Agriculture Optional Syllabus for UPSC
The UPSC Agriculture optional is examined in two Mains papers of 250 marks each, 500 marks in total. Paper I has 10 topics and Paper II has 6 topics, listed below with their subtopics.
Agriculture Paper I syllabus
1. Ecology & Environment
- Phyto-geographical Regions of India
- Greenhouse Effect & Climate Impact
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Farm Projects
- Natural resources: sustainable management & conservation
- Agro-ecology & cropping patterns
- Environmental pollution & hazards
- Climate change: global initiatives
- Remote Sensing (RS) & GIS in agriculture
2. Cropping Systems
- Patterns in different agro-climatic zones
- Impact of HYV & short-duration varieties
- Organic & precision farming
3. Crop Production
- Package of practices for cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibers, sugar crops
4. Forestry
- Social forestry, agro-forestry, natural forests
- Conservation of flora & fauna
5. Weeds
- Characteristics, dissemination, control methods
6. Soil Science
- Physical, chemical, biological properties
- Soil fertility, testing, nutrient management
- Problem soils & reclamation
7. Water Management
- Irrigation scheduling, rainwater harvesting
- Drip & sprinkler irrigation
8. Farm Management & Price Policy
- Resource use, budgeting, economics of different farming systems
- Marketing management, market intelligence, price fluctuations, role of cooperatives
- Agricultural price policy — MSP, procurement, price support mechanisms
- Crop Insurance — PMFBY; price stabilisation funds
9. Dry Land Agriculture & Watershed Management
- Dry land agriculture — problems, technology for stabilising rainfed production
- Soil conservation & integrated watershed management
- Soil erosion management — wind, water erosion; conservation tillage
- Water-use efficiency; rainwater harvesting; drainage of water-logged soils
10. Extension
- Role of KVKs, NGOs, SHGs in rural development
Agriculture Paper II syllabus
1. Genetics & Plant Breeding
- Cell structure, genetic material, laws of heredity
- Mutation, polyploidy, hybridization
- Molecular markers, GM crops
2. Seed Technology & IPR
- Breeder/Foundation/Certified Seed distinctions
- Seed dormancy, certification, testing & storage
- DNA fingerprinting & seed registration; role of public vs private sectors
- IPR issues in agriculture — Plant Variety Protection; WTO/TRIPS impact on agriculture
3. Plant Physiology
- C3/C4/CAM Pathways
- Photoperiodism
- Vernalization
- Stress Physiology (drought, salinity, heat)
- Photosynthesis, respiration, growth substances
4. Horticulture
- Fruits, vegetables, spices, floriculture
- Post-harvest technology
5. Plant Protection
- Diagnosis & management of pests/diseases
- Integrated pest management
6. Food Security
- Trends, policies, PDS, nutrition issues
Other Sciences optionals
Track your Agriculture preparation
Follow Paper I and Paper II topic by topic, with revision counts — free.
Start tracking — free