Aditi Sinha
August 10, 2023 11:00
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Prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) with Agriculture Optional subject.
Choosing Agriculture for UPSC offers practical knowledge on farming and rural development. With clear concepts and quality books, explore soil science, plant breeding, and more. Prepare with past papers and strategies for success in the exam journey.
Agriculture optional syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) offers advantages, especially for those interested in agriculture and rural development. Agriculture is the science of farming, it includes the cultivation of soil for growing crops, rearing animals to provide food, wool and other products, and harvesting grown crops as effectively as possible. Choosing Agriculture as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) can be advantageous, especially for those with experience or interest in agriculture and rural development. By opting for Agriculture, candidates gain insights into the foundation of India’s economy, rural development programs, food security concerns, and the impact of climate change on agriculture. This broad understanding can prove valuable during the exam interview as well.
This article provides a comprehensive guide for candidates who plan to choose Agriculture as their UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) Optional Subject. It covers the exam syllabus, offers past year question papers (PYQs), and shares valuable insights from toppers. Additionally, it recommends essential books to aid in the mastery of Agriculture as an optional subject.
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam includes an Agriculture Optional Syllabus, which has two papers: I and II. The Agriculture Optional Syllabus covers topics like Indian economy, rural development, and environmental issues, which are also covered in General Studies Paper 3. Additionally, the Agriculture Optional Syllabus provides practical knowledge relevant to General Studies Paper 1, covering Indian geography and topics on poverty, development, and demographics. It also enriches content for the Essay paper.
In this article, we will explore the Syllabus, recommend a List of Books, delve into Past Year Question Papers (PYQs), and share insights from Previous Year Agriculture Optional Toppers.
Each of the agriculture optional papers for the UPSC CSE exam carries 250 marks, making it a total of 500 marks for both the exams. The syllabus for the Agriculture Optional paper in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) in India typically covers various aspects of agriculture. Below is a broad outline of the syllabus:
The Table below contains the syllabus of Agriculture Optional for the UPSC Optional Paper I:
| S. No. | Topic | Subtopics |
| 1 | Ecology |
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| 2 | Agronomy |
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| 3 | Weed Science |
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| 4 | Forestry |
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| 5 | Soil science and nutrient management |
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| 6 | Soil and water conservation |
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| 7 | Agricultural economics |
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| 8 | Agricultural extension |
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The Table below contains the syllabus of Agriculture Optional for the UPSC Optional Paper II:
| S. No. | Topic | Subtopics |
| 1 | Cell Biology |
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| 2 | Plant breeding |
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| 3 | Seed production and technology |
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| 4 | Plant physiology |
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| 5 | Horticulture, and landscape gardening |
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| 6 | Plant protection techniques |
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| 7 | Food production, and nutrition management |
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The exam pattern for the Agriculture Optional in the UPSC Mains Exam is structured as follows:
For those who choose Agriculture as an optional subject in the UPSC exam, selecting the appropriate books is critical. Agriculture encompasses a wide range of topics, such as botany, soil science, animal husbandry, and economics. A well-chosen selection of books can make the subject easier to understand and ensure that the syllabus is covered thoroughly. Here is a curated list of essential books for Agriculture Optional Paper I and Paper II to assist candidates in their preparation.
| S.No. | Book | Author(s) |
| 1 | Introductory Soil Science | K.D. Kundu |
| 2 | Principles of Agronomy | Yellamanda Reddy & Sankara Reddi |
| 3 | A Textbook of Agricultural Statistics | R. Rangaswamy |
| 4 | Fundamentals of Genetics | B.D. Singh |
| 5 | Plant Breeding Principles and Methods | B.D. Singh |
| 6 | Entomology | Vasant Gowariker |
| 7 | Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | Y.L. Nene, Bajaj & K.V. Singh |
| S.No. | Book | Author(s) |
| 1 | Agricultural Economics and Farm Management | S.S. Johl & T.R. Kapoor |
| 2 | Indian Economy | Mishra and Puri |
| 3 | Agricultural Marketing in India | S.S. Acharya & N.L. Agarwal |
| 4 | Soil and Water Conservation Engineering | G.L. Harris |
| 5 | Irrigation Water Management | D.L. Pruthi |
| 6 | Post-Harvest Technology of Fruits and Vegetables | L.R. Verma and V.K. Joshi |
| 7 | Elements of Horticulture | N. Kumar |
Choosing Agriculture as an optional subject for the UPSC exam can benefit candidates with experience or interest in agriculture, the environment, or rural development. To succeed, it’s crucial to develop a targeted preparation plan to cover the vast syllabus effectively. Here are some strategies and tips to help you excel in Agriculture as your optional subject:
The table below contains the direct PDF links of the Previous Year Question Papers of Agriculture Optional Paper I and Paper II:
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional PYQ 2023 | |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper I (2023) | UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper II (2023) |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional PYQ 2022 | |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper I (2022) | UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper II (2022) |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional PYQ 2021 | |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper I (2021) | UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper II (2021) |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional PYQ 2020 | |
| UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper I (2020) | UPSC CSE Agriculture Optional Paper II (2020) |
| Must Read | |
| NCERT Notes For UPSC | UPSC Daily Current Affairs |
| UPSC Blogs | UPSC Daily Editorials |
| Daily Current Affairs Quiz | Daily Main Answer Writing |
| UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers | UPSC Test Series 2024 |
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