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KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern
KEA AO AAO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern, Exam Date 2026
Detail Information about KEA has published notification 2026 for the recruitment of Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer vacancies. Those Candidates who are Interested to the following vacancy and completed all Eligibility Criteria can read the Notification & Apply Online. In this page we provide the Complete Syllabus of this Recruitment with Latest Update Exam Pattern and the Exam Date also.KEA AO AAO Syllabus 2026 - Overview
| Organization Name | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Post Name | Agriculture Officer (AO) & Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) |
| Total Vacancies | Coming Soon |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Salary |
Agriculture Officer : Rs. 69,250 - Rs. 1,34,200
Assistant Agriculture Officer : Rs. 65,950 - Rs. 1,24,900
|
| Selection Process | Written Exam |
| Official Website | karnataka.gov.in |
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Syllabus 2026
General Paper:
1. History and Geography of India
2. Social Science
3. General Mental Ability
4. Current Events
5. General Science
6. History and Geography of Karnataka
7. International Relations
8. Environmental Science
9. Indian Constitution
10. Public Administration
11. Rural Development
12. Science and Technology
13. Indian Economy
Syllabus for Paper-II Specific Subject (85%) :
Agriculture :
I. AGRONOMY:
Crop production – basic elements of crop production; Factors affecting crop production; History of Agricultural Development; Ancient Indian Agriculture, Chronological stages of development of agriculture. Agricultural research and education with special reference to India and Karnataka. Contribution of agriculture and horticultural crops to national economy. Importance and scope of agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, animal husbandry and forestry as farming enterprises and relation to industry. Women in agriculture – Multisectoral roles and tasks, work stress factors. Soil factors, weather factors, ecology, crop distribution, adaptation and crop production centers. Factors affecting plant growth, dry and irrigated agriculture, farming system approach and value addition in agriculture. Agro-climatic zones of India and Karnataka; Methods of crop production; Tillage – meaning, concepts and types of tillage. Crops stand establishment, Planting geometry and its effect on growth and yield. Classification of crops, selection of seed material, Importance of soil in crop production. Concepts of soil fertility and productivity and their improvement. Effects of tillage on soil physical properties and root growth. Requirement of ideal seedbed. Green manuring, manure and fertilizer management for different cropping systems. Fallowing – Advantages and limitation, Agronomic management for different soils. Agronomic management of problematic soils.
Water resources- their exploitation; Scenario of irrigation in India – canal, tank, well and lift irrigation systems. Soil water relations; Introduction to basic terms in water management & irrigation; Study of moisture constants and hydro dynamic relations; Measurement of soil moisture – different direct and indirect methods; Expressions of soil moisture and their mutual relations; Plant water relations – critical stages; Meaning and impact of water stress; Water availability & its relationship with nutrient availability and losses; Water management of crops – its definition, meaning, measurement and relevance in crop production; Concept of evapotranspiration & measurement; Factors affecting water requirement; Study of water requirement of field crops and horticultural crops. Methods of irrigation – surface, subsurface, sprinkler and drip. Their types and efficiencies; Constraints and advantages of different methods; Efficiency of irrigation methods to measure them. Quantitative estimation of irrigation water – direct and indirect methods; expressions of flowing water and their mutual relations; Concept of water use efficiency, its relevance and factors affecting it – methods to improve WUE. Assessment of irrigation requirement. Scheduling of irrigation – approaches and methods to schedule irrigation; Development of irrigation plans for individual farms and micro & macro commands. Suitability of irrigation water for irrigation – quality of water & its impact on growth, development and yield of crops. Irrigation control and water conveyance methods – their advantages & disadvantages; Concept of drainage - surface and subsurface methods of drainage. Irrigation practices of important field & horticultural crops.
impact on growth, development and yield of crops. Irrigation control and water conveyance methods – their advantages & disadvantages; Concept of drainage- surface and subsurface methods of drainage. Irrigation practices of important field & horticultural crops.
Introduction, losses, harmful and beneficial effects. Classification, propagation and dissemination and persistence of weeds. Weed biology and ecology. Weeds, crop weed association, crop weed competition and Allelopathy. Concepts of weed prevention, control and eradication; Methods of weed control- physical, cultural, chemical and biological methods. Herbicides: advantages and limitation of herbicide usage in India. Herbicide classification, formulations, methods of application and precautions in usage; Introduction to adjuvants and their use in herbicides; Introduction to selectivity and compatibility of herbicides with other agro-chemicals; Integrated weed management; Weed management in major field and horticultural crops; Management of problematic weeds; Shift of weed flora in cropping systems, aquatic and problematic weeds and their control.
Detailed study of important cereals – rice, wheat, maize, millet – sorghum, bajra, finger millet, minor millets – Foxtail, Kodo, Little, Proso, Barnyard millets with reference to their importance, origin and distribution, soil and climatic requirements. Cultivation practices covering preparation of land, planting, irrigation, manure and fertilizer application, after care and harvesting. Preparing the produce for the market. Recent advances in cereal crop production. Meaning and importance of Pseudo cereals. The importance of pulse crops – their role in human nutrition and cropping systems and constraints in pulse production. Detailed study of important pulses: redgram, pea, bengalgram, greengram, blackgram, field bean, cowpea, horsegram, moth bean, lentil. Detailed study as in the case of cereal crops. Recent advances in pulse crop production. Detailed study of important forage crops – Hybrid napier, Stylosanthus, para grass, Anjan grass, Rhodes grass, Lucerne, Berseem, Fodder maize, fodder jowar and fodder bajra with reference to origin, distribution and cultivation practices.
Importance of oilseeds and commercial crops in the national economy. Problems in oil seed and commercial crop production. Detailed study on important oilseed crops- Groundnut, linseed, sunflower, safflower, soybean, Mustard, Niger, sesame, linseed and castor and commercial crops-Sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, potato, chillies, jute, mesta with reference to their importance, origin, history, distribution and soil and climate requirement, varieties, cultivation practices and yield. Recent advances in oilseed and commercial crop production. Importance of Bio-fuels. Agronomy of conventional and non-conventional bio-fuels.
Introduction – History and importance of rainfed agriculture in India and Karnataka. Weather and climate – Earth's atmosphere, composition and structure. Weather elements – Solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, cloud formation and classification, precipitation and monsoon. Weather hazards and weather forecasting. Rainfall pattern and aberrant weather conditions of rainfed agriculture. Soil erosion – types, losses and conservation techniques (Mechanical measures). Infiltration and runoff – In situ soil moisture conservation techniques (Agronomic measures). Tillage – conservation tillage, fall ploughing and fallowing. Plant ideotypes – crops and cropping systems for drylands. Crop establishment techniques – contingency crop planning and midseason corrections. Use of mulches and antitranspirants. Soil fertility management in dry lands – residue management. Watershed management – concepts and components. Water harvesting and recycling. Wastelands – types and management and alternate land use systems. Dryland practices and watershed management suggested for different agro-climatic zones of Karnataka.
Sustainable agriculture-definition, concept, goals; factors affecting ecological balance-land degradation, water and air pollution, global warming, impact and amelioration; sustainable
agriculture practices – natural farming, alternative farming, integrated farming, HEISA, LEISA and BIOFARMS. Farming systems- principles, concepts, components; cropping systems; sequential cropping, crop rotation, relay and ratoon cropping, alley cropping, filler and inter planting in orchards; Assessment of multiple cropping advantages; delineation of efficient cropping zones based on RYI and RSI and strategies for improving crop productivity in different zones; IFS models for dry, wet, wastelands and for different agro-climatic situations. Organic farming- concept, definition, principles, components, scope, relevance in the present context; organic production requirement, permitted and restricted inputs in organic farming; biological intensive nutrient management, traditional and non-traditional additives in organic farming; Weeds, pests and diseases management practices in organic farming; Quality considerations, certification, accreditation, labelling, marketing and exports. Definition of precision agriculture, scope and concept of precision Agriculture, components of Precision Agriculture, Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), computer software package model, and remote sensing for aerial / satellite imagery. Site Specific Nutrient Management (SSM) for nutrient and irrigation management practices. Comparative yield, quality and farm profits under SSM practices v/s Uniform Rate Technology (URT) practices.
2. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS:
Agricultural Economics- Basic Concepts: Goods, Service, Utility, Value, Price, Wealth, Welfare. Wants: Meaning, Characteristics, Classification of Wants, Importance. Theory of consumption: Law of Diminishing Marginal utility: Meaning, Definition, Assumption, Limitations, Importance. Consumers' surplus: Importance. Demand: Meaning, Definition, Kinds of Demand, Demand schedule, Demand Curve, Law of Demand, Extension and Contraction Vs Increase and Decrease in Demand. Engel’s Law of Consumption. Elasticity of Demand: Types of Elasticity of Demand, Degrees of price elasticity of Demand, Methods of measuring elasticity, Factors influencing elasticity of Demand, Importance of Elasticity of Demand. Supply: Meaning, Definition, Law of supply, Supply schedule, Supply curve, Elasticity of supply and Importance. Welfare Economics: Meaning, Pareto’s optimality. National Income: Concepts, Measurement. Public Finance: Meaning, Principles, Public Resource: Meaning, Service Tax, Meaning, Classification of Taxes: Cannons of Taxation, Public expenditure: Meaning, Principles, Inflation: Meaning, Definition, Kinds of inflation. Role and Importance of Agriculture in Indian Economy. Significant Economic problems in Indian Agriculture, Natural resource Economics.
Farm Management, Nature and Scope, Typical Farm management decisions, Production relationships, Production functions- Marginal product, Marginal returns, Marginal costs, Elasticity of production, return to scale. Economic principles applied to the organizations of farm business- Law of diminishing Marginal returns, Cost principles, Principles of substitution between resources, Principle of combining enterprises, Equip-marginal returns principle, opportunity cost principle. Linear programming - Assumptions, Advantages and Limitations, Risk and uncertainty- Risk mitigating measures. Production Economics: Meaning, Definition, Nature and Scope, Basic concepts and terms (Marginal Analysis). Concepts of Production, Types of Production Functions, Technical Change, Technical Efficiency, Determination of optimum input and output, Physical Optima, Economic Optima, Cost Functions, Types and Systems of Farming.
Agricultural finance: nature and scope, Time value of money, Compounding and Discounting. Agricultural credit: meaning, definition, need, classification. Credit analysis: 4R’s, 5C’s and 7 P’s of credit, repayment plans. History of financing agriculture in India. Non-
Institutional sources include commercial banks, nationalization of commercial banks, Lead Bank Scheme, Regional Rural Banks, microfinance and group lending, role of NABARD, Agricultural Refinance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India. Cost of credit includes interest rate, assessment of crop losses, determination of compensation, crop insurance, advantages and limitations. History of Indian co-operative movement includes pre-independence and post-independence periods, co-operation in different plan periods, co-operative credit structure, PACS and FSCS. Reorganization of co-operative credit structure includes single window system and district co-operative banks.
3. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING:
Surveying includes survey equipment, chain survey, cross staff survey, plotting procedure, and calculation of area of regular and irregular fields. Levelling includes levelling equipment, terminology, methods of calculation of reduced levels, types of levelling and contouring. Irrigation includes classification of projects, flow irrigation and lift irrigation, water resources, and water measurement using weirs, flumes and orifices along with instruments. Water conveyance systems include open channels and underground pipelines. Irrigation methods include drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Soil and water conservation includes soil erosion, its types and engineering control measures.
Farm power in India includes sources, IC engines, working principles, two-stroke and four-stroke engines, IC engine terminology and systems. Tractors include types, selection and cost of tractor power. Tillage implements include primary and secondary tillage implements. Implements for intercultural operations, seed drills, paddy transplanter, plant protection equipment and harvesting equipment are included. Land development includes land leveling and shaping. Energy sources include introduction, classification and biomass energy. Biogas includes types, construction, production and utilization. Solar energy includes solar devices, solar cookers and solar heaters.
Greenhouse technology includes introduction, types of greenhouses, greenhouse environment, planning and design, and design criteria for low-cost greenhouses. It also includes greenhouse equipment, materials of construction and covering materials. Greenhouse management includes temperature, humidity control and ventilation.
Post-harvest technology includes harvesting, grading, packing, storage of fruits and vegetables, care and maintenance. Quality standards include FAO, ASTA, FPO and FDA.
Based on the image provided, here is the transcription of the syllabus for Agricultural Entomology and Agricultural Extension.
4. AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY:
History and Basics:
History of Entomology in India. Factors for insect abundance. Characters of the class Insecta, structure of typical insect. Structure and functions of body wall and its appendages, moulting process, body segmentation, structure of head, mouth parts, types of mouth parts, modifications of insect antennae. Structure of thorax, types of legs, wing venation, modifications and wing coupling apparatus. Structure of abdomen and its appendages, structure of ovipositor, structure of male and female genitalia. Sensory organs, Metamorphosis and diapause in insects. Types of larvae and pupae. An elementary knowledge of internal systems and their functions- digestive, circulatory, excretory, respiratory, nervous, secretory (endocrine) and reproductive systems in insects. Types of reproduction in insects.
Systematics:
Taxonomy, systematics, classification and its importance, Brief history of classification, Nomenclature definition, objectives, Guidelines for the Binomial nomenclature as indicated by ICZN, Biotypes, species, sub species, genus, family, order, tribe, hierarchy, Taxonomic categories; Type concept in nomenclature, general classification of Insects up to orders. Characteristics and general habits of economically important insect orders and families.
Insect Ecology:
Introduction, environment and its components. Effect of abiotic (temperature, humidity, rainfall etc.) and biotic factors (food, natural enemies) on insect populations. Concepts of balance of life in nature, biotic potential and environmental resistance. Causes for outbreak of pest populations in agro-ecosystems.
Pest Management:
Study of beneficial insects; parasitoids, predators, pollinators, weed killers, scavengers and productive insects (other than silkworms and honey bees). Study of insect pathogens. Mass production of parasites, Predators and pathogens. Categories of pests. Concepts and principles of pest management – ETL, EIL, etc., Methods of pest control: cultural, mechanical, physical, chemical, biological, legislative and genetic methods. Integrated pest management: Biotechnological approaches in pest management; case studies. Classification and study of insecticides, acaricides, rodenticides, molluscicides and semi chemicals. Insecticide formulations and their use. Application techniques. Phytotoxicity of insecticides. Safe handling: Symptoms of poisoning, first aid and antidotes. Insecticides Act, 1968. Non-insect pests: mites, rodents, snails, birds etc. Pest survey, surveillance and forecasting. Household pests, insects of medical and veterinary importance.
Crop Pests:
Distribution, biology, nature and symptoms of damage and management strategies of insect and non-insect pests of rice, sorghum, maize, ragi, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, mesta, sunhemp, pulses, groundnut, castor, sesamum, safflower, sunflower, mustard, brinjal, bhendi, tomato, cruciferous and cucurbitaceous vegetables, potato, sweet potato, colocasia, moringa, amaranthus, chillies, mango, citrus, grapevine, cashew, banana, pomegranate, guava, sapota, ber, apple, coconut, arecanut, tobacco, coffee, tea, turmeric, betelvine, onion, coriander, garlic, curry leaf, pepper, ginger and ornamental plants. Stored grain pests – coleopteran and lepidopteran pests, their biology and damage, preventive and curative methods.
5. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION:
Concepts and Principles: Concepts, Objectives and Principles. Rural development – Concepts, Objectives, Importance and Problems in rural development.
Developmental Programmes: Developmental programmes of pre-independence era – Sriniketan, Marthandam, Gurgaon experiment and Gandhian constructive programme. Development programmes of Post independence era, Firka Development, Etawah – Pilot project and Nilokheri Experiment. Community Development Programme – Concepts, Philosophy, Principles, Objectives, Differences between Community Development and Extension Education, National Extension service.
Panchayat Raj System: Panchayat Raj System – Meaning of Democratic – Decentralization and Panchayat Raj, Three tiers of Panchayat Raj system.
Powers, Functions and Organizational Setup: Agricultural Development Programmes with reference to year of start, objectives & salient features – Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP), High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP), Institution Village Linkage Programme (IVLP), Watershed Development Programme (WDP), National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), ATMA, ATIC. Social Justice and Poverty alleviation programmes – Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), Prime Minister Employment Yojana (CMEY).
New Trends and Organizations: New trends in extension, privatization. Women Development programmes – Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), SHG / Stree Shakti Yojana. Reorganized extension system (T&V System) – Salient features, Fortnight Meetings, Monthly workshops, Linkages, Merits and Demerits, Emergence of Broad Based Extension (BBE), Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSK’s).
Entrepreneurship Development: Assessing overall business environment in the Indian economy. Overview of Indian social, political and economic systems and their implications for decision making by individual entrepreneurs. Globalization and the emerging business / entrepreneurial environment. Concept of entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial and managerial characteristics; managing an enterprise; motivation and entrepreneurship development; importance of planning, monitoring, evaluation and follow up; managing competition; entrepreneurship development programs; SWOT analysis, Generation, incubation and commercialization of ideas and innovations. Government schemes and incentives for promotion of entrepreneurship. Government policy on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) / SSIs. Social Responsibility of Business.
Communication and Methodology: Communication – Models, Elements and Their Characteristics, Types and Barriers in communication, Extension Programme Planning, Programme, Project, Importance, Principles and Steps in Programme Development Process, Monitoring and Evaluation of Extension Programmes. Extension Teaching methods – Functions and Classification. Individual contact methods – Farm and Home visit, Result Demonstration, Field trials – Meaning, Objectives, Steps, Merits and Demerits. Group contact methods – Group discussion, Method demonstration, Field Trips – Meaning, Objectives, Steps, Merits and Demerits. Small group discussion techniques – Lecture, Symposium, Panel, Debate, Forum, Buzz group, Workshop, Brain Storming, Seminar and Conference. Mass contact methods – Campaign, Exhibition, Kisan Mela, Radio & Television – Meaning, Importance, Steps, Merits & Demerits.
Innovation and Adoption: Factors influencing the selection of Extension Teaching Methods and Combination (Media Mix) of Teaching methods. Innovative Information sources – Internet, Cyber Cafes, Video and Tele conferences, Kisan call centers, Consultancy clinics. Agricultural Journalism. Diffusion and Adoption of Innovations, Models of adoption Process, Innovation – Decision Process – Elements, Adopter categories and their characteristics, Factors influencing adoption process. Capacity building of Extension Personnel and Farmers – Types of training. Training to farmers, farm women and Rural youth – FTC and KVK.
Communication Skills: Structural and functional grammar; meaning and process of communication, verbal and non-verbal communication; listening and note taking, writing skills, oral presentation skills; field diary and lab record; indexing, footnote and bibliographic procedures.
6. AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND CO-OPERATION:
Concepts and Market Dynamics:
Concepts, Scope and subject matter, Market and Marketing: Meaning, Definitions, Components of a market, Classification, Market structure, Conduct, performance. Market functionaries or agencies, Producers’ surplus: Meaning, Types of producers’ surplus, marketable surplus, Marketed surplus, Factors affecting Marketable surplus. Marketing channels: Meaning, Definition, Channels for different products, Market integration, Meaning, Definition, Types of Market Integration. Marketing efficiency: Meaning, Definition, ...
Here is the English transcription of the syllabus content from the image, covering the conclusion of Agricultural Marketing, the section on Co-operation, and Agricultural Microbiology.
6. AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND CO-OPERATION (Continued) :
Marketing Costs and Trade:
Marketing costs, Margins and price spread, Factors affecting the cost of marketing, Reasons for higher marketing costs of farm commodities, Ways of reducing marketing costs. Theories of International Trade: Domestic Trade, Free trade, International Trade, GATT, WTO, & Ministerial conferences. Implications of AOA, Market access, Domestic support, Export subsidies. EXIM-Policy Co-operative Marketing. State Trading, Ware Housing Corporation; Central and State, Objectives, Functions, Advantages. Food Corporation of India: Objectives and Functions. Quality Control, Agricultural Products, AGMARK.
Prices and Agribusiness:
Price Characteristics of agricultural product process, Meaning, Need for Agricultural Price Policy, administered prices-institutions, pricing method. Prices at various stages of Marketing. Risk in Marketing: Meaning and importance, Types of Risks in Marketing, Speculations and Hedging, Futures trading, Contract farming. Supply chain management. Agribusiness: Meaning, Definition, Structure of Agribusiness (Input, Farm, Product Sectors). Importance of Agribusiness in the Indian Economy, Agribusiness Management, Distinctive features, Importance of Good Management, Definitions of Management, Management Functions, Planning, Meaning, Types of Plans, characteristics of sound plan, Steps in planning. Organization, Staffing, Directing, Motivation, Ordering, Leading, Supervision, Communication, Control.
Agro-based Industries:
Agro-based Industries: Importance and Need, Classification of Industries, Types of Agro-based Industries, Institutional arrangement, Procedure to set up agro-based industries, Constraints in establishing agro-based industries. Marketing Management: Marketing Mix, and 4Ps of Marketing. Market segmentation, Methods of Market, Product life cycle.
Co-operation:
Concept of cooperation – Origin of cooperative movement – Principles of cooperation – Main features of cooperative organizations – Historical development of cooperative movement – Recent trends. Agricultural and Non Agricultural cooperative – Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) – Farmers Service Societies (FSS) – Large Sized Agricultural Multi Purpose Societies (LAMPS) – District Central Cooperative Banks – State Cooperative Banks – PCARDBs – Cooperative Marketing Societies – Processing Cooperatives – Dairy Cooperatives – Consumer Cooperatives – Urban Cooperative Banks – Industrial Cooperatives. Cooperative education and training – Need and purpose – Training – organizational structure – NCUI-NCCE-NCCT-VAMNICM-RICM-ICM and other institutions. The State and the Cooperative Movement – An overview – evolution of relationship in Western and developing countries – Basis of future relationship. Cooperative legal system – Karnataka State Cooperative Societies Act 1959, Karnataka Souhardha Sahakari Act, 1997 – Multi State Cooperative Act, 2002 – Review of important provisions of state cooperative societies Act and Rules. Cooperative movement in retrospect – achievements – crisis in the movement – The agenda for the future.
7. AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY:
Fundamental Microbiology:
Spontaneous generation theory, Germ theory of disease, Protection against infections, Metabolism in bacteria: ATP generation, chemoautotrophy, photo autotrophy, respiration, fermentation. Bacteriophages: structure and properties of Bacterial viruses – Lytic and Lysogenic cycles: viroids, prions. Bacterial genetics; Gene expression; Genetic recombination: transformation, conjugation and transduction, genetic engineering. Plasmids, episomes, genetically modified Organisms.
Soil and Applied Microbiology:
Soil Microbiology: Microbial groups in soil, microbial transformations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur, Biological nitrogen fixation. Microflora of Rhizosphere and Phyllosphere microflora, microbes in composting.
Environmental and Industrial Microbiology:
Applied areas of Microbiology. Role of microbes in fermentation and Industry. Microbiology of Water: Microorganisms in fresh and marine water. Potability of water and Waste water treatment processes. Microbiology of food: microbial spoilage and principles of food preservation. Beneficial microorganisms in Agriculture: Biofertilizer (Bacterial...
Cyanobacteria and fungi, microbial insecticides, microbial agents for control of plant diseases, biodegradation, bioremediation, biogas production, biodegradable plastics, plant-microbe interactions, biology and cultivation of mushroom. Introduction to mushroom fungi, morphology and classification, edible and poisonous mushrooms, cultivation of different types of mushrooms.
8. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS:
Review of basic descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean, variance and standard deviation. Probability: definition and concept of probability, binomial, Poisson and normal distribution and their properties. Introduction to sampling, random sampling, concept of standard error. Tests of significance: types of errors, null hypothesis, level of significance and degrees of freedom. Tests involved include Z-test, t-test, F-test and chi-square test. Measures of central tendency and dispersion. Correlation and regression analysis, types of correlation, computation and interpretation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA): one-way and two-way classification. Experimental designs including Completely Randomized Design (CRD), Randomized Block Design (RBD) and their layout and analysis.
9. ANIMAL SCIENCE:
Place of livestock in the national economy, different livestock development programmes of Government of India. Important breeds of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and swine. Measures and factors affecting fertility in livestock, reproductive behaviour like estrus, parturition and lactation. Milk secretion, milking of animals and factors affecting milk yield and composition. Nutritive value of milk. Milk processing, pasteurization and milk products. Selection and breeding of livestock for higher milk and meat production. Feeding and management of calves, growing heifers and milch animals. Common diseases of livestock and their control measures. Poultry: important breeds, feeding and management, egg production and care. Fisheries resources of India and commercial importance of fish.
10. APICULTURE:
Honeybee species, their castes, comb structure and stages. Handling of bee colony and colony inspection. Study of bee hives and beekeeping equipment. Study of different morphological and anatomical structures in honeybees. Division of labour among castes. Management of colonies during different seasons, including swarming, migration, feeding and wintering. Bee pasturage and floral sources. Role of bees in crop pollination. Bee diseases and their control. Processing and testing of honey and other bee products.
11. BIOTECHNOLOGY:
Concepts of Plant Biotechnology – History of Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Genetic Engineering; Scope and importance in Crop Improvement – Totipotency and Morphogenesis, Nutritional requirements of in-vitro cultures; Techniques of in-vitro cultures, Micro propagation, Anther culture, Pollen culture, Ovule culture, Embryo culture, Test tube fertilization, Endosperm culture, Applications. Somaclonal variation, Types, Reasons; Somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production technology; Protoplast isolation, Culture, Manipulation and Fusion; Products of somatic hybrids and hybrids, Applications in crop improvement. Genetic engineering; Restriction enzymes; Vectors for gene transfer – Gene cloning – Direct and indirect method of gene transfer – Transgenic plants and their applications. Blotting techniques – DNA finger printing – DNA based markers – RFLP, AFLP, RAPD, SSR and DNA Probes.
12. CROP PHYSIOLOGY:
Introduction, importance in Agriculture. Growth and development - Definition - determinate and indeterminate growth, Monocarpic and polycarpic species with examples. Measurement of growth, Growth analysis, Growth characteristics, Definitions and mathematical formulae. Crop water Relations: Physiological importance of water to plants, water potential and its components, measurement of water status in plants. Transpiration, significance, Transpiration in relation to crop productivity, Water use efficiency, WUE in C3, C4 and CAM plants. Factors affecting WUE. Photosynthesis: Energy synthesis, Significance of C3, C4 and CAM Pathway, Relation of photosynthesis and crop productivity, Translocation of assimilates, Phloem loading, apoplastic and symplastic transport of assimilates, source and sink concept, photorespiration, Factors affecting photosynthesis and productivity, Methods of measuring photosynthesis, Dry matter partitioning, Harvest index of crops. Respiration and its significance: Brief account of growth, respiration and maintenance respiration, Alternate respiration- measurement of respiration Nutriophysiology: Definition- Mengel’s classification of plant nutrients-Physiology of nutrient uptake-Functions of plant nutrients-Deficiency and toxicity symptoms of plant nutrients- Foliar nutrition - Hydroponics. Plant growth regulators - occurrence – Biosynthesis-Mode of action of auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, ABA, Ethylene. Novel plant growth regulators, Commercial application of plant growth regulators in agriculture. Photoperiodism and Verbalization in relation to crop productivity: Senescence and abscission - Definition - Climacteric and non-climacteric fruits-Hormonal regulation of fruit ripening. Post harvest physiology- Seed dormancy- Definition –types of seed dormancy- Advantages and disadvantages of seed dormancy- causes and remedial measures for breaking seed dormancy.
13. FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION:
Relationship between agriculture, food and nutrition, food habits and nutrition situation. Terminologies used in human nutrition, food and health. Food and its functions and functional classification. Basic food groups and their nutritional values. Water, protein and fat – classification, functions, sources, deficiencies and RDA. Carbohydrates – classification, functions, sources and RDA. Energy - classification, functions, sources, RDA and measurements. Vitamins – classification, functions, sources, deficiencies and RDA. Mineral - classification, functions, sources, deficiencies and RDA. Importance of balanced diet and its formulation using RDA. Calculation of nutritive value of balanced diet. Importance of weaning foods. Methods in dietary and nutritional surveys. Assessment of nutritional status. On going National and International nutrition food and nutrition programmes. National nutrition policies. Processing and preservation methods of foods. Food storage methods. Food safety issues and...
Following the document provided, here is the English transcription of the syllabus sections for Forestry and Environmental Science and Genetics and Plant Breeding.
14. FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE:
Forest and Forestry, importance, history, forestry education and research in India, Various branches in forestry. National Forest Policy of 1894, 1952, 1988: Indian Forest Act 1927; Karnataka Tree Preservation Act: Forest Conservation Act 1980: The Environment (Protection) Act 1986: Indian Wildlife Preservation Act 1972: Amendments to Environment (Protection) Act -1999. Forest wealth in India: forest productivity. Deforestation: Various causes and implications, desertification, afforestation, reforestation. Indian wildlife and management. National parks and sanctuaries, endangered species; Natural forests and their formation, succession and zonation, limiting factors: climax vegetation types of natural forests and their distribution, natural forests V/s man-made forests. Social forestry and its branches: Extension forestry, urban forestry, recreation forestry, farm forestry; agro-forestry methods, woodlot system, etc. and their management, windbreaks and shelterbelts: different types of wastelands and their reclamation through afforestation, and joint forest management.Introduction to Environmental Science, Biogeochemical cycles; O and water cycles- Global warming or green house effect enhanced carbon dioxide levels on productivity of ecosystem. Air pollution – industrial pollution of air and its consequences on the ecosystem impact on ozone layer. Effect of UV-B radiation on plant ecosystem. Water pollution- Industrial effluents, domestic effluents, pesticide pollution, Aquatic ecosystem-types and management, Environmental impact assessment, pollution indicator species-Biological diversity-loss of biodiversity and their causes approaches to conserve biological diversity.
15. GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING:
Cell division, Mitosis- stages and significance, Meiosis-stages and significance, Differences between mitosis and meiosis, Crossing over-mechanism and factors affecting it, Introduction to Genetics, brief historical background, Mendel’s laws of inheritance and exceptions to the laws, Multiple alleles-Pleiotropism-Penetrance and expressivity Gene action-intra-genic interaction-complete. Incomplete/partial dominance and co-dominance, Inter-genic interaction (epistasis)-digenic interaction, types with examples, Linkage: Types, detection, estimation and exploitation. Sex linkage, sex limited and sex influenced traits, sex determination, mechanisms with examples, Introduction to Quantitative genetics-Quantitative traits and qualitative traits and differences between them-multiple factor hypotheses, Cytoplasmic inheritance – its characteristic features and difference between chromosomal/nuclear and cytoplasmic inheritance Maternal effect, DNA and it’s structure, function, types, modes of replication and repair, RNA and its structure function and types, Central dogma of molecular biology; transcription, translation, genetic code, its features, Gene regulation – Lac-operon as a model, Chromosome structure, morphology – Karyotype and ideogram, Ultra structure of cell and cell organelles and their functions, Chromosomal aberrations – Numerical (Euploidy with examples: wheat, tobacco, cotton, brassica and Aneuploidy) and structured (deletions, duplications, inversions, translocations) aberrations. Mutation – it’s characteristic features/ Salient feature of mutagens and their classification with examples. CLB Technique may be omitted. Microscopy (Light microscopes and electron microscopes). Reparation and use of fixatives and stains for light microscopy. Preparation of slides and identification of various stages of mitosis, Preparation of slides and identification of various stages of meiosis, Problems on monohybrid ratio and its modifications & multiple Alleles, Problems on dihybrid ratios, Statistical testing of segregation of traits as per Mendelian principles, $chi^2$ test and its application, Solving problems on digenic interaction.
Plant Breeding: Problems on digenic interaction continue; Problems on polygenic inheritance and gene mapping, Solving problems on autosomic and sex linkage.
Plant Breeding: Importance, objectives of plant breeding; Modes of reproduction - Genetic consequences, cultivar options and their significance in plant breeding. Centers of origin and plant genetic resources, their conservation and utilization in crop improvement and introduction to IPR, Modes of pollination. Genetic consequences. Differences between self and cross-pollinated crops. Domestication, concept of plant introduction and acclimatization.
Pollination Control Systems: Self-incompatibility and male sterility and their utilization in Plant Breeding.
Methods of Generating Variability: Hybridization, Mutation, Polyploidy, Somaclonal Variation.
Mass Selection: Johnson’s pure line selection, Genetic basis of pure line selection.
Methods of Handling Segregating Generations in Self-Pollinated Crops: Pedigree method, bulk method, Single Seed Descent Method and modified methods. Back cross method and its applications. Concepts of population Genetics and Hardy-Weinberg Law.
Concepts of Population Improvement Methods: Mass selection & its modified forms. Recurrent selection methods, development of synthetics and composites. Concept of Inbreeding depression and heterosis, Theories and Utilization of heterosis, development of inbred lines, single cross and double cross hybrids.
Principles of Breeding Clonally Propagated Crops: Concepts of Handling breeding material generated through mutations & Polyploidization. Significance of Wide hybridization in crop improvement. Biotechnology for crop improvement. Tissue culture: anther culture, doubled haploids embryo culture, somaclonal variation. Introduction to markers and marker-assisted selection.
Objectives and Concepts of Breeding Self-Pollinated, Cross-Pollinated, and Vegetatively Propagated Crops: Origin, evolution, distribution of cultivated and wild species in cereals (Rice, Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Bajra, Ragi), Pulses (Redgram, Green gram, Black gram, Soybean), Oilseeds (Groundnut, Sesame, Sunflower, Castor, Brassica), Fibers (Cotton), commercial crops (Sugarcane).
Ideotype Concept in Crop Improvement: Breeding for resistance to biotic and Abiotic stresses and breeding for quality traits. Mechanisms of resistance and selection criteria for resistance to biotic and Abiotic stresses. Emasculation and Hybridization techniques in crop plants. Visit to Research centers of different crops. Visit to GPB breeding plots and demonstration of segregating generations. Visit to research centers of different crops. Steps in variety release: within in state and country including DUS test characteristics. Field layout of experiments. Parentage of outstanding and recently released varieties / hybrids. Study of quality characters; Sources of donors for different characters: Visit to seed production and certification plots; Visit to AICRP programmes; Visit to grow out test plots; Visit to seed production plots, Visit to other institutions.
16. HORTICULTURE:
Horticulture - Branches: Importance and scope. Classification of horticultural crops. Distribution of horticultural crops. Importance of soil and environment for horticultural crops. Temperature, water, light and plant nutrients as limiting factors.
Principles of Orchard Establishment and Management: Planting and transplanting. Phases of growth; vegetative and reproductive. Soil management practices and cropping systems. Water requirements and irrigation methods.
Importance and Scope of Fruit Crops in India: Study of cultivation practices of important fruit crops viz., Mango, Banana, Citrus, Grapes, Guava, Sapota, Papaya, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Fig, Jack fruit and other minor fruits with reference to their origin, distribution, area, production, uses, soil and climatic requirements. Important cultivars and hybrids, propagation, planting, high density planting system, irrigation, nutrition, training, pruning, intercropping, mixed cropping, major cultivation problems and their remedial measures.
Nutrition and economic importance of vegetables, Types of vegetable gardens, vegetables classification. Origin, area, production, distribution, soil and climatic requirements, varieties / hybrids, cultivation practices viz., methods of propagation sowing, seed rate, nursery, spacing, transplanting, manures and fertilizers, weed management, mulching, irrigation, interculture, plant protection, harvesting, yield and grading of fruits & pod vegetables such as:
Fruit & Pod Vegetables: Tomato, brinjal, chillies, capsicum, okra, cucumber, melons, gourds, pumpkins, squashes, beans, peas, cluster beans, dolichos beans, cow-pea.
Cole Crops: Cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol.
Bulb Crops: Onion & garlic.
Root Crops: Carrot, radish, beetroot & turnip.
Tuber Crops: Potato, sweet potato and tapioca.
Leafy Vegetables: Amaranthus, methi, palak and coriander.
Perennial Vegetables: Curry leaf, drumstick & coccinia.
Ornamental Crops: History, scope and importance of ornamental crops, classification, role of ornamentals in pollution control, production technology of flower crops under protected and open cultivation, propagation of flower crops and ornamentals – rose, carnation, gerbera, anthurium, gladiolus, tuberose, jasmine, chrysanthemum, crossandra, marigold and China aster, post-harvest handling. Elements, principles and planning of landscape gardens. Types and styles of gardens, garden features and adornments, Indoor gardening and Bonsai.
Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops: Importance and production technology of plantation crops – coconut, areca nut, cashew, rubber, coffee, tea.
Spices: Pepper, cardamom, ginger, coriander, fenugreek.
Medicinal Crops: Rauvolfia, ocimum, periwinkle, aloe, makoi, amla, stevia and coleus.
Aromatic Crops: Lemongrass, vetiver, patchouli, geranium and davana.
Post-Harvest Technology: Importance of post-harvest technology in horticultural crops. Maturity indices, harvesting and post-harvest handling of fruits and vegetables. Maturity and ripening process. Factors affecting ripening of fruits and vegetables. Pre-harvest factors affecting quality on post-harvest shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Factors responsible for deterioration of harvested fruits and vegetables. Chemicals used for hastening and delaying ripening of fruits and vegetables.
Storage & Packaging: Methods of storage – precooling, waxing. Various methods of packing, packaging materials and transport. Specific packing for export of mango, banana, grapes, sweet orange and mandarin etc.
Preservation: Importance and scope of fruit and vegetable preservation in India. Principles and methods of preservation, fermentation. Unit layout – selection of site and precautions for hygienic conditions of the unit. Preservation through freezing, dehydration, drying.
Processed Products: Preparation of jams, jellies, marmalades, candies, crystallized and glazed fruits, preserves, pickles, ketchup, sauce, puree, syrups, juices, squashes and cordials. Spoilage of canned products, biochemical, enzymatic and microbial spoilage, food additives.
17. PLANT PATHOLOGY:
Introduction, scope and objectives of plant pathology. Importance of plant diseases. History and development of Plant Pathology. Definition and concept of plant diseases. Causes of plant diseases viz., biotic, abiotic and plant viruses with representative examples of diseases caused by them. Symptoms of plant diseases. General characteristics of plant pathogens viz., Prokaryotes: their classification according to Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology. Classification of fungi. Classification of viruses, mollicutes and nematodes. Growth and reproduction of plant pathogens and replication of plant viruses. Liberation / dispersal of plant pathogens and survival of plant pathogens. Types of parasitism and variability in plant pathogens.
Pathogenesis: Phenomenon of host infection by pathogens; Stages in the development of plant diseases; Role of enzymes, toxins and growth regulators in disease development and their classification. Defense mechanisms in plants – structural and bio-chemical (pre and post-infection). Effect of pathogens on physiological processes viz., photosynthesis, respiration, translocation and transcription.
Epidemiology: Soil and environmental factors affecting disease development. Epidemics and factors affecting development of epidemics; Patterns of epidemics and disease progress curves; Disease forecasting. Assessment of disease severity and crop loss and remote sensing.
Seed Pathology: Importance of seed health to man and animals; Seed borne nature of pathogens; Identification and detection of seed borne pathogens.
Principles and Methods of Plant Disease Management:
Avoidance: Selection of geographical area, Selection of field and planting stock.
Exclusion: Plant quarantine regulations and inspections, Post entry quarantine.
Eradication: Cultural and physical methods of eradication and inoculum reduction.
Biological Protection: Biological control agents, mechanisms of biocontrol, cross protection.
Chemical Protection: Nature, classification, mode of action and formulations of fungicides, bactericides, antibiotics and nematicides; methods of applications of chemicals.
Breeding for Disease Resistance: Types of resistance, Development of resistant varieties, Induced resistance.
Management Practices: Insect vector management. Application of biotechnology in plant disease management: Tissue culture and protoplast culture techniques; Genetic engineering approaches of developing transgenics. Integrated disease management: Concept, advantages and importance; Case studies of IDM.
Economic Importance, Distribution, Symptoms, Causes, Epidemiology, Disease Cycle/Life Cycle and Integrated Management of Diseases of:
Cereals and Millets: Rice, Sorghum, Maize, Wheat, Bajra, Ragi (finger millet), Navane (foxtail millet).
Pulses: Pigeon pea, Chickpea, Black gram, Green gram, Cowpea, Soybean.
Oilseeds: Groundnut, Sunflower, Sesamum, Safflower, Mustard, Linseed, Castor.
Cash Crops: Sugarcane, Cotton, Tobacco, Chilli, Turmeric, Mulberry.
Fruit Crops: Citrus, Mango, Banana, Grape vine, Pomegranate, Papaya, Guava, Sapota, Apple, Pineapple.
Plantation Crops: Areca nut, Coconut, Oil palm, Betel vine, Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Coffee, Tea, Rubber, Vanilla.
Vegetable Crops: Potato, Tomato, Brinjal, Capsicum, Bhindi, Crucifers, Cucurbits, Beans, Pea, Onion, Garlic, Carrot.
Flower Crops: Rose, Chrysanthemum, Jasmine, Gladiolus, Aster, Anthurium, Carnation, Crossandra, Gerbera, Tuberose, Bird of Paradise.
Medicinal and Aromatic Crops: Stevia, Coleus, Periwinkle, Aloe vera, Patchouli, Safed musli, Geranium.
18. SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
Quality seed and its importance in agriculture: difference between seed and grain, concept of seed quality; seed technology—definitions, objectives and its role in increasing agricultural production; seed improvement programmes in India and Karnataka; Reproductive process in crop plants – sexual and asexual reproduction, apomixis, seed formation and development; general principles of seed production, seed replacement and multiplication rates, generation system of seed production— breeder seed, foundation seed, certified seed and truthful seeds; Maintenance of genetic purity, causes for varietal deterioration, male sterility concepts and its use in hybrid seed production.
Nucleus and Breeder seed production of newly released and established varieties of self pollinated crops like rice, wheat, soybean, chickpeas, pigeon pea, rapeseed, mustard etc.; Inbred and non-inbred lines; Foundation and Certified seed production of maize hybrids, single and double cross hybrids; hybrid seed production of sunflowersorghum, pearl millet and rice using male sterility system; Latest released hybrids, their parentage, characteristics; seed production of wheat, rice, soybean, grams, sunflower, pigeon pea, groundnut, castor, cotton etc., seed production in some important vegetables like onion, brinjal, chillies, tomato, bhendi and gourds etc. Certification - it's concepts, role and goals, seed certification agencies, certified and truthfully labeled seeds, minimum certification standards for self and cross pollinated crops, field and seed inspection, its objectives; Seed Act and Seed Rules; Seed Legislation and Seed Law Enforcement, Seed Control Orders, Seed Policies, Seed Bills, WTO, IPR, PBR in India and recent developments in Indian Seed Industry. Seed quality regulations; seed processing – cleaning, grading, seed treatment methods, bagging and storage – factors affecting seed quality in storage, orthodox and recalcitrant seeds, storage pests and disease control; seed testing - principles and methods of sampling, purity analysis, seed moisture, germination, viability and vigor; cultivar purity testing – ODV, electrophoresis and grow-out tests for seed genetic purity, seed health etc; seed dormancy causes and breaking methods; seed marketing, organizations, seed pricing, promotion of quality seeds and seed marketing strategies etc.
19. SERICULTURE:
Sericulture, distribution of sericulture, Species of silkworms and their host plants. Mulberry cultivation. Techniques of raising mulberry saplings. Biofertilizers for mulberry, types of biofertilizers, method of application and their merits. Pests and diseases of mulberry. Harvesting and preservation of leaves. Methods of pruning in mulberry. Mechanization in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing. UAS Seri-Suvarna Technology for sustainable rainfed sericulture. Three tier –system of silkworm seed multiplication, concepts of seed areas. Egg production in mulberry silkworm. Loose egg preparation technology. Preservation and handling. Life cycle of different species of silkworms. Morphology and anatomy of Bombyx mori. Disinfection and disinfectants. Rearing practices in mulberry silkworm. Rearing house and equipments (Chawki and late age silkworm rearing). Concept of chawki rearing centers. Moulting, spacing, feeding, bed cleaning and mounting. Pests and diseases of mulberry silkworm and management. Sericulture byproducts utilization for sustainable production system. Harvesting of cocoons, marketing. Cocoon Markets. Characteristics of cocoons, systems of stifling, cooking and reeling and automatic reeling. Economics of sericulture. Silk exchange-functions, locations and mode of transaction of raw Silk. Silk trade-under WTO regime.
20. SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY:
Soil- Pedological and edaphological concepts. Soil Science scope and branches of soil science. Earth spheres and composition of earth crust. Minerals- classification, formation and properties of silicate and non silicate minerals, Rocks- classification, formation and properties of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Weathering- factors, factors of weathering, products of weathering; Soil formation- soil forming factors and soil forming processes. Soil profile- master horizons, subordinate horizons. Soil physical properties- Soil texture- classification of soil separates, properties of soil separates, Particle size analysis- Stokes law- assumptions and limitations, textural classes. Soil structure- classification, soil aggregates, evaluation of soil structure, significance. Pore space-types, factors affecting porosity, manipulation. Bulk density and particle density- relationships, factors, significance and manipulation. Soil colour- factors, attributes and significance. Soil consistency - forms, factors, limits and significance. Soil crusting- factors and significance. Soil temperature- thermal properties of soils, flow of heat, soil temperature regimes, influence of soil temperature on plant growth. Soil air- composition, gaseous exchange, influence of soil air on plant growth.
Soil water- classification, potentials, Soil moisture constants, movement of soil water, infiltration, percolation, hydraulic conductivity. Soil survey- types and methods. Soil classification systems of classification. Soil taxonomy- advantages, structure, formative elements, diagnostic horizons, keys to soil orders. Soils of Karnataka and India.
Soil chemistry- scope and importance. Components of soil-inorganic and organic components. Soil colloids- types, properties and significance of soil colloids. Layer silicate clays- genesis, structure and properties. Source of charges- positive and negative charges, electrical double layer- Helmholtz, Gouy-Chapman, Stern theories. Ion exchange- cation exchange capacity and anion exchange capacity, factors influencing ion exchange and its significance. Soil organic matter- composition, decomposition, fractionation of organic matter, uses; Humus – humic substances, nature and properties; Carbon cycle, C:N ratio. Problem soils – acid, acid sulphate, salt affected and calcareous soils- characteristics, nutrient availabilities, reclamation mechanical, chemical and biological methods; Irrigation water- quality of irrigation water and its appraisal; Indian standards for water quality; use of saline water for agriculture. Chemistry of submerged soil.
Manures- types of manures; Bulky organic manures- FYM, Composts- raw materials, methods of composting; vermicomposting; green manures- types and composition; concentrated organic manures- oil cakes- types and composition; Sewage and sludge- types and composition. Fertilizers- classifications, manufacturing processes, properties of major nitrogenous, phosphatic, potassic and complex fertilizers; Secondary and micronutrients fertilizers; their fate and reactions in soil; Fertilizer use efficiency- time and methods of application; Soil amendments; Fertilizer Control Order. Agrochemicals- classification, chemistry, mode of action of agrochemicals; Botanical insecticides, Synthetic organic insecticides. Major classes, properties and uses of some insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematicides, acaricides and rodenticides; Compatibility of fertilizers with pesticides. Insecticides Act.
Plant nutrients- classification and sources; Essential and beneficial elements, criteria of essentiality, forms of nutrients in soil, mechanisms of nutrient transport to plants, factors affecting availability of major, secondary and micro nutrients to plants. Measures to overcome deficiencies and toxicities. Soil fertility different approaches for soil fertility evaluation; Soil testing for available nutrients; Critical levels of different nutrients in soil. Plant analysis- total and rapid tissue tests- critical levels of nutrients in plants; DRIS method; Deficiency symptoms- indicator plants. Biological method of soil fertility evaluation. Soil test based fertilizer recommendations to crops. Factors influencing nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in respect of N, P, K, S, Fe and Zn fertilizers. Source, method and scheduling of nutrients for different soils and crops grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Integrated plant nutrient supply system and its management.
Syllabus for Paper-II Specific Subject (15%) :
Agriculture :
1. AGRICULTURAL MARKETING
Definition and concepts, market and marketing- Input, output and agricultural marketing-Evolution and development of marketing. Concept of marketing, Importance and Significance of Marketing
Classification of Markets: According to nature of commodities- On the basis of location:- On the
basis of Area Coverage, on the basis of Time Span, on the basis of Nature of Transactions, on the basis of degree of competition, on the basis of Stage of Marketing, on the basis of extent of public intervention-Approaches to study marketing problems of agricultural conmodities-Functional, Institutional, Commodity, Behavioral system, Structural and Managerial approach.
Marketing Functions: Meaning and classification. Exchange Function- Buying and selling, Sales of
Agricultural commodities- Under cover method, by open auction, by private agreement by quoting samples, Dara sales method, Close tender system and Moghum sale- Types of buying: Buying for consumption and buying for sale. Physical Function: Transportation, Storage, Processing & Warehousing. Transportation Storage, Processing: packaging and warehousing-grading and standardization-financing. Management of marketing risks: Economic risk, natural, buman, business, price, and credit risks, Minimization of risks.
Management Information: Meaning, importance, types of market information. Market intelligence
and news-Criteria for good marketing information. Agricultural Marketing Research Institutions: DMI, SAMBS, ICAR, NCAER, SAUs, International Institutions: CAM and ISAM. Marketing lastitutions: Agencies and Marketing Channels. Definition of market structure, conduct and performance, efficiency, marketing cost, margin, price spread and integration. Producers surplus of agricultural commodanes Marketable and marketed surplus. Regulation of agricultural marketing Objectives, importance, characteristics of good markets, and ideal system of agricultural marketing, Scientific Marketing of Farm products
Concepts of retailing concept of traditional retailing, concept of modern retailing, advantages and disadvantages
2. INPUT MARKETING
Nature, scope and significance, Input marketing and output marketing. Theoretical framework of factor pricing under different market types, Demand for and supply of Agri inputs, owned inputs and purchased inputs.
Fertilizer marketing production, consumption and distribution Types-Nutrients-NPK, Marketing chammels, MARKFED, Import of fertilizer materials and fertilizer, Government policies, retention price, subsidy, decontrol and pricing policies.
Seed Marketing- Types of seeds, production, contract seed production, seed certification, labeling, packing and distribution, private and public sector seed COs, MNCs. Institutional arrangements, State Seed Farms Corporation, NSC, state seeds corporation. Demand supply, forecasting, government policies., Import and Export. National seed policy.
Plant Protection Chemicals-Types, Pesticides, insecticides and fungicides, production and consumption, Industry structure, Brands, quality, Distribution, Government polices.
Groundwater Marketing-factors affecting groundwater markets, power pricing, equity and sustainability, pricing of groundwater.
Labour Market Types, wage differentials, supply and demand. Farm machineries Types, pre harvest and post harvest, production, Market structure, Marketing channels, constrants to mechanization, pricing. Government Policy.
3. PRINCIPLES OF MANAGMENT :
Introduction to Management: Managing and Managers Types of managers Managerial roles Management skills.
Evolution of Management theory: Classical Management Theory Scientific Management-Administrative Management-Human Relations School-Systems Theory- Contingency Theory.
lithics and Social Responsibility: Meaning-managing company ethics and social responsibility
Management Process Planning: Essentials of Planning. Essential of decision making Organizing: Organizational design and organizational structure. Power and distribution of Authority
Hunan Resource Management. Managing organizational change and innovation Leading: Motivation- theories of motivation. Leadership-theories of leadership. Communication. Controlling. Essential Element of Controlling.
4. MARKETING MANAGEMENT :
Introduction: Concept and Scope of marketing management, Marketing Management tasks-Philosophies of marketing management-Developing marketing strategies and plans-Analyzing macro environment-Company objectives, growth strategy and portfolio plan. Forecasting and demand measurement -Analyzing consumer markets -Identifying market segments and targets. Creating Brand Equity, Brand positioning - Dealing with competition Product Management and strategy Developing pricing strategies programmes -Designing and managing value networks and channels - Managing Retailing, wholesaling and logistics-Direct marketing and personal selling- Advertising, sales promotion, events and public relations.
Introducing new market offerings.
Developing marketing strategies and plans-Gathering information and scanning the environment.
5. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF CO-OPERATION :
Concept of cooperation-Origin of cooperative movement-Principles of cooperation-Main features of cooperative organizations-Historical development of cooperative movement-Recent trends.
Agricultural and Non Agricultural cooperative- Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) - Fariners Service Societies (FSS) - Large Sized Agricultural Multi Purpose Societies (LAMPS)-District Central Cooperative Banks-State Cooperative Banks PCARDBs- Cooperative Marketing Societies Processing Cooperatives Dairy Cooperatives Consumer Cooperatives-Urban Cooperative Banky-Industrial Cooperatives.Cooperative education and training Need and purpose Training organizational structure NCUI-NCCE-NCCT-VMNICM-RICM-ICM and other institutions.
The State and the Cooperative Movement - An overview evolution of relationship in Western and developing counties Basis of fature relationship.
Cooperative legal system Karnataka State Cooperative Societies Aet 1959, Karnataka Souhardha Sahakari Act, 1997-Multi State Cooperative Act, 2002 Review of important provisions of stote cooperative societies Act and Rules,
Cooperative movement in retrospect achievements crisis in the movement The agenda for the future.
6. SOIL AND WATER ENGINEERING :
Building Materials: Rocks, Stones, Bricks Properties and varieties of Tiles, Lime, Cement, Concrete, Sand. Glass, Rubber, Plastics, iron, Steel, Aluminium, Copper, Nickle. Timber Building components: Lintels, Arches, stair cases, Different types of floors, Finishing: Damp Proofing and water proofing. Plastering, pointing, white washing and distempering Painting, Building design, Design procedures, Technology, building construction, Types of agricultural buildings and related needs, application of design theory and practice to the conservation, sloped and flat roof buildings, construction economies Preliminary estimates, Detailed Estimates of Buildings source of cost information, use of cost analyses for controlling design, Factors affecting building costs, cost evaluation of design and planning alternatives for building and estate development, Measurement and pricing, Economic methods for evaluating investments in buildings and building systems: cost-in-use, benefit-to-costs and savings-to-investment ratios, rate of return, not benefits, payback.
Slope and deflection of beams using integration techniques, moment area theorems and conjugate beam method. Columns and Struts. Riveted and welded connections. Stability of masonry dams. Analysis of statically intermediate beams. Propped beams. Fixed and continuous beam analysis using superposition, three moment equation and moment distribution methods.
Introduction of soil mechanics, field of soil mechanics, phase diagram, physical and index properties of soil, classification of soils, effective and neutral stress, elementary concept of Houssinesq and Wester guards analysis, new mark influence chart. Shear strength, Mohr stress circle, theoretical relationship between principle stress circle, theoretical relationship between principal stress, Mohr coulomb failure theory, effective stress principle. Determination of shear parameters by direct shear test, triangle test & vane shear test. Numerical exercise based on various types of tests. Compaction, composition of soils standard and modified protector test, abbot compaction and Jodlipur mini compaction test field compaction method and control. Cemolidation of soil: Consolidation of soils, one dimensional consolidation spring analogy, Terzaghi's theory, Laboratory consolidation test, calculation of void ratio and coefficient of volume change, Taylor's and Casagrande's method, determination of coefficient of consolidation. Earth pressure: plastic equilibrium in soils, active and passive states, Rankine's theory of earth pressure, active and passive carth pressure for cohesive soils, simple numerical exercises. Stability of slopes: introduction to stability analysis of infinite and finite slopes friction circle method, Taylor's stability number.
Surveying: Introduction, classification and basic principles, Linear measurements. Chain surveying. Cross staff survey, Compass survey. Planimeter, Errors in measurements, their elimination and correction. Plane table surveying. Levelling, Leveling difficulties and error in levelling, Contouring. Computation of area and volume. Theodolite traversing. Introduction to setting of curves. Total station, Electronic Theodolite. Introduction to GPS survey.
Watershed introduction and characteristics. Watershed development problems and prospects, investigation, topographical survey, soil characteristics, vegetative cover, present land use practices and socio-economic factors. Watershed management concept, objectives, factors affecting, watersred planning based en land capability classes, hydrologic data for watershed planning, watershed codification, delineation and prioritization of watersheds sediment yield index. Water budgeting in a watershed. Management measures rainwater conservation technologies in-situ and ex-situ storage, water harvesting and recycling. Dry farming techniques-inter-terrace and inter-bund land management. Integrated watershed management concept, components, arable lands agriculture and horticulture, non-arable lands-forestry, fishery and animal husbandry. Effect of cropping systems, land management and cultural practices on watershed bydrology. Watershed programme execution, follow-up practices, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation. Participatory watershed management role of watershed associations, user groups and self-help groups. Planning and Formulation of project proposat for watershed management programme including cost-benefit analysis.
7. FARM POWER AND MACHINERY ENGINEERING :
Introduction to various carpentry tools, materials, types of wood and their characteristics and Processes or operations in wood working; Introduction to Smithy tools and operations, Introduction to welding. types of welding, Oxyacetylene gas welding, types of flames, welding techniques and equipment. Principle of arc welding, equipment and tools. Casting processes; Classification, constructional details of center lathe, Main accessories and attachments. Main operations and tools used on center lathes. Types of shapers, Constructional details of standard shaper. Work holding devices, shaper tools and main operations. Types of drilling machines. Constructional details of pillar types and radial drilling machines. Work holding and tool holding devices. Main operations. Twist drills, drill angles and sizes Types and classification. Constructional details and principles of operation of column and knee type universal milling machines. Plain milling cutter. Main operations on milling machine
Electro motive force, reluctance, laws of magnetic circuits, determination of ampere-turns for series and parallel magnetic circuits, hysteresis and eddy current losses, Transformer: principle of working, construction of single phase transformer, EMF equation, phasor diagram on load, leakage reactance, voltage regulation, power and energy efficiency, open circuit and short circuit tests, principles, operation, and performance of DC machine (generator and motor), EMF and torque equations, annature reaction, commutation, excitation of DC generator and their cluiracteristics, DC motor charmeteristics, starting of shunt and series motor, starters, speed control methods-field and armature control, single phase induction motor construction, operation, pluser diagram, effect of rotor resistance, torque equation, starting and speed control methods, single phase induction motor: double field revolving theory, equivalent circuit, characteristics, phase split, shaded pole motors, various methods of three phase power measurement, power factor, reactive and apparent power.
Concept and limitation of Renewable Energy Sourees (RES), Criteria for assessing the potential of RES, Classification of RES, Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass, Ocean energy sources, Comparison of renewable energy sources with non renewable sources. Solar Energy Energy available from Sun, Solar radiation data, solar energy conversion into heat through, Flat plate and Concentrating collectors, different solar thermal devices, Principle of natural and forced convection drying system, Solar Photo voltaics: p-a junctions. Solar cells, PV systems, Stand alone, Grid connected solar power station, Calculation of energy through photovoltaic power generation and cost economies. Wind Energy: Energy available from wind, General formula, Lift and drag. Basis of Wind energy conversion, Effect of density, Frequency variances, Angle of attack, Wind speed, Types of Windmill rotors, Determination of torque coefficient, Induction type generators, Working principle of wind power plant
Introduction to farm mechanization. Classification of farm machines. Unit operations in crop production. Identification and selection of machines for various operations on the farm. Hitching systems and controls of farm machinery. Calculation of field capacities and field efficiency. Calculations for economics of machinery usage, comparison of ownership with hiring of machines. Introduction to seed-bed preparation and its classification. Familiarization with land reclamation and earth moving equipment. Introduction to machines used for primary tillage, secondary tillage, rotary tillage, deep tillage and minimum tillage. Measurement of draft of tillage tools and calculations for power requirement for the tillage machines. Introduction to tillage machines like mould-board plough, dise plough, chisel plough, sub-soiler, harrows, cultivators, Identification of major functional components Attachunents with tillage machinery. Introduction to sowing, planting & transplanting equipment. Introduction to seed drills, no-till drills, and strip-till drils, Introduction to planters, bed-planters and other planting equipment. Study of types of furrow openers and metering systems in drills and planters. Calibration of seed-drills/planters. Adjustments during operation. Introduction to materials used in construction of farm machines, Heat treatment processes and their requirement in farm machines. Properties of materials used for critical and functional components of agricultural machines. Introduction to steels and alloys for agricultural application. Identification of heat treatment processes specially for the agricultural machinery components.
Bio-energy: Pyrolysis of Biomass to produce solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. Biomass gasification, Types
of gasifier, various types of biomass cook stoves for rural energy needs. Biogas, types of biogas plants, biogas generation, factors affecting biogas generation and usages, design consideration, advantages and disadvantages of biogas spent slurry. An overview of aerobic and annerobic fermentation processes and their industrial application. Heat transfer processes in anaerobie digestion systems, land fill gas technology and potential. Biomass Production: Wastelands, classification and their use through energy plantation, selection of species, methods of field preparation and transplanting Harvesting of biomass and coppicing characteristics. Biomass preparation techniques for harnessing (size reduction, densification and drying). Thermo-chemical degradation, History of small gas producer engine system. Chemistry of gasification. Gas producer type, operating principle. Gasifier fuels, properties, preparation, conditioning of producer gas. Application, shaft power generation, thermal application and economics. Trans-esterification for biodiesel production. A range of bie-hydrogen production routes. Environmental aspect of bio- energy, assessment of greenhouse gas mitigation potential.
8. PROCESSING AND FOOD ENGINEERING :
Classification and importance of engineering properties of Agricultural Produce, shape, size, roundness, sphericity, volume, density, porosity, specific gravity, surface area of grains, fruits and vegetables
Thermal properties, Heat capacity, Specific heat, Thermal conductivity, Thermal diffusivity, Heat of respiration; Co-efficient of thermal expansion, Friction in agricultural materials;
Static friction, Kinetic friction, rolling resistance, angle of internal friction, angle of repose, Flow of bulk granular materials, Aero dynamics of agricultural products, drag coefficients, terminal velocity Rheological properties, force, deformation, stress, strain, elastic, plastic and viscous behaviour, Newtonian and Non-Newtonian liquid, Visco-elasticity, Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluid, Pseudo-plastic, Dilatant, Thixotropic, Rheopectic and Bingham Plastie Foods, Flow curves. Electrical properties; dielectric loss factor, loss tangent, A.C. conductivity and dielectric constant, method of determination. Application of engineering properties in handling processing machines and storage Mructures.
Thermodynamics properties, closed and open system, flow and non-flow processes, gas laws, laws of thermodynamics, internal energy. Application of first law in heating and expansion of gases in non-flow processes. First law applied to steady flow processes, Carnot eycle, Carnot theorem. Entropy, physical concept of entropy, change of entropy of gases in thermodynamics process. Otto, dieset and dual cycles. Principles of refrigeration, units, terminology, production of low temperatures, air refrigerators working on reverse Carnot cycle and Bell Coleman cycle, Vapour refrigeration-mechanism, PM P-S, P-II diagrama, vapor compression cycles, dry and wet compression, super cooling and sub cooling Vapour absorption refrigeration system. Common refrigerants and their properties. Design calculations for refrigeration system. Cold storage plants Thermodynamic properties of moist air, perfect gas relationship for approximate calculation, adiabatic saturation process, wet bulb temperature and its measurement, psychometric chart and its use. elementary psychometric process. Air conditioning principles Type and functions of air conditioning. physiological principles in air conditioning, air distribution and duct design methods, fundamentals of design of complete air conditioning systems Inumidifiers and dehumidifiers cooling load calculations, types of air conditioners applications
Importance of processing of fruits and vegetables, spices, condiments and flowers. Characteristics and properties of horticultural crops important for processing, Peeling: Different peeling methods and devices (manual peeling, mechanical peeling, chemical peeling, and thermal peeling), Slicing of horticultural crops: equipment for slicing, shredding, crushing, chopping, juice extraction, etc., Blanching: Importance and objectives; blanching methods, effects on food (nutrition, colour, pigment, texture), Chilling and freezing: Application of refrigeration in different perishable food products, Thermophille, mesophilic & Psychrophilie micro-organisms, Chilling requirements of different fruits and vegetables, Freezing of food, freezing time calculations, slow and fast freezing, Equipment for chilling and freezing (mechanical & cryogenic), Effect on food during chilling and freezing, Cold storage heat load calculations and cold storage design, refrigerated vehicle and cold chain system, Dryers for fruits and vegetables, Osmo-dehydration, Packaging of horticultural commodities, Packaging requirements (in terms of light transmittance, heat, moisture and gas proof, micro organisms, mechanical strength), Different types of packaging materials commonly used for raw and processed fruits and vegetables products, bulk and retail packages and packaging machines, handling and transportation of fruits and vegetables, Pack house technology, Minimal processing, Common methods of storage, Low temperature storage, evaporative cooled storage, Controiled atmospheric storage, Modified atmospheric packaging, Preservation Teclmology, General methods of preservation of fruits and vegetables, Brief description and advantages and disadvantages of different physical/ chemical and other methods of preservation, Flowcharts for preparation of different finished products, Important parameters and equipment used for different unit operations, Post harvest management and equipment for spices and flowers, Quality control in Fruit and vegetable processing industry. Food supply chain.
9. BASIC ENGINEERING
First and third angle methods of projection; Preparation of working drawing from models and isometric views; Drawing of missing views; Different methods of dimensioning, Concept of sectioning, Revolved and oblique section; Sectional drawing of simple machine parts; Types of rivet heads and riveted joints; Processes for producing leak proof joints. Symbols for different types of welded joints; Nomenclature, thread profiles, mufti-start threads, left and right hand thread; Square headed and hexagonal nuts and bolts; Conventional representation of threads; Different types of lock nuts, studs, machine serews, cap screws and wood screws, Foundation bolts; Design process, application of computers for design, definition of CAD, benefits of CAD, CAD system components; Computer hardware for CAD.
Semiconductors, P-n junction, V-1 characteristics of P-n janetion, diode as a circuit element, rectifier, clipper, elamper, voltage multiplier, filter circuits; Diode circuits for OR and AND (both positive and negative logic). Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT): Operating point, classification (A, B and C) of amplifier, various biasing methods (fixed, self, potential divider), Coupling of amplifiers, h-parameter model of a transistor, analysis of small signal, CE amplifier, phase shift oscillator, analysis of differential amplifier using transistor, ideal OP-AMP characteristics, linear and non-linear applications of OP-AMP integrator, active rectifier, comparator, differentiator, differential, instrumentation amplifier and oscillator), Zener diode voltage regulator, transistor serias regulator, corrent limiting, OP-AMP voltage regulators, Basic theorem of Boolean algebra; Combinational logic circuits (basic gates, SOP rale and K-map, binary adder, D/A converter and generalized instrumentation, measurement of displacement, temperature, velocity, force and pressure using potentiometer, resistance thermometer, thermocouples
10. FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION :
Functions of foods-energy giving, body building, protecting and regulating. Cooking methods types, merits anddemerits. Cereals and millets structure, composition, processing techniques, effect of heat and acid and functions of starch in cookery. Legumes, nuts and oil seeds composition, processing techniques, effect of heat, acid and alkali. Fruits and vegetables -types, composition, pigments, changes caused by heat, acid and alkali. Egg structure, composition, grading of egg, functions and changes during cooking. Meat, poultry and fish kind, structure, composition, pigments, factors affecting tenderness, postmortem changes and changes during cooking. Sugars types, composition, manufacturing process, effect of heat and acid, functions in cookery. Honey classification, composition, physical and chemical properties, purity standards, food and nutritional value, handling, processing, testing and storage. Royal jelly production, composition, food and nutritional value. Fats and oils. kinds, composition, effect of heat, functions in cookery, processing techniques and rancidity of fats. Brief overviewof beverages. Condiments and spices importance in daily life. Introduction to processed and convenience foods - precooked, ready to eat, frozen, dehydrated foods and instant food mixes.
Sources, types and perishability of foods; Causes and types of food spoilage, Scope and benefit of food preservation, Methods of food preservation; Preservation by salt and sugar: Principle, method and effect on food quality. Preservation by heat treatment: Principle and equipment for blanching. canning, pasteurization, sterilization; Preservation by use of low temperature: Principle, methods, equipment, Preservation by drying, dehydration and concentration: Principle, methods. equipment; Preservation by irradiation: Principle, methods, equipment, Preservation by chemicals-antioxidants, mould inhibitors, antibiotics, acidulants, etc., Preservation by fermentation: Principles, methods, equipment, Non thermal preservation processes: Principles, equipment-Pulsed electric field
and pulsed intense light, ultrasound, sonication, dielectric heating, olmic and infrared heating, high pressure processing, microwave processing; Quality tests and shelf-life of preserved foods.
Intentional and unintentional food additives, their toxicology and safety evaluation; Naturally occurring food additives, Food colors and dyes: Regulatory aspects of dyes, food colors (natural and artificial), pigments and their importance and utilization as food color, Processing of natural and artificial food colorants; Food preservatives and their chemical action. Role and mode of action of salts, chelating agents, stabilizers and thickeners; Humectants/ polyhydric alcohol, anti-caking agent, firming agent, flour bleaching and maturing agents, antioxidants, nutritional and non-nutritional sweeteners; Production of enzymes, leavening agents, fat substitutes, flavor and taste enhancers in food processing, Acidity regulators; Emulsifiers.
11. FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY :
Historical development of dairying in India, Production and utilization of milk; Composition and properties of milk; Liquid milk collection, preservation, processing, packaging and storage, Equipment for milk processing: bulk milk cooler, milk chilling unit, milk reception equipment, Giltration unit, clarifier, milk tank/silo, pasteurizer, sterilizer, centrifuge, homogenizer, packaging and filling machines and CIP units, Hygienic design concepts, sanitary pipes and fittings, corrosion process and its control. Adulteration in milk and its detection; Types of milk reconstituted/rehydrated milk, recombined milk, standardized milk, skim milk, sterilized milk and flavoured milk. Quality defects in milk, causes and prevention. Cream; definition, classification, processing and manufacture of different types; Fermented milk products: Processing, manufacture, storage and packaging of dahi/cultured buttermilk, acidophilus milk and yoghurt, Bio chemical changes occurring during manufacture offermented milks, factors affecting these changes and effects of thesecitanges on the quality of finished products
Food packaging in India and world, Need for packaging, Package requirements and functions; Packaging materials: Paper manufacture and types of paper, advantages of corrugated and paper board boxes, Glass-manufacture, advantages, disadvantages; Metal (Aluminium/tin/SS)-manufacture, advantages, disadvantages; Plastic classification of polymers, properties and uses of plastics, Classification of packages; Lamination, Coating on paper and films; Moulding injection, blow, extrusion; Aseptic packaging: need, advantages, process, materials used, comparison with conventional packaging: Permeability: theoretical considerations, permeability of gases and vapours, permeability of multilayer materials, permeability in relation to packaging requirement of foods; Transport properties of barrier materials; Simulations of product package environment interaction; Packaging of specific foods; Mechanical and functional tests on package.
12. FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY :
Evolution and scope of microbiology, History of microbiology; Microbial classification, nomenclature and identification, Taxonomic groups: General methods of classifying bacteria; Microscopy and microscopes: Smears and staining, Morphology and fine structure of bacteria, Cultivation of bacteria, nutritional requirements, Bacteriological media, Nutritional classification of hacteria; Phototrophs, chemotrophs, autotroplis and heterotropies, Obligate parasites; Growth of bacteria, Stages of growth curve, Generation time, Reproduction of bacteria; Introduction to fungi, algae and protozoa and virus: Nutrient transport phenomenon Passive diffusion, facilitated diffusion, Group translocation, active transport. Microbial genetics; Bacterial recombination, Bacterial conjugation, transduction, Bacterial transformation, Mutations Types of mutations, matagenesis
Mutation rate, repair of mutations; Phenotypes of bacterial mutants; Designation of bacterial mutants, Destruction of microorganisms: Physical agents and chemical agents, Chemotherapeutic agents and chemotherapy; Characteristics of antibiotics, Mode of action of antibiotics; Pure culture: Methods ofisolation of pure cultures; Maintenance and preservation of pure cultures; Culture collections.
History of industrial microbiology, Primary and secondary metabolites produced by the microorganisms, Screening of microorganisms; Organizations involved in microbiological work, Fermentation media, Industrial sterilization; Definition, thermal death time, media heat sterilization, advantages of continuous
sterilization, Fermentor: Components of a fermentor, parts of fermentors, peripheralparts and accessories, additional accessories and peripherals. Types of fermentors: Types of fermentations; Submerged liquid fermentation and solid state fermentation; Importance of fermentation in food industry, types of food fermentations. Industrially important secondary metabolites; and microorganisms involved; Probiotics: Importance, role in fermented foods, organisms involved, beneficial effects, Bacteriocins, Nisin: Production of microbial enzymes, Dowastream processing of enzymes; Cell disruption methods: Mechanical disruption methods and non-mechanical disruption methods: Extraction; Purification; Concentration; Product recovery
13. FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING :
Basic concepts: definitions, approaches, thermodynamic systems, thermodynamic properties and equilibrium, state of a system, state diagram, path and process, different modes of work, Zeroth lawof thermodynamics, concept of temperature, heat, First law of thermodynamics: Energy, enthalpy, specifie heats, applications of first law, Second law of thermodynamics Kelvin-Planck and Clausins statements, reversible and irreversible processes, thermodynamic temperature scale, entropy, availability and irreversibility, Properties of Pure Substances: Thermodynamic properties of pure substances in solid, liquid and vapor phases, P-V-T behaviour of simple compressible substances, phase rule; Thermodynamic cycles. Carnot vapour powercycle, ideal Rankine cycle, Rankine Rebest cycle, air standard Otto cycle, air standard Diesel cycle, air-standard Brayton cycle, vapor compression refrigeration cycle; Psychometry thermodynamic properties of meist air, perfect gas relationship, absolute humidity, relative humidity, percentage humidity, luanid volume, total heat, enthalpy, dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, dew point temperature, adiabatic processes, wet bulb depression,
humid heat, specifie volume, heating, cooling, dehumidifying, sorption isotherms, three stages of water, phase diagram for water, vapour pressure temperature curve for water, heat requirement for vaporization, measurement of humidity, Properties of steam: Wet, dry saturated, superheated steam, use of steam tables.
Principles of refrigeration: Definition, background with second law of thermodynamics, unit of refrigerating capacity, coefficient of performance; Production of low temperatures: Expansion of a liquid with flashing, reversible/ irreversible adiabatic expansion of a gas real gas, thermoelectric cooling. adiabatic demagnetization; Air refrigerators working on reverse Camot cycle:Carnot cycle, reversed Camot cycle, selection of operating temperatures, Air refrigerators working on Bell Coleman cycle Reversed Brayton or Joule or Bell Coleman cycle, analysis of gas cycle, polytropic and multistage compression, Vapour refrigeration: Vapor as a refrigerant in reversed Carnot cycle with p-V and T-s diagrams, limitations of reversed Carnot eyele, Vapour compression system: Modifications in reverse Camot cycle with vapour as a refrigerant (dry Vs wet compression, throttling Vs isentropic expansion), representation of vapor compression eyele on pressure-enthalpy diagram, saper heating, sab cooling, Liquid-vapour regenerative heat exchanger for vapour compression system, effect of suction vapour super heat and liquid sub cooling, actual vapour compression cycle, Vapour-absorption
refrigeration system: Process, calculations, maximum coefficient of performance of a heat operated refrigerating machine, Common refrigerants and their properties: classification, nomenclature, desirable properties of refrigerants physical, chemical, safety, thermodynamic and economical, Azeotropes, Components of vapour compression refrigeration system, evaporator, compressor, condenser and expansion valve; Ice manufacture, principles and systems of ice production, Treatment of water for making ice, brines, freezing tanks, ice cans, air agitation, quality of ice, Food freezing: Introduction, freezing point curve for food and water, freezing points of common food materials, Principlesof food freezing, freezing time calculation by using Plank's equation; Freezing systems; Direct contact systems, air blast immersion; Changes in foods; Frozen food properties, freezing time, factors influencing freezing time, freezing/thawing time; Freeze concentration: Principles, process, methods, Frozen food storage: Quality changes in foods during frozen storage, Freeze drying: Heat mass transfer during freuze drying, equipment and practice; Cold storage: Cold store, design of cold storage for different categories of food resources, size and shape, construction and material, insulation, vapour barriers, floors, frost heave, automated cold stores, Refrigerated transport: Handling and distribution, cold elals, refrigerated product handling, refrigerated vans, refrigerated display; Air-conditioning: Meaning, factors affecting comfort air-conditioning, classification, sensible heat factor, industrial nirs conditioning. problems on sensible heat factor, Winter/summer/year round air-conditioning, unitary air-conditioning systems, central air-conditioning, physiological principles in air-conditioning, air distribution and duct design methods, design of complete air-conditioning systems; humidifiers and deliumidifiers, Cooling load calculations: Load sources, productcooling, conducted heat, convected heat, internal heat sources heat of respiration, peak load; etc.
14. FOOD BUSINESS MANAGEMENT :
Introduction to economics: Definitions, nature, scope, difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics; Theory of demand and supply, elasticity of demand, price elasticity and income elasticity; Markets: Types of markets and their characteristics, National income: GDP, GNP, NNP, disposable personal income, per capita income, inflation, Theory of production: Production function, factors of production. Law of variable proportions and returns to scale; Cost: Short run and long ruт сом, fixed cost, variable cost, total cost, average cost, marginal cost, opportunity cost; Break even analysis; Management definitions, management principles, scientific principles, administrative principles, Maslow's Hierarchy of needs theory, Functions of management: Planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling; Organizational structures, principles of organization; Types of organization: Formal and informal, line, line and staff, matrix, hybrid; Finance management. Definition, scope, objective: Time valueof money and its accounting, Different systems of accounting: Financial accounting, cost accounting, management accounting, Human resource management: Definitions, objectives of manpower planning, process, sources of recruitment, process of selection, Corporate social responsibility: Importance, business ethics.
Comunnication -Meaning, definition, models, elements and their characteristics, types. Barriers in communication.Communication skills: Structural and functional grammar, meaning and process of comumunication, verbal and non-verbal communication. Role of ICT in communication, recent advances in communication internet, cyber cafe, video and tele conference, Kisan call Center ande-governance. Meaning and definition of personality, theoretical perspectives on personality Behavioural trait and humanistic personality pattern, moukling the personality patterns Personality development -self perception, self esteem and gender stereotyping, persistence and changes in personality determinants (physical, intellectual, emotional, social, educational and family),
15. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY :
Origin and evolution of cell; Introduction to microscopy; Sub- cellular structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Membrane structure and function, plasma membrane, cell wall and extracellular matrix; Structural organization and function of intracellular organelles and organelle biogenesis: Nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes, plastids, vacuoles Membrane modifications in functioning cell to cell interaction gap junction desmosomes, tight junctions, plasmodesmata. Cell surface component and their role in cell recognition and function of cytoskeleton and its role in motility, Cell membrane transport; Introduction to cell signaling, Cell growth, cell cycle and its control; Cell death and cell renewal.
History, definitions, concepts, scope and importance of Biotechnology: Plant, microbial, animal, medical, environmental, industrial, Marine, Agricultural and food Biotechnology. Nanobiotechnology. Introduction to recombinant DNA technology and its applications: Vectors, DNA restriction and modifying enzymes, gene cloning; Introduction to genomics and proteomics: Molecular markers, DNA sequencing, Genetic transformation and transgenic organisms, Bioinformatics. Biosafety guidelines.
History of molecular biology; Central dogma of life, Structure of DNA and RNA: Gene structure and function; DNA replication; transcription, Genetic code and translation in prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic nuclear and organelle genomes, Gene regulation in prokaryotes: Lac operon concept, tryp concept. Biosynthesis of purines pyramidines and their regulation. Introduction to microbial genetics; conjugation, transformation and transduction; Tools in molecular biology: Role of enzymes in molecular biology: Principles of Polymerase Chain Reaction; Electrophoresis, PCR and hybridization based molecular markers
History of plant tissue culture; concept of totipotency, Concept of aseptic culture practices; Components of in vitro culture media and role of different macro and micro nutrients, vitamins, plant growth regulators and growth supplements; Sterilization techniques. Various plant cell, tissue and organ culture techniques and uses; Somatic cell cultures; morphogenesis: organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis; Micropropagation: In vitro grafting, meristem culture; Anther, pollen, embryo, ovale, ovary culture, Protoplast culture and somatie hybridization; Sonaclonal variation.
16. MICROBIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY :
Food Biotechnology: Introduction, history and importance; Applications of biotechnology in food processing. Enzymes for food processing such as beta-galactosidase, chymosin, glucose isomerase and a-amylase. Recent developments and application of biotechnology in quality and quantity improvement of functional foods from plant sources-Vitamin, carotene, anthocyanin, proteins, Starch and oil, risk factors and safety regulations; Food spoilage and preservation process; Food and beverage fermentation: Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, food additives and supplements. Industrial use of micro organisms; Commercially exploited microbes: Saccharomyces, Lactobacilhes, Penecilliam, Acetobactor, Bifidobacterium, Lactococcus and Streptococcus; Dairy fermentation and fermented products; Prebiotics and probiotics; Genetic engineering for food quality and shelf life improvement, Bioactive peptides; Labelling of GM foods.
17. BIOCHEMISTRY :
Biochemistry Introduction and importance, Plant cell Structure and organellar functions Biomolecules-Structure, properties and reactions amino acids, peptides and proteins, fipids,
carbohydrates, nucleotides and nucleic acids. Enzymes Factors affecting the activities, classifications, immobilization and other industrial applications. Metabolism Basic concepts. glycolysis, citric acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway-oxidation of fatty acids, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. General reactions of amino acids degradation. Metabolic regulation. Secondary metabolites- terpenoids, alkaloids, phenolics.
Principles and techniques of Chromatography adsorption, partition, and ion-exchange, affinity Gas chromatography, HPLC and their application. Precipitation of biomolecules- salt, solvent, pH, Dialysis, Centrifugation techniques and their application Differential, density gradient and ultra centrifugation. Principle of electrophoresis, AGE, Native PAGE, SDS-PAGE, Iso-electric Focusing Amino acid analysis and Protein sequencing, Nucleic acid sequencing, Blotting techniques- Southern, Northern and Western Blotting.
18. BIOINFORMATICS :
Introduction to bioinformantics; scope of bioinformatics, Importance of computers in biological data processing local and remote-server based data processing. Physical and virtual links to remote data servers, Different Internet protocols for remote data access. Major biological data resources accessible through World Wide Web. Introduction to biological database and different data structures, Primary databases: Nucleotide sequence databases (GenBank, EMBL), protein sequence databases, Secondary databases: SwissProt/TrEMBI, conserved domain database, Pfam, Macro molecule Structure databases Protein Data Bank (PDB), MMDB, SCOP, CATH; File formats: Genbank, EMII, Fasta, PDB, Flat file, ASN.I, XML Introduction to sequence alignment and its applications: Pair wise and multiple sequence aligament, concept of local and global alignment, Algorithms: Dot Matrix method, dynamic programming methods (Needleman-Wunsch and Smith-Waterman), Tools of MSA ChitalW, TCoffee. Phylogeny, Introduction to BLAST and FASTA.
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Exam Pattern 2026
Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer (85%)
Negative Marking : 0.75
| Papers | Subject | No.of Question | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Paper | 150 | 300 | 2 Hour |
| Paper 2 | Specific Subject | 150 | 300 | 2 Hour |
| Total | 300 | 600 |
Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer (15%)
Negative Marking : 0.75
| Papers | Subject | No.of Question | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Paper | 150 | 300 | 2 Hour |
| Paper 2 | Specific Subject | 150 | 300 | 2 Hour |
| Total | 300 | 600 |
Exam Date 2026 : Notified Soon
Starting Date of Application Form : Notified Soon
Last Date of Application Form : Notified Soon
FAQs
Kea Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer 2026 Exam Syllabus Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
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You can download the complete KEA AO AAO Exam syllabus PDF from toppersexam.com. The PDF is available free and includes a detailed list of topics, section-wise subjects, and weightage for better exam preparation.
Yes, KEA AO AAO Exam has a topic-wise syllabus that includes all relevant subtopics. Toppersexam provides the detailed breakdown, helping candidates focus on high-weightage areas and avoid missing important sections.
Toppersexam ensures that the KEA AO AAO syllabus is updated for 2026. The latest syllabus reflects current exam trends, question patterns, and updated topics as per official notifications.
The KEA AO AAO Exam pattern includes details like the number of sections, total questions, marks distribution, and exam duration. Toppersexam provides a comprehensive guide on exam format, marking scheme, and question types.
Yes, the majority of questions in KEA AO AAO Exam are MCQs. Toppersexam provides practice MCQs with answers to help candidates understand the question pattern and improve accuracy.
Yes, questions are divided section-wise. Toppersexam provides a clear guide on how many questions are asked per section and their difficulty level for effective preparation.
Yes, Toppersexam offers online mock tests that strictly follow the KEA AO AAO Exam pattern. These mocks help candidates practice time management and get real-exam experience.
Yes, exam patterns can change over time. Toppersexam provides updated information on the latest exam pattern, question types, and section-wise changes.
Understanding the exam pattern is crucial for time management, question prioritization, and strategy planning. Toppersexam guides candidates on how to use the pattern effectively to maximize scores.
Start by dividing the syllabus into sections and prioritizing high-weightage topics. Toppersexam provides a preparation strategy, along with topic-wise tips and sample questions to make syllabus analysis easier.
Yes, focusing on high-weightage topics improves efficiency. Toppersexam highlights important topics, helping candidates prioritize sections for better performance.
Toppersexam provides a free downloadable PDF that includes both the syllabus and detailed exam pattern. This helps candidates study offline and revise efficiently.