Agriculture 2023 Paper II 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Describe

Q5

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 (a) Write down the constraints of fruit processing industry in India. 10 (b) Describe mentha cultivation with reference to varieties, soil and climate, nutrient management and processing. 10 (c) Enlist the role of auxins in agriculture, with suitable examples. 10 (d) Briefly discuss Integrated Pest Management in cotton. 10 (e) Briefly discuss the micronutrient deficiencies observed in children and women in India along with the diseases associated with them. 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित प्रश्नों में से प्रत्येक का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए : 10×5=50 (a) भारत में फल प्रसंस्करण उद्योग में आने वाली बाधाओं को लिखिए । 10 (b) किस्मों, मृदा एवं जलवायु, पोषक तत्व प्रबंधन तथा प्रसंस्करण के संदर्भ में पिपरमिंट (मेंथा) की खेती का वर्णन कीजिए । 10 (c) कृषि में ऑक्सिनों की भूमिका को उपयुक्त उदाहरणों सहित सूचीबद्ध कीजिए । 10 (d) कपास में एकीकृत पीड़क प्रबंधन की संक्षेप में चर्चा कीजिए । 10 (e) भारत में बच्चों तथा महिलाओं में सूक्ष्म पोषक तत्वों की कमी तथा उनसे संबंधित बीमारियों की संक्षेप में चर्चा कीजिए । 10

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. 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

This multi-part question requires approximately 30 words per sub-part (150 words total). Begin with a brief one-line introduction acknowledging the diverse agricultural themes covered. For (a) 'write down' demands listing constraints with brief elaboration; (b) 'describe' requires systematic coverage of mentha cultivation aspects; (c) 'enlist' needs categorized roles of auxins with examples; (d) 'discuss' calls for IPM components in cotton; (e) 'discuss' requires linking micronutrient deficiencies to specific diseases in vulnerable groups. Allocate roughly equal time (~3 minutes) per sub-part, using bullet points for clarity within the word constraint.

Key points expected

(a) Constraints of fruit processing: seasonal raw material availability, high perishability, inadequate cold chain infrastructure, small and fragmented landholdings leading to quality inconsistency, lack of processing-grade varieties, high energy costs, and limited export competitiveness due to SPS barriers
(b) Mentha cultivation: varieties (Mentha arvensis, M. piperita, M. spicata, Kosi, Saksham); well-drained sandy loam soil with pH 6.5-7.5; subtropical climate with 100-150 cm rainfall; NPK application with emphasis on nitrogen; steam distillation for menthol extraction
(c) Auxins in agriculture: root initiation (IBA in cuttings), apical dominance, parthenocarpy (NAA in tomato), weed control (2,4-D as herbicide), fruit thinning, and prevention of pre-harvest fruit drop
(d) IPM in cotton: cultural methods (crop rotation, trap crops), biological control (Trichogramma, Chrysoperla, Bacillus thuringiensis), host plant resistance (Bt cotton), chemical control as last resort with selective pesticides, and economic threshold levels
(e) Micronutrient deficiencies in children and women: iron (anemia, IDA in pregnant women), iodine (cretinism, goitre), zinc (stunting, impaired immunity), vitamin A (night blindness, xerophthalmia), folate (neural tube defects), linking to NFHS-5 data and ICDS/PMMVY interventions

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Concept correctness	25%	12.5	Scientifically accurate across all five sub-parts: correctly identifies infrastructure and supply chain constraints for (a); accurately describes mentha species, oil content, and distillation process for (b); precisely distinguishes natural (IAA) vs synthetic auxins (NAA, 2,4-D) with correct physiological roles for (c); correctly identifies cotton pests (bollworm, whitefly) and compatible IPM components for (d); accurately links specific micronutrients to deficiency diseases and vulnerable physiological states for (e)	Generally correct concepts with minor errors: vague constraints for (a); mixes up mentha species or omits distillation for (b); confuses auxins with gibberellins or lists effects without examples for (c); generic IPM description not specific to cotton for (d); lists micronutrients without disease specificity or conflates micro with macronutrients for (e)	Fundamental conceptual errors: describes food processing instead of fruit processing constraints for (a); confuses mentha with other aromatic crops or misses extraction process for (b); fails to identify any auxin function correctly for (c); describes only chemical control as IPM for (d); lists protein-energy malnutrition instead of micronutrient deficiencies for (e)
Quantitative reasoning	15%	7.5	Incorporates relevant quantitative data where applicable: mentions processing capacity utilization rates or post-harvest loss percentages for (a); cites oil yield (150-200 kg/ha) or menthol content percentages for (b); specifies concentration ranges (ppm) for auxin applications for (c); references ETL (economic threshold level) numbers or spray reduction percentages for (d); cites NFHS-5 prevalence rates (anemia at 57% in women, 67% in children) for (e)	Occasional quantitative mention without precision: vague 'high losses' for (a); 'good yield' without figures for (b); 'low concentration' without numbers for (c); 'reduced pesticide use' without percentages for (d); 'widespread deficiency' without statistics for (e)	No quantitative element or factually wrong numbers: invents statistics or uses grossly outdated data; confuses units (tonnes vs kg) or orders of magnitude across any sub-part
Indian context examples	25%	12.5	Rich India-specific illustrations: for (a) cites APEDA, MOFPI schemes (Mega Food Parks), or specific states (Maharashtra, Karnataka); for (b) mentions Uttar Pradesh/Bihar as leading producers, CIMAP varieties (Kosi, Saksham), or Lucknow distillation industry; for (c) gives Indian applications—NAA in mango/litchi, 2,4-D in wheat/rice; for (d) references CICR (Central Institute for Cotton Research), pink bollworm resistance management, or Bt cotton adoption in Maharashtra/Gujarat; for (e) cites ICDS, National Iron+ Initiative, or state-specific anemia programs	Generic or partially Indian examples: mentions India as major producer without specifics for (a)-(b); Western crop examples (tomato, apple) for (c); generic IPM without Indian institutional context for (d); mentions only anemia without program specifics for (e)	Entirely foreign examples or no Indian context: discusses Florida orange processing for (a), Mentha piperita (US variety) for (b), European viticulture auxin use for (c), US cotton belt IPM for (d), or developed country nutrition programs for (e)
Diagram / process	15%	7.5	Clear process description where relevant: for (b) describes steam distillation steps (charging still, steam injection, condensation, oil separation); for (d) outlines IPM decision flow or calendar-based operations; for (c) may include auxin transport polarity or dose-response curve description; uses structured bullet points or flow indicators to represent processes visually even without actual diagrams	Mentions processes without sequential clarity: lists distillation components without flow for (b); describes IPM components as isolated tactics without integration logic for (d); omits process description entirely where relevant	No process understanding: confuses steam distillation with solvent extraction for (b); describes chemical spray schedule as IPM for (d); completely ignores any process element across applicable sub-parts
Policy / extension angle	20%	10	Integrates relevant policy frameworks and extension relevance: for (a) mentions PM Kisan SAMPADA, Operation Greens, or 100% FDI in food processing; for (b) cites Aroma Mission (CSIR-CIMAP), MSP for mentha oil, or contract farming models; for (c) references CIBRC registration, judicious auxin use under INM; for (d) discusses IPM demonstrations under CIPMC, farmer field schools, or suicides prevention through sustainable cotton production; for (e) links to POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anemia Mukt Bharat, fortification mandates, or IFA supplementation protocols	Vague policy mention or generic extension relevance: names MOFPI without scheme specifics for (a); mentions 'government support' without programs for (b)-(e); limited integration of science with policy implementation	No policy or extension dimension: purely technical description without institutional, regulatory, or programmatic context; misses opportunity to demonstrate applied agricultural knowledge relevant to civil service roles

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