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

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 214

📅 THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2026

🎯 TARGET EXAMINATION

IBPS AFO Mains — Professional Knowledge

📝 20 QUESTIONS | 20 MARKS | 15 MINUTES

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🌱 AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE CHALLENGE

Test your technical knowledge across major agricultural subjects.

Instructions: Attempt all 20 questions in 15 minutes. Check the answer key only after completing the mock.

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Q1. The permanent wilting point refers to the soil moisture condition at which a plant:

A. Reaches field capacity

B. Absorbs water at its maximum rate

C. Cannot regain turgidity even in a saturated atmosphere

D. Experiences maximum nutrient availability

E. Begins seed germination

Q2. A farmer grows maize and soybean simultaneously in alternate rows. This cropping system is called:

A. Sequential cropping

B. Relay cropping

C. Mixed cropping

D. Monocropping

E. Intercropping

Q3. Which herbicide is commonly used for selective control of susceptible broad-leaved weeds in wheat?

A. 2,4-D

B. Butachlor

C. Glyphosate

D. Paraquat

E. Pendimethalin

Q4. Potato leaves develop water-soaked lesions that spread rapidly under cool, humid conditions. The likely cause of late blight is:

A. Alternaria solani

B. Phytophthora infestans

C. Fusarium oxysporum

D. Rhizoctonia solani

E. Puccinia graminis

Q5. Total genetic variance is 36 units and phenotypic variance is 60 units. What is the broad-sense heritability?

A. 40%

B. 50%

C. 55%

D. 60%

E. 75%

Q6. Which seed class is produced by the originating breeder or under the breeder’s direct supervision and used as the source for foundation seed production?

A. Certified seed

B. Breeder seed

C. Truthfully labelled seed

D. Commercial grain

E. Foundation seed

Q7. A pest population reaches the economic threshold level (ETL). What is the appropriate IPM response?

A. Wait until severe crop damage occurs

B. Eliminate all insects, including beneficial species

C. Stop monitoring the field

D. Initiate suitable control measures before the economic injury level is reached

E. Spray insecticides irrespective of pest identity

Q8. Which plant growth regulator is commonly used to promote adventitious root formation in stem cuttings?

A. Gibberellic acid

B. Abscisic acid

C. Kinetin

D. Ethylene

E. Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)

Q9. If the IW/CPE ratio is 0.8 and irrigation water depth is 4 cm, the cumulative pan evaporation required for irrigation scheduling is:

A. 5 cm

B. 3.2 cm

C. 4 cm

D. 6.4 cm

E. 8 cm

Q10. In dairy cattle, the dry period is the interval between:

A. Two consecutive milkings

B. First and second calving only

C. The end of one lactation and the next calving

D. Peak milk production and the end of the same day

E. Two successive feeding periods

Q11. The price of an agricultural commodity rises by 10%, while its quantity demanded falls by 20%. The absolute value of price elasticity of demand is:

A. 0.5

B. 1.0

C. 1.5

D. 3.0

E. 2.0

Q12. Which tractor component provides different gear ratios to match engine speed and torque with field requirements?

A. Radiator

B. Hydraulic lift alone

C. Transmission gearbox

D. Fuel injector

E. Air cleaner

Q13. A susceptible host, a virulent pathogen and a favourable environment together form the:

A. Law of minimum

B. Disease triangle

C. Hardy–Weinberg principle

D. Mendelian ratio

E. Competitive exclusion principle

Q14. Which is the clearest example of a qualitative trait generally governed by one or a few major genes?

A. Disease resistance governed by a single major resistance gene

B. Grain yield showing continuous variation

C. Milk production influenced by multiple genes

D. Plant height showing continuous variation

E. Yield under varying environmental conditions

Q15. Under the standard PMFBY farmer-premium structure, the generally prescribed maximum rates are:

A. Kharif 1%; Rabi 2%; commercial crops 4%

B. Kharif 5%; Rabi 5%; commercial crops 10%

C. Kharif 1.5%; Rabi 2%; commercial crops 3%

D. Kharif 2%; Rabi 1.5%; annual commercial/horticultural crops 5%

E. Kharif 3%; Rabi 2.5%; commercial crops 5%

Q16. An extension officer demonstrates the yield and economic benefits of an improved farming practice on a field. Which method is being used?

A. Method demonstration

B. General lecture

C. Result demonstration

D. Office correspondence

E. Mass media publicity alone

Q17. Applying soluble fertilisers through a drip irrigation system is known as:

A. Fertigation

B. Mulching

C. Green manuring

D. Broadcasting

E. Crop rotation

Q18. A mango tree produces a heavy crop one year and a relatively light crop the following year. This phenomenon is called:

A. Parthenocarpy

B. Vernalisation

C. Apomixis

D. Alternate bearing

E. Photoperiodism

Q19. A farmer stores produce in an eligible warehouse and obtains a receipt accepted by a lender. What is a potential benefit?

A. Guaranteed government purchase at any price

B. Financing against the stored produce, subject to lender requirements

C. Automatic exemption from crop insurance

D. Guaranteed increase in market price

E. Automatic transfer of land ownership

Q20. Which combination represents the three core principles of conservation agriculture?

A. Intensive tillage, residue burning and monocropping

B. Bare soil, repeated ploughing and monocropping

C. Deep tillage, residue removal and soil inversion

D. Residue burning, bare fallow and intensive cultivation

E. Minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification

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✅ ANSWER KEY

Q1.C

Q2.E

Q3.A

Q4.B

Q5.D

Q6.B

Q7.D

Q8.E

Q9.A

Q10.C

Q11.E

Q12.C

Q13.B

Q14.A

Q15.D

Q16.C

Q17.A

Q18.D

Q19.B

Q20.E

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📖 EXPLANATIONS & LEARNING POINTS

Q1. C — Permanent wilting point

The plant cannot regain turgidity even when placed in a saturated atmosphere.

Remember: Available soil water ≈ Field capacity − Permanent wilting point.

Q2. E — Intercropping

Two or more crops are grown simultaneously in a planned row arrangement.

- Intercropping: Planned row arrangement.

- Mixed cropping: Crops grown together without a distinct row arrangement.

- Sequential cropping: One crop follows another.

- Relay cropping: The next crop is sown before the standing crop is harvested.

Q3. A — 2,4-D

2,4-D is commonly used against susceptible broad-leaved weeds in wheat.

Use only the appropriate formulation, dose and crop stage specified on the product label.

Q4. B — Phytophthora infestans

This oomycete causes late blight of potato.

Favourable conditions: Cool, humid weather.

Management: Healthy planting material, resistant varieties, sanitation and locally recommended plant-protection measures.

Q5. D — 60%

Broad-sense heritability:

H² = Genetic variance ÷ Phenotypic variance

= 36 ÷ 60 = 0.60

Answer: 60%.

Broad-sense heritability includes total genetic variance; narrow-sense heritability considers additive genetic variance.

Q6. B — Breeder seed

Breeder seed is produced by the originating breeder or under the breeder’s direct supervision.

Seed chain:

Breeder → Foundation → Certified

Q7. D — Initiate control measures

ETL is the pest population level at which management action should begin to prevent the population from reaching the economic injury level (EIL).

ETL: Action point.

EIL: Economic damage benchmark.

Q8. E — IBA

Indole-3-butyric acid is an auxin commonly used to promote adventitious root formation in stem cuttings.

Q9. A — 5 cm

IW/CPE = Irrigation water depth ÷ Cumulative pan evaporation

CPE = 4 ÷ 0.8 = 5 cm

The suitable ratio depends on crop, soil, climate and irrigation method.

Q10. C — End of lactation to next calving

The dry period allows the mammary gland to recover and prepare for the next lactation.

Q11. E — 2.0

Price elasticity = Percentage change in quantity demanded ÷ Percentage change in price

= −20% ÷ 10% = −2.0

Absolute value = 2.0.

Demand is elastic because the absolute value exceeds 1.

Q12. C — Transmission gearbox

The gearbox provides different gear ratios to match speed and torque requirements.

Lower gears generally provide greater wheel torque at lower travel speeds.

Q13. B — Disease triangle

The three components are:

1. Susceptible host.

2. Virulent pathogen.

3. Favourable environment.

Disease management can target one or more components.

Q14. A — Single major resistance gene

Qualitative traits are often controlled by one or a few major genes and may show distinct phenotypic classes.

Yield and milk production generally show quantitative variation influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors.

Q15. D — PMFBY premium rates

Standard maximum farmer premium rates:

- Kharif food and oilseed crops: 2%

- Rabi food and oilseed crops: 1.5%

- Annual commercial/horticultural crops: 5%

Rates apply subject to notified crops and applicable scheme provisions.

Quick recall: 2% — 1.5% — 5%.

Q16. C — Result demonstration

Result demonstration shows the benefits of an improved practice under actual field conditions.

Result demonstration: Shows results.

Method demonstration: Teaches how to perform an operation.

Q17. A — Fertigation

Fertigation means applying fertilisers through irrigation water.

Drip fertigation can deliver soluble nutrients near the root zone when properly managed.

Q18. D — Alternate bearing

Alternate bearing is the tendency of a fruit tree to produce a heavy crop in one year and a relatively light crop the next.

It is observed in crops such as mango and citrus.

Q19. B — Financing against stored produce

An eligible warehouse receipt may support a loan against stored produce if accepted by the lender and applicable requirements are met.

It does not guarantee a market price or automatic loan approval.

Q20. E — Conservation agriculture

Three core principles:

1. Minimum mechanical soil disturbance.

2. Permanent soil cover.

3. Crop diversification.

These practices can help reduce erosion and conserve moisture when adapted to local conditions.

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🎯 FINAL REVISION CAPSULE

🌱 Soil: Field capacity − permanent wilting point = approximate available water.

🌾 Cropping: Intercropping uses a planned arrangement of crops.

🌿 Weed science: 2,4-D is commonly used against susceptible broad-leaved weeds in wheat.

🍂 Plant pathology: Potato late blight — Phytophthora infestans.

🧬 Plant breeding: Broad-sense heritability = genetic variance ÷ phenotypic variance.

🌾 Seed technology: Breeder → Foundation → Certified.

🐛 IPM: ETL triggers management action before EIL is reached.

🌱 Horticulture: IBA promotes rooting in cuttings.

💧 Irrigation: IW/CPE = irrigation depth ÷ cumulative pan evaporation.

🐄 Animal husbandry: Dry period ends at the next calving.

📈 Economics: Elastic demand has an absolute price elasticity greater than 1.

🚜 Farm machinery: Gearbox matches speed and torque requirements.

🍃 Disease management: Host + pathogen + favourable environment.

🧬 Genetics: Qualitative traits often involve one or a few major genes.

🌾 PMFBY: Standard farmer premium rates — 2%, 1.5% and 5%.

👨‍🌾 Extension: Result demonstration shows benefits under field conditions.

💧 Fertigation: Fertilisers supplied through irrigation water.

🥭 Fruit science: Heavy crop followed by a light crop = alternate bearing.

🏦 Agricultural finance: Warehouse receipts may support loans against stored produce.

🌍 Conservation agriculture: Minimum disturbance + permanent cover + diversification.

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📊 SELF-ASSESSMENT

🏆 18–20: Excellent command

🎯 15–17: Very good; revise errors

📘 12–14: Strengthen technical concepts

📚 Below 12: Revisit core agricultural subjects

Your goal: Improve accuracy, speed and conceptual clarity with every mock.

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🚀 TAKE ACTION WITH IBR

📌 ATTEMPT: Complete the mock in 15 minutes.

📌 REVISE: Study explanations and correct your mistakes.

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