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

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 202

📅 17 OCTOBER 2026 | SATURDAY

🎯 TARGET: IBPS AFO • Agriculture Officer • NABARD • RRB

📝 20 MCQs | 20 MARKS | 15 MINUTES

⚠️ NEGATIVE MARKING: −0.25 PER INCORRECT ANSWER

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🔥 THE AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE CHALLENGE

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Test your ability to apply agricultural science, interpret farm-management situations and solve practical problems.

📌 Select the single best answer.

📌 Attempt all 20 questions before checking the key.

📌 Correct: +1 | Incorrect: −0.25 | Unattempted: 0

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 🌱 SECTION 1: PLATINUM AGRICULTURE MOCK

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Q1. A plant breeder crosses two genetically distinct maize lines and observes that their F₁ hybrids outperform both parents in vigour and yield. This phenomenon is known as:

A. Inbreeding depression

B. Heterosis

C. Genetic drift

D. Mutation pressure

E. Linkage drag

Q2. In a monohybrid cross, a heterozygous tall pea plant (Tt) is crossed with a dwarf plant (tt). Assuming complete dominance, what proportion of the offspring is expected to be dwarf:

A. 0%

B. 25%

C. 75%

D. 50%

E. 100%

Q3. A wheat crop develops elongated reddish-brown pustules on stems and leaf sheaths, indicating suspected stem rust. Which pathogen is associated with this disease:

A. Magnaporthe oryzae

B. Ustilago tritici

C. Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici

D. Xanthomonas oryzae

E. Fusarium oxysporum

Q4. Potato plants develop rapidly expanding water-soaked lesions, followed by brown-black tissue and white fungal-like growth under humid conditions. Which pathogen is the most likely cause of late blight:

A. Phytophthora infestans

B. Alternaria solani

C. Rhizoctonia solani

D. Puccinia striiformis

E. Ustilago maydis

Q5. A rice farmer observes yellowing and drying of plants in patches, with numerous brown planthoppers near the base of the plants. Which pest is most likely responsible:

A. Rice hispa

B. Rice leaf folder

C. Yellow stem borer

D. Rice gall midge

E. Brown planthopper

Q6. A farmer requires 160,000 established plants per hectare. If seed germination is 80% and each viable seed produces one established plant, with no other losses, how many seeds should be sown per hectare:

A. 128,000

B. 160,000

C. 180,000

D. 200,000

E. 240,000

Q7. The market price of a staple food grain rises by 10%, while the quantity demanded falls by only 2%. Assuming other factors remain constant, the absolute price elasticity of demand is:

A. 2.0

B. 0.2

C. 5.0

D. 1.0

E. 10.0

Q8. Which institution recommends Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for major agricultural crops to the Government of India:

A. Food Corporation of India (FCI)

B. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

C. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

D. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

E. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

Q9. Several small farmers form a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) to purchase inputs collectively and market their produce jointly. Which is the principal economic advantage of this arrangement:

A. Economies of scale and improved bargaining power

B. Guaranteed profit irrespective of market conditions

C. Elimination of all production risks

D. Automatic exemption from every agricultural regulation

E. Guaranteed procurement of every crop at MSP

Q10. A cultivator needs seasonal finance for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other eligible agricultural expenses. Which institutional credit instrument is specifically designed to facilitate such agricultural credit:

A. Commercial Paper

B. Certificate of Deposit

C. Treasury Bill

D. Equity share capital

E. Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

Q11. A soil has a field capacity of 30% and a permanent wilting point of 12%, both expressed on the same soil-moisture basis. What is the available water content between these two limits:

A. 12 percentage points

B. 18 percentage points

C. 30 percentage points

D. 42 percentage points

E. 2.5 percentage points

Q12. A farmer uses GPS-guided machinery, satellite imagery and field sensors to apply inputs according to spatial variability within a field. This approach is best described as:

A. Conventional blanket application

B. Precision agriculture

C. Shifting cultivation

D. Dryland farming alone

E. Monoculture

Q13. A commercial banana nursery requires large numbers of uniform, true-to-type planting materials within a short period. Which technique is particularly suitable:

A. Direct sowing of harvested banana seeds for every commercial cultivar

B. Random selection of naturally occurring suckers only

C. Micropropagation through plant tissue culture

D. Repeated open pollination

E. Uncontrolled vegetative propagation without selection

Q14. Which plant hormone is widely used commercially to promote uniform ripening in suitable climacteric fruits:

A. Ethylene

B. Abscisic acid

C. Gibberellic acid

D. Cytokinin

E. Auxin exclusively

Q15. A cooperative markets fresh fruit over long distances. Which measure is most important for maintaining quality in temperature-sensitive produce throughout storage and transportation:

A. Keeping produce exposed to direct sunlight

B. Interrupting refrigeration repeatedly

C. Mixing damaged produce with healthy produce

D. Harvesting all fruits irrespective of maturity

E. Maintaining an appropriate, continuous cold chain

Q16. A dairy farmer notices swelling of a cow's udder, abnormal milk and reduced milk yield. Which condition should be suspected first:

A. Milk fever

B. Mastitis

C. Ketosis

D. Bloat

E. Foot-and-mouth disease in every case

Q17. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in susceptible livestock is caused by:

A. A protozoan parasite

B. A nematode

C. A nutritional deficiency

D. A virus

E. A mineral imbalance

Q18. Two poultry broiler flocks gain the same body weight, but Flock A consumes 1.6 kg feed per kg of weight gain while Flock B consumes 1.9 kg. Under comparable conditions, which flock has better feed conversion efficiency:

A. Flock B, because higher feed intake always improves efficiency

B. Both flocks necessarily have identical efficiency

C. Flock A, because it uses less feed per unit of weight gain

D. Neither flock can be compared using feed conversion ratio

E. Flock B, because its feed conversion ratio is higher

Q19. Fish in an aquaculture pond begin gasping at the water surface, particularly during early morning. Which immediate environmental factor should be investigated first:

A. Low dissolved oxygen

B. Excessive soil nitrogen alone

C. High seed germination percentage

D. Low crop plant population

E. Excessive grain moisture

Q20. A watershed development programme adopts a ridge-to-valley approach. What is its principal rationale:

A. Concentrate all runoff rapidly into the valley

B. Remove vegetation from upper slopes

C. Maximise soil disturbance throughout the watershed

D. Prevent all infiltration into the soil

E. Treat upper catchment areas first to reduce runoff and erosion and improve downstream water management

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🗝️ SECTION 2: ANSWER KEY

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Q1. B

Q2. D

Q3. C

Q4. A

Q5. E

Q6. D

Q7. B

Q8. C

Q9. A

Q10. E

Q11. B

Q12. B

Q13. C

Q14. A

Q15. E

Q16. B

Q17. D

Q18. C

Q19. A

Q20. E

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 📘 SECTION 3: QUICK EXPLANATIONS

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Q1. B — Heterosis

Hybrid vigour occurs when an F₁ hybrid performs better than its parents for one or more traits.

Q2. D — 50% dwarf

Tt × tt produces approximately 50% Tt (tall) and 50% tt (dwarf) offspring.

Q3. C — Wheat stem rust

Stem rust of wheat is caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici.

Q4. A — Late blight

Phytophthora infestans causes late blight of potato. It is an oomycete, not a true fungus.

Q5. E — Brown planthopper

Brown planthoppers feed near the base of rice plants and can cause hopperburn under severe infestation.

Q6. D — 200,000 seeds

Seeds required = 160,000 ÷ 0.80 = 200,000 seeds per hectare.

Q7. B — 0.2

Absolute price elasticity = Percentage change in quantity demanded ÷ Percentage change in price = 2 ÷ 10 = 0.2. Demand is inelastic.

Q8. C — CACP

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends MSPs to the Government of India. The government takes the final decision.

Q9. A — Economies of scale

Collective input purchasing, aggregation and marketing can improve bargaining power and reduce transaction costs. Benefits depend on effective management and market conditions.

Q10. E — Kisan Credit Card

KCC facilitates eligible agricultural credit requirements, including crop production and specified allied activities, subject to applicable lending rules.

Q11. B — 18 percentage points

Available water content = Field capacity − Permanent wilting point = 30 − 12 = 18 percentage points.

Q12. B — Precision agriculture

Precision agriculture uses spatial information, sensors and digital technologies to tailor farm operations to field-specific conditions.

Q13. C — Tissue culture

Micropropagation enables rapid multiplication of uniform planting material. Health and genetic quality depend on the source material and nursery protocols.

Q14. A — Ethylene

Ethylene regulates ripening in many climacteric fruits, including banana, mango and tomato. Commercial use must follow appropriate protocols.

Q15. E — Cold chain

Continuous temperature management slows deterioration and helps preserve quality during storage and distribution.

Q16. B — Mastitis

Mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland, commonly associated with infection. Veterinary assessment and appropriate milk-quality testing are important.

Q17. D — Virus

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting susceptible cloven-hoofed animals.

Q18. C — Flock A

Feed conversion ratio = Feed consumed ÷ Weight gained. A lower ratio indicates better feed efficiency when the comparison is otherwise valid.

Q19. A — Low dissolved oxygen

Low dissolved oxygen, particularly during early morning, can cause fish to gasp at the surface. Prompt monitoring and appropriate aeration may be necessary.

Q20. E — Ridge-to-valley watershed management

Treating upper slopes and drainage areas first helps control runoff and erosion and supports coordinated water conservation downstream.

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⚠️ SECTION 4: AFO MAINS EXAM TRAPS

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🔹 Heterosis refers to hybrid vigour; inbreeding depression is a different phenomenon.

🔹 A test cross can reveal the genotype of an individual showing a dominant trait.

🔹 Wheat stem rust and potato late blight are caused by different pathogens.

🔹 Brown planthopper feeds near the base of rice plants.

🔹 Seed requirement must account for germination and other establishment losses when specified.

🔹 Inelastic demand means quantity demanded changes proportionately less than price.

🔹 CACP recommends MSP; the government makes the decision.

🔹 An FPO improves collective market participation but does not guarantee profits.

🔹 Available soil water is the difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point on the same moisture basis.

🔹 Precision agriculture uses field-specific data rather than uniform input application.

🔹 Tissue culture supports rapid multiplication, but planting-material quality must be maintained.

🔹 Ethylene promotes ripening in many climacteric fruits.

🔹 Cold-chain continuity is critical for perishable produce.

🔹 Mastitis affects the mammary gland; FMD is a viral disease.

🔹 A lower feed conversion ratio generally indicates better feed efficiency.

🔹 Dissolved oxygen monitoring is essential in aquaculture.

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🧠 SECTION 5: 60-SECOND RECALL

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🌽 Genetics → Heterosis and Mendelian inheritance

🍄 Plant pathology → Wheat stem rust and potato late blight

🐛 Entomology → Rice brown planthopper

🌱 Seed science → Germination and seed requirement

📈 Agricultural economics → Price elasticity and MSP

🏢 Rural institutions → FPO and KCC

🧪 Soil science → Available water content

🛰️ Digital agriculture → Precision farming

🍌 Horticulture → Tissue culture and ethylene

📦 Post-harvest → Cold-chain management

🐄 Animal husbandry → Mastitis and FMD

🐔 Poultry → Feed conversion ratio

🐟 Fisheries → Dissolved oxygen

🌍 Natural resources → Ridge-to-valley watershed management

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🏆 SECTION 6: SELF-ASSESSMENT

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Correct answers: ____

Incorrect answers: ____

Unattempted: ____

Score = Correct answers − (0.25 × incorrect answers)

🔥 18–20: Excellent

🟢 16–17.75: Strong performance

🟡 12–15.75: Revise weak areas

🔴 Below 12: Strengthen fundamentals

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

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🎯 SECTION 7: YOUR ACTION ZONE

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📌 ATTEMPT — Complete the mock in 15 minutes.

📌 CALCULATE — Verify the numerical questions.

📌 ANALYSE — Identify weak agricultural subjects.

📌 REVISE — Focus on concepts behind incorrect answers.

📌 SHARE — Comment with your score out of 20.

📌 PRACTISE — Continue with IBR Agriculture Intelligence Mocks.

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Disclaimer: This is independently prepared educational practice material and is not an official IBPS question paper. Agricultural recommendations and government scheme provisions should be checked against current official notifications and locally applicable guidance.