Q7
(a) Define water stress. Discuss the effects of water stress on anatomical and physiological changes in plant growth. Also discuss soil and weather based plant water stress indicators. (20 marks) (b) Discuss the causal organism, symptoms and management of tungro disease in rice. (20 marks) (c) What are the reasons behind food inflation? Discuss how it can be mitigated. (10 marks)
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a) जल प्रतिबल को परिभाषित कीजिए। पौधों की वृद्धि में संरचनात्मक एवं कार्यिकी परिवर्तनों पर जल प्रतिबल के प्रभावों का वर्णन कीजिए। मृदा और मौसम पर आधारित पौधों में जल प्रतिबल सूचकों का भी वर्णन कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) धान में टुंग्रो बीमारी के रोगकारक जीव, लक्षणों एवं प्रबंधन की विवेचना कीजिए। (20 अंक) (c) खाद मुद्रास्फीति के पीछे क्या कारण हैं? इसका किस प्रकार शमन किया जा सकता है, चर्चा कीजिए। (10 अंक)
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 comprehensive, analytical treatment across all three parts. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks and technical depth in plant physiology; 35% to part (b) for disease biology and management; and 25% to part (c) for food inflation analysis. Structure with a brief introduction, then dedicated sections for each sub-part with clear sub-headings, and a concluding synthesis on water-disease-food security linkages.
Key points expected
- Part (a): Precise definition of water stress (plant water deficit vs. drought); anatomical changes (reduced cell elongation, xylem vessel diameter reduction, increased root-shoot ratio, leaf rolling); physiological changes (stomatal closure, reduced photosynthesis, ABA accumulation, osmotic adjustment); soil-based indicators (soil moisture tension, available water capacity, wilting coefficient); weather-based indicators (ET deficit, CWSI, canopy temperature)
- Part (b): Causal organisms (Rice tungro bacilliform virus/RTBV and Rice tungro spherical virus/RTSV transmitted by Nephotettix virescens/green leafhopper); symptoms (stunted growth, yellow-orange leaf discoloration from tip, reduced tillering, delayed flowering); management strategies (resistant varieties like IR36, IR64; vector control with imidacloprid; roguing; synchronous planting; nutrient management)
- Part (c): Demand-side factors (rising incomes, dietary diversification, urbanization); supply-side factors (MSP hikes, input cost inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, climate shocks); mitigation strategies (buffer stock operations, export-import policy calibration, FCI reforms, e-NAM, PM-AASHA, targeted PDS)
- Integration: Linkage between water stress (part a) and disease susceptibility (part b) affecting yield and food prices (part c)
- Indian specificity: Citing ICAR research on water stress indicators, tungro-endemic regions (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal), and recent food inflation episodes (2022-2023)
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept correctness | 25% | 12.5 | Demonstrates precise scientific understanding: for (a) distinguishes between water stress, drought and waterlogging; correctly identifies ABA-mediated stomatal regulation and osmotic adjustment mechanisms; for (b) accurately names both viruses and vector species with correct transmission mechanism; for (c) correctly distinguishes between demand-pull and cost-push inflation in food markets | Basic definitions are correct but lacks precision in physiological mechanisms; mentions 'virus' without specifying RTBV/RTSV or confuses tungro with other rice viruses; identifies general inflation causes without agricultural specificity | Fundamental errors: confuses water stress with drought stress only; misidentifies causal organism as fungus/bacteria; conflates food inflation with general inflation without sectoral analysis |
| Quantitative reasoning | 15% | 7.5 | Provides quantitative thresholds: for (a) cites critical soil moisture tension values (-0.03 to -1.5 MPa), CWSI range (0-1); for (b) mentions yield losses (10-100% depending on infection stage); for (c) references WPI/CPI food inflation percentages, buffer stock norms (21.4 MT wheat, 13.6 MT rice), or import dependency ratios | Mentions 'significant yield loss' or 'high inflation' without specific figures; vague references to 'critical growth stages' without DAS (days after sowing) specificity | No quantitative data; purely descriptive without any numerical anchoring for thresholds, losses or policy targets |
| Indian context examples | 20% | 10 | Rich India-specific evidence: for (a) cites ICAR-CSSRI work on saline water stress in Haryana, or CRIDA's rainfall indices; for (b) mentions tungro hotspots in Cauvery delta (Tamil Nadu), Godavari delta (AP), and varieties like 'ADT 37'; for (c) analyzes 2022 wheat export ban, Operation Greens, or NFSA coverage with state-specific PDS efficiency data | Generic mention of 'Indian agriculture' or 'PDS system' without specific regional, varietal or policy episode references; mentions 'green leafhopper' without Indian vector biotype context | Completely generic treatment applicable to any country; no Indian examples or substitutes foreign case studies (e.g., discussing California drought instead of Indian conditions) |
| Diagram / process | 20% | 10 | Includes well-labeled diagrams: for (a) schematic of soil-plant-atmosphere continuum with water potential gradients, or stomatal response curve; for (b) disease cycle diagram showing virus-vector-plant transmission; for (c) flowchart of food price transmission mechanism from farm gate to retail; integrates diagrams with explanatory text | Describes processes verbally without visual representation; or includes poorly labeled sketches that don't clearly illustrate key concepts like vector transmission or price transmission | No diagrams despite clear visual opportunities; purely linear text even for cyclical processes like disease epidemiology or feedback loops in inflation |
| Policy / extension angle | 20% | 10 | Demonstrates practical application: for (a) links to PMKSY, precision irrigation, or crop weather advisories; for (b) discusses IPM in rice under NFSM, breeder seed production of resistant varieties; for (c) critically evaluates inflation control mechanisms (open market sales, export bans) with effectiveness analysis and suggests evidence-based alternatives like buffer stock optimization | Lists schemes without critical evaluation; mentions 'IPM' or 'PDS' generically without connecting to specific question components; policy suggestions lack implementation feasibility | No policy dimension; purely academic treatment ignoring extension relevance; or irrelevant policy discussion disconnected from water stress, disease management or inflation control |
Practice this exact question
Write your answer, then get a detailed evaluation from our AI trained on UPSC's answer-writing standards. Free first evaluation — no signup needed to start.
Evaluate my answer →More from Agriculture 2024 Paper II
- Q1 Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Explain the ultrastructure of chloroplast with the help of diagram. Briefly dis…
- Q2 (a) What is chromosomal aberration? Briefly discuss the changes in chromosomal structure due to aberrations. (20 marks) (b) Discuss the imp…
- Q3 (a) What is allopolyploidy? Describe its applications and limitations in crops. (20 marks) (b) Discuss the involvement of public and privat…
- Q4 (a) Give an account of cytoplasmic genetic male sterility and its utilization in plant breeding. Also discuss its limitations. (20 marks) (…
- Q5 Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Explain the properties and functions of enzymes in plants. (10 marks) (b) Write…
- Q6 (a) Describe the process of anaerobic respiration and explain the factors affecting respiration. (20 marks) (b) Discuss banana crop in resp…
- Q7 (a) Define water stress. Discuss the effects of water stress on anatomical and physiological changes in plant growth. Also discuss soil and…
- Q8 (a) Explain the mode of action of organophosphate and Bacillus thuringiensis which are used in pest management. (20 marks) (b) What is phyt…