for (a) with correct enzyme names and cellular locations; correctly identifies disease symptoms and their physiological impact on photosynthesis for (b); precisely defines formulation types with technical accuracy for (c); accurately cites NFSA entitlements and categories for (d); correctly names schemes with their specific objectives for (e)	Basic understanding of metabolic processes with some enzyme or location errors; identifies diseases but links symptoms to photosynthesis weakly; knows some formulation types but confuses EC/WP characteristics; recalls PDS features but misstates quantities or prices; lists schemes without clear poverty-reduction mechanisms	Confuses sucrose synthesis with starch synthesis; describes disease symptoms without connecting to photosynthesis disruption; conflates formulations with active ingredients; fundamentally misunderstands NFSA provisions; lists irrelevant or outdated poverty programmes
Quantitative reasoning	15%	7.5	Cites specific quantities: 5kg/person/month entitlement, ₹3/2/1 price points, 75% rural/50% urban coverage under NFSA for (d); mentions MGNREGA 100 days wage guarantee or PM-KISAN ₹6000/year for (e); includes concentration percentages or application rates for pesticide formulations in (c)	Mentions some numbers but lacks precision or context; states approximate coverage figures without specificity; vague on dosage or economic impact figures	No quantitative data; completely avoids numbers where specific figures are expected; invents incorrect statistics
Indian context examples	20%	10	Cites Indian crop examples: sugarcane sucrose metabolism for (a); rice bacterial blight/Xanthomonas oryzae, wheat rusts, groundnut tikka for (b); mentions Indian brands like Rogor (dimethoate) or specific IPM programmes for (c); references TPDS, Aadhaar seeding, One Nation One Ration Card for (d); cites specific allocations like ₹75,000 crore for PM-KISAN or MGNREGA budget for (e)	Generic examples without Indian specificity; mentions crops grown in India but not disease-strain specifics; knows PDS exists but not Indian reforms; lists central schemes without budget or scale context	Uses exclusively foreign examples (e.g., corn smut for US, European CAP); no awareness of Indian agricultural context; ignores NFSA and pre-2013 PDS confusion
Diagram / process	20%	10	Describes clear stepwise processes: sucrose synthesis/cleavage pathway with enzyme sequence for (a); disease progression from infection to symptom manifestation affecting photosynthetic machinery for (b); formulation preparation steps (emulsification, suspension) and application method for (c); PDS supply chain from FCI to fair price shop for (d); scheme implementation flow from Centre to beneficiary for (e)	Linear description without clear process visualization; mentions steps but not in logical sequence; some stages missing or conflated	No process description; random fact listing without causal or temporal relationships; confuses input-output relationships
Policy / extension angle	20%	10	Links sucrose metabolism to sugar industry and biofuel policy for (a); connects disease management to IPM, biological control extension and resistant variety dissemination for (b); discusses formulation safety, drone application policy and FCO regulations for (c); evaluates Targeted PDS vs. universalization debate, Aadhaar exclusion issues, and NFSA implementation gaps for (d); critically assesses scheme convergence, leakages, and multidimensional poverty index shift for (e)	Mentions relevant policies superficially; notes IPM or NFSA without critical evaluation; aware of government schemes but not implementation challenges	No policy awareness; purely technical or descriptive answers; ignores extension systems, regulatory frameworks, or welfare delivery mechanisms entirely

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