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

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 207

📅 THURSDAY, 22 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

20 MCQs covering agricultural current affairs, agronomy, soil science, plant physiology, seed technology, agricultural economics, animal husbandry and farm management.

📌 Select the single best answer.

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

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Q1. The nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026 is scheduled to run from:

A. 1–30 September 2026

B. 22 October–30 November 2026

C. 1–31 December 2026

D. 15 November–31 December 2026

E. 1 October–15 November 2026

Q2. The Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026 primarily promotes:

A. Exclusive cultivation of export crops

B. Replacement of fertilisers with pesticides

C. Compulsory cultivation of a single crop

D. Balanced fertiliser use, soil health and sustainable agricultural practices

E. Elimination of soil testing

Q3. The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) covers how many aspirational agricultural districts:

A. 100

B. 50

C. 75

D. 150

E. 200

Q4. The Cabinet approved the revised Minimum Support Prices for Rabi crops in September 2026 for which marketing season:

A. Kharif Marketing Season 2026–27

B. Rabi Marketing Season 2026–27

C. Kharif Marketing Season 2027–28

D. Rabi Marketing Season 2028–29

E. Rabi Marketing Season 2027–28

Q5. Improved soybean varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270 demonstrated preliminary yields of approximately how much per hectare during ICAR's reported harvest evaluation:

A. 8 quintals

B. 12 quintals

C. 20 quintals

D. 30 quintals

E. 40 quintals

Q6. The five-year agricultural cooperation MoU signed between ICAR and Ghana's Crops Research Institute in October 2026 focuses on:

A. Exclusive fertiliser imports

B. Agricultural research, education and technology transfer

C. Compulsory export of all Indian foodgrains

D. Elimination of agricultural research institutions

E. Establishment of a common agricultural currency

Q7. According to the Government's October 2026 update, which district ranked first among the best-performing PMDDKY districts:

A. Nagaur, Rajasthan

B. Umaria, Madhya Pradesh

C. Gaya, Bihar

D. Karnal, Haryana

E. Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Q8. PMDDKY monitors district performance using how many indicators across its convergent framework of 36 Central schemes:

A. 121

B. 36

C. 74

D. 100

E. 150

Q9. A soil sample has a pH of 5.0. Which interpretation is correct:

A. Strongly alkaline soil

B. Neutral soil

C. Acidic soil

D. Saline soil in every case

E. Soil with no available nutrients

Q10. Iron deficiency in many crop plants commonly produces which symptom, particularly in young leaves:

A. Uniform dark-green colour

B. Excessive root nodulation

C. Complete absence of flowering in every species

D. Water-soaked lesions

E. Interveinal chlorosis

Q11. A farmer cultivates across the slope to reduce runoff and soil loss. This practice is called:

A. Contour farming

B. Strip mining

C. Deep flooding

D. Zero nutrient management

E. Uncontrolled downhill ploughing

Q12. Vernalisation refers to the promotion or acceleration of flowering through exposure to:

A. High salinity

B. Excessive nitrogen fertilisation alone

C. Continuous high temperatures

D. A suitable period of low temperature

E. High soil alkalinity

Q13. Which statement correctly describes heterosis in plant breeding:

A. Reduced vigour caused by repeated inbreeding

B. Superior performance of an F₁ hybrid over its parents for specified traits

C. Loss of all genetic variation in a population

D. Complete prevention of mutation

E. Failure of seeds to germinate

Q14. The primary purpose of a seed germination test is to determine:

A. The market price of seed

B. The soil pH of the production field

C. The percentage of seeds producing normal seedlings under specified conditions

D. The genetic identity of every seed with absolute certainty

E. The expected rainfall during the crop season

Q15. Which approach is most appropriate for estimating crop irrigation requirements under changing weather conditions:

A. Irrigating every field at identical intervals regardless of conditions

B. Waiting until permanent wilting occurs

C. Applying the maximum possible water at every irrigation

D. Ignoring rainfall and soil-water availability

E. Estimating crop evapotranspiration and accounting for effective rainfall

Q16. Bt cotton provides protection against specified susceptible insect pests primarily through:

A. Insecticidal proteins encoded by genes derived from Bacillus thuringiensis

B. Increased soil salinity

C. Complete elimination of every insect species

D. Direct conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into cotton fibre

E. Permanent immunity against all plant diseases

Q17. Which practice helps reduce the transmission of contagious mastitis pathogens during dairy milking:

A. Reusing contaminated cloths between animals

B. Discontinuing teat hygiene

C. Using unclean milking equipment

D. Maintaining teat hygiene and sanitising milking equipment

E. Allowing untreated clinical cases to contaminate shared equipment

Q18. In agricultural economics, price elasticity of demand measures:

A. The change in soil moisture caused by rainfall

B. The responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price

C. The percentage of seeds that germinate

D. The change in crop yield caused exclusively by fertiliser

E. The amount of labour required per hectare

Q19. Which practice is most likely to improve nitrogen-use efficiency in a standing crop:

A. Applying the entire nitrogen dose long before crop establishment under all conditions

B. Ignoring crop nutrient requirements

C. Matching fertiliser quantity, timing and placement to crop needs and soil conditions

D. Applying nitrogen only after harvest

E. Increasing the dose indefinitely regardless of soil-test results

Q20. What is a major advantage of integrating crop production with livestock in a farming system:

A. Elimination of all farm risks

B. Removal of the need for animal-health management

C. Guaranteed income regardless of market conditions

D. Elimination of soil testing

E. Nutrient recycling and diversification of farm income

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🗝️ SECTION 2 — ANSWER KEY

Q1. B

Q2. D

Q3. A

Q4. E

Q5. C

Q6. B

Q7. C

Q8. A

Q9. C

Q10. E

Q11. A

Q12. D

Q13. B

Q14. C

Q15. E

Q16. A

Q17. D

Q18. B

Q19. C

Q20. E

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📖 SECTION 3 — QUICK EXPLANATIONS

Q1. B — 22 October–30 November 2026

The nationwide campaign promotes sustainable farming, balanced fertiliser application and improved soil health.

Q2. D — Balanced fertiliser use

The campaign encourages soil-test-based nutrient management and judicious use of agricultural inputs.

Q3. A — 100 districts

PMDDKY targets 100 aspirational agricultural districts with district-specific interventions to improve productivity, irrigation, credit access and post-harvest infrastructure.

Q4. E — Rabi Marketing Season 2027–28

The Cabinet approved revised MSPs for mandated Rabi crops for the 2027–28 marketing season.

Q5. C — Approximately 20 quintals per hectare

ICAR's reported preliminary evaluation of NRC 268 and NRC 270 indicated yields of approximately 20 quintals per hectare. These are preliminary results, not a guaranteed yield across all locations.

Q6. B — Research, education and technology transfer

The five-year MoU between ICAR and Ghana's Crops Research Institute aims to strengthen agricultural research, education and technology transfer.

Q7. C — Gaya, Bihar

Gaya ranked first among the best-performing PMDDKY districts in the Government's October 2026 update, followed by Nagaur and Umaria.

Q8. A — 121 indicators

PMDDKY uses 121 indicators—74 output indicators and 47 outcome indicators—to monitor progress across its convergent framework of 36 Central schemes.

Q9. C — Acidic soil

A pH below 7 indicates acidity. Soil amendments should be based on soil testing and crop requirements.

Q10. E — Interveinal chlorosis

Iron deficiency commonly causes yellowing between the veins of young leaves because iron is relatively immobile within plants.

Q11. A — Contour farming

Cultivation along contour lines slows runoff and helps reduce erosion on sloping land.

Q12. D — Low temperature

Vernalisation is a flowering response to a suitable period of low-temperature exposure in responsive plant species.

Q13. B — Hybrid vigour

Heterosis is the superior performance of an F₁ hybrid over its parents for traits such as yield, vigour or stress tolerance.

Q14. C — Normal seedling production

A germination test estimates the percentage of seeds producing normal seedlings under prescribed test conditions.

Q15. E — Crop evapotranspiration

Irrigation scheduling can account for crop water demand, effective rainfall and soil-water availability to improve water-use efficiency.

Q16. A — Bt-derived insecticidal proteins

Bt cotton expresses proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis that control specified susceptible insect pests. It does not protect against every insect or plant disease.

Q17. D — Teat hygiene and equipment sanitation

Proper teat hygiene, clean equipment and good milking procedures reduce the risk of mastitis transmission.

Q18. B — Responsiveness of demand to price

Price elasticity measures the percentage change in quantity demanded relative to the percentage change in price.

Q19. C — Matching fertiliser to crop needs

Correct timing, placement and application rates improve nutrient uptake and can reduce nitrogen losses.

Q20. E — Nutrient recycling and diversified income

Integrated crop–livestock systems can recycle manure nutrients, utilise suitable crop residues and diversify farm income.

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⚠️ SECTION 4 — HIGH-VALUE AFO EXAM TRAPS

🔹 Khet Bachao Abhiyan: Balanced fertiliser use and sustainable farming.

🔹 PMDDKY: 100 districts; 121 monitoring indicators.

🔹 MSP: The Rabi 2027–28 marketing season is distinct from the 2026–27 season.

🔹 Soybean varieties: NRC 268 and NRC 270; preliminary yield results are not universal yield guarantees.

🔹 PMDDKY district rankings: Gaya, Nagaur and Umaria.

🔹 Soil pH: Below 7 is acidic; above 7 is alkaline.

🔹 Iron deficiency: Typically affects young leaves; magnesium deficiency commonly affects older leaves.

🔹 Vernalisation: Temperature-related flowering response, not simply a response to day length.

🔹 Heterosis: Hybrid vigour; inbreeding depression is a different phenomenon.

🔹 Seed germination: Normal seedling production is different from genetic purity.

🔹 Bt cotton: Protects against specified susceptible pests, not all insects.

🔹 Nitrogen-use efficiency: Application timing and placement matter alongside quantity.

🔹 Integrated farming: Resource recycling and income diversification do not eliminate all risks.

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🧠 SECTION 5 — 60-SECOND RECALL

📌 Khet Bachao Abhiyan: 22 October–30 November 2026

📌 PMDDKY: 100 aspirational agricultural districts

📌 PMDDKY monitoring: 121 indicators

📌 Rabi MSP: Marketing Season 2027–28

📌 NRC 268 and NRC 270: Improved soybean varieties

📌 Preliminary soybean yield: Approximately 20 quintals/ha

📌 PMDDKY leading district: Gaya, Bihar

📌 Soil pH 5.0: Acidic

📌 Iron deficiency: Interveinal chlorosis in young leaves

📌 Contour farming: Soil-erosion control

📌 Vernalisation: Low-temperature exposure

📌 Heterosis: Hybrid vigour

📌 Germination test: Normal seedling production

📌 Irrigation scheduling: Crop evapotranspiration

📌 Bt cotton: Insecticidal proteins

📌 Mastitis prevention: Hygiene and clean equipment

📌 Price elasticity: Responsiveness of demand to price

📌 Nitrogen-use efficiency: Appropriate timing and placement

📌 Integrated farming: Nutrient recycling and diversified income

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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 all 20 questions within 15 minutes.

📌 Revise the objectives of PMDDKY and Khet Bachao Abhiyan.

📌 Differentiate vernalisation from photoperiodism.

📌 Explain how contour farming reduces soil erosion.

📌 Distinguish iron deficiency from magnesium deficiency.

📌 Explain how crop–livestock integration supports nutrient recycling.

📌 Record your score and revisit your weakest technical concepts.

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Disclaimer: This is independently prepared educational practice material, not an official IBPS question paper. Current-affairs facts should be checked against the original government and institutional releases before publication.