IAS Agri Syllabus Paper 1

Syllabus for AGRICULTURE Optional (CSE Mains)

Paper - 1

1.1. Agronomy & Crop Production

  1. Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. [Free Notes, Free Videos

  2. Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production. [Free Notes, Free Videos]

  3. Agro ecology;

  4. Cropping pattern as indicators of environments.

  5. Environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans.

  6. Climate change – International conventions and global initiatives.

  7. Greenhouse effect and global warming.

  8. Advance tools for ecosystem analysis – Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

  9. Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country.

  10. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns.

  11. Concepts of various cropping and farming systems.

  12. Organic and Precision farming.

  13. Package of practices for production of important cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibres, sugar, commercial and fodder crops.


1.2. Forestry & Agroforestry

  1. Important features and scope of various types of forestry plantations such as social forestry, agroforestry, and natural forests.

  2. Propagation of forest plants.

  3. Forest products.

  4. Agro forestry and value addition.

  5. Conservation of forest flora and Fauna

1.3. Weed Management

  1. Weeds,

  2. Characteristics of Weeds,

  3. Dissemination and association of Weeds with various crops;

  4. Multiplications of Weeds;

  5. Cultural, biological and chemical control of weeds.

1.4. Soil Science

  1. Soil- physical, chemical and biological properties.

  2. Processes and factors of soil formation.

  3. Soils of India.

  4. Mineral and organic constituents of soils and their role in maintaining soil productivity.

  5. Essential plant nutrients and other beneficial elements in soils and plants.

  6. Principles of soil fertility,

  7. Soil testing and fertilizer recommendations,

  8. Integrated nutrient management.

  9. Biofertilizers.

  10. Losses of nitrogen in soil,

  11. Nitrogen-use efficiency in submerged rice soils, nitrogen fixation in soils.

  12. Efficient phosphorus and potassium use.

  13. Problem soils and their reclamation.

  14. Soil factors affecting greenhouse gas emission.

  15. Soil conservation,

  16. Integrated watershed management.

  17. Soil erosion and its management. [Free Notes]

1.5. Dryland Agriculture

  1. Dry land agriculture and its problems.

  2. Technology for stabilizing agriculture production in rain fed areas.

  3. Water-use efficiency in relation to crop production,

  4. Criteria for scheduling irrigations, ways and means of reducing run-off losses of irrigation water.

  5. Rainwater harvesting.

  6. Drip and sprinkler irrigation.

  7. Drainage of waterlogged soils,

  8. Quality of irrigation water,

  9. Effect of industrial effluents on soil and water pollution.

  10. Irrigation projects in India.

1.6. Agricultural Economy:

  1. Farm management, scope, importance and characteristics, farm planning.

  2. Optimum resource use and budgeting.

  3. Economics of different types of farming systems.

  4. Marketing management – strategies for development, market intelligence.

  5. Price fluctuations and their cost;

  6. Role of cooperatives in agricultural economy;

  7. Types and systems of farming and factors affecting them.

  8. Agricultural price policy.

  9. Crop Insurance

1.7. Agricultural extension:

  1. Agricultural extension,

  2. Its importance and role,

  3. Methods of evaluation of extension programmes,

  4. Socioeconomic survey and status of big, small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers.

  5. Training programmes for extension workers.

  6. Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in dissemination of Agricultural technologies.

  7. Non Government Organization (NGO) and self-help group approach for rural development.


Standard Authentic Reference Books for IAS Agri Paper 1

  1. Handbook of Agriculture By ICAR

  2. Principles of Agronomy By S R Reddy

  3. An Introduction to Soil Science by ISSS Society

  4. Textbook of Soil Science By ICAR

  5. 50 Years of Crop Production By ICAR

  6. Annual Report – Latest By Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

  7. Annual Report – Latest By Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs

  8. Annual Report – Latest By Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

  9. Annual Report – Latest By ICAR

  10. Annual Report – Latest By IARI

  11. States of Indian Agriculture Latest By Min. of Agriculture and farmers welfare

  12. Union Budget Latest By Govt of India

  13. Economic Survey Latest By Govt of India

  14. Indian Farming By ICAR

  15. Indian Horticulture By ICAR

  16. News Abstract By The Hindu, Indian Express



*******