IBPS AFO Mains PYQ 2023 with Detailed Answers and Analysis
If you’re preparing for the IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) exam, analyzing the IBPS AFO Mains PYQ 2023 with Detailed Answers and Analysis is one of the smartest ways to boost your preparation. Real exam questions give you insights into the exam pattern, difficulty level, and topic-wise weightage — which no mock test can fully replicate.
In this blog, you’ll find the complete 60-question set from the 2023 AFO Mains exam, along with:
Correct answers
Detailed, easy-to-understand explanations
Clarifications of all options, not just the right one
Links to important topics for revision
Whether you’re targeting IBPS AFO 2025 or reviewing your performance, this post gives you a solid conceptual foundation and helps you focus your studies in the right direction.
Download PDF of IBPS AFO Mains PYQ 2023
Q1. Where does the secretory organ of silkworms meet the midgut and hindgut?
(a) Proboscis
(b) Nephridia
(c) Malpighian tubules
(d) Green gland
(e) None
📝 Additional Information
In silkworms and most insects, Malpighian tubules are the excretory organs that connect exactly at the midgut-hindgut junction, helping in waste removal.
🧠 Other Options:
Proboscis – Feeding tube, not related to digestion/excretion
Nephridia – Found in worms, not insects
Green gland – Found in crustaceans like prawns
“None” – Invalid because correct organ is given
✨ Tip:
This is a classic factual-conceptual question. Don’t confuse anatomical organs across phyla — this is how UPSC & AFO mains trap you!
Q2. Which of the following is a vector of Brinjal's Little Leaf?
(a) Leaf hopper
(b) Aphid
(c) White fly
(d) Nematode
(e) Thrips
📝 Additional Information
Brinjal Little Leaf disease is caused by a phytoplasma (a wall-less bacterial pathogen), and it is transmitted by the insect leaf hopper (Cestius phycitis).
The leaf hopper picks up the phytoplasma while feeding on infected brinjal plants and spreads it to healthy ones during sap feeding.
Symptoms include: reduced leaf size, excessive branching, stunted growth, and failure to bear fruit.
The only confirmed vector is leaf hopper, which makes this question factual but important.
🧠 Other Options Analysis:
(b) Aphid – Vector for viral diseases like mosaic, not phytoplasma-related Little Leaf
(c) White fly – Common vector of viruses (like Yellow Vein Mosaic in bhindi), not for Little Leaf
(d) Nematode – Soil-borne pest, not an insect vector
(e) Thrips – Transmit viruses like tospovirus in crops like chilli, not phytoplasma
Q3. What is the botanical name of Sal?
(a) Shorea robusta
(b) Saraca asoca
(c) Saraca indica
(d) Grevillea robusta
(e) Butea monosperma
📝 Additional Information
Sal tree, also called Shala, is botanically known as Shorea robusta. It is a large, deciduous tree found commonly in the forests of central and northern India and is highly valued for its hardwood.
Sal wood is strong, durable, and resistant to termite attacks — widely used in construction, railway sleepers, and furniture.
🧠 Option-Wise Confusion Buster:
(b) Saraca asoca – This is Ashoka tree, a sacred and ornamental tree with orange-red flowers, used in Ayurvedic medicine.
(c) Saraca indica – Old synonym of Saraca asoca, also used for the Ashoka tree.
(d) Grevillea robusta – Known as Silver Oak, an ornamental and shade-giving tree, native to Australia.
(e) Butea monosperma – Called Palash or Flame of the Forest, with bright orange flowers.
Q4. 100 days rural employment guarantee scheme?
(a) Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
(b) Kisan Rath App Scheme
(c) MGNREGA
(d) Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
(e) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
📝 Additional Information
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), launched in 2005, is a flagship employment scheme of the Government of India.
It guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
It’s a rights-based scheme, meaning employment is a legal entitlement under the Act.
It promotes inclusive rural development, improves livelihood security, and often includes work related to water conservation, afforestation, land development, etc.
🧠 Other Options – Why They’re Wrong:
(a) PM-AASHA – Aimed at ensuring MSP operations and price support for farmers, not an employment scheme
(b) Kisan Rath App – A mobile platform for transporting agri-produce, no employment guarantee
(d) SGSY – Promotes self-employment, but does not guarantee 100-day work
(e) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana – Focused on organic farming, not a wage or employment scheme
Q5. What is the term for rabbit parturition?
(a) Kindling
(b) Kidding
(c) Farrowing
(d) Calving
(e) Lambing
📝 Additional Information
The term “Kindling” is specifically used for the process of parturition (giving birth) in rabbits.
It usually occurs 28–32 days after mating. A mother rabbit (doe) builds a nest with fur and hay, and delivers a litter of 4–12 kits (baby rabbits).
The kindling process is quick and quiet, often happens at night.
Rabbits are extremely sensitive during this time, so disturbance should be minimal.
🧠 Why Other Terms Are Wrong:
(b) Kidding – Used for goats
(c) Farrowing – Term for pigs
(d) Calving – Refers to cows and buffaloes
(e) Lambing – Refers to sheep
Q6. Oestrous cycle in sheep?
(a) 14–18 days
(b) 19–20 days
(c) 20–21 days
(d) 21 days
(e) 23 days
📝 Additional Information
The oestrous cycle in sheep (ewes) is typically 19 to 21 days, but 19–20 days is the most accurate average cited in veterinary and animal husbandry references.
Each cycle includes:
Proestrus
Estrus (heat) – lasts around 24–36 hours
Metestrus
Diestrus
Sheep are seasonally polyestrous, meaning they come into heat multiple times during the breeding season (usually autumn).
Proper cycle understanding is critical for timed breeding and AI programs in sheep farming.
🧠 Option-wise Check:
(a) 14–18 days – Too short; might apply to smaller rodents but not sheep
(b) 19–20 days – ✅ Correct and most accurate
(c) 20–21 days – Close, but less specific than option (b)
(d) 21 days – Often generalized, but average is slightly lower
(e) 23 days – Too long for sheep; more typical for some goat breeds
Q7. What is the germination percentage of certified onion seed?
(a) 60
(b) 65
(c) 70
(d) 75
(e) 80
📝 Additional Information
According to the Seed Certification Standards set by Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards (IMSCS) under the Seed Act, the minimum germination percentage for certified onion seeds is 80%.
That means out of 100 seeds, at least 80 should germinate under standard lab conditions.
This high standard ensures uniform crop stand and reduces the risk of poor yield due to low germination.
For foundation seed, the standard is even higher (often around 85%).
🧠 Option Breakdown:
(a) 60 – Too low for certified category, this may apply to rejected or expired seed lots
(b) 65 / (c) 70 / (d) 75 – Closer, but still below the minimum requirement
(e) 80 – ✅ Correct and official standard for certified onion seed
Q8. What’s the Scientific name of Grass Carp?
(a) Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
(b) Cyprinus carpio
(c) Osphronemus gourami
(d) Carassius carassius
(e) Ctenopharyngodon idella
📝 Additional Information
The scientific name of Grass Carp is Ctenopharyngodon idella. It is a large herbivorous freshwater fish originally native to China but now widely introduced across the world for aquatic weed control and aquaculture.
Key facts:
Belongs to the family Cyprinidae (carps)
Consumes submerged vegetation, hence ideal for biological control of aquatic weeds
Very fast-growing, making it economically valuable
🧠 Other Options Breakdown:
(a) Hypophthalmichthys molitrix – Silver Carp
(b) Cyprinus carpio – Common Carp (bottom feeder)
(c) Osphronemus gourami – Giant Gourami
(d) Carassius carassius – Crucian Carp
These may look similar due to the “carp” relation, but only Grass Carp = Ctenopharyngodon idella.
Q9. Unwinding of a silk cocoon?
(a) Riddling
(b) Reeling
(c) Stripping
(d) Stifling
(e) Deflossing
📝 Additional Information
The process of unwinding the silk filament from a cocoon is called Reeling. This is a critical step in sericulture, where the continuous silk thread is extracted from the cocoon and then wound onto reels.
A single cocoon yields about 300 to 900 meters of filament.
Reeling is done after stifling, which kills the pupa to prevent it from breaking the silk thread.
It requires precise temperature and moisture conditions to soften the sericin (gum that holds the thread) for easy unwinding.
🧠 Other Options — Why They’re Wrong:
(a) Riddling – Term used in wine making, not related to silk
(c) Stripping – General removal term, not specific to silk extraction
(d) Stifling – Refers to killing the pupa inside the cocoon (done before reeling)
(e) Deflossing – Removal of loose outer fibres (floss) before reeling, but not the actual unwinding
Q10. Harvesting of Baby Corn is done at which stage?
(a) 2–3 days after tasseling
(b) 2–3 days after silking
(c) Milking stage
(d) Dough stage
(e) All of these
📝 Additional Information
Baby corn is harvested 2 to 3 days after the emergence of silks — this is before fertilization occurs. At this stage, the ear is tender, unfertilized, and ideal in size and texture for consumption.
Silking is the emergence of long thread-like styles (stigmas) from the ear, indicating the readiness of the plant’s female part.
If harvesting is delayed beyond 3–5 days, the ear starts maturing, becoming fibrous and unsuitable for baby corn.
⏱ Timing is critical — usually within 45–50 days after sowing, depending on the variety.
🧠 Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
(a) 2–3 days after tasseling – Tasseling comes before silking. So this is too early.
(c) Milking stage – Relevant for grain corn, not baby corn
(d) Dough stage – Again applies to grain crop, too late for baby corn
(e) All of these – ❌ Incorrect, only (b) is right
Q11. How many times has a Quincunx plantation been accommodated in comparison to a square system?
(a) 1.5
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
(e) 0.5
📝 Additional Information
In a Quincunx plantation system, trees are planted like a square system but with an additional plant in the center of each square.
So, for every 4 corner trees in a square system, the quincunx system accommodates 1 extra plant in the middle.
This increases the total number of plants by almost double in the same area.
📈 That’s why the Quincunx system accommodates 2 times the number of trees as the regular square system, if every center spot is planted.
Assistance from the FPO/FPC in priority sector lending
(a) 0.5 crore
(b) 50 lakhs
(c) 50 crore
(d) 5 crore
(e) 10 crore
📝 Additional Information
According to RBI guidelines on Priority Sector Lending (PSL), the credit limit for loans to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) or Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) is up to ₹5 crore per borrower.
These loans qualify under the Agriculture category of PSL.
The ₹5 crore limit helps in collectivizing small and marginal farmers, enabling them to invest in post-harvest infrastructure, value-addition, and marketing.
📌 This ensures easy access to formal credit for collective farming and boosts rural income.
💡 What is an FPO/FPC?
An FPO (Farmer Producer Organisation) or FPC (Farmer Producer Company) is a collective of farmers registered to carry out production, processing, marketing, and other agri-business activities on behalf of its members.
Q13. Agri clinic and agribusiness Centres (ACABC) scheme maximumassistance for a group of five members?
(a) ₹50 lakh
(b) ₹75 lakh
(c) ₹100 lakh
(d) ₹40 lakh
(e) ₹20 lakh
📝 Additional Information
The Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centres (ACABC) Scheme, jointly implemented by MANAGE (Hyderabad) and NABARD, offers financial assistance to agriculture graduates and diploma holders to establish commercial agri-enterprises.
For Group Projects (up to 5 members):
✅ Maximum project cost eligible for subsidy = ₹100 lakh (₹1 crore)
For Individual Projects:
Maximum eligible cost = ₹20 lakh
This scheme promotes agripreneurship, encourages employment generation, and ensures last-mile agri-extension services.
🍄 Q14. What are empty barrels and plastic container bodies used for?
(a) Feed
(b) Covering material
(c) Cage cover
(d) Floating
(e) Fencing
📝 Additional Information
Empty barrels and plastic container bodies are commonly used for floating structures in aquaculture, especially in cage culture systems.
These barrels:
Act as buoyant supports to keep fish cages floating on the water surface
Are cost-effective, reusable, and readily available
Help maintain stability of cages even in fluctuating water conditions
This setup is especially popular in inland cage farming of fish like tilapia, pangasius, and carp.
🧠 Option-wise Breakdown:
(a) Feed – Barrels are not used for feeding
(b) Covering material – They don’t serve as shade or covers
(c) Cage cover – Cage covers are nets or mesh, not barrels
(d) Floating – ✅ Correct; core component of floating cage setup
Q15. Trees or shrubs that grow where a river meets the sea?
(a) Protective forestry
(b) Recreational forestry
(c) Social forestry
(d) Shelter belts
(e) Mangrove
📝 Additional Information
Mangroves are specialized trees and shrubs that grow in coastal intertidal zones, especially where rivers meet the sea—such areas are called estuaries.
Key features of mangroves:
Can tolerate high salinity, low oxygen, and frequent tidal flooding
Have aerial roots (pneumatophores) to breathe in waterlogged soil
Play a vital role in protecting shorelines from erosion and cyclones
Serve as nurseries for many marine species
Common mangrove species:
🔹 Rhizophora, Avicennia, Sonneratia, Bruguiera
Q16. When two pairs of alleles with different traits cross, the cross is known as?
(a) Dicross hybridization
(b) Diploid
(c) Monohybrid cross
(d) Dihybrid cross
(e) Hybrid
📝 Additional Information
A Dihybrid cross involves the study of two different traits controlled by two pairs of alleles.
It’s a classical genetic experiment to understand how two genes are inherited simultaneously.
🔬 Example:
When round yellow seeds (RRYY) are crossed with wrinkled green seeds (rryy) in pea plants:
F1 generation: All round yellow (RrYy)
F2 generation: Shows a phenotypic ratio of 9:3:3:1
This concept was first demonstrated by Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics.
🧠 Option-wise Breakdown:
(a) Dicross hybridization – ❌ Not a standard genetic term
(b) Diploid – Refers to chromosome number (2n), not a type of cross
(c) Monohybrid cross – Involves only one trait
(d) Dihybrid cross – ✅ Correct; involves two traits
(e) Hybrid – General term for the offspring, not a type of cross
Q17. Ufra disease in Rice is caused by
(a) Deficiency of Nitrogen
(b) Deficiency of Zinc
(c) Fungus
(d) Nematode
(e) Bacteria
📝 Additional Information
Ufra disease in rice is caused by a nematode named Ditylenchus angustus. It’s a major parasitic disease seen in deepwater and floating rice varieties, mostly in eastern India, Bangladesh, and parts of Southeast Asia.
🧪 Pathogen: Ditylenchus angustus (a migratory endoparasitic nematode)
🔬 Symptoms:
“Straighthead” appearance: Panicle fails to emerge properly
White, deformed panicles with no or few grains
Sheaths and leaves become twisted and rotted
Fields may show patchy stunting
Q18.Which of the following is a viral disease of Bombyxmori?
(a) Grasserie
(b) Flacherie
(c) Jaundice
(d) Pebrine
(e) Soto disease
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Disease Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Grasserie ✅ | Viral | Caused by NPV in Bombyx mori |
| (b) Flacherie | Bacterial + Viral Complex | Weakens gut; caused by poor rearing hygiene |
| (c) Jaundice | ❌ Not a known silkworm disease | |
| (d) Pebrine | Protozoan | Caused by Nosema bombycis; transmitted transovarially |
| (e) Soto disease | ❌ Not related to silkworms |
Q19. What is the name of the process by which a cow eats food and thenregurgitates previously consumed feed and chews it further?
(a) Insalivation
(b) Rumination
(c) Curving
(d) Digestion
(e) Absorption
📝 Additional Information
Rumination is the process in ruminant animals (like cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep) where the animal:
Eats feed quickly and stores it in the rumen (first stomach chamber)
Later, regurgitates partially digested food (called cud) back into the mouth
Chews it again thoroughly to help further break it down
This process allows for efficient digestion of coarse plant materials like hay, grass, and fodder that are high in cellulose.
🐄 Ruminant Digestive System Has 4 Compartments:
Rumen – Fermentation vat
Reticulum – Traps foreign materials, mixes feed
Omasum – Water and nutrient absorption
Abomasum – “True stomach” for enzymatic digestion
Upcoming agriculture exams 2025
Q20. What is the name of a paddy process that prevents grain breakage during milling and improves nutrient content?
(a) Drying
(b) Milling
(c) Dehusking
(d) Parboiling
(e) Cleaning
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| (a) Drying | Removes moisture but doesn’t reduce breakage or improve nutrition significantly |
| (b) Milling | The process of removing husk and bran — not a preventive step |
| (c) Dehusking | Removal of husk — does not improve nutrient value |
| (d) Parboiling ✅ | Correct — combines cooking and drying before milling |
| (e) Cleaning | Removes impurities, not related to breakage or nutrition |
Q21. Red delicious is a variety of?
(a) Apple
(b) Plum
(c) Strawberry
(d) Cherry
(e) Date Palm
📝 Additional Information
Red Delicious is one of the most famous and widely cultivated apple varieties in the world, known for its:
Bright red color
Sweet flavor
Distinctive elongated shape with five lobes at the base
Originated in the United States, it is now grown globally, including in Indian states like Himachal Pradesh, J&K, and Uttarakhand.
🔍 Characteristics of Red Delicious Apples:
Skin: Glossy red, thick
Flesh: Creamy white, crisp, low acidity
Preferred for fresh eating, not suitable for cooking or baking
Moderate shelf life
Q22. UN organisation that provides data on food production, consumption, and hunger-related information.
(a) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
(b) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
(c) International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
(d) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
(e) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| (a) APEDA | Indian agency under Ministry of Commerce for agri-export promotion |
| (b) FAO ✅ | UN body for agriculture, food, hunger, and sustainability data |
| (c) ICARDA | International research center, not a UN organization, focused on drylands |
| (d) FSSAI | Indian body for food safety standards, not a UN agency |
| (e) FSIS | US-based organization under USDA, not international |
🧬 Q23. What is Pulsing?
(a) Storage of pulses
(b) Increase flower vase life
(c) Increase vegetable storage/shelf life
(d) Increase mango shelf life
(e) None of these
📝 Additional Information
Pulsing is a post-harvest technique mainly used in floriculture to extend the vase life of cut flowers and maintain their freshness and appearance during storage and transport.
🌸 How Pulsing Works:
Flowers are placed in sugar-based solutions or preservative mixtures for a short time (usually 4–24 hours) after harvest.
These solutions may contain:
Sucrose (for energy)
Biocides (to prevent microbial growth)
Growth regulators (to slow senescence)
Pulsing allows flowers to absorb nutrients and hydration, making them turgid and long-lasting.
Q24. Which of the following is not one of the five statutory boards under the Ministry of Commerce?
(a) Tea Board
(b) Spice Board
(c) Rubber Board
(d) Coffee Board
(e) Cardamom Board
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| (a) Tea Board | ✔ Yes – Statutory board under Ministry of Commerce |
| (b) Spice Board | ✔ Yes – Deals with 52 scheduled spices including cardamom |
| (c) Rubber Board | ✔ Yes – For regulation and promotion of rubber industry |
| (d) Coffee Board | ✔ Yes – Promotes Indian coffee globally |
| (e) Cardamom Board ✅ | ❌ No such separate board exists |
Q25. Secondary tillage that pulverises the soil to improve seedpreparation?
(a) Dibbling
(b) Ploughing
(c) Drilling
(d) Tilling
(e) Harrowing
📝 Additional Information
Harrowing is a secondary tillage operation performed after ploughing to break large soil clods, level the field, and create a fine tilth suitable for seedbed preparation.
It:
Pulverizes the soil
Removes weeds
Improves moisture retention
Ensures good soil-to-seed contact
🔧 Harrowing tools include:
Disc harrow
Spike tooth harrow
Spring tooth harrow
Q26. A specialised stem that grows from the leaf axil at the plant's crown and prostrates horizontally is known as?
(a) Runner
(b) Stolon
(c) Corm
(d) Rhizome
(e) Tuber
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Runner | Modified stem | Similar to stolon but usually above ground, very slender (e.g., grass) |
| (b) Stolon ✅ | Correct | Grows horizontally from crown, forms roots and new plants |
| (c) Corm | Underground stem | Swollen vertical stem base, e.g., gladiolus, taro |
| (d) Rhizome | Underground stem | Grows horizontally below ground, thickened, e.g., ginger |
| (e) Tuber | Storage organ | Swollen underground stem, stores food, e.g., potato |
Q27. What is KCS in extension?
(a) Newspaper
(b) Research institute
(c) Farmers
(d) Govt agencies
(e) Exhibition
📝 Additional Information
In agricultural extension, KCS stands for “Key Communicating System”, and in this system, Farmers play the central role. They act as local leaders or knowledge carriers who help spread agricultural innovations and practices within their community.
🧑🌾 Farmers as the Core of KCS:
Farmers are trusted sources of local knowledge
They influence peer adoption of new techniques
Extension workers often identify progressive farmers to serve as change agents
KCS enhances the reach and trust of extension activities
Q28. After harvesting, make the fruit skin more appealing toconsumers by allowing ethylene gas to degrade chlorophyll.
(a) Ripening
(b) Degreening
(c) Precooling
(d) Yellowing
(e) Maturing
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Why it’s incorrect or correct |
|---|---|
| (a) Ripening | General term; may involve color, texture, sugar — not specific to removing green color |
| (b) Degreening ✅ | ✔ Specific to chlorophyll breakdown using ethylene |
| (c) Precooling | Cooling produce immediately after harvest to retain freshness |
| (d) Yellowing | Natural color change — not a controlled process |
| (e) Maturing | Physiological development — before ripening |
Q29.Ramsar watershed equation, Q = CIA, where Q is peak discharge, I is intensity of rainfall, A is drainage area, what is C?
(a) Drainage coefficient
(b) Runoff coefficient
(c) Erodibility coefficient
(d) Watershed coefficient
(e) Dispersal coefficient
📝 Additional Information
The Rational Method Equation for estimating peak runoff (Q) from a small watershed is:
Q=C×I×AQ = C \times I \times A
Where:
Q = Peak runoff rate (in cubic meters per second or cusecs)
C = Runoff coefficient (dimensionless, 0–1)
I = Rainfall intensity (mm/hr or in/hr)
A = Catchment/Drainage area (hectares or acres)
Q30.It is a product made from curd, which is made from milk by adding starter inoculating culture, removing moisture, pressing, and cutting?
(a) Yoghurt
(b) Butter
(c) Cheese
(d) Curd
(e) Ghee
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Why Incorrect/Correct |
|---|---|
| (a) Yoghurt | Made by fermentation but not pressed or cut — it’s semi-liquid |
| (b) Butter | Made by churning cream — not from curd |
| (c) Cheese ✅ | ✔ Made by curdling, draining, pressing — exact description in question |
| (d) Curd | Made by fermentation, but not processed into solid form |
| (e) Ghee | Made by heating clarified butter, not curd |
Q31. Contraction of uterus of cow after calving is known as
(a) Galactogenesis
(b) Lactation
(c) Lactogenesis
(d) Involution
(e) Galactopiosis
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Why It’s Incorrect/Correct |
|---|---|
| (a) Galactogenesis | Refers to initiation of milk secretion |
| (b) Lactation | General term for milk production phase |
| (c) Lactogenesis | Hormonal process that triggers milk secretion post calving |
| (d) Involution ✅ | ✔ Refers to uterine contraction and return to normal size after calving |
| (e) Galactopiosis | Rarely used; sometimes misinterpreted for milk let-down or flow |
Q32. Which Himalayan breed found in Jammu kashmir, Himachal Pradesh with long horn, horns curled backward, droopy ears, small teats and colour is white but mostly brown or black and produces fine wool?
(a) Osmanabadi
(b) Sirohi
(c) Marwari
(d) Barbari
(e) Gaddi
📝 Additional Information
The Gaddi goat is a native Himalayan breed reared primarily in the hill regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. It is especially known for producing fine-quality wool, which is used for making pashmina-like textiles.
🔍 Identifying Features of Gaddi Goat:
Horns: Long and curved backward
Ears: Droopy (pendulous)
Color: Predominantly white, but also found in brown or black
Teats: Small, well-suited for hilly terrain survival
Wool: Produces fine undercoat wool (used for warm clothing)
Body: Medium size, compact build — suitable for cold climate
Q33. What is the percentage of sand in sandy soil if the claypercentage is less than 15%?
(a) 70
(b) 85
(c) 60
(d) 50
(e) 40
📝 Additional Information
According to the USDA soil texture classification, sandy soils are those that contain:
More than 85% sand,
Less than 15% silt and clay combined,
And typically less than 10–15% clay.
So, if the clay content is less than 15%, and the rest is mostly sand, then the sand percentage must be about 85% or more, classifying it as sandy soil.
🌱 Characteristics of Sandy Soil:
Low water-holding capacity
High drainage
Low nutrient retention
Light texture
Q34. Main part of the engine, where gas ignition and oil-air mixture take place, and gases have enough space to mix with air to produce power?
(a) Crankshaft
(b) Connecting rod
(c) Cylinder
(d) Flywheel
(e) Camshaft
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Why Incorrect |
|---|---|
| (a) Crankshaft | Converts piston motion to rotary motion — not the combustion site |
| (b) Connecting rod | Connects piston to crankshaft — no combustion |
| (c) Cylinder ✅ | ✔ Combustion chamber — true power house |
| (d) Flywheel | Maintains rotational momentum — not involved in combustion |
| (e) Camshaft | Controls valve timing — not the site of ignition |
Q35. It is a cactus species indigenous to Mexico. It is distinguished byits distinctive white hair-like fibres that cover the stem andareolas, which are also known as old man cactus species?
(a) Echinocactus
(b) Echinocereus
(c) Mammillaria
(d) Cephalocereus senilis
(e) Oerocem tralis
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Reason |
|---|---|
| (a) Echinocactus | Commonly known as Barrel cactus, lacks woolly hair |
| (b) Echinocereus | Small, cylindrical cactus; spiny, not woolly |
| (c) Mammillaria | Small cacti with radial spines, some are hairy, but not Old Man Cactus |
| (d) Cephalocereus senilis ✅ | ✔ True Old Man Cactus with distinctive white wool |
| (e) Oerocem tralis | Not a valid cactus genus — possibly a misspelling |
Q36. GnRH hormone is released by?
(a) Pituitary
(b) Hypothalamus
(c) Ovary
(d) Pineal
(e) Gonads
📝 Additional Information
GnRH stands for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone. It is a key hormone in the reproductive system and is secreted by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain.
🔁 Role of GnRH:
GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release:
FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone)
LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
These hormones then act on gonads (testes or ovaries) to:
Regulate gamete (sperm/egg) production
Control sex hormone secretion (like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
Q37. Citrus species that can only be propagated through seed?
(a) Sweet Lime
(b) Acid Lime
(c) Rangpur Lime
(d) Pummelo
(e) Mandarin
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Reason |
|---|---|
| (a) Sweet Lime | Usually propagated by budding/grafting |
| (b) Acid Lime | Can be propagated through cuttings and seeds both |
| (c) Rangpur Lime | Can be propagated vegetatively, not restricted to seeds |
| (d) Pummelo ✅ | ✔ Primarily propagated through seeds — due to high polyembryony |
| (e) Mandarin | Typically propagated via budding for uniformity |
Moderate
Q38. Long day plants require photoperiodic length usually for better flowering?
(a) 10–12 hrs
(b) 14–18 hrs
(c) Less than 14 hours
(d) 18–24 hrs
(e) More than 24 hours
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Why Incorrect |
|---|---|
| (a) 10–12 hrs | Too short — ideal for short-day plants |
| (b) 14–18 hrs ✅ | ✔ Optimum range for long-day plants |
| (c) <14 hrs | Not sufficient for long-day flowering |
| (d) 18–24 hrs | Possible but not typical — may cause photoinhibition |
| (e) >24 hrs | Not natural and not ideal — plants need a dark period too |
Q39. It is a thresher with a threshing unit consisting of hammers or beaters with a closed cylinder casing and concave. It is equipped with a set of oscillating sieves and an aspiratory blower for separation and cleaning of grains.
(a) Hammer mill type
(b) Tooth spike
(c) Rasp bar cylinder
(d) Drum type thresher
(e) Syndicator type thresher
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Why Incorrect |
|---|---|
| (a) Hammer mill type ✅ | ✔ Uses hammers/beaters and closed casing with sieves & blower |
| (b) Tooth spike | Uses spikes for impact but no blower mechanism |
| (c) Rasp bar cylinder | Uses bars for rubbing — common in wheat/rice threshers |
| (d) Drum type thresher | Refers to cylinder-based threshers without specific beaters |
| (e) Syndicator type thresher | Not a standard term in agricultural engineering |
Q40. Which among the following is not a characteristic of acid soil
(a) Presence of Kaolinite and illite
(b) High concentration of Al, Fe and deficiency of Ca and Mg
(c) More than 0.1% salts
(d) Low cation exchange capacity
(e) Low base saturation
📝 Additional Information
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Kaolinite & Illite | Common clay minerals found in weathered, acidic soils |
| High Al³⁺ & Fe³⁺ | Toxic levels harmful to root growth and nutrient uptake |
| Low Ca & Mg | Base cations get leached in high rainfall zones |
| Low CEC | Especially in soils rich in kaolinite or oxide clays |
| Low Base Saturation | Less % of base cations like Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ — replaced by H⁺, Al³⁺ |
Why Option (c) is NOT a Characteristic:
High salt concentration (>0.1%) is typical of saline or sodic soils, not acid soils
Acid soils usually occur in high rainfall areas, where salts are leached away, not accumulated
Option-wise Breakdown:
Option-wise Breakdown:| Option | Correctness | Reason |
|---|---|---|
(a)  | Found in weathered tropical soils — true | |
| (b) | Classic sign of acid soils — toxic Al, Fe, deficiency of Ca, Mg | |
(c)  | High salt = saline soil trait, not acid soil | |
| (d) | Acid soils often have low CEC due to kaolinite clay | |
| (e) | Low base saturation = more acidity |
Q41. Fungus that causes soft rot and fruit juice leakage in fruits such as peaches, sweet potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes is:
(a) Erwinia crysanthemi
(b) Erwinia carotovora
(c) Erwinia uredovora
(d) Rhizopus sp
(e) Erwinia areola
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Pathogen Type | Disease & Host |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Erwinia chrysanthemi | Bacterium | Causes soft rot in ornamentals, some vegetables |
| (b) Erwinia carotovora ✅ (correct spelling of option b) | Bacterium | Causes bacterial soft rot, mainly in vegetables, but less commonly fruit |
| (c) Erwinia uredovora | Bacterium | Old name of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, not used now |
| (e) Erwinia areola | ❌ Incorrect name | Likely a distractor — no such species officially recognized |
Q42. Planting of maize for monsoon or rabi season is commonly done using:
(a) Ridge planting
(b) Flat bed
(c) Zero till planting
(d) Furrow planting
(e) Transplanting
📝 Additional Information
🌽 Maize is highly sensitive to:
Waterlogging in monsoon
Poor drainage in rabi (when irrigated)
That’s why ridge planting is preferred over other methods.
📌 Why Ridge Planting?
Raised ridges allow excess rainwater to drain in monsoon (kharif)
In rabi, it preserves soil moisture and ensures better root development
Prevents seedling death due to excess water
Q43. It is genetic variation that is present in plants regenerated from somatic hybridization by tissue culture in?
(a) Somatic hybridization
(b) Callus culture
(c) Somaclonal variation
(d) Somatic embryogenesis
(e) Somatic mutation
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Reason |
|---|---|
| (a) Somatic hybridization | It’s the process of fusing protoplasts from different species or varieties, not the variation itself |
| (b) Callus culture | It’s a technique, not the name for the variation |
| (d) Somatic embryogenesis | This is the formation of embryos from somatic cells, again a process |
| (e) Somatic mutation | Refers to mutations in non-reproductive cells, but not specific to tissue culture |
Q44. The sum of lignin and polysaccharides that are not digested by endogenous secretion of the digestive tract?
(a) Lipid
(b) Starch
(c) Disaccharide
(d) Monosaccharide
(e) Crude fibre
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Reason |
|---|---|
| (a) Lipid | Fats/oils — digestible, not part of plant fiber |
| (b) Starch | Digestible polysaccharide (broken down into glucose) |
| (c) Disaccharide | Like sucrose/lactose — digestible sugars |
| (d) Monosaccharide | Like glucose/fructose — easily digestible |
Q45. Larvae that can diapause 15-20" " cm below the soil surface and cause extensive defoliation?
(a) Monarch larvae
(b) Red hairy caterpillar
(c) Tobacco caterpillar
(d) Butterfly
(e) None of these
📝 Additional Information
The Red Hairy Caterpillar (Amsacta albistriga / Amsacta moorei) is a major pest that:
Feeds voraciously on leaves (defoliator)
Larvae hide 15–20 cm deep in soil and can diapause (a resting stage to survive unfavorable conditions)
Commonly affects crops like groundnut, soybean, cotton, and pulses
Appears in large numbers during monsoon and can cause severe defoliation
🔍 Identification:
Larvae are covered with reddish-brown hairs
Often seen in mass movement across fields
After feeding, they burrow into the soil to pupate
Q46. power generated in the engine cylinder and received by piston without frictional losses?
(a) PTOHP
(b) DBHP
(c) BHP
(d) FHP
(e) IHP
📝 Additional Information
| Term | Full Form | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IHP | Indicated Horse Power | Total power generated in the combustion chamber (before friction losses) ✅ |
| FHP | Frictional Horse Power | Power lost due to engine friction |
| BHP | Brake Horse Power | Power available at the output shaft after subtracting friction loss (IHP − FHP) |
| DBHP | Drawbar Horse Power | Power available at the drawbar of tractor (used to pull implements) |
| PTOHP | Power Take-Off Horse Power | Power available at the PTO shaft of tractor for operating machines like rotavator |
Q47. Tree crop combined with livestock, poultry, and/or fish culture to meet the farmer's daily needs
(a) Agri silviculture
(b) Agroforestry
(c) Homestead agroforestry
(d) Agri horticulture
(e) Aqua forestry
📝 Additional Information
| System | Main Focus |
|---|---|
| Agri-silviculture | Crops + forest trees |
| Agri-horticulture | Crops + fruit trees |
| Aqua-forestry | Trees + fish farming |
| Homestead agroforestry | Trees + crops + livestock/poultry/fish ✅ |
Q48.Plant virus infection causes pale yellowing of the leaves, whirling of the plant's tip, severely stunted growth, and leaf shedding.
(a) Ring Spot
(b) Necrosis
(c) Blight
(d) Wilt
(e) None of these
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Typical Symptoms | Match? |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Ring Spot | Circular spots or rings on leaves | ❌ Only partial match |
| (b) Necrosis | Death of tissue (black/dark brown areas) | ❌ Not the main feature here |
| (c) Blight | Rapid browning and death of plant tissues | ❌ Not stunting + yellowing |
| (d) Wilt | Drooping due to loss of turgor | ❌ No mention of leaf shedding or stunting |
| (e) None of these | ✅ Virus infections often cause complex symptoms not fully captured above |
Q49. Hormone that is involved in the making of glycogen to glucose?
(a) Insulin
(b) Progestron
(c) Testosteron
(d) Glucagen
(e) Somatotropin
📝 Additional Information
| Option | Function | Match? |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Insulin | Converts glucose into glycogen (opposite process) | |
| (b) Progesterone | Reproductive hormone, no role in glucose metabolism | |
| (c) Testosterone | Male sex hormone, no direct role in glycogen metabolism | |
| ✅ (d) Glucagon | Stimulates glycogen → glucose (glycogenolysis) | |
| (e) Somatotropin (Growth Hormone) | Indirectly affects metabolism, but not this process directly |
Q50. Completely digested crude organic amorphous colloidal substance of dark brown black colour, produced by microorganisms in soil and beneficial to plant life?
(a) Soil colloids
(b) Humus
(c) Organic matter
(d) Disaccharide
(e) Lipid
📝 Additional Information
Humus is a dark brown to black, amorphous, colloidal organic material that results from the complete decomposition of organic matter by soil microorganisms.
It is stable, rich in nutrients, and plays a key role in improving soil fertility, structure, and water-holding capacity.
Q51. Which finfish contribute maximum to global aquaculture?
(a) Alaska pollock
(b) Anchoveta
(c) Silver carp
(d) Anaebus testudeus
(e) Skipjack tuna
📝 Additional Information
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is one of the most widely farmed freshwater fish species globally, especially in countries like China, where aquaculture is highly developed.
According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) reports, Silver carp consistently ranks among the top contributors to global aquaculture production in terms of volume.
Q52. This type of forest, which is typically found in nature, grows from seeds or can be coppiced.
(a) High-class forest
(b) Pollarding
(c) Simple coppicing
(d) woody coppicing
(d) woody coppicing
📝 Additional Information
A high-class forest, also known as a high forest, is a natural or man-made forest that arises mainly from seedlings rather than vegetative reproduction like coppicing.
It can also include coppice with standards, where some trees grow from seed while others regrow from coppicing.
These forests typically have tall, straight trees and are often managed for timber and biodiversity
Q53. In a combine harvestor, the ratio of reel peripheral speed to forward speed (reel speed index) should normally be in the range of
(a) 1.25 to 1.50
(b) 2.00 to 2.50
(c) 1.75 to 2.00
(d) 3.0-3.25
(e) 3.25-3.50
📝 Additional Information
In a combine harvester, the reel speed index (ratio of reel peripheral speed to forward speed) is crucial for efficient feeding of the crop into the cutter bar without shattering or losses.
An ideal range is 1.25 to 1.50, which ensures that the reel gently guides the crop to the cutter bar without throwing or pushing it aggressively.
Q54. What are the disadvantages of sexual reproduction?
(a) Plants Deep and tap rooted
(b) Seeds are viable for long duration
(c) Seed propagation is possible only when the getative method
was unsuccessful and difficult
(d) Plants are not true to type and inferior
(e) Better production
📝 Additional Information
Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes, leading to genetic recombination. While it increases genetic diversity, it also has some disadvantages, especially in agriculture and horticulture, where uniformity and desirable traits are often preferred.
❌ Disadvantages of Sexual Reproduction:
Genetic variation can lead to plants not being true to type (i.e., offspring may not resemble the parent plant in terms of quality, yield, or resistance).
Inferior quality plants may arise due to uncontrolled pollination.
Slower propagation compared to vegetative methods.
Q55. It is a thresher with threshing unit consisting of hammers or beaters with a closed cylinder casing and concave. It is equipped with a set of oscillating sieves and an aspiratory blower for separation and cleaning of grains.
(a) hammer mill type
(b) Tooth spike
(c) rasp bar cylinder
(d) drum type thresher
(e) Syndicator type thresher
📝 Additional Information
A hammer mill type thresher is designed with the following key features:
Threshing unit consists of hammers or beaters attached to a rotating drum inside a closed cylindrical casing.
Uses concave under the drum for effective threshing.
Equipped with oscillating sieves to separate the grain from chaff and debris.
Has an aspiratory blower to clean the threshed grain by removing lighter materials.
Conclusion
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