Hi All,

On huge demand, finally we have agriculture optional strategy on blog courtesy Ramkrishna Saran who secured AIR-404 in CSE-21. He also cleared IFoS with AIR-12. Following is his strategy.

Hello Friends,

I would like to share my strategy for agriculture optional. I am an engineering graduate. So my strategy could be more helpful for those who do not have an agriculture subject background in their graduation.

I have appeared in 3 CSE Mains and 3 IFoS Mains with agriculture optional. I cleared IFoS 2020 exam with AIR 12.

During these attempts, i have realized that in agriculture subject:

1. It is very important to make short crisp notes for every topic for easy revision in the final days.
2. Repeated revision.
3. Analysis of previous year’s questions: Identify the areas from where UPSC is asking questions repeatedly for example Male sterility, Self-incompatibility, etc.

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For book list, I have refereed Pallavi Sarkar’s Blog, where she has mentioned all the sources for each topic of the syllabus. But I didn’t read any book cover to cover. I did only selective study of the topics mentioned in the syllabus because otherwise, the standard textbooks are very thick to read.

For starting, Fundamental’s of Agriculture by Arun Katyan is a very good book.

Whether to join coaching or not:

Coaching can help in better understanding of the topics, because agriculture is a technical subject and for a non-agriculture background students understanding subject by self sometimes becomes cumbersome and time taking. But choose the coaching very wisely. Because there are not much good options available in the market.

For Answer writing practice:

1. The best thing is to write the previous year’s question.
2. Get it evaluated by any of your friend who is also appearing with agriculture optional.
3. You can also write test series of any coaching institute.
4. But it is very important to keep practicing and improving the quality and structure of answers to score good marks.

What to add in answers to get good marks:

1. Standard definitions.
2. Name of scientists.
3. Diagrams.
4. Quote crops, their varieties, etc as examples.

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All My Notes @ 1 Place

Lastly, It is very important to complete all the questions in the examination hall. Leaving any questions can harm a lot. So maintaining speed is also equally important. Attempt the test papers in a time-bound manner to enhance speed.

I have created a telegram channel for more regular updates, you can join that.

In the end, I would say that agriculture is such a subject which provides marks in proportion to the hard work we put in. It’s syllabus is largely static, and hence making short notes of every topic mention in the syllabus + repeated revision + answer writing is the key.

All the best.