Agriculture 2025 Paper I 50 marks Enumerate

Q2

(a) Enumerate the impact of climate change with reference to agricultural production. Present the opinion of public on climate change. (20 marks) (b) Write down the agronomic measures for climate-resilient crop production in rainfed areas. (20 marks) (c) Write a brief note on the major soils of India. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) कृषि उत्पादन के संदर्भ में जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभावों का उल्लेख कीजिए। जलवायु परिवर्तन पर जनता की राय प्रस्तुत कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) वर्षा-आधारित क्षेत्रों में जलवायु-अनुकूल (लचीली) फसल उत्पादन के लिए सस्य उपायों को लिखिए। (20 अंक) (c) भारत की प्रमुख मृदाओं पर एक संक्षिप्त टिप्पणी लिखिए। (10 अंक)

Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2025 Agriculture questions

Directive word: Enumerate

This question asks you to enumerate. 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 'enumerate' in part (a) demands systematic listing with explanation; parts (b) and (c) require descriptive elaboration. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its dual demand (impacts + public opinion), 40% to part (b) for detailed agronomic measures, and 20% to part (c) for concise soil classification. Structure as: integrated introduction → part-wise sequential treatment with clear sub-headings → brief conclusion linking climate resilience to soil health.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Biophysical impacts (yield reduction, pest-disease shifts, water stress, extreme events); economic impacts (price volatility, farm income loss); public opinion dimensions (risk perception, adaptation willingness, knowledge gaps from surveys like CEEW/PIK)
  • Part (a): Regional differentiation in Indian farmer perception—climate skepticism vs. lived experience of erratic monsoon, heat stress in Indo-Gangetic and Deccan regions
  • Part (b): Rainfed-specific agronomic interventions: moisture conservation (bunding, contour cultivation), drought-tolerant varieties (ICRISAT millets, Sahbhagi dhan), cropping system adjustments (intercropping, contingency plans), residue management for soil moisture
  • Part (b): Integrative practices—agroforestry, farm ponds, precision water application; institutional support through PMKSY, MGNREGA for water harvesting structures
  • Part (c): Major soil orders of India: Allisols (Indo-Gangetic), Vertisols (Deccan black cotton), Aridisols (Thar), Inceptisols (Brahmaputra valley), Ultisols/Alfisols (Eastern/Western Ghats); their agricultural significance and constraints
  • Part (c): Soil-climate nexus: carbon sequestration potential, degradation status (NBSS&LUP data), and climate vulnerability by soil type

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness22%11Accurately distinguishes climate variability vs. climate change; correctly identifies physiological (CO2 fertilization, heat stress on anthesis) and agronomic impacts; precise terminology for soil orders (USDA/FAO classification); scientifically grounded public opinion citing peer-reviewed surveysMixes weather and climate concepts; generic listing of impacts without mechanistic explanation; basic soil identification with minor classification errors; anecdotal public opinion without survey backingConfuses climate change with ozone depletion or pollution; factually wrong agronomic recommendations (e.g., suggesting flood irrigation for water scarcity); major soil classification errors; no public opinion component
Quantitative reasoning16%8Cites specific data: IPCC AR6 projections for Indian agriculture (4-25% yield decline by 2080s), ICAR vulnerability indices, NBSS&LUP soil degradation statistics (120.72 million ha), rainfed area coverage (58% of net sown area), water use efficiency improvements from agronomic interventionsRound-figure estimates without attribution; vague references to 'significant yield loss' or 'large degraded area'; mentions rainfed percentage without precisionNo quantitative data; invented statistics; confuses area under rainfed cultivation with irrigated area; incorrect carbon stock figures for Indian soils
Indian context examples22%11Region-specific impact illustrations: terminal heat stress in wheat (Punjab/Haryana), flood-submergence in rice (Bihar/Assam), drought in Maharashtra/ Karnataka millets; public opinion from CEEW-PIK 2021 farmer survey; rainfed success models (WCRF Anantapur, SRI in Tamil Nadu); soil examples linking black cotton soil to cotton/sorghum, laterite to plantation cropsGeneric Indian references without regional specificity; standard examples (Green Revolution states) without climate context; common soil names without agricultural linkageExamples from other countries presented as Indian; no regional differentiation; irrelevant soil examples (e.g., podzols in tropical context)
Diagram / process18%9Clear schematic of climate-agriculture feedback loop; flowchart of agronomic measures for rainfed areas showing temporal sequence (pre-sowing to post-harvest); India soil map sketch with major orders located; process diagram of moisture conservation techniquesBasic listing format without visual hierarchy; attempted diagram with labeling errors; descriptive text substituting for visual representationNo diagrams where essential (soil distribution, process flows); messy unlabeled sketches; diagrams contradicting textual explanation
Policy / extension angle22%11Integrates National Adaptation Plan for Agriculture (NAPA), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), PM-KISAN for income support; PMKSY-AIBP for rainfed water security; Soil Health Card Scheme linking to climate resilience; extension mechanisms (KVKs, ATMA) for technology transfer; critiques policy gaps in rainfed investmentLists schemes without integration to question demands; mentions NAPCC without agricultural specificity; generic reference to 'government programs'No policy mention; outdated schemes (e.g., only mentioning Five Year Plans); confused scheme objectives (e.g., attributing crop insurance to soil health)

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 2025 Paper I