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UPSC released the UPSC IAS Agriculture Syllabus in the official notification. It can be downloaded in the form of a pdf from UPSC.gov.in. The IAS Agriculture optional Syllabus contains a list of important topics that will be covered in the UPSC Agriculture optional paper of the IAS 2024 Exam. It is advised to go through the IAS Agriculture 2024 Syllabus to better prepare for this optional exam.
Candidates are encouraged to prepare a thorough UPSC CSE Study plan based on the topics presented in the UPSC CSE Syllabus. Going through the UPSC IAS exam pattern 2024 will also help candidates draft an effective preparation strategy for the IAS Exam. For further information regarding the IAS exam, such as IAS eligibility criteria, and information about other optional subjects, Candidates can refer to the official notification.
The IAS Agriculture optional is one of the 48 optional exams conducted by the UPSC for the Civil services exam. Candidates must refer to the Agriculture optional Syllabus to gain a better understanding of the topics that will be covered by the exam. For more details about the UPSC Agriculture optional Syllabus, Candidates can go through the materials below.
According to the Agriculture Syllabus for UPSC, the IAS mains exam for Agriculture subject has 2 papers. The Syllabus for IAS Agriculture Paper 1 has topics like soil, ecology, cropping, farming, fertilizer, minerals and more which cover a wide range of topics within. To know more about the UPSC Agriculture Syllabus for mains Paper 1 check the table below.
UPSC Subject-wise Questions for Various Subjects
Topics |
Principles of soil fertility, Problem soils and their reclamation, Mineral & organic constituents of soils, Losses of nitrogen in soil, Processes & factors of soil formation, Essential plant nutrients & other beneficial elements in soils and plants, nitrogen-use efficiency in submerged rice soils, nitrogen fixation in soils, Soil - physical, chemical & biological properties, Soils of India, Efficient phosphorus and potassium use, Soil factors affecting greenhouse gas emission, integrated nutrient management Biofertilizers |
Agro ecology, Cropping pattern related to environment, Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution & production, International conventions and global initiatives, Animals and humans, natural resources, sustainable management & conservation, Environmental pollution & associated hazards to crops, Climate change, Ecology |
Impact of high-yielding & short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns, Cropping patterns in different climatic zones, Concepts of various cropping, and farming systems. Organic and precision farming, Package of practices for production |
Important features, the scope of various types of forestry plantations such as social forestry, agroforestry, natural forests, and Propagation of forest plants. Forest products. Agro-forestry and value addition. Conservation of forest flora and fauna |
Weeds and their characteristics, dissemination and its association with various other crops; their Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply. multiplications, cultural, biological, and chemical control of weeds |
Status of big, small & marginal farmers & landless agricultural labourers', Agricultural extension, its role and importance, methods of evaluation of extension programmes, Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in dissemination of Agricultural technologies, Training programmes for extension workers, Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and Self-Help Group (SHG) approach for rural development. Socio-economic survey |
Soil conservation, integrated watershed management (IWM). Soil erosion & its management. Dry land Agriculture and its problems. Technology for stabilizing Agriculture production in rainfed areas |
Water use efficiency in relation to crop production, Drainage of waterlogged soils, Rainwater harvesting. Drip and sprinkler irrigation, Quality of irrigation water, effect of industrial effluents on soil and water pollution. Irrigation projects in India, Criteria for scheduling irrigations, ways and means (W & M) of reducing runoff losses of irrigation water |
Marketing management strategies for development, Price fluctuations; Farm management, scope, importance and characteristics, farm planning, Crop Insurance, Types & systems of farming, Optimum resource use and budgeting, Factors affecting farming, Role of cooperatives in agricultural economy; Economics of different types of farming systems. market intelligence, Agricultural price policy |
Also read: UPSC Mock Tests Series for UPSC
According to the Agriculture optional UPSC Syllabus, IAS Agriculture mains Paper 2 exam has topics like cells, diseases and pests, plantation, molecules, history of plantation and more. To know more about the Syllabus of UPSC Agriculture Paper 2 mains exam check the table below.
Topics |
Cell structure, function and cell cycle. Synthesis, structure and function of genetic material. Laws of heredity. Chromosome structure, chromosomal aberrations, linkage and cross-over, and their significance in recombination breeding |
Genetically modified crop plant heterosis and its exploitation. Somatic hybridization. Breeding for disease and pest resistance. Role of interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. Role of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology in crop |
Major fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, Package practices of major horticultural crops, spices and flower crops, Protected cultivation and high-tech horticulture, Landscaping and commercial floriculture. Medicinal and aromatic plants, Post-harvest technology & value addition of fruits and vegetables |
IPR issues, Seed production and processing technologies. Seed certification, Seed testing and storage, WTO issues and their impact on Agriculture, DNA fingerprinting and seed registration |
Origin, evolution & domestication of crop plants, History of plant breeding. Modes of reproduction, selfing and crossing techniques, centre of origin, crop genetic resources conservation & utilization, the law of homologous series |
Pure line selection, mass and recurrent selections, Molecular markers and their application in plant improvement, pedigree, combining ability, its significance in plant breeding |
Polyploidy, euploidy and aneuploidy. Mutation and their role in crop improvement. Heritability, sterility & incompatibility, classification and their application in crop improvement. Cytoplasmic inheritance, sex-linked, sex-influenced and sex-limited characters |
Epidemiology & forecasting of major crop pests and diseases, Biological control of pests and diseases, Plant quarantine measures, Pesticides, their formulation & modes of action |
Food-based dietary approaches to eliminate hunger. Nutrient deficiency such as Micro nutrient deficiency: Protein Energy Malnutrition or Protein Calorie Malnutrition (PEM or PCM), Micro nutrient deficiency and HRD in the context of the work capacity of women and children. Food grain productivity and food security |
Food production and consumption trends in India. Food security and growing population—vision 2020. Reasons for grain surplus. National and International food policies. Production, procurement, and distribution constraints. Availability of food grains, per capita expenditure on food. Trends in poverty |
Relation of food production to National Dietary Guidelines, Public Distribution System and Below Poverty Line population, Targeted Public Distribution System (PDS), Food consumption pattern, and policy implementation in context to globalization. Processing constraints, |
Role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, Diagnosis of pests & diseases of field crops, vegetables, Integrated pest and diseases management, orchard and plantation crops & their economic importance, Classification of pests and diseases and their management, Storage pests & their management |
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Also read: How to crack different Government Exams
As per the official UPSC CSE Exam notification, the IAS prelims exam has multiple choice questions whereas the IAS mains exam is descriptive in nature. The prelims CSE is of 400 marks in total whereas IAS mains is of 2350 marks. For more details on the prelims and mains, IAS exam pattern 2024 check the tables below.
Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
Paper 1 | General Studies 1 | 200 | 2 hrs |
Paper 2 | General Studies 2 | 200 | 2 hrs |
Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
Paper 1 | General English | 300 | 3 hrs |
Paper 2 | Language (regional language) | 300 | 3 hrs |
Paper 3 | Essay | 250 | 3 hrs |
Paper 4 | General Studies 1 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Paper 5 | General Studies 2 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Paper 6 | Optional subject 1 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Paper 7 | Optional subject 1 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Paper 8 | Optional subject 2 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Paper 9 | Optional subject 2 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Also read: Information about category-wise career exams
The IAS exam has three stages - Prelims, Mains and The Interview round.
IAS 2024 application form has been released on February 14, 2024.
Yes, there is negative marking in the UPSC IAS prelims exam.
The minimum academic qualification needed to appear for the UPSC CSE exam is graduation in any discipline.
While what qualifies as a good optional varies from person to person, the UPSC Agriculture Optional is considered a good choice for those having a background in subjects like biology, agriculture, botany etc.
The UPSC Agriculture Syllabus 2024 contains topics such as soil, ecology, cropping, farming, fertilizer, minerals, diseases and pests, plantation, molecules, history of plantation and many more.
Others:28 January,2025 - 31 May,2025
Others:18 February,2025 - 31 May,2025
Application Date:13 April,2025 - 10 May,2025
Others:30 April,2025 - 31 May,2025
Application Correction Date:04 May,2025 - 13 May,2025
Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.
Hope this helps!
To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):
This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).
Any Bachelor's Degree:
A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.
Beneficial Degrees:
Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.
Optional Subject:
You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.
Hope it helps!!
Hello!!
That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:
1. Understand the Exam Structure
The UPSC CSE has three stages:
Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)
Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)
Interview: Personality Test
2. Check Eligibility
Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)
Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)
3. Choose Your Optional Subject
Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).
Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.
4. Build a Study Plan
Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.
Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.
Focus on:
NCERTs (6th–12th)
Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)
Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)
5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)
For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.
6. Practice Answer Writing
Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.
7. Appear for the Exam
Notification comes out around February.
Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.
How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:
Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.
Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.
If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:
BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.
KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.
Hello aspirant,
For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.
To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:
https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse
All the best!!
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