Agriculture 2024 Paper I 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

Q1

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Briefly discuss the principles of agro-ecology. 10 marks (b) What are the factors responsible for low production and productivity of pulses in India? Discuss strategies adopted for enhancing the pulse production and productivity. 10 marks (c) Describe the objectives of social forestry. Write down the plant species suitable for social forestry. 10 marks (d) Discuss the cultural methods of weed control. 10 marks (e) What are the two steps of nitrification and enlist micro-organisms responsible for each? Write down the importance of nitrification. 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित में से प्रत्येक प्रश्न का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए : (a) कृषि पारिस्थितिकी के सिद्धांतों का संक्षेप में वर्णन कीजिए । 10 (b) भारत में कम दलहन उत्पादन एवं उत्पादकता के कौन से कारक जिम्मेदार हैं ? दलहन उत्पादन एवं उत्पादकता को बढ़ाने हेतु रणनीतियों का वर्णन कीजिए । 10 (c) सामाजिक वानिकी के उद्देश्यों का वर्णन कीजिए । सामाजिक वानिकी के लिए उपयुक्त पौधों की प्रजातियाँ लिखिए । 10 (d) खरपतवार नियंत्रण के कर्षण (कल्चरल) विधियों का वर्णन कीजिए । 10 (e) नाइट्रीकरण के दो चरण क्या हैं और प्रत्येक चरण के लिए जिम्मेदार सूक्ष्म-जीव कौन से हैं सूचीबद्ध करें । नाइट्रीकरण का महत्व लिखिए । 10

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. 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 'discuss' demands a balanced, analytical treatment across all five sub-parts. Allocate approximately 30 words per mark (150 words × 5 parts = 750 total). Spend roughly equal time on each part (2 marks per part), with slightly more precision needed for (b) and (e) which require dual components. Structure each sub-part as: definition → key elements → Indian relevance → concluding significance. No introduction or conclusion needed for the overall answer; treat each part as standalone.

Key points expected

(a) Agro-ecology principles: ecosystem services, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, energy flow, socio-economic integration; cite FAO 10 elements or Altieri principles
(b) Pulses: abiotic factors (drought, poor soils, temperature), biotic factors (diseases, pests); strategies—NFSM, cluster demonstrations, improved varieties (Pusa-16, JG-11), MSP, crop insurance
(c) Social forestry: fuel/fodder, employment, ecological restoration, community participation; species—Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus, Leucaena, Azadirachta indica
(d) Cultural weed control: preventive (clean seed, crop rotation), physical (tillage, flooding), biological (allelopathy, competitive crops), agronomic (optimum spacing, planting time)
(e) Nitrification: Step 1 (NH₄⁺ → NO₂⁻) by Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus; Step 2 (NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻) by Nitrobacter, Nitrosospira; importance—nitrate availability, soil acidification, N-loss prevention

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Concept correctness	25%	12.5	Precise scientific terminology across all parts: correctly identifies all 10 agro-ecology elements/Altieri principles; accurately distinguishes between production (total output) and productivity (output/unit area) in (b); names correct nitrification bacteria with their specific reactions in (e); no confusion between social forestry and farm forestry	Broadly correct concepts with minor errors—e.g., mentions 'nitrogen-fixing bacteria' for nitrification, or conflates social forestry objectives with commercial forestry; lists factors without clear categorization	Fundamental conceptual errors—e.g., describes nitrification as nitrogen fixation, confuses cultural methods with chemical methods in (d), or describes agro-ecology as purely organic farming
Quantitative reasoning	15%	7.5	Includes relevant data points: pulse area (~29 million ha), productivity gap (India ~800 kg/ha vs. world ~900 kg/ha), N-fixation capacity (20-40 kg N/ha by pulses), nitrification rate factors (pH 6.5-8.5 optimum, temperature 25-35°C)	Mentions quantitative aspects qualitatively—e.g., 'low productivity' or 'high temperature favors nitrification' without specific numbers; or includes one data point across all five parts	No quantitative dimension; entirely descriptive without any numerical anchors for productivity gaps, nitrification conditions, or social forestry targets
Indian context examples	25%	12.5	Rich India-specific illustrations: for (a) cites ZBNF/Andhra Pradesh or SRI adoption; for (b) mentions NFSM-Pulses, ICAR-IPR varieties, Rajasthan's moong revolution; for (c) references Joint Forest Management (1988), Chipko movement roots, or National Afforestation Programme; for (d) gives rice-wheat system weed management examples; for (e) connects to Indian soil conditions (alkaline soils favoring nitrification)	Generic Indian references—e.g., mentions 'government schemes' without naming NFSM, or 'some states' without specificity; one solid example across all five parts	No Indian context; entirely textbook definitions without connecting to Indian agriculture, policies, or regional variations (e.g., discusses agro-ecology without mentioning India's agro-ecological zones)
Diagram / process	20%	10	Clear process descriptions: for (a) sketches agro-ecosystem as nested hierarchies (field → farm → landscape); for (e) explicitly writes the two-step chemical equations with correct oxidation states; for (d) presents cultural methods as a flowchart (preventive → curative); describes temporal sequences (pre-planting, planting, post-planting operations)	Mentions processes in linear text without structural clarity—e.g., lists nitrification steps without showing the electron transfer or bacterial succession; describes methods without sequencing	No process orientation; static definitions only—e.g., defines nitrification without showing NH₄⁺ → NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻ pathway, or lists weed methods randomly without preventive/curative classification
Policy / extension angle	15%	7.5	Explicit policy integration: for (b) links to National Food Security Mission, PM-KISAN, price stabilization fund; for (c) connects to Green India Mission, CAMPA funds, MGNREGA convergence; for (d) mentions herbicide resistance management as policy concern; for (e) discusses nitrification inhibitors as climate-smart agriculture strategy; shows awareness of extension delivery (KVKs, ATMA)	Brief policy mention—e.g., 'government is promoting pulses' without naming schemes; or focuses only on one sub-part's policy dimension	No policy or extension perspective; purely technical/academic treatment ignoring implementation challenges, farmer adoption barriers, or government intervention frameworks

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