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

PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 224

TUESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026

TARGET EXAMINATION: IBPS AFO Mains – Professional Knowledge

20 QUESTIONS | 40 MARKS | 15 MINUTES

Marking Scheme: +2 for every correct answer | −0.50 for every incorrect answer

Q1. Which of the following amendments is commonly used to correct soil acidity and raise soil pH:

A. Gypsum

B. Elemental sulphur

C. Agricultural lime

D. Urea

E. Sodium chloride

Q2. Which microorganism forms nitrogen-fixing symbiotic associations in the root nodules of leguminous crops:

A. Rhizobium

B. Azotobacter

C. Nitrosomonas

D. Pseudomonas

E. Lactobacillus

Q3. The term heterosis in plant breeding refers to:

A. Loss of vigour due to inbreeding

B. Development of resistance through mutation

C. Production of seed without fertilisation

D. Transfer of genes between unrelated species

E. Superior performance of a hybrid over its parents

Q4. Under Mendel's law of independent assortment, the typical phenotypic ratio in the F₂ generation of a dihybrid cross is:

A. 3:1

B. 9:3:3:1

C. 1:2:1

D. 1:1

E. 9:7

Q5. In India, the Kharif cropping season is generally associated with:

A. Winter rainfall and low temperatures

B. The post-monsoon period only

C. The peak of the Rabi harvesting season

D. The onset of the southwest monsoon

E. The summer season before monsoon

Q6. The principal advantage of drip irrigation is that it:

A. Floods the entire field uniformly

B. Eliminates the need for filtration

C. Supplies water directly near the plant root zone

D. Requires no maintenance

E. Is suitable only for paddy cultivation

Q7. Which clay mineral is particularly associated with high swelling and shrinkage characteristics in soils:

A. Smectite

B. Kaolinite

C. Illite

D. Chlorite

E. Halloysite

Q8. The nitrogen content of commercially available agricultural urea is approximately:

A. 18%

B. 26%

C. 33%

D. 40%

E. 46%

Q9. Which amendment is commonly used for reclaiming sodic soils by replacing exchangeable sodium with calcium:

A. Agricultural lime

B. Gypsum

C. Rock phosphate

D. Ammonium sulphate

E. Farmyard manure alone

Q10. Which vegetative propagation technique is commonly used for commercial multiplication of mango:

A. Tuber propagation

B. Runner propagation

C. Bulb propagation

D. Veneer grafting

E. Rhizome division

Q11. The exposure of plants to low temperatures to induce or accelerate flowering is known as:

A. Phototropism

B. Etiolation

C. Vernalisation

D. Stratification

E. Transpiration

Q12. Soybean is generally classified as which type of plant with respect to photoperiod:

A. Short-day plant

B. Long-day plant

C. Day-neutral plant

D. Obligate aquatic plant

E. Long-night insensitive plant

Q13. Silage is prepared primarily through:

A. Aerobic decomposition of dry fodder

B. Sun-drying of green fodder

C. Chemical digestion of grains

D. Burning of crop residues

E. Anaerobic fermentation of green fodder

Q14. Murrah is a well-known breed of:

A. Sheep

B. Buffalo

C. Goat

D. Cattle

E. Pig

Q15. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in cloven-hoofed animals is caused by a:

A. Bacterium

B. Fungus

C. Protozoan

D. Virus

E. Helminth

Q16. Which insect plays a major role in the pollination of many agricultural and horticultural crops:

A. Termite

B. Housefly

C. Honeybee

D. Locust

E. Whitefly

Q17. The term Blue Revolution is primarily associated with increased production in:

A. Fisheries and aquaculture

B. Milk production

C. Foodgrain production

D. Oilseed production

E. Horticulture

Q18. Which institution recommends Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for major agricultural commodities to the Government of India:

A. NABARD

B. Food Corporation of India

C. NITI Aayog

D. Reserve Bank of India

E. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices

Q19. The e-NAM initiative is primarily intended to:

A. Provide crop insurance to farmers

B. Create an electronic national agricultural market

C. Distribute fertiliser subsidies

D. Provide agricultural credit through banks

E. Promote farm mechanisation exclusively

Q20. In agricultural extension, a result demonstration is primarily conducted to:

A. Distribute free inputs to farmers

B. Conduct laboratory experiments only

C. Collect land revenue

D. Show the practical results of an improved agricultural practice

E. Replace all traditional farming systems immediately

ANSWER KEY

Q1.C

Q2.A

Q3.E

Q4.B

Q5.D

Q6.C

Q7.A

Q8.E

Q9.B

Q10.D

Q11.C

Q12.A

Q13.E

Q14.B

Q15.D

Q16.C

Q17.A

Q18.E

Q19.B

Q20.D

EXPLANATIONS

Q1. C – Agricultural lime: Lime neutralises soil acidity and helps raise soil pH. The quantity required depends on soil-test results.

Q2. A – Rhizobium: Rhizobium bacteria live in the root nodules of legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis.

Q3. E – Heterosis: Also called hybrid vigour, it refers to superior performance of a hybrid compared with its parents for one or more traits.

Q4. B – 9:3:3:1: This is the typical F₂ phenotypic ratio for a dihybrid cross involving two independently assorting gene pairs with complete dominance.

Q5. D – Southwest monsoon: Kharif crops are generally sown with the onset of the southwest monsoon and harvested after the rainy season.

Q6. C – Root-zone water application: Drip irrigation delivers water close to the plant root zone, improving water-use efficiency and reducing losses.

Q7. A – Smectite: Smectite clay minerals have high shrink-swell potential due to their expanding lattice structure.

Q8. E – 46% nitrogen: Commercial agricultural urea contains approximately 46% nitrogen by weight.

Q9. B – Gypsum: Gypsum supplies calcium, which helps replace exchangeable sodium in sodic soils. Proper drainage and leaching are also important.

Q10. D – Veneer grafting: Veneer grafting is a commonly used vegetative propagation method for mango.

Q11. C – Vernalisation: It is the induction or acceleration of flowering through exposure to low temperatures.

Q12. A – Short-day plant: Soybean is generally a short-day crop, although photoperiod sensitivity varies among varieties.

Q13. E – Anaerobic fermentation: Silage is produced by preserving green fodder under anaerobic conditions, allowing desirable fermentation to occur.

Q14. B – Buffalo: Murrah is an important dairy buffalo breed known for high milk production.

Q15. D – Virus: FMD is caused by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus, a member of the genus Aphthovirus.

Q16. C – Honeybee: Honeybees are important pollinators and contribute to improved fruit and seed setting in many crops.

Q17. A – Fisheries and aquaculture: Blue Revolution refers to the growth and development of fisheries and aquaculture.

Q18. E – CACP: The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends MSPs; the Government of India takes the final decision.

Q19. B – Electronic agricultural market: e-NAM aims to integrate agricultural markets through an electronic trading platform to improve transparency and market access.

Q20. D – Practical demonstration: A result demonstration shows farmers the outcomes of adopting an improved agricultural practice under field conditions.

QUICK REVISION CAPSULE

1. Soil acidity correction – Agricultural lime.

2. Biological nitrogen fixation in legumes – Rhizobium.

3. Hybrid vigour – Heterosis.

4. Dihybrid F₂ ratio – 9:3:3:1.

5. Kharif season – Southwest monsoon.

6. Drip irrigation – Root-zone water application.

7. Swelling clay mineral – Smectite.

8. Urea nitrogen content – 46%.

9. Sodic soil reclamation – Gypsum.

10. Mango propagation – Veneer grafting.

11. Low-temperature induction of flowering – Vernalisation.

12. Soybean – Generally a short-day crop.

13. Silage – Anaerobic fermentation.

14. Murrah – Buffalo breed.

15. FMD – Viral disease.

16. Important crop pollinator – Honeybee.

17. Blue Revolution – Fisheries and aquaculture.

18. MSP recommendation – CACP.

19. e-NAM – Electronic agricultural market.

20. Result demonstration – Practical field demonstration.

SELF-ASSESSMENT

- 36–40 marks: Excellent – Strong command of the subject.

- 30–35 marks: Very Good – Revise a few concepts.

- 22–29 marks: Good – Strengthen technical knowledge.

- Below 22 marks: Needs improvement – Revisit the fundamentals.

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