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

PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 225

WEDNESDAY, 11 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

Instructions: Select the most appropriate answer. Attempt all questions within the prescribed time. Check the answer key only after completing the mock.

Q1. Azolla is used as a biofertilizer in paddy cultivation primarily because it:

A. Solubilises insoluble phosphates through fungal activity

B. Controls all major insect pests of rice

C. Increases soil potassium through mineral weathering

D. Harbours nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in symbiotic association

E. Prevents all fungal diseases in rice

Q2. Under Indian seed certification standards, the certification tag for foundation seed is:

A. Azure blue

B. White

C. Golden yellow

D. Green

E. Purple

Q3. In irrigated wheat cultivation, the first and most critical irrigation is generally recommended at:

A. Flowering stage

B. Dough stage

C. Crown Root Initiation stage

D. Grain maturity stage

E. Harvesting stage

Q4. Khaira disease of rice is primarily caused by the deficiency of:

A. Zinc

B. Boron

C. Calcium

D. Sulphur

E. Molybdenum

Q5. Which of the following crops follows the C4 photosynthetic pathway:

A. Wheat

B. Rice

C. Barley

D. Chickpea

E. Maize

Q6. Imidacloprid belongs to which class of insecticides:

A. Organophosphates

B. Carbamates

C. Pyrethroids

D. Neonicotinoids

E. Organochlorines

Q7. Powdery mildew in agricultural crops is generally caused by:

A. Viruses

B. Fungi

C. Bacteria

D. Nematodes

E. Mycoplasma

Q8. The causal organism of bacterial blight of rice is:

A. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

B. Magnaporthe oryzae

C. Rhizoctonia solani

D. Fusarium oxysporum

E. Alternaria alternata

Q9. A soil having an Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) greater than 15 is generally classified as:

A. Saline soil

B. Acid soil

C. Sodic soil

D. Peaty soil

E. Lateritic soil

Q10. Field capacity refers to the soil moisture content after:

A. Complete saturation of soil pores

B. Permanent wilting of plants

C. Complete evaporation of soil water

D. All capillary water has been removed

E. Excess gravitational water has drained away

Q11. The major agronomic advantage of including leguminous crops in crop rotation is:

A. Reduction of soil organic matter

B. Biological nitrogen fixation and improvement of soil fertility

C. Elimination of all soil-borne diseases

D. Complete prevention of weed growth

E. Elimination of the requirement for phosphorus and potassium

Q12. Ranikhet disease, an important viral disease of poultry, is also known as:

A. Fowl pox

B. Newcastle disease

C. Marek's disease

D. Avian tuberculosis

E. Coccidiosis

Q13. The principal immunological importance of feeding colostrum to newborn calves immediately after birth is:

A. Supply of dietary fibre

B. Prevention of all nutritional deficiencies

C. Promotion of rumen fermentation

D. Supply of maternal immunoglobulins for passive immunity

E. Complete protection against every infectious disease

Q14. Frozen semen used in livestock artificial insemination is generally preserved at:

A. −196°C in liquid nitrogen

B. −20°C in deep freezers

C. 0°C in ice containers

D. 4°C in refrigerated chambers

E. −80°C in ordinary laboratory freezers

Q15. The commercial silkworm Bombyx mori primarily feeds on the leaves of:

A. Castor

B. Arjun

C. Mulberry

D. Som

E. Oak

Q16. Aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts and maize is commonly associated with:

A. Rhizobium leguminosarum

B. Trichoderma viride

C. Penicillium notatum

D. Aspergillus flavus

E. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Q17. In Integrated Pest Management, the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) is the pest population level at which:

A. The crop has already suffered complete economic loss

B. The pest population reaches zero

C. All chemical control measures must be discontinued

D. The Economic Injury Level has already been exceeded

E. Control measures should be initiated to prevent the pest population from reaching the Economic Injury Level

Q18. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was officially launched in:

A. January 2015

B. August 2015

C. January 2016

D. April 2016

E. February 2016

Q19. NABARD commenced its operations on:

A. 12 July 1982

B. 1 April 1980

C. 15 August 1985

D. 1 January 1991

E. 2 October 1975

Q20. Seed dormancy is a physiological or physical condition in which:

A. Seeds lose their genetic identity

B. Seeds germinate immediately after harvesting

C. Viable seeds fail to germinate even under otherwise favourable conditions

D. Seeds completely lose their viability

E. Seeds are necessarily infected by storage fungi

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ANSWER KEY

Q1.D

Q2.B

Q3.C

Q4.A

Q5.E

Q6.D

Q7.B

Q8.A

Q9.C

Q10.E

Q11.B

Q12.B

Q13.D

Q14.A

Q15.C

Q16.D

Q17.E

Q18.E

Q19.A

Q20.C

EXPLANATIONS

Q1. D – Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria: Azolla contains symbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria traditionally identified as Anabaena azollae. This association makes Azolla useful as a biofertilizer in rice cultivation.

Q2. B – White: Foundation seed carries a white certification tag. Certified seed carries an azure-blue tag, while breeder seed carries a golden-yellow tag. Registered seed carries a purple tag.

Q3. C – Crown Root Initiation (CRI): CRI generally occurs around 20–25 days after sowing in irrigated wheat. Moisture stress at this stage adversely affects root development, tillering and yield potential.

Q4. A – Zinc: Khaira disease is a physiological disorder of rice caused by zinc deficiency. Symptoms include bronzing, brown patches and stunted growth.

Q5. E – Maize: Maize is a C4 crop. Its photosynthetic pathway enables efficient carbon fixation under high-temperature and high-light conditions.

Q6. D – Neonicotinoids: Imidacloprid is a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide used against sucking pests such as aphids, jassids and whiteflies. Its use must follow approved crop-specific label directions.

Q7. B – Fungi: Powdery mildew is a fungal disease characterised by white powder-like growth on leaves, stems and other plant parts.

Q8. A – Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae: This bacterium causes bacterial blight of rice, producing water-soaked lesions that may develop into yellowish or straw-coloured leaf blight.

Q9. C – Sodic soil: An Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) above 15 is a commonly used criterion for identifying sodic soils. High exchangeable sodium adversely affects soil structure and infiltration.

Q10. E – Gravitational drainage: Field capacity is the moisture content remaining after excess gravitational water has drained from the soil. It represents an important reference point for irrigation scheduling.

Q11. B – Biological nitrogen fixation: Leguminous crops form symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, particularly Rhizobium, thereby contributing nitrogen to the cropping system.

Q12. B – Newcastle disease: Ranikhet disease is another name for Newcastle disease, a highly contagious viral disease affecting poultry.

Q13. D – Passive immunity: Colostrum contains immunoglobulins that provide newborn calves with maternal antibodies. Early feeding is essential for effective antibody absorption.

Q14. A – Liquid nitrogen: Frozen semen is generally stored at approximately −196°C in liquid nitrogen to preserve sperm viability for long-term use in artificial insemination.

Q15. C – Mulberry: Bombyx mori is the mulberry silkworm. Its larvae feed primarily on mulberry leaves, which are essential for commercial mulberry sericulture.

Q16. D – Aspergillus flavus: This fungus produces aflatoxins, which can contaminate groundnuts, maize and other agricultural commodities. Aflatoxins pose serious food and feed safety risks.

Q17. E – Initiation of 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).

Q18. E – February 2016: PMFBY was launched on 18 February 2016. The Union Cabinet had approved the scheme on 13 January 2016, and implementation began from the Kharif 2016 season.

Q19. A – 12 July 1982: NABARD was established under an Act of Parliament and commenced operations on 12 July 1982. It is the apex development financial institution for agriculture and rural development.

Q20. C – Failure of viable seeds to germinate: Seed dormancy is a condition in which viable seeds do not germinate even when external conditions appear favourable. It may arise from physical or physiological barriers.

QUICK REVISION CAPSULE

1. Azolla – Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterial association.

2. Foundation seed – White certification tag.

3. Wheat – CRI is the most critical first irrigation stage.

4. Khaira disease – Zinc deficiency.

5. Maize – C4 crop.

6. Imidacloprid – Neonicotinoid insecticide.

7. Powdery mildew – Fungal disease.

8. Rice bacterial blight – Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

9. ESP above 15 – Sodic soil.

10. Field capacity – Water remaining after gravitational drainage.

11. Legumes – Biological nitrogen fixation.

12. Ranikhet disease – Newcastle disease.

13. Colostrum – Passive immunity through immunoglobulins.

14. Frozen semen – Liquid nitrogen at −196°C.

15. Bombyx mori – Mulberry silkworm.

16. Aflatoxin – Aspergillus flavus.

17. ETL – Initiation of pest management.

18. PMFBY – Launched on 18 February 2016.

19. NABARD – Established on 12 July 1982.

20. Seed dormancy – Failure of viable seeds to germinate under favourable conditions.

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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