State Agricultural Officer

• Unit I: Importance of Agriculture

  8 topics

  • Importance of Agriculture in Indian Economy and its sectoral relationship
  • Agricultural Development through five year plans in India and Tamil Nadu
  • Growth pattern of crops in India and Tamil Nadu in terms of area, production and productivity
  • Government Agricultural Policies
  • Agricultural development through NITI AAYOG
  • import and export
  • role of NSC, FCI and PDS
  • Sustainable Developmental Goals

• Unit II: Fundamentals of Crop Production

  12 of 15 topics

  • Factors of Production
  • Agricultural seasons of India and Tamil Nadu
  • Cropping patterns in India and Tamil Nadu
  • package of practices of different crops
  • Agro-Climatic zones of India and Tamil Nadu and their features
  • Weather and Climate
  • Weather forecasting
  • Remote sensing and GIS application
  • Climate change and its impact
  • Minimal tillage practices
  • Stress mitigating technologies including microorganisms
  • Nanoparticles and their applications

• Unit III: Natural Resource Management

  12 of 26 topics

  • Soil
  • Soil structure
  • Factors influencing soil structure
  • Physical and Chemical properties
  • Effect of nutrient availability and plant growth
  • Soil health
  • Problem soils and their management
  • Soil survey - its objectives and scope
  • Soil fertility and productivity
  • Soil testing
  • Chemistry of Macro and Micro Nutrient
  • Integrated Nutrient Management

• Unit IV: Crop Management & Allied Agricultural Activities

  12 of 16 topics

  • Cropping systems and integrated farming
  • Recycling of agricultural waste
  • Organic manures, green manures, bio fertilizers
  • Balanced usage
  • integrated nutrient management
  • Physiological disorders in crop plants and their management
  • Plant growth regulators
  • Regulation of flowering
  • Classification of stresses
  • Physiological adaptation of crop plants for abiotic stress
  • Irrigation management of different crops, Mushroom cultivation, bee keeping, silkwork rearing etc., Energy in Agricultural production
  • Sources - Solar, wind, animal, biomass and biogas

• Unit V: Crop Improvement

  12 of 16 topics

  • Principles of breeding
  • Breeding methods in self, cross and vegetatively propogated crops
  • Modern tools in crop improvement
  • Heterosis breeding and Hybrid seed production technologies
  • Synthetic and composites
  • Breeding for biotic, abiotic and quality traits
  • Latest varieties of major crops in Tamil Nadu
  • Variety release procedures
  • Application of bio technology in Agriculture
  • Tissue culture & its significance
  • Transgenic Plants
  • Marker assisted selection

• Unit VI: Seed Science and Technology

  12 topics

  • Seeds
  • Importance of quality seeds in Agriculture
  • Nucleus, Breeder, foundation, certified and labelled seeds
  • Characterisation of good quality seeds
  • Seed certification techniques and processing in Tamil Nadu
  • Seed testing
  • Seed testing laboratories-ISTA standards for seed testing
  • seed village concept Seed Act
  • Seed coating and priming technologies
  • Seed enhancement technologies
  • Varietal deterioration of crops – causes and maintenance
  • Post harvest handling of seeds

• Unit VII: Crop Protection Principles and Practices

  12 of 14 topics

  • Importance of pest, disease, nematodes and weed management in agriculture
  • categories of pests, diseases, nematodes and weeds
  • pest and disease surveillance and weather forecasting on pest and disease incidence
  • Symptoms of damages, biology and control measures of pest, disease and nematodes of major crops in Tamil Nadu
  • Integrated pest, disease and nematode management in crop production
  • Pesticides and their use in IPM – mode of action - Pattern
  • plant protection equipments and their use
  • Plant quarantine
  • Storage pests, disease and nematodes and their management
  • Importance of biological control in pest, disease and nematode management
  • Weeds
  • Major weeds and their control

• Unit VIII: Farm Business and Finance Management

  12 of 17 topics

  • Farm business management
  • Principles of farm business management
  • Types and systems of farms-Classical Production Functions
  • Cost concepts
  • Management of resources
  • Farm Planning and budgeting
  • Investment analysis
  • Risk and uncertainties in Agriculture
  • Agricultural credit system in India
  • Multi credit delivery system
  • Role of nationalized banks, NABARD and Regional Rural Banks
  • Lead Bank Scheme

• Unit IX: Agricultural Marketing and Market Intelligence

  12 of 27 topics

  • Marketing
  • Agricultural marketing
  • Market structure
  • Marketing Efficiency
  • Price Spread-Market Integration-Market Risk-Speculation and hedging
  • Market Institutions
  • Warehouses and rural godowns
  • Agmark-Cooperatives
  • Commodity Boards
  • Agri business management
  • Farmer Producer Organisations and Agri-business incubation
  • Principles of Management-Entrepreneurship - Development

• Unit X: Agricultural Extension: Principles and Methods

  11 topics

  • Extension methods for transfer of technology
  • AV aids-Communication models
  • Use of ICT in transfer of technology-Diffusion and adoption
  • Pre and post independent rural development initiatives: key features, strength and weakness of individual programmes
  • Programme planning and evaluation methods
  • Rural sociology
  • key features of Indian rural system-value system-social change- rural migration
  • Role of women in Agriculture
  • Social organisations and Non-Governmental organisations
  • Extensions / Agricultural Developmental programs by ICAR / Government
  • e-Agriculture and Digital Tools

Showing 115 of 162 topics in this subject.Show all 162 topics →

• Unit I: Fundamentals of Horticulture

  12 of 24 topics

  • Scope and importance
  • State, National and Global scenario of horticultural crops
  • Area and production
  • Import and export
  • Nutritive value and Medicinal value of horticultural crops
  • Horticultural zones of Tamil Nadu and India
  • National and regional agencies involved in promotion of horticultural industry in India (NHB, APEDA, Commodity Boards and Government schemes)
  • Classification of horticultural crops
  • Factors limiting horticultural crop production
  • Role of season
  • Soil and climate requirements
  • Physical and chemical properties of soil

• Unit II: Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops

  12 of 19 topics

  • Important phases of growth and development
  • Bearing habits
  • Classification of horticultural crops based on life cycle
  • Annual, biennial perennial (woody and herbaceous perennials)
  • Fruitfulness and unfruitfulness
  • External and internal factors associated with unfruitfulness
  • Physiology of flowering, fruit set, ripening and senescence
  • Fruitdrop
  • Causes and control measures
  • Plant growth regulators
  • Functions and role in horticultural crops
  • Bud dormancy

• Unit III: Propagation of Horticultural Crops

  12 of 36 topics

  • Propagation – Definition
  • Establishment of nursery
  • Site selection
  • Tools and implements propagation structures
  • Mist chamber, phytotron
  • Humidifiers
  • Greenhouse
  • Glasshouse
  • Polyhouse
  • Shade net, glass house, poly tunnels, cold frames and hotbeds, pit nursery
  • Media and containers
  • Soil sterilization

• Unit IV: Management Techniques for Horticultural Crops

  12 of 35 topics

  • Planning
  • Layout and management of orchards
  • Fencing
  • Wind breaks and shelter beds
  • Spacing
  • Planting system
  • Physical and chemical properties
  • Soil reaction – acid, saline and alkaline soils
  • Soil fertility
  • Essential elements – Functions
  • Organic manures and inorganic fertilizers, Water soluble fertilizers
  • Bio-fertilizers, vermicomposting

• Unit V: Production Technology of Fruit Crops

  12 of 22 topics

  • Scope and importance of fruit crops
  • Composition and uses
  • Origin and distribution
  • Species
  • Season
  • Climate and soil requirement
  • Varieties and hybrids
  • Propagation techniques
  • Planting systems and planting density including High density planting (HDP) and ultra high-density planting (UHDP)
  • spacing
  • Water and nutrient management
  • Fertigation

• Unit VI: Production Technology of Vegetable Crops

  12 of 28 topics

  • Scope and importance of vegetable crops
  • Composition and uses
  • Origin and distribution
  • Area and production
  • Soil and climatic requirements
  • Varieties and hybrids
  • Propagation methods
  • Seed rate
  • Sowing and nursery practises
  • Containerized seedling production
  • Season
  • Planting methods

• Unit VII: Floriculture & Landscape Gardening

  12 of 41 topics

  • Scope and importance of flower crops production
  • Uses
  • Origin and distribution
  • Area and production
  • Climate and soil requirement
  • Species and varieties
  • Propagation, season
  • Spacing and planting methods
  • Irrigation, nutrient management
  • Fertigation
  • Weed management
  • Training and pruning

• Unit VIII: Production Technology of Spices and Plantation Crops

  12 of 27 topics

  • Scope and Importance of spices and plantation crops
  • Composition and uses
  • Origin and distribution
  • Area and production
  • Climate and soil requirements
  • Species and varieties
  • Season, seed rate / Vegetative propagation methods
  • Spacing
  • Planting systems
  • High density planting (HDP)
  • Ultra High Density Planting (UHDP)
  • Irrigation and nutrient management

• Unit IX: Production Technology of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

  12 of 31 topics

  • Scope and importance of medicinal and aromatic crops
  • Composition and uses
  • Origin and distribution
  • Area and Production
  • Ex situ and in situ conservation
  • Classification of medicinal and aromatic crops
  • Constraints in medicinal plants cultivation
  • Climate and soil
  • Varieties
  • Propagation
  • Nursery practices
  • Planting methods

• Unit X: Post-Harvest Technology of Horticultural Crops

  12 of 20 topics

  • Importance of Post-harvest handling in horticultural crops
  • Maturity indices
  • Postharvest handling methods
  • Ripening chambers
  • Washing
  • Grading
  • Waxing
  • Grades and standards
  • Methods of packing
  • Types of containers and their advantages and disadvantages
  • Storage - Principles and methods of refrigerated storage
  • Storage methods

Showing 120 of 283 topics in this subject.Show all 283 topics →

• Unit I: Crop Production Principles and Practices

  6 topics

  • Weather and crop production
  • Agro – ecological zones and geographical distribution of crop plants in Tamil Nadu Cropping systems
  • different types and their importance in food production
  • Package of Practices followed for field crops and cropping systems in Tamil Nadu
  • Automation and Drone application in Agriculture
  • Climate Smart Agriculture

• Unit II: Water and Weed Management

  10 topics

  • Water Management
  • Integrated water management
  • Common area management
  • Different efficiencies in irrigation management
  • Irrigation management under constraints of irrigation water
  • Weed management
  • Important weeds and their distribution in Tamil Nadu
  • Integrated weed management practices
  • Irrigation water quality management
  • Soil moisture and crop water requirement

• Unit III: Cropping Systems and their Management

  11 topics

  • Tillage and Dry land agriculture
  • Tillage Management under wet and dry land agriculture water harvesting techniques
  • Technologies for increasing agricultural production in rainfed agriculture
  • Agroforestry
  • Waste land development: Problems and Prospects in Tamil Nadu
  • Farm forestry, Agroforestry, Social forestry, Natural forestry
  • Importance of crop physiology
  • Mineral Nutrition
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Plant growth regulator
  • Remote sensing and GIS for agriculture

• Unit IV: Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture

  12 of 15 topics

  • Soil types of Tamil Nadu and their important physio-chemical properties and their management
  • Problem soils Management
  • Soil fertility management
  • Integrated Nutrient Management
  • Soil fertility evaluation
  • Soil Test Crop Response
  • Manures
  • Natural farming
  • Organic Certification and standards
  • Nutrient Mineralisation and transformation
  • Bio-fertilizer and Bio-inoculants
  • PGPR

• Unit V: Seed Production-Principles, Practices and Policies

  12 of 16 topics

  • Seed production in Vegetatively propagated crops
  • Seed processing
  • Dormancy Seed treatment
  • Seed pelleting
  • Seed Certification
  • Certified seed production
  • Seed Act, New seed policy
  • seed storage
  • Characteristics of quality seeds
  • seed development
  • Types of seeds
  • Seed quality control and testing

• Unit VI: Principles and Practices in Crop Improvement and Crop Biotechnology

  10 topics

  • Germplasm
  • crop genetic resources
  • Methods of breeding
  • Innovative breeding methods such as Mutation breeding
  • Transgenic technology and applications
  • Marker – Types of markers
  • Linkage mapping
  • QTL mapping
  • marker assisted breeding – applications and examples
  • Breeding objectives and methods for pulses, oil seeds, fibre, cash crops and fodder

• Unit VII: Principles and Practices in Pest Management

  12 of 17 topics

  • Pest - Definition
  • categories of pests including invasive pests
  • Pests control and pest management -- natural, artificial
  • IPM
  • Principles, components and integration
  • Ecological aspects of IPM
  • various IPM methods
  • IPM for important pests and nematodes of crops
  • Role of parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogens (NPV, Bt, Fungus) in IPM
  • Biointensive and biotechnological pest management methods
  • Store grain pest management
  • Host Plant Resistance in Pest Management

• Unit VIII: Principles and Practices in Plant Disease Management

  9 topics

  • Bacterial, fungal and viral diseases in major crops
  • Disease Surveillance
  • Assessment and forecasting integrated disease management for important plants
  • Integrated Disease management
  • Role of antagonistic organisms
  • Biotechnological approaches in disease Management
  • Host Plant Resistance in disease management
  • Host plant and pathogen interaction
  • Impact of Global Warming in pest and disease management

• Unit IX: Farming Systems and Management

  12 topics

  • Farming systems-Integrated farming systems
  • Farm planning and budgeting
  • Farm business management
  • Farm management-principles and decision making Management of resources - land, labour, capital and machinery
  • Farm financial management
  • Agricultural marketing management
  • world trade concept economic liberalisation
  • GATT
  • IPR issues in agriculture
  • Agri co-operation – credit, marketing, consumer co-operation
  • Co-operative services for farmers, processing, farming and warehousing
  • Farmer Producer Organisations and agri-business incubation

• Unit X: Transfer of Technology

  6 topics

  • Use of modern agricultural information systems
  • ICT for effective Transfer of technology
  • importance of transfer of technology in agricultural development
  • Principles of farm journalism
  • participatory technology development
  • Agri-journalism

Showing 100 of 112 topics in this subject.Show all 112 topics →

Topics pending official syllabus normalization.

• Unit I: General Science

  12 of 14 topics

  • Scientific knowledge and scientific temper
  • Power of reasoning
  • Rote learning vs conceptual learning
  • Science as a tool to understand the past, present and future
  • Nature of universe
  • General scientific laws
  • Mechanics
  • Properties of matter, force, motion, and energy
  • Everyday application of the basic principles of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, light, sound, heat, nuclear physics, laser, electronics and communications
  • Elements and compounds, acids, bases, salts, petroleum products, fertilizers, pesticides
  • Main concepts of life science, classification of living organisms, evolution, genetics, physiology, nutrition, health and hygiene, human diseases
  • Environment and ecology

• Unit II: Geography of India

  12 of 21 topics

  • Location
  • Physical features
  • Monsoon, rainfall, weather and climate
  • Water resources
  • Rivers in India
  • Soil, Minerals and Natural Resources
  • Forest and Wildlife
  • Agricultural pattern
  • Transport
  • Communication
  • Social Geography
  • Population density and distribution

• Unit III: History, Culture of India and Indian National Movement

  12 of 17 topics

  • Indus Valley Civilization
  • Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and Marathas
  • Age of Vijayanagaram and Bahmani Kingdoms
  • South Indian History
  • National Renaissance
  • Early uprising against British rule
  • Indian National Congress
  • Emergence of leaders
  • B.R.Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O.Chidambaranar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamarajar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Thanthai Periyar, Rajaji, Subash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and others
  • Different modes of agitation: Growth of Satyagraha and Militant Movements
  • Communalism and Partition
  • Change and continuity in the socio-cultural history of India

• Unit IV: Indian Polity

  11 of 20 topics

  • Constitution of India
  • Preamble to the Constitution
  • Salient features of the Constitution
  • Union, State and Union Territory
  • Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy
  • Union Executive, Union Legislature
  • State Executive, State Legislature
  • Local Governments, Panchayat Raj
  • Spirit of federalism: Centre - State relationships
  • Election
  • Judiciary in India

• Unit V: Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

  11 of 30 topics

  • Nature of Indian Economy
  • Five-year plan models - an assessment
  • Planning Commission and Niti Aayog
  • Sources of revenue
  • Reserve Bank of India
  • Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy
  • Finance Commission
  • Resource sharing between Union and State Governments
  • Goods and Services Tax
  • Structure of Indian Economy and Employment Generation, Land Reforms and Agriculture
  • Application of Science and Technology in Agriculture

• Unit VI: History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu

  11 topics

  • History of Tamil Society, related archaeological discoveries, Tamil literature from Sangam age till contemporary times
  • Thirukkural – Significance as a secular literature
  • Relevance to everyday life, Impact of Thirukkural on humanity, Thirukkural and universal values
  • Relevance to Socio-politico-economic affairs, Philosophical content in Thirukkural
  • Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle
  • Early agitations against British Rule
  • Role of women in freedom struggle
  • Evolution of 19th and 20th century socio-political movements in Tamil Nadu
  • Justice Party, Growth of Rationalism
  • Self Respect Movement, Dravidian Movement and principles underlying both these movements
  • Contributions of Thanthai Periyar and Perarignar Anna

Showing 69 of 113 topics in this subject.Show all 113 topics →

• Unit I: Aptitude

  10 topics

  • Simplification
  • Percentage
  • Highest Common Factor (HCF)
  • Lowest Common Multiple (LCM)
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Simple interest
  • Compound interest
  • Area
  • Volume
  • Time and Work

• Unit II: Reasoning

  6 topics

  • Logical reasoning
  • Puzzles
  • Dice
  • Visual reasoning
  • Alpha numeric reasoning
  • Number series