Agriculture 2025 Paper II 50 marks Elucidate

Q6

(a) Write the cultivation practices of grapes in respect of soil and climatic requirements, improved varieties, training and pruning, fruit thinning and plant protection. 20 (b) What are the trends of food productivity in India ? Give your opinion for sustainable food production system which can address food and nutritional security of India. 20 (c) How does salinity affect the growth and photosynthesis in plants ? Elucidate the avoidance mechanisms of salt stress by plants. 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) मृदा एवं जलवायु आवश्यकताएं, उन्नत प्रजातियां, सधाई (ट्रेनिंग) एवं काट-छांट, फल बिरलीकरण तथा पादप सुरक्षा के संबंध में अंगूर की खेती की विधियों को लिखिए। 20 (b) भारत में खाद्य उत्पादकता की प्रवृत्तियां क्या हैं ? भारत में खाद्य एवं पोषण सुरक्षा को ध्यान में रखते हुए टिकाऊ खाद्य उत्पादन पद्धति हेतु अपना विचार व्यक्त कीजिए। 20 (c) लवणता पौधों में वृद्धि एवं प्रकाश-संश्लेषण को कैसे प्रभावित करती है ? पौधों द्वारा लवण प्रतिबल से बचने की क्रियाविधियों पर प्रकाश डालिए। 10

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

Directive word: Elucidate

This question asks you to elucidate. 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 'elucidate' demands clear, detailed explanation with supporting evidence. Structure: brief introduction → Part (a) grape cultivation (~40% time/words, 20 marks): soil/climate, varieties (Thompson Seedless, Anab-e-Shahi), training systems (Bower, Kniffin), pruning, thinning, IPM; Part (b) food productivity trends (~35%, 20 marks): data-driven analysis of yield trends, Green Revolution to post-Green Revolution, sustainable strategies (organic farming, precision agriculture, climate-resilient varieties); Part (c) salinity stress (~25%, 10 marks): physiological mechanisms, osmotic/ionic stress, photosynthesis inhibition, avoidance mechanisms (exclusion, compartmentalization, succulence). Conclude with integrated vision linking all three to sustainable agriculture.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Soil requirements (well-drained sandy loam, pH 6.5-7.5); climatic needs (temperate/sub-tropical, 15-25°C, 700-900mm rainfall); improved varieties for different agro-climatic zones (Thompson Seedless, Sonaka, Manik Chaman for North India; Bangalore Blue, Anab-e-Shahi for South India)
  • Part (a): Training systems (Bower system for vigorous vines, Kniffin system, Telephone system); pruning types (spur pruning, cane pruning) with timing; fruit thinning techniques; major pests (flea beetle, thrips, mealy bug) and diseases (downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose) with IPM
  • Part (b): Quantitative trends in food productivity (cereal yields 1960s-2020s, stagnation in rice-wheat systems, regional disparities Punjab vs Eastern states); factors (input fatigue, groundwater depletion, climate change)
  • Part (b): Sustainable food production strategies: conservation agriculture, organic farming, agroecology, millets promotion (UN International Year of Millets 2023), biofortification (Iron-rich pearl millet, Zinc wheat), climate-smart agriculture, food-nutrition convergence through POSHAN Abhiyaan
  • Part (c): Salinity effects: osmotic stress reducing water uptake, ionic toxicity (Na+, Cl-), nutrient imbalance, photosynthesis reduction via stomatal closure and non-stomatal limitations (PSII damage, reduced RuBisCO activity)
  • Part (c): Avoidance mechanisms: salt exclusion at root level (ultrafiltration by membranes), salt excretion through salt glands (mangroves), succulence (dilution effect), osmotic adjustment (compatible solutes: proline, glycine betaine), compartmentalization into vacuoles, antioxidant defense systems

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness25%12.5Scientifically accurate across all parts: for (a) correct training systems matching vine vigor, precise pruning physiology; for (b) accurate interpretation of yield stagnation data and causal factors; for (c) correct biochemical pathways of salinity damage (ROS generation, K+/Na+ ratio disruption) and precise avoidance mechanisms distinguishing exclusion from toleranceGenerally correct concepts with minor errors: vague description of training systems, generic yield trend mention without specific crops, conflates avoidance with tolerance mechanisms in salinity responseMajor conceptual errors: confusing cane and spur pruning, stating incorrect climate requirements, attributing yield trends to wrong causes, describing tolerance as avoidance, fundamental misunderstanding of osmotic vs ionic stress
Quantitative reasoning15%7.5Data-driven analysis in (b): cites specific yield figures (rice yield ~2.5 t/ha to ~4 t/ha, wheat productivity growth rates), growth rate comparisons pre/post Green Revolution, fertilizer use efficiency trends; in (c) mentions threshold salinity levels (ECe >4 dS/m for sensitive crops)Some quantitative mention without precision: 'yield increased' without figures, rough period references, qualitative salinity effects without threshold valuesNo quantitative data: entirely qualitative description, incorrect statistics, no awareness of productivity benchmarks or salinity measurement units
Indian context examples20%10Rich India-specific illustrations: for (a) grape regions (Nashik, Sangli, Bangalore), varieties (Arka Neelamani, Pusa Urvashi), state-specific practices; for (b) regional yield disparities (Punjab vs Bihar), NFSM, National Food Security Mission, PM-KISAN; for (c) Indian salt-tolerant varieties (CSR-30 rice, KRL-210 wheat), ICAR-CSSRI work, coastal salinity in SunderbansSome Indian examples but limited: mentions Nashik grapes, Green Revolution generally, generic rice-wheat system without regional specificity, standard salinity references without Indian researchGeneric or foreign examples only: describes California grape cultivation, uses global food security data without Indian focus, no mention of Indian salinity research or agricultural institutions
Diagram / process20%10Clear diagrams/schematic descriptions: for (a) labeled diagram of Bower/Kniffin training system, pruning cuts illustration; for (b) trend graph of productivity 1960-2020s, flowchart of sustainable agriculture components; for (c) diagram of salt stress signaling pathway, schematic of ion compartmentalization in plant cell, avoidance mechanism flowchartMentions diagrams without clear description or attempts textual flowcharts: describes training system in words only, lists trend points without visual structure, describes salinity response sequentially without mechanism mappingNo diagrammatic element: purely narrative answer, no attempt to visualize processes, no structured representation of systems or mechanisms
Policy / extension angle20%10Strong policy integration: for (a) GrapeNet traceability, APEDA export promotion, FPOs for grape growers; for (b) National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Zero Budget Natural Farming (Andhra Pradesh/ZBNF), National Food Security Act link to production, Doubling Farmers Income strategy; for (c) CSSRI salinity reclamation technologies, sub-surface drainage in Haryana, salt-tolerant variety release through ICARSome policy mention: generic MSP reference, organic farming mention without scheme names, awareness of research institutions without specific technology transferNo policy dimension: purely technical agronomy, no government scheme awareness, no extension methodology, misses convergence between research and farmer adoption

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 II