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

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 205

📅 TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2026

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

📝 20 MCQs | 20 MARKS | 15 MINUTES

⚠️ NEGATIVE MARKING: −0.25 PER INCORRECT ANSWER

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🔥 THE AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE CHALLENGE

Test your understanding of agricultural current affairs, crop protection, genetics, livestock, fisheries, agricultural engineering, farm management, agribusiness, and post-harvest technology.

📌 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

PART A — AGRICULTURAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Q1. On 19 October 2026, the Union Agriculture Minister launched an upgraded portal designed to provide farmers with mobile access to agricultural schemes, financial assistance, and reliable agricultural information. What is the portal called?

A. e-NAM Portal

B. Agri Welfare Portal

C. Soil Health Portal

D. Kisan Suvidha Portal

E. AgriStack Registry

Q2. Under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, India's pulse production is targeted to reach approximately how much by 2030–31?

A. 275 lakh tonnes

B. 300 lakh tonnes

C. 325 lakh tonnes

D. 350 lakh tonnes

E. 400 lakh tonnes

Q3. The ICAR–Savannah Seeds MoU announced in October 2026 primarily aims to strengthen:

A. Agricultural research, technology validation, extension, and capacity building

B. International fertiliser price regulation

C. Agricultural land acquisition

D. Deposit insurance for farmers

E. Government procurement of all privately produced seeds

Q4. Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026, observed on 15 October, coincided with which international observance?

A. World Food Day

B. International Women's Day

C. International Day of Rural Women

D. World Soil Day

E. International Day of Cooperatives

Q5. ICAR-reported soybean varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270 attracted attention in October 2026 for their promising yield potential of approximately:

A. 8 quintals per hectare

B. 12 quintals per hectare

C. 15 quintals per hectare

D. 18 quintals per hectare

E. 20 quintals per hectare

Q6. Agrivoltaics, for which financial incentives were reportedly under consideration in October 2026, involves:

A. Replacing agricultural land entirely with solar parks

B. Combining solar power generation with agricultural use of the same land

C. Using solar energy exclusively for fertiliser manufacturing

D. Prohibiting solar installations on agricultural land

E. Replacing all electric irrigation pumps with diesel pumps

Q7. Under the reported ethanol procurement tender for the 2026–27 supply year, which feedstock group was excluded in line with the directive against diverting sugar for ethanol production?

A. Maize and damaged food grains

B. Agricultural residues

C. Non-food biomass

D. Sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup, and B-heavy molasses

E. Alternative non-sugar feedstocks generally permitted under the tender

Q8. The ICAR–Food Corporation of India (FCI) MoU announced in October 2026 primarily focuses on:

A. Safe and sustainable foodgrain storage

B. Fixing the minimum support price of every crop

C. Replacing all public procurement agencies

D. Financing private agricultural exports exclusively

E. Regulating international fertiliser prices

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PART B — AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE & APPLICATION

Q9. A potato crop develops water-soaked leaf lesions that rapidly enlarge under cool, humid conditions. Whitish growth may appear along lesion margins. Which pathogen is most likely responsible?

A. Alternaria solani

B. Fusarium oxysporum

C. Phytophthora infestans

D. Xanthomonas campestris

E. Rhizoctonia solani

Q10. A breeder crosses two genetically distinct inbred lines and observes that the F₁ progeny substantially outperform both parents in vigour and yield. This phenomenon is called:

A. Inbreeding depression

B. Genetic drift

C. Linkage disequilibrium

D. Mutation breeding

E. Heterosis

Q11. Why is colostrum particularly important for a newborn calf during the first hours after birth?

A. It supplies immunoglobulins that provide passive immunity

B. It permanently replaces the need for vaccination

C. It eliminates all intestinal pathogens

D. It contains no digestible protein

E. It prevents every nutritional disorder throughout life

Q12. In induced breeding of Indian major carps, the primary purpose of administering an appropriate inducing hormone is to:

A. Increase pond alkalinity

B. Stimulate final gonadal maturation, ovulation, and spawning

C. Eliminate dissolved oxygen requirements

D. Replace broodstock nutrition permanently

E. Prevent all fish diseases

Q13. Which microorganism is commonly used as a biofertiliser for biological nitrogen fixation in leguminous crops such as chickpea and pigeon pea?

A. Azotobacter as an exclusive symbiont in root nodules

B. Nitrosomonas

C. Rhizobium

D. Trichoderma

E. Bacillus thuringiensis

Q14. A poultry flock exhibits respiratory distress, greenish diarrhoea, and neurological signs, with rapid spread among birds. Which disease should be strongly suspected?

A. Marek's disease

B. Fowl pox

C. Infectious bursal disease

D. Newcastle disease

E. Coccidiosis

Q15. A farmer wants to monitor a specific insect pest by exploiting its species-specific sex-attractant chemical signal. Which tool is most appropriate?

A. Yellow sticky cards alone for every insect species

B. Light traps irrespective of pest behaviour

C. General-purpose bird perches

D. Flood irrigation

E. Pheromone traps

Q16. A farm manager is considering replacing an existing crop with a new enterprise. Which analytical method is most suitable for evaluating the additional costs and returns arising from this proposed change?

A. Partial budgeting

B. National income accounting

C. Balance-of-payments analysis

D. Depreciation accounting alone

E. Gross domestic product estimation

Q17. A tractor wheel would theoretically travel 100 metres without slip, but the tractor advances only 90 metres under field conditions. What is the wheel-slip percentage?

A. 5%

B. 10%

C. 15%

D. 20%

E. 25%

Q18. For many fresh leafy vegetables, which storage condition generally helps reduce moisture loss and wilting, provided temperature and condensation are properly managed?

A. Very low relative humidity

B. High temperature and dry air

C. High relative humidity at an appropriate low temperature

D. Direct exposure to sunlight

E. Continuous exposure to warm forced air

Q19. The preservation of green fodder as silage depends primarily on:

A. Continuous exposure to atmospheric oxygen

B. Complete removal of all plant sugars before storage

C. Repeated wetting with alkaline water

D. Anaerobic fermentation that produces organic acids and lowers pH

E. Maintaining the material at a high temperature indefinitely

Q20. Urea treatment of cereal straw is used in ruminant feeding primarily to:

A. Remove all fibre from the straw

B. Convert straw into a complete mineral supplement

C. Eliminate the need for roughage

D. Sterilise feed against every possible pathogen

E. Improve feeding value through increased nitrogen content and potentially improved fibre utilisation

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🗝️ SECTION 2 — ANSWER KEY

Q1. B

Q2. D

Q3. A

Q4. C

Q5. E

Q6. B

Q7. D

Q8. A

Q9. C

Q10. E

Q11. A

Q12. B

Q13. C

Q14. D

Q15. E

Q16. A

Q17. B

Q18. C

Q19. D

Q20. E

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📖 SECTION 3 — QUICK EXPLANATIONS

Q1. B — Agri Welfare Portal

Launched on 19 October 2026, the upgraded portal provides farmers with a single-window digital gateway to agricultural schemes, financial assistance, and reliable information. It is designed to simplify access, including for users in rural areas.

Q2. D — 350 lakh tonnes

The six-year Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses targets production of approximately 350 lakh tonnes by 2030–31. It focuses on increasing productivity, expanding cultivation, improving seed availability, and strengthening processing infrastructure.

Q3. A — Research and technology dissemination

The ICAR–Savannah Seeds MoU covers agricultural research, education, extension, technology validation, capacity building, and sustainable agriculture. The objective is to facilitate the development and dissemination of useful agricultural technologies.

Q4. C — International Day of Rural Women

Mahila Kisan Diwas recognises women's contributions to agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. It coincides with the International Day of Rural Women, observed on 15 October.

Q5. E — 20 quintals per hectare

ICAR reported promising yield potential of around 20 quintals per hectare for NRC 268 and NRC 270. These are preliminary assessment results, not a guaranteed yield or a statewide average.

Q6. B — Solar power combined with agricultural use

Agrivoltaics integrates solar electricity generation with agricultural activity on the same land. The financial incentives were reportedly under consideration; they should not be described as an already approved nationwide incentive scheme.

Q7. D — Sugar-based feedstocks specified in the tender

The reported 2026–27 tender excluded ethanol produced from sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup, and B-heavy molasses in line with the zero-sugar-diversion directive. Alternative feedstocks specified under the tender included maize, broken rice, and surplus rice. The restriction should be understood in the context of the particular tender.

Q8. A — Safe and sustainable foodgrain storage

The ICAR–FCI collaboration focuses on improving foodgrain storage through research and technical cooperation, supporting better preservation and reduced post-harvest losses.

Q9. C — Phytophthora infestans

This oomycete causes potato late blight. Cool, humid conditions favour disease development. It is important to distinguish late blight from early blight, which is caused by Alternaria solani.

Q10. E — Heterosis

Heterosis, or hybrid vigour, occurs when hybrid progeny outperform their parents for one or more traits. It is widely exploited in crop improvement and hybrid seed production.

Q11. A — Passive immunity

Colostrum contains immunoglobulins that provide the newborn calf with passive immunity. Early feeding is crucial because the ability to absorb these antibodies through the intestine declines rapidly after birth.

Q12. B — Induced spawning

Appropriate hormonal treatment stimulates final reproductive processes in mature broodstock, helping synchronise ovulation and spawning under controlled hatchery conditions.

Q13. C — Rhizobium

Rhizobium forms a symbiotic association with legume roots. Nitrogen fixation occurs in root nodules, contributing biologically available nitrogen to the plant.

Q14. D — Newcastle disease

Newcastle disease is a contagious viral disease of poultry that may produce respiratory, digestive, and neurological signs. Because these signs can overlap with other diseases, veterinary assessment and laboratory confirmation are important.

Q15. E — Pheromone traps

Pheromone traps exploit species-specific chemical signals to monitor or help suppress target insect populations. Their effectiveness depends on the correct lure, trap design, placement, and timing.

Q16. A — Partial budgeting

Partial budgeting evaluates the additional costs and returns associated with a proposed change in farm operations. It focuses on the consequences of the change rather than preparing a complete budget for the entire farm.

Q17. B — 10%

Excessive wheel slip reduces traction efficiency and can increase fuel consumption.

Q18. C — High relative humidity at a suitable low temperature

High relative humidity helps reduce water loss from many leafy vegetables. Appropriate temperature control is also essential, and excessive condensation must be avoided to limit decay.

Q19. D — Anaerobic fermentation

Properly compacted and sealed silage undergoes fermentation that produces organic acids, particularly lactic acid. The resulting reduction in pH helps preserve the fodder.

Q20. E — Improved feeding value

Correctly performed urea treatment increases the nitrogen content of cereal straw and may improve fibre digestibility. It requires suitable treatment conditions and adequate precautions; improperly treated material can be hazardous to livestock.

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🏆 SECTION 6 — SELF-ASSESSMENT

Correct answers: ____

Incorrect answers: ____

Unattempted: ____

SCORE = Correct answers − (0.25 × incorrect answers)

🔥 18–20: Excellent performance

🟢 16–17.75: Strong preparation

🟡 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

📌 ATTEMPT: Complete all 20 questions within 15 minutes.

📌 CALCULATE: Rework the wheel-slip question without looking at the explanation.

📌 UNDERSTAND: Explain the difference between heterosis and inbreeding depression.

📌 APPLY: Describe how partial budgeting helps evaluate a change in farm enterprise.

📌 REVISE: Review the current-affairs questions and their original source reports.

📌 SHARE: Record your score out of 20 and identify your weakest subject.

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Disclaimer: This is independently prepared educational practice material, not an official IBPS question paper. Government policy developments and reported agricultural research findings should be checked against the original official release before publication. Agricultural disease management and livestock-feeding practices should follow locally applicable expert guidance.