Agriculture – Geography Optional PYQs (1995–2026)

Here are all 59 Agriculture questions asked in UPSC Geography Optional Paper II from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 8 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.

Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.

3.1] Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power

7 questions

1. Examine the transitional role of technology on Indian agriculture sector. [2024/10m/150w/5c]

2. Elucidate the benefits of neem coated urea scheme for Indian agriculture. [2020/10m/150w/5b]

3. Canal irrigation has led to monocropping in India. Explain with suitable examples. [2020/10m/150w/5c]

4. Discuss the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides in agriculture and its impact on human health. [2019/20m/3a]

5. Present a comparative analysis of the regimes of Himalayan and Peninsular rivers of India and examine their implications in the irrigation system of the country. [2011/60m/2]

6. Discuss the importance of irrigation in Indian Agriculture and describe the methods of irrigation practised in either the Ganga Valley or the Karnataka-Maharashtra region. [1996/60m/4]

7. Discuss the role of infrastructural, scientific and technological development in the recent transformation of Indian agriculture. [1995/60m/4]

3.2] Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure and land reforms

10 questions

1. Institutional factors are playing a dominant role in controlling the agricultural prosperity in India. Justify with evidences. [2024/20m/2a]

2. How do small and fragmented landholdings affect the agro-ecological system in rural India? What are the resilient steps needed to overcome this issue? [2024/15m/7c]

3. Discuss the recent changes brought about in institutional frameworks of agriculture in India. Evaluate its impact on the agrarian economy of the country. [2022/20m/3a]

4. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 aims to deregulate the production, supply and distribution of farm produce. Critically examine its spatial consequences. [2020/15m/4c]

5. Land reform is a key to modern agriculture in India. Describe various measures taken in this direction after Independence. [2017/15m/4c]

6. Explain how modernization of Indian agriculture is affected by unfavourable institutional factors with suitable examples. [2015/15m/2c]

7. Discuss the role of institutional factors in shaping the pattern of Indian agriculture. (150 words) [2013/15m/150w/3b]

8. Impact of land tenure on agriculture productivity in India. [2011/15m/200w/5c]

9. “The institutional factors have grip over the crop pattern and crop productivity on Indian agriculture.” Justify. [2007/60m/4]

10. Discuss the role of institutional factors in the efficiency and productivity of agriculture in India. [1998/20m/200w/1b]

3.3] Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability

16 questions

1. Examine the causes and consequences of crop diversification in India. How can crop diversification contribute to sustainable agriculture? [2026/20m/3a]

2. How does Himalayan ecosystem regulate the cropping pattern and agricultural activities in Himalayan region of India? Discuss. [2025/10m/1c]

3. How does the agricultural sector of India confront with the contemporary physical and politico-economic changes in the different regions of the country? Elucidate. [2025/15m/2c]

4. Discuss the necessary conditions for the cultivation of fox nuts and describe the areas of its production in India. [2025/10m/5e]

5. Why are millets considered as ‘nutri-cereals’ and climate-resilient? Discuss the constraints and opportunities of millet cultivation in India. [2023/15m/2b]

6. Why India lags behind many other countries in agricultural productivity? Suggest suitable measures to raise productivity across the regions in a sustainable manner. [2023/20m/8a]

7. Identify oilseeds producing areas in India and discuss the measures to promote edible oil industry. [2020/15m/3b]

8. Canal irrigation has led to monocropping in India. Explain with suitable examples. [2020/10m/150w/5c]

9. Explain the contemporary agricultural scenario in the context of rapid urbanization in India. [2018/15m/2b]

10. Examine the ongoing process of agricultural diversification and its implications for food security in India. [2018/20m/3a]

11. Define agricultural intensity and bring out its regional distribution in India. (In about 150 words) [2016/10m/150w/1d]

12. Distinguish between ‘agricultural productivity’ and ‘agricultural efficiency’, and bring out the disparity in regional distribution of agricultural efficiency. [2015/20m/3a]

13. Explain the method of delineating crop-association regions with reference to India. (150 words) [2013/10m/150w/1e]

14. Discuss the potentiality and present status of horticulture in the Western and Central Himalaya. (250 words) [2013/20m/250w/2a]

15. Define agricultural productivity. Mention the methods of its measurement and bring out the disparities in its regional distribution. (150 words) [2013/15m/150w/4b]

16. Discuss the cropping patterns in different agricultural regions of India. [1998/60m/3]

3.4] Agro and social-forestry

3 questions

1. Why has agro and social forestry has failed to achieve its objectives? (150 words) [2014/10m/150w/1e]

2. Agro-forestry in India. [2011/15m/200w/5d]

3. Examine the significance of social forestry in the rural economy of India. [1997/20m/200w/1b]

3.5] Green revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications

4 questions

1. “India has paid heavily for achievement of Green Revolution in the form of economic, social and ecological cost.” Discuss. (In about 200 words) [2016/15m/200w/8b]

2. ‘In spite of various negative impacts of Green Revolution, there is a demand for New Green Revolution’. Elaborate. [2014/15m/4b]

3. Critically evaluate the dual impacts of green revolution in India. [2002/60m/3]

4. Discuss the impact of green revolution on the agricultural production in India. [1997/20m/200w/1d]

3.6] Significance of dry farming

4 questions

1. Discuss the importance of ‘Dry-land’ farming in the drought-prone regions of India. [2022/15m/4b]

2. Explain the significance of dry farming in drought prone areas of India. [2019/10m/1d]

3. With the help of a map, indicate the principal areas of dry land farming in the country and account for farmers’ suicides mainly in those areas. [2015/15m/3b]

4. Discuss the Problems and Prospects of dry zone agriculture in India and highlight strategies and scheme for its development. [2006/60m/3]

3.7] Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua-culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry

8 questions

1. What are the challenges of dairy sector in India? Describe the contribution of bovine population. [2025/15m/3c]

2. India’s poultry sector has become one of the fastest growing areas of the country’s agricultural sector. Examine its opportunities and challenges. [2023/15m/7b]

3. Discuss the scope of replication of ‘White Revolution’ in India. [2015/15m/4c]

4. Discuss the potentiality and status of aqua-culture in the Ganga Plain. [2011/30m/4a]

5. Prospects of Rainbow Revolution in India. [2011/15m/200w/5a]

6. Present an account of the success and constraints of White Revolution in India. [2005/60m/3]

7. Give an account of the success and prospects of Blue Revolution with comments on its impacts on rural economy of India. [2003/60m/3]

8. Write an essay on the role of animal husbandry and household industries in the development of rural economy in India. [1999/60m/R6]

3.8] Agricultural regionalisation; agro-climatic zones; agro-ecological regions

7 questions

1. Divide India into agro-ecological regions and highlight the salient features of any one of them. [2026/15m/4c]

2. How do agro-climatic and land capability indicators assist in macro-agricultural regionalisation of India? Illustrate with an appropriate map. [2022/20m/8a]

3. Correlate the agro-climatic zones with agro-ecological regions of India. [2019/20m/2a]

4. Divide India into agricultural regions and critically examine the role of ecological and human factors responsible for transformation of agricultural economy in any one region. [2012/30m/3b]

5. Discuss the bases of identifying agro climate zones and explain the core strategies for agricultural development. [2008/60m/3]

6. Examine the geographical basis of agro-climatic planning regions of India. [2001/60m/3]

7. Divide Peninsular India into agricultural regions. Explain the basis of such a regionalisation. [1997/60m/4]

« Previous: Resources | Next: Industry »

Back to: Geography Optional PYQs – Topic-wise | Also see: Geography Optional year-wise question papers

Last updated: 30 October 2026