INDIAN BANKING RADAR (IBR) - IBPS AFO MAINS — AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE MOCK

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 208 📅 FRIDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2026

🎯 TARGET: IBPS AFO Mains • Agriculture Officers • NABARD • RRB Agriculture Officers

📘 20 MCQs | Agriculture Current Affairs + Technical Agriculture + Allied Sectors + Farm Management

Instructions: Select the most appropriate answer. Attempt all 20 questions before checking the answer key.

Q1. The primary concept of agrivoltaics, highlighted at the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference held in New Delhi in October 2026, is:

A. Replacing agricultural land entirely with solar parks

B. Combining crop cultivation with solar electricity generation on the same land

C. Using solar energy exclusively for food processing

D. Converting all irrigation systems into diesel-powered systems

E. Producing biofuel exclusively from solar panels

Q2. ICAR and the Food Corporation of India entered into an MoU for research on safer and more sustainable foodgrain storage. The principal focus includes:

A. Increasing the protein content of stored wheat

B. Developing hybrid rice varieties

C. Replacing all warehouses with cold-storage units

D. Exploring alternative fumigation technologies for stored wheat and rice

E. Promoting direct seeding of rice

Q3. ICAR’s Directorate of Floricultural Research released DFR Phool Shakti in October 2026. Its principal application is:

A. Enhancing the vase life of cut flowers

B. Increasing oil content in sunflower seed

C. Controlling root-knot nematodes in vegetables

D. Improving seed dormancy in cereals

E. Increasing milk production in dairy animals

Q4. In a crop–solar-panel system, which factor is especially important when selecting crops for agrivoltaics?

A. The crop must always require complete shade

B. Solar panels must prevent all rainfall from reaching the soil

C. Crop response to shade, local climate and panel configuration

D. The crop must have the same maturity period as every other crop

E. Fertiliser application must be discontinued

Q5. A farmer wants to reduce post-harvest losses in stored wheat while limiting dependence on conventional fumigants. Which approach is most appropriate?

A. Increase grain moisture before storage

B. Store grain without cleaning or inspection

C. Mix infested grain with fresh grain

D. Keep warehouses permanently open to humid air

E. Adopt scientifically validated alternative pest-management and storage technologies

Q6. A soil sample has a pH of 8.8 and high exchangeable sodium. Which amendment is commonly used to reclaim such sodic soil?

A. Agricultural lime

B. Gypsum

C. Elemental phosphorus

D. Common salt

E. Ammonium chloride alone

Q7. A farmer applies Rhizobium inoculant to a suitable pulse crop. The main expected benefit is:

A. Direct control of all fungal diseases

B. Complete elimination of phosphorus requirements

C. Biological nitrogen fixation through a compatible legume–bacterium association

D. Prevention of all insect attacks

E. Immediate correction of soil salinity

Q8. Which observation is the strongest indication that a crop may be suffering from iron deficiency?

A. Uniform yellowing of older leaves with green veins

B. Purpling caused by anthocyanin accumulation alone

C. Wilting exclusively during midday

D. Interveinal chlorosis appearing first on young leaves

E. Root nodules containing pink leghemoglobin

Q9. In integrated pest management, species-specific sex pheromone traps are primarily useful for:

A. Monitoring pest population trends and, where suitable, supporting mass trapping

B. Replacing every other pest-control measure in all crops

C. Increasing the reproductive rate of the target insect

D. Measuring soil organic carbon directly

E. Supplying nitrogen to crop roots

Q10. Trichogramma species are widely used in biological control because they are:

A. Predatory mites feeding on adult beetles

B. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

C. Fungal pathogens of plant roots

D. Parasitoids that attack the eggs of certain insect pests

E. Earthworms that improve soil aggregation

Q11. Under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in rice, irrigation is managed by:

A. Maintaining deep standing water throughout the crop season

B. Withholding irrigation until irreversible crop wilting occurs

C. Alternating flooded and non-flooded periods while avoiding damaging water stress

D. Applying irrigation only during flowering and never at other stages

E. Replacing irrigation water with saline water

Q12. Which statement best describes zero-tillage crop establishment?

A. Crops are established only in permanently flooded fields

B. Seeds are placed with minimal soil disturbance without conventional preparatory tillage

C. All crop residues must be burnt before sowing

D. Soil is ploughed repeatedly to maximum depth

E. No weed-management practice is ever required

Q13. A combine harvester is designed to perform which combination of operations?

A. Sowing, transplanting and fertiliser placement

B. Irrigation, spraying and pruning

C. Milking, chilling and animal feeding

D. Ploughing, levelling and bund construction

E. Harvesting, threshing and cleaning grain in an integrated operation

Q14. Silage is produced mainly by:

A. Drying grain until it reaches seed-storage moisture

B. Burning crop residues under controlled conditions

C. Soaking fodder in an alkaline solution for several weeks

D. Preserving suitable green fodder through controlled fermentation under anaerobic conditions

E. Mixing fresh fodder with untreated chemical pesticides

Q15. Why should a newborn calf receive adequate colostrum promptly after birth?

A. It supplies maternal immunoglobulins that provide passive immunity

B. It permanently replaces the need for vaccination

C. It eliminates every intestinal pathogen

D. It prevents all future nutritional deficiencies

E. It substitutes for clean drinking water throughout life

Q16. In ruminants, the rumen microbial population is important because it helps:

A. Convert all dietary fat directly into glucose

B. Eliminate the need for dietary minerals

C. Break down cellulose and other fermentable feed components

D. Prevent every metabolic disorder

E. Produce oxygen for body tissues

Q17. In composite fish culture, which combination correctly matches fish species with their typical feeding zones?

A. Catla—bottom; Rohu—surface; Mrigal—exclusively aerial

B. Catla—bottom; Rohu—bottom; Mrigal—surface

C. Catla—exclusively aquatic weeds; Rohu—surface; Mrigal—surface

D. Catla—surface; Rohu—water column; Mrigal—bottom

E. All three species feed exclusively at the water surface

Q18. The principal purpose of the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is to:

A. Replace all agricultural credit institutions

B. Link participating agricultural markets electronically to facilitate wider market access and transparent trade

C. Guarantee a fixed profit to every farmer

D. Eliminate the need for grading and assaying

E. Restrict agricultural produce sales to a single buyer

Q19. A farm machine costs ₹6,00,000, has an estimated salvage value of ₹1,00,000 and a useful life of five years. Under the straight-line method, what is its annual depreciation?

A. ₹50,000

B. ₹80,000

C. ₹1,00,000

D. ₹1,20,000

E. ₹1,40,000

Q20. In photoperiodism, a short-day plant generally flowers when:

A. Day length always exceeds 16 hours

B. It receives continuous light throughout its life

C. Soil moisture falls below the permanent wilting point

D. Temperature remains below freezing

E. The uninterrupted dark period exceeds a species-specific critical duration

✅ ANSWER KEY

Q1. B

Q2. D

Q3. A

Q4. C

Q5. E

Q6. B

Q7. C

Q8. D

Q9. A

Q10. D

Q11. C

Q12. B

Q13. E

Q14. D

Q15. A

Q16. C

Q17. D

Q18. B

Q19. C

Q20. E

📚 EXPLANATIONS, EXAM TRAPS & QUICK RECALL

Q1 — Agrivoltaics: Solar panels and agricultural production share land. Crop selection must consider shade tolerance, microclimate and panel design.

Trap: Agrivoltaics does not mean abandoning crop cultivation for a solar park.

Q2 — Foodgrain storage: The ICAR–FCI collaboration focuses on research into alternative fumigation technologies for stored wheat and rice.

Trap: Fumigation research is different from developing crop varieties or improving grain nutrition.

Q3 — Floriculture: DFR Phool Shakti is designed to improve the vase life of cut flowers. DFR Khushbu is a value-added product using essential oils from ornamental basil.

Trap: Do not confuse the two technologies.

Q4 — Agrivoltaic crop selection: Shade response and local agroclimatic conditions help determine suitable crop–panel combinations.

Trap: Complete shade is not a universal requirement or benefit.

Q5 — Storage management: Grain should be stored at suitable moisture levels, with sanitation, inspection and scientifically appropriate pest management. Alternative fumigation methods must be validated for safety and effectiveness.

Trap: Increasing grain moisture can promote deterioration and fungal growth.

Q6 — Sodic soils: Gypsum supplies calcium, which helps replace exchangeable sodium; appropriate drainage and leaching then help remove soluble salts.

Trap: Sodic and saline soils are not identical; treatment depends on soil analysis.

Q7 — Rhizobium: Compatible Rhizobium strains form nodules on legume roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Trap: Biological nitrogen fixation does not remove every nutrient requirement.

Q8 — Iron deficiency: Iron is relatively immobile within plants, so deficiency often produces interveinal chlorosis on younger leaves.

Trap: Nitrogen deficiency generally appears first on older leaves.

Q9 — Pheromone traps: They help monitor pest activity and may support mass trapping when the target pest, trap design and deployment strategy are appropriate.

Trap: They do not automatically eliminate the need for integrated pest management.

Q10 — Trichogramma: These tiny parasitoid wasps attack the eggs of selected insect pests, preventing some pests from reaching the damaging larval stage.

Trap: Trichogramma are not fungal bioagents or nitrogen-fixing organisms.

Q11 — AWD: Irrigation is applied intermittently according to field conditions and crop requirements. Water stress must be avoided at sensitive growth stages.

Trap: AWD does not mean allowing the rice crop to wilt severely.

Q12 — Zero tillage: Seeds are sown with minimal soil disturbance, often using specialised seed drills. The system can save fuel and time and may help conserve soil moisture.

Trap: Zero tillage does not eliminate weed management.

Q13 — Combine harvester: It integrates harvesting, threshing and grain cleaning.

Trap: Sowing and transplanting are not its primary functions.

Q14 — Silage: Green fodder is preserved through fermentation under anaerobic conditions, generally in a properly sealed silo or similar storage structure.

Trap: Hay is primarily conserved by drying; silage relies on fermentation.

Q15 — Colostrum: The first milk provides immunoglobulins and other nutrients. Timely intake is critical because newborn calves have limited ability to absorb these antibodies later.

Trap: Colostrum does not replace vaccination or hygienic calf management.

Q16 — Rumen: Microorganisms ferment fibrous feed and help ruminants utilise cellulose.

Trap: The animal depends on microbial fermentation; cellulose is not simply digested by mammalian enzymes alone.

Q17 — Composite fish culture: Catla is primarily a surface feeder, Rohu mainly feeds in the water column, and Mrigal is predominantly a bottom feeder. This reduces competition for food niches.

Trap: These are typical feeding zones, not absolute restrictions.

Q18 — e-NAM: The electronic platform seeks to connect participating agricultural markets and facilitate transparent price discovery and broader market access.

Trap: It does not guarantee a particular price or profit.

Q19 — Depreciation:

Annual depreciation = (Cost − Salvage value) ÷ Useful life

= (₹6,00,000 − ₹1,00,000) ÷ 5

= ₹1,00,000 per year.

Trap: Salvage value must be deducted before dividing by useful life.

Q20 — Photoperiodism: For many short-day plants, flowering depends on a sufficiently long, uninterrupted night. The precise critical duration varies by species and cultivar.

Trap: The name “short-day plant” can be misleading; the duration of darkness is often the key physiological signal.

🎯 QUICK RECALL — LAST-MINUTE REVISION

Agrivoltaics: joint use of land for agriculture and solar energy.

DFR Phool Shakti: cut-flower vase life.

Gypsum: amendment commonly used for sodic soil reclamation.

Rhizobium: biological nitrogen fixation in compatible legumes.

Trichogramma: egg parasitoid.

AWD: intermittent irrigation management in rice.

Silage: anaerobic fodder fermentation.

Colostrum: passive immunity in newborn calves.

Composite fish culture: Catla—surface; Rohu—column; Mrigal—bottom.

e-NAM: electronic agricultural market integration.

Straight-line depreciation: depreciable cost divided by useful life.

Short-day plants: flowering commonly depends on a sufficiently long uninterrupted night.

📊 SELF-ASSESSMENT

18–20 correct: Excellent command of this mock.

15–17 correct: Good preparation; review missed concepts.

11–14 correct: Revise technical agriculture and allied sectors.

10 or fewer: Revisit fundamentals before attempting the next mock.

These are practice benchmarks, not official IBPS cut-offs.

🚀 ACTION ZONE

Revise every incorrect answer and its explanation.

Practise calculations involving depreciation, seed rate, fertiliser dose and farm economics.

Review crop production, soil science, plant protection, agronomy, animal husbandry and fisheries regularly.

Follow official ICAR and PIB releases for agriculture current affairs.

INDIAN BANKING RADAR (IBR) — Learn Today. Lead Tomorrow.