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

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 194

📅 10 OCTOBER 2026 | SATURDAY

🎯 TARGET: IBPS AFO • AGRICULTURE OFFICER • NABARD • RRB

🧠 20 MCQs | 20 MARKS | 15–18 MINUTES

❌ NEGATIVE MARKING: 0.25 MARK FOR EACH WRONG ANSWER

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🔥 IBR PROFESSIONAL APPROACH

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SCIENCE → DIAGNOSIS → CALCULATION → ECONOMICS → RISK → CREDIT DECISION

🎯 TARGET SCORE: 18+

Attempt all questions before checking the answer key.

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🔥 SECTION A — PROFESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE TEST

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Q1. Under PM-KISAN’s established benefit structure, what annual financial assistance is provided to an eligible farmer family:

A. ₹6,000 paid in three equal instalments

B. ₹12,000 paid in two equal instalments

C. ₹10,000 paid in five equal instalments

D. ₹4,000 paid in four equal instalments

E. ₹8,000 paid in two equal instalments

Q2. A plant breeder wants to develop a pure line from a highly heterozygous, self-pollinated crop. What is generally expected after repeated self-pollination accompanied by selection:

A. Maximum heterozygosity is permanently maintained

B. Genetic variation is eliminated from the entire species

C. Homozygosity increases, producing greater genetic uniformity within selected lines

D. Hybrid vigour is guaranteed in every generation

E. Selection is no longer required

Q3. A crop requires 20 kg of seed per hectare when germination is 100%. If the available seed lot has 80% germination and 100% physical purity, what seed rate should be used to provide the same viable-seed rate:

A. 16 kg/ha

B. 20 kg/ha

C. 22 kg/ha

D. 25 kg/ha

E. 30 kg/ha

Q4. A crop shows yellowing that begins on older leaves, while younger leaves remain relatively green. Which nutrient deficiency is most consistent with this pattern, subject to confirmation through soil and plant analysis:

A. Calcium

B. Iron

C. Boron

D. Sulphur in all crops and soils

E. Nitrogen

Q5. A field has a soil pH of 8.8, high exchangeable sodium and poor infiltration. If soil testing confirms sodicity, which management plan is most appropriate:

A. Apply gypsum according to the gypsum requirement, followed by adequate leaching and drainage

B. Apply urea alone to replace exchangeable sodium

C. Apply common salt to remove sodium from the exchange complex

D. Permanently stop drainage operations

E. Apply phosphorus fertiliser alone, irrespective of soil-test results

Q6. An insect pest has an economic threshold level (ETL) of 5 insects per plant. Scouting records 3, 4, 5 and 6 insects per plant in successive observations. When the population reaches the ETL, what is the most appropriate IPM response, considering pest biology, crop stage and the economic injury level:

A. Apply pesticides on a fixed weekly schedule, irrespective of pest density

B. Eliminate all beneficial insects before taking action

C. Intensify monitoring and implement suitable control measures in time to prevent the economic injury level from being reached

D. Wait until severe economic damage has already occurred

E. Stop field scouting because the threshold has been identified

Q7. A farmer has applied a herbicide to a preceding crop. The succeeding crop is sensitive to the same active ingredient, and the field has experienced dry, cool conditions. What should the Agriculture Officer assess before recommending sowing:

A. Only the colour of the herbicide container

B. Residual activity, soil and weather conditions, label restrictions and the specified plant-back interval

C. Only the market price of the succeeding crop

D. The tractor’s horsepower

E. The number of workers available for sowing

Q8. An irrigation pump discharges 30 litres of water per second. If it operates continuously for 2 hours, what volume of water does it deliver, ignoring interruptions and conveyance losses:

A. 108 m³

B. 180 m³

C. 216 m³

D. 300 m³

E. 360 m³

Q9. Soil testing shows low available phosphorus in a calcareous soil. Which recommendation is most appropriate:

A. Increase phosphorus application indefinitely without reassessment

B. Apply nitrogen alone to correct phosphorus deficiency

C. Assume that alkaline soil always provides maximum phosphorus availability

D. Follow soil-test-based phosphorus management and use suitable placement to improve phosphorus availability

E. Discontinue nutrient monitoring

Q10. A plant disease is seed-borne, and its pathogen can also survive on crop residues. Which integrated management package is most appropriate:

A. Use infected seed and increase nitrogen application

B. Continue growing the same susceptible crop without sanitation

C. Rely exclusively on one pesticide, regardless of pathogen sensitivity

D. Increase plant density to reduce ventilation

E. Use healthy seed, practise suitable crop rotation, manage residues and apply need-based disease-control measures

Q11. A dairy cooperative receives milk at 35°C during hot weather. Which action is most appropriate to limit bacterial multiplication before processing:

A. Mix the milk with older warm milk

B. Cool the milk promptly to the prescribed temperature and maintain the cold chain

C. Delay cooling until the following morning

D. Leave the milk exposed to ambient air

E. Use unclean containers to speed collection

Q12. A poultry farm records a sudden increase in mortality, respiratory signs and reduced feed intake. What should the farm manager do first:

A. Isolate affected birds, strengthen biosecurity and obtain prompt veterinary assessment

B. Move affected birds into healthy flocks

C. Sell the birds immediately without following disease-control requirements

D. Increase stocking density

E. Ignore the mortality until the next production cycle

Q13. An FPO aggregates 150 farmers, each supplying 30 quintals of produce. If 2% of the total quantity is lost before sale, how much produce remains available for sale:

A. 4,200 quintals

B. 4,410 quintals

C. 4,500 quintals

D. 4,590 quintals

E. 4,650 quintals

Q14. A farmer is comparing drip irrigation with an alternative system. Drip irrigation requires greater initial investment and maintenance expenditure but may reduce water use and increase returns. Which approach best compares the economic viability of the alternatives over their relevant planning period:

A. Compare initial costs alone

B. Compare maximum possible yields without accounting for costs

C. Compare total rainfall alone

D. Compare incremental net benefits and relevant costs using an appropriate investment-appraisal method

E. Compare the number of emitters alone

Q15. A farmer borrows ₹5 lakh at 10% simple annual interest for 9 months. Ignoring fees and other charges, what interest is payable for the loan period:

A. ₹25,000

B. ₹30,000

C. ₹35,000

D. ₹40,000

E. ₹37,500

Q16. A farmer applies for additional agricultural credit. The proposed project has a positive gross margin, but fixed costs, existing debt instalments and household withdrawals may absorb much of the cash generated. What should the Agriculture Officer primarily assess:

A. Gross margin alone

B. Landholding size alone

C. Net cash available for debt servicing after operating costs, fixed costs and relevant existing obligations

D. Collateral value alone

E. Projected sales without assessing costs

Q17. A farmer applies 200 kg/ha of a fertiliser containing 46% nitrogen by weight. How much nitrogen is supplied per hectare:

A. 92 kg/ha

B. 80 kg/ha

C. 100 kg/ha

D. 120 kg/ha

E. 146 kg/ha

Q18. A fish pond has dense algal growth, and fish begin gasping near the surface before sunrise. Which immediate response is most appropriate:

A. Add more feed to stimulate algal growth

B. Increase stocking density

C. Stop all water-quality checks

D. Check dissolved oxygen immediately and use appropriate aeration or emergency water-management measures

E. Assume that the pond contains excessive oxygen

Q19. A farmer invests ₹10 lakh in a project that generates an expected annual net cash inflow of ₹2.5 lakh. Ignoring residual value, discounting and changes in annual cash flow, what is the simple payback period:

A. 2 years

B. 3 years

C. 3.5 years

D. 5 years

E. 4 years

Q20. A bank is evaluating a solar-powered irrigation project. The projected energy savings are attractive, but groundwater availability is uncertain and maintenance costs appear understated. What is the most appropriate credit-decision approach:

A. Approve the project solely because it uses renewable energy

B. Reassess groundwater sustainability, realistic project costs, operating savings and repayment capacity before deciding

C. Ignore the farmer’s existing debt

D. Assume maintenance costs are zero

E. Approve solely on the basis of landholding size

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🗝️ ANSWER KEY

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Q1. A

Q2. C

Q3. D

Q4. E

Q5. A

Q6. C

Q7. B

Q8. C

Q9. D

Q10. E

Q11. B

Q12. A

Q13. B

Q14. D

Q15. E

Q16. C

Q17. A

Q18. D

Q19. E

Q20. B

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🧮 QUICK CALCULATION CHECK

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Q3. Adjusted seed rate

Adjusted rate = Required viable-seed rate ÷ Germination fraction

= 20 ÷ 0.80

= 25 kg/ha

Q8. Irrigation water volume

Volume = Discharge × Time

= 30 litres/second × 7,200 seconds

= 216,000 litres

= 216 m³

Q13. Marketable produce

Total quantity = 150 × 30 = 4,500 quintals

Loss = 2% × 4,500 = 90 quintals

Marketable quantity = 4,500 − 90

= 4,410 quintals

Q15. Simple interest

Interest = Principal × Rate × Time ÷ 100

= ₹5,00,000 × 10 × 9 ÷ (100 × 12)

= ₹37,500

Q17. Nitrogen supplied

Nitrogen = 200 × 46%

= 92 kg/ha

Q19. Simple payback period

Payback = Initial investment ÷ Annual net cash inflow

= ₹10 lakh ÷ ₹2.5 lakh

= 4 years

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🧠 IBR PROFESSIONAL REVISION

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🌱 Plant breeding: Repeated self-pollination increases homozygosity in segregating populations.

🌾 Seed rate: Adjust for germination and physical purity where required.

🧪 Nitrogen deficiency: Commonly appears first on older leaves because nitrogen is mobile within plants.

🐛 IPM: ETL guides intervention before the economic injury level is reached.

🌿 Herbicide carryover: Assess active ingredient, soil conditions, weather and plant-back restrictions.

💧 Irrigation engineering: Volume = discharge × time, using consistent units.

🌍 Sodic soils: Gypsum may supply calcium to replace exchangeable sodium, followed by suitable leaching and drainage.

🦠 Disease management: Healthy planting material + sanitation + rotation + need-based control.

🥛 Dairy hygiene: Prompt cooling and maintenance of the cold chain reduce bacterial multiplication.

🐔 Poultry biosecurity: Isolation, hygiene and veterinary assessment are critical during suspected outbreaks.

📦 FPO economics: Account for aggregation benefits, handling losses and marketing costs.

💰 Farm finance: Gross margin differs from net profit and cash available for debt servicing.

☀️ Solar irrigation: Evaluate energy savings alongside groundwater sustainability and maintenance costs.

🐟 Aquaculture: Fish gasping before sunrise may indicate critically low dissolved oxygen.

🏦 Agricultural credit: Assess project viability, realistic cash flows, repayment capacity and risk.

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🏆 SELF-ASSESSMENT

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🔥 18–20 → PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

🟢 15–17 → STRONG — REVISE MINOR GAPS

🟡 12–14 → GOOD — REVISE WEAK AREAS

🟠 9–11 → NEEDS TECHNICAL REVISION

🔴 BELOW 9 → REBUILD FUNDAMENTALS

📌 SCORE: ____ /20

📌 WRONG: ____

📌 UNATTEMPTED: ____

📌 TOP 2 WEAK AREAS:

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📘 IBPS PRELIMS

🏛️ DCCB & PACS

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🌾 UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE.

🧠 APPLY IT IN THE FIELD.

💰 ASSESS THE ECONOMICS.

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