| 1. Ecology, Natural Resources & Climate Change | - Ecology and its relevance to man; natural resources sustainable management and conservation
- Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production
- Agro-ecology and cropping patterns as indicators of environments
- Environmental pollution and hazards to crops, animals, and humans
- Climate change, greenhouse effect, global warming, international conventions and global initiatives
- Advanced tools for ecosystem analysis: Remote Sensing (RS), GIS, and Drones in Agriculture
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| 2. Cropping Patterns & Agronomy | - Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of India
- Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties/hybrids on cropping shifts
- Concepts of cropping and farming systems, Organic farming, and Precision agriculture
- Package of practices for production of major Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds, Fibres, Sugar, Commercial & Fodder crops
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| 3. Agroforestry & Silviculture | - Agroforestry systems integrating trees with crops and livestock
- Silviculture, Forest Ecology, Agroforestry Systems, Wildlife Management, Forest Mensuration
- Forest plantations: social forestry, agroforestry, natural forests, forest products & value addition
- Propagation of forest plants and conservation of forest flora and fauna
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| 4. Weed Science & Management | - Weed characteristics, dissemination, and association with various crops
- Multiplication, competition, and critical period of weed competition
- Cultural, biological, and chemical weed control methods; herbicide classification & safety
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| 5. Soil Science & Soil Fertility Management | - Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties; soil genesis and factors of soil formation
- Major Soils of India, mineral and organic constituents, role in maintaining soil productivity
- Essential plant nutrients and beneficial elements in soils and plants
- Principles of soil fertility, soil testing, fertilizer recommendations, and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)
- Biofertilizers, nitrogen losses, nitrogen-use efficiency in submerged rice, nitrogen fixation
- Phosphorus and Potassium dynamics; Problem soils and their reclamation
- Soil conservation, watershed management, soil erosion and its control, dryland agriculture technology
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| 6. Water Management & Irrigation | - Water-use efficiency in relation to crop production
- Criteria for scheduling irrigations, reducing run-off losses of irrigation water
- Rainwater harvesting, Micro-irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler systems)
- Drainage of waterlogged soils, irrigation water quality, industrial effluents impact, irrigation projects in India
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| 7. Agricultural Economics & Farm Management | - Farm management: scope, importance, characteristics, farm planning, and budgeting
- Optimum resource allocation and economics of diverse farming systems
- Marketing management strategies, market intelligence, price fluctuations and marketing margins
- Role of agricultural cooperatives, Agricultural Price Policy, MSP, and Crop Insurance (PMFBY)
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| 8. Agricultural Extension & Technology Transfer | - Agricultural extension: importance, role, and evaluation of extension programmes
- Socio-economic survey and status of small/marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers
- Training programmes for extension functionaries and farmers
- Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in technology dissemination, ICT techniques, agricultural automation
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| 9. Agricultural Engineering & Farm Power | - Farm machinery and implements for tillage, sowing, intercultural, and harvesting operations
- Agri-energy and non-conventional energy sources in agriculture
- Ergonomics and women-friendly agricultural tools and equipment
- Post-harvest technology equipment and processing machinery
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| 10. Genetics & Cytogenetics | - Cell structure, organelles, cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis
- Synthesis, structure, and function of DNA and RNA; Genetic code and protein synthesis
- Mendelian laws of heredity; Chromosome structure and chromosomal aberrations
- Linkage, crossing-over, and recombination breeding significance
- Polyploidy (euploids & aneuploids), Mutations and their role in crop improvement
- Heritability, sterility, self-incompatibility, cytoplasmic inheritance, sex-linked/influenced characters
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| 11. Plant Breeding & Crop Improvement | - History and landmarks in plant breeding; Modes of reproduction, selfing and crossing techniques
- Centers of origin, law of homologous series, plant genetic resources conservation and utilization
- Breeding methods: pure-line, pedigree, mass, recurrent selection, heterosis breeding, combining ability
- Breeding for biotic (disease/pest) and abiotic (drought/salinity) stress resistance
- Interspecific and intergeneric hybridization, Somatic hybridization
- Molecular markers (RAPD, RFLP, SSR, SNP) and Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS)
- Recombinant DNA technology, Transgenic plants, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, doubled haploids, speed breeding
- Tissue culture applications, Apomixis, Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics in agriculture
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| 12. Seed Science & Technology and IPR | - Seed production, harvesting, drying, and processing technologies
- Seed certification standards, seed testing procedures, purity, viability, and seed storage
- DNA fingerprinting and varietal registration
- Role of public and private sectors in seed production and marketing
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Patents, Plant Breeders' Rights (PPV&FR), and WTO issues in agriculture
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| 13. Plant Physiology & Mineral Nutrition | - Plant nutrition: absorption, translocation, and metabolism of macro and micronutrients
- Soil-water-plant relationships, transpiration, water absorption, and plant water status
- Physiological role and deficiency symptoms of mineral elements in crop plants
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| 14. Plant Biochemistry & Growth Regulation | - Enzymes and plant pigments; Photosynthesis: modern concepts, light and dark reactions, C3, C4, and CAM pathways
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration; Carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism
- Plant Growth Regulators (Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene, ABA) and brassinosteroids in crop production
- Photoperiodism and vernalization; Seed development, germination physiology, and seed dormancy
- Stress physiology: mechanisms of tolerance against drought, salinity, and waterlogging
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| 15. Horticulture & Post-Harvest Management | - Package of practices for major fruits, plantation crops, vegetables, spices, and flower crops
- Protected cultivation, green houses, shade nets, and high-tech horticulture
- Post-harvest handling, storage, and value addition of fruits and vegetables
- Commercial floriculture, landscaping, turf management, medicinal and aromatic plants
- Role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition and dietary security
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| 16. Plant Protection (Entomology & Pathology) | - Diagnosis and symptomology of major insect pests and plant diseases of field, orchard, and plantation crops
- Classification, biology, and economic importance of key insect pests, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Disease Management (IDM) principles
- Storage pests, grain damage, and their management; Biological control of pests and diseases
- Epidemiology, disease forecasting, and plant quarantine regulations
- Pesticides: classification, formulations, modes of action, safe handling, and resistance management
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| 17. Food Science & Food Technology | - Physical, chemical, and biological makeup of foods
- Food processing, preservation techniques, and food packaging technologies
- Quality control, food standards, nutritional labelling, and product technologies (cereals, fruits, dairy)
- Functional foods, nutraceuticals, sustainability, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in food systems
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| 18. Food Security, Nutrition & Public Policy | - Food production and consumption trends in India; Food security and population projections
- National and international food policies, procurement, storage, and distribution constraints
- Public Distribution System (PDS) and Targeted PDS (TPDS); Poverty trends and BPL populations
- Nutrient deficiencies: Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM/PCM), micronutrient malnutrition (hidden hunger)
- National Dietary Guidelines, food-based approaches to eliminate hunger, human resource development
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| 19. Agricultural Biotechnology | - Application of biological principles for technological innovation in agriculture
- Cell biology, genetics, molecular biology fundamentals, and genetic manipulation
- Recombinant DNA techniques, vector systems, transformation methods, and bio-safety protocols
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| 20. Food Microbiology & Food Safety | - Food microbiology: food spoilage organisms, foodborne pathogens, beneficial fermentation microbes
- Food chemistry, food preservation principles (thermal, non-thermal, freezing, dehydration, irradiation)
- Food safety standards (FSSAI, Codex Alimentarius), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), and ISO standards
- Fundamentals of food engineering and unit operations in the food processing industry
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