Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

(a) How do plants absorb nitrogen from the environment ? Describe the mechanism of nitrate assimilation and synthesis of amino acids in plants. 10

(b) Explain the strategies to manage

Question

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

(a) How do plants absorb nitrogen from the environment ? Describe the mechanism of nitrate assimilation and synthesis of amino acids in plants. 10

(b) Explain the strategies to manage citrus decline in India. 10

(c) What do you understand by mango malformation ? Elucidate symptoms, causal organism and control measures of floral mango malformation. 10

(d) What do you understand by food-based dietary approaches ? Explain briefly how they will help to eliminate hunger. 10

(e) What are the major constraints of food grain processing in India ? 10

UPSC Answer Check · Accepted Answer

This multi-part question requires elucidation across five distinct agricultural domains. Allocate approximately 30 words per sub-part (150 words total), spending roughly equal time on each since all carry equal marks. Structure each sub-part as: direct definition/answer → 2-3 explanatory points → brief concluding link. For (a), prioritize nitrate reductase pathway; for (b), emphasize integrated nutrient management; for (c), distinguish vegetative from floral malformation; for (d), link dietary diversity to SDG-2; for (e), cite supply chain inefficiencies.
- (a) Nitrogen absorption: active transport via NO3-/NH4+ transporters; nitrate assimilation via nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) enzymes; GS-GOGAT cycle for amino acid synthesis
- (b) Citrus decline management: integrated nutrient management (micronutrient correction), Phytophthora root rot control, use of Rangpur lime/Cleopatra mandarin rootstocks, drip irrigation adoption
- (c) Mango malformation: Fusarium mangiferae (floral) and F. subglutinans (vegetative); malformed compact panicles with shortened internodes; malformation management through pruning and fungicide application
- (d) Food-based dietary approaches: dietary diversification, biofortification, food-based dietary guidelines; elimination of hidden hunger through micronutrient-rich food systems
- (e) Food grain processing constraints: post-harvest losses (10-15%), fragmented supply chains, inadequate cold storage, FCI procurement inefficiencies, small-scale milling infrastructure

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Concept correctness	25%	12.5	Precise biochemical pathways for (a) NR-NiR-GS-GOGAT sequence; accurate Fusarium species differentiation in (c); correct distinction between food security and nutrition security in (d); no factual errors across any sub-part	General understanding of nitrogen cycle and malformation symptoms but misses specific enzymes or confuses causal organisms; vague treatment of dietary approaches	Fundamental errors such as stating nitrogen fixation by plant roots directly, confusing bacterial blight with malformation, or equating food-based approaches solely with food aid
Quantitative reasoning	10%	5	Includes specific data points: post-harvest loss percentages (10-15% for cereals, 25-30% for fruits), NPK ratios for citrus nutrition, or malformation incidence thresholds where relevant	Mentions general magnitude terms ('high losses', 'significant decline') without specific figures	No quantitative dimension or incorrect statistics that contradict established agricultural data
Indian context examples	20%	10	Cites region-specific evidence: Nagpur mandarin decline in Vidarbha, Dashehari malformation in Malihabad, POSHAN Abhiyaan for dietary approaches, FCI's decentralized procurement, or state-specific processing clusters	Generic Indian references without specificity—mentions 'Indian farmers' or 'government schemes' without naming relevant programs or regions	Entirely generic treatment applicable to any country; no Indian examples or irrelevant international focus
Diagram / process	25%	12.5	Describes clear sequential processes: nitrate assimilation pathway with enzyme locations (cytosol/plastid); integrated disease management flowchart for citrus; malformation disease cycle; food system pathways from production to consumption	Mentions processes in linear text without clear step-wise organization; conflates stages in disease cycles or biochemical pathways	No process description or completely jumbled sequence that misrepresents causal relationships or biochemical order
Policy / extension angle	20%	10	Links to actionable frameworks: Soil Health Card for nutrient management, MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) for citrus and mango, Food Safety and Standards Act for processing, NFSA for dietary security	Mentions government involvement without specific scheme names or conflates central and state responsibilities	No policy dimension or purely descriptive treatment without extension relevance; fails to connect technical content to farmer-level implementation

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Directive word: Elucidate

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