Agriculture Preparation Strategy for UPSC CSE

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Agriculture Preparation Strategy for UPSC CSE

Agriculture is a well-known and very famous optional subject for UPSC Civil Services Examination. It is a highly scoring subject that’s why many candidates opt agriculture as their optional subject. The students who are coming from the background of zoology, botany can also opt this subject as their optional in UPSC Main Examination. It is quite difficult to prepare for this subject, but if you follow the correct strategy or right guidance you can easily clear the exam.

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What is Agriculture?

Agriculture is the cultivation and breeding of animals, plants, and fungi for food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal plants and other products used to sustain and enhance life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization.

Agriculture is a very broad term encompassing all aspects of crop production, livestock farming, fisheries, forestry, etc. It is the most important human economic activity. Agriculture is the activity of man for the production of food, fiber, fuel, etc. by the optimum use of terrestrial resource i.e. land & water.

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Syllabus of Agriculture

The syllabus of agriculture for the main examination is:

Role of agriculture in Indian Economy.
Land Resource.
Land Reforms
Agriculture Finance
Agricultural Credit Institutions
Crop Insurance in India
Agriculture Marketing
Subsidies
Farm Subsidies
Types of support to Farmers
Impact of MSP on inflation
Agricultural Revolutions in India
Food Processing
Policy Initiatives
Government Initiatives
Strategies adopted in Budget
New Foreign & Domestic Investment

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Benefits of Agriculture

The first benefit is that the syllabus of agriculture is short as compared to other optional subjects.

If you prepare well for this exam, then it will be helpful for you for GS paper also. As several topics of both of the exams are same.

The agriculture is somewhat similar to botany. So all the candidates who have a deep knowledge of botany can also opt agriculture as their optional subject.

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Tips for Paper 1

Paper 1 focuses on the foundation of agriculture & farm practices. You should prepare both the topics very well, as the lengthy questions will come from these topics. So prepare accordingly to it.
The answer you write should consist of the simple word including flowcharts whenever it is required. If you will draw the flow chart for any relevant questions, there will be more chances to score better.
You should study the farm practices concerning with Indian economy or situation.
Focus on the dimension & sustainability of any method.
If possible you should include some examples or facts & figures in different areas.
Regularly follow the reports of Indian Government, as this will give you the brief idea about the latest data related to agriculture.

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Tips for Paper 2

The syllabus of agriculture with botany focuses on cell biology, plant breed, genetics, plant biochemistry, biotechnology & physiology.
You should emphasize on the agricultural application. It is also an important topic according to the exam.
The topics which you should prepare separately are horticulture, plant pathology & food production.
If you are writing about agriculture then you should focus on examples according to Indian situation & commercial aspects.

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Strategy for Agriculture

The right strategy will help you to achieve success in an easy manner. So the strategy or the points which you should consider while preparing for agriculture are:

The time duration for the agriculture preparation should be of 4-5 months.
You should have a deep knowledge about the syllabus of agriculture. Go through the syllabus deeply and prepare accordingly for it.
Focus on the sustainability & the economic dimensions.
For paper 2, you should be clear with the basic concepts. So work on your basic concepts as without it you cannot clear the exam.
While you were preparing, start making flow charts & important diagrams so that at the end it will be easy for you to go through all the diagrams.
For easy revision start making short notes at the beginning of the preparation.
Regularly follow all the government websites to stay updated with latest reports about agriculture.
The last but not the least, solve the previous year papers, it is very important as only this will give you an idea about the exam pattern.

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Important Topics for Prelims

The prelims exams are held combined for civil services & Indian Forest Services. In prelims also there are many questions asked on agriculture. Agriculture is not only important for the main examination but it is also an important subject for prelims.

You should focus on the basic concepts of agriculture. The important topic of agriculture for prelims are discussed below.