Syllabus

Sub-Subjects: 1.1: Plant Biochemistry/ Bio. Chem. | 1.2: Plant Biotechnology & Molecular Biology/Biotechnology | 1.3: Plant /Crop Physiology

UNIT-I

Importance of agriculture in national economy & basic principles of crop production.
Cultivation of major crops: rice, wheat, chickpea, pigeon-pea, sugarcane, groundnut, tomato, and mango.
Major soils of India; role of NPK and their deficiency symptoms.
General structure and function of cell organelles; mitosis and meiosis; Mendelian genetics.
Elementary knowledge of growth, development, photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration.
Elements of economic botany.
General structure and function of carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, and vitamins.
Major pests and diseases of rice, wheat, cotton, chickpea, sugarcane and their management.
Organic farming, bio-fertilizers, and bio-pesticides.
Recombinant DNA technology and transgenic crops.
Important rural development programmes in India; organizational set up of agricultural research, education, and extension in India.
Elements of statistics.

UNIT-II

Importance of biochemistry in agriculture.
Acid-base concept, buffers, and pH.
Classification, structure, and metabolic functions of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
Structure and function of nucleic acids.
Enzymes: structure, nomenclature, mechanism of action, vitamins and minerals as coenzymes/cofactors.
Metabolic pathways: glycolysis, TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation, triglyceride biosynthesis.
Electron transport chain and ATP formation.
Photosynthesis: C-3, C-4, and CAM pathways.
Nitrate assimilation and biological nitrogen fixation.
Colorimetric and chromatographic techniques.

UNIT-III

Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms; differences between fungi, bacteria, mycoplasmas, and viruses.
Physical and chemical basis of heredity; chromosome structure.
DNA replication, transcription, and translation; genetic code; operon concept.
Genetic engineering: restriction enzymes, vectors, gene cloning, and gene transfer.
Plant cell and tissue culture, micro-propagation, and somaclonal variation.
Transformation, recombination, heterosis, and general applications of biotechnology.
Molecular and immunological techniques.
Concepts of bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics.

UNIT-IV

Plant Physiology / Crop Physiology: Importance in agriculture.
Seed germination, viability, and vigour.
Photosynthesis: significance of C-3, C-4, CAM pathways, and photorespiration.
Translocation of assimilates, dry matter partitioning, and Harvest Index of crops.
Growth and development, growth analysis, and crop-water relationship.
Plant nutrients and their functions; Phytohormones and their physiological roles.
Photo-periodism, vernalisation, and pollination/fertilization in flowering plants.
Post-harvest physiology and its significance.

Sub-Subjects: 2.1: Plant Breeding & Genetics | 2.2: Plant Pathology | 2.3: Agricultural Microbiology | 2.4: Seed Science & Technology | 2.5: Plant Genetic Resources

UNIT-I

Importance of Agriculture in national economy and basic principles of crop production.
Cultivation practices of rice, wheat, chickpea, pigeon-pea, sugarcane, groundnut, tomato, potato, and mango.
Major soils of India, role of NPK and their deficiency symptoms.

UNIT-II

Structure and function of cell organelles; mitosis and meiosis; Mendelian genetics.
Elementary knowledge of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration.
Structure and functions of carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, and vitamins.
Major pests and diseases of rice, wheat, cotton, chickpea, sugarcane and their management.

UNIT-III

Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic organisms; differences among fungi, bacteria, mycoplasmas, and viruses.
Physical and chemical basis of heredity; chromosome structure; gene/operon concept; protein biosynthesis.
Transformation, recombination, and heterosis; Elements of economic botany.
Integrated disease management; sterilization, disinfection, and pasteurization; Koch’s postulates.
Etiological agents of rusts, smuts, powdery/downy mildews, wilts, yellows, mosaic, necrosis, blights, and witches'-broom.
pH, buffers, vitamins, and role of plant hormones in seed germination and dormancy.
Pollination/fertilization in flowering plants; methods of seed testing; breeder, foundation, and certified seeds.
Seed production in self and cross-pollinated crops; nitrate assimilation; biological nitrogen fixation and microbial applications.

UNIT-IV

Food and industry; composting and biogas production.
Important rural development programmes in India.
Organizational set up of agricultural research, education, and extension in India.

UNIT-I

Importance of Agriculture in national perspective and basic principles of crop production/diversification.
Principles of nutrient and water management.
Package of practices for major field crops and vegetables.
Role of essential plant nutrients, deficiency symptoms, and management options.
Plant cell structure, function, division, and basic plant physiology.
Biochemical compounds: carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, fats, and vitamins.
Rural upliftment programmes and agricultural education/research setup in India.

UNIT-II

Volumetric, gravimetric, and complexometric analysis; periodic classification of elements.
Instrumental analysis: spectrophotometry (absorption and emission).
Atomic structure, radioactivity concepts, solubility product, hydrolysis of salts, buffers, and equivalent weights.
Nomenclature and classification of organic compounds: hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, esters, etc.
Pesticides: classification, uses, biopesticides, and botanical pesticides.

UNIT-III

Soil as a growth medium, earth crust composition, weathering of rocks/minerals, and soil profile.
Mechanical analysis, Stokes law (assumptions, limitations, applications).
Physical properties: density, porosity, texture, structure, and rheological properties.
Soil aeration, temperature (sources, losses, factors), and soil water dynamics.
Soil colloids: silicate clay minerals (kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, vermiculite), CEC, AEC, and buffering.
Problem soils: acid, saline, sodic, acid sulphate soils and their management.
Irrigation water quality, waterlogged soils, and upland soil distinctions.

UNIT-IV

Essential plant nutrients: criteria of essentiality, uptake mechanisms, deficiency symptoms, luxury consumption.
Soil fertility evaluation, soil testing, and fertilizer recommendations.
Soil classification, soil survey, land capability classification, and remote sensing (GIS, GPS).
Soil micro-organisms and organic matter decomposition (C:N ratio, mineralization, immobilization, humus).
Soil erosion types and control measures.
Fertilizers and manures: classification, NPK reactions, green manuring, recycling organic wastes.
Soil and water pollution sources and management.

Sub-Subjects: 4.1: Entomology | 4.2: Nematology | 4.3: Sericulture

UNIT-I

Importance of Agriculture in national economy; basic principles of crop production and major soils of India.
Cultivation of field crops, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables.
Mendelian genetics, photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration.
Major cropping systems, soil degradation, and post-harvest technology.
Major insect pests and diseases of field/horticultural crops and management principles.
Transgenic crops, rural development programmes, and statistical elements.

UNIT-II

Classification of Animal Kingdom up to class; Insecta order distinguishing characters.
Insect morphology (Lepidopteran larvae, Coleopteran adults, Honeybee), metamorphosis, and physiological systems.
Insect-plant relationships; pests of field, horticultural, and stored products; insect vectors.
Household, medical, and veterinary pests and their control.
Beneficial insects: honeybee, lac insect, silkworm, and pollinators.
Nematode taxonomy, biology of plant parasitic nematodes, and entomopathogenic nematodes.
Pest management principles: cultural, biological, chemical, quarantine, resistance, and transgenic protection.

Sub-Subjects: 5.1: Agronomy

UNIT-I: General

Importance of agriculture; basic principles of crop production and major soils of India.
Cultivation of major cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and cash crops.
Cell biology, Mendelian genetics, plant physiology, and biochemistry basics.
Major crop pests/diseases, rural development programmes, and agricultural extension setup.

UNIT-II: Agronomy Principles & Agrometeorology

Agronomy meaning, scope, research institutes, and agro-climatic zones of India.
Tillage, crop stand, planting geometry, organic farming, precision farming, and IFS.
Crop ecology, adaptation, climate shift, greenhouse effect, and crop productivity factors.
Atmospheric weather parameters, solar radiation, humidity, GIS, GPS, and weather forecasting.

UNIT-III: Field Crops

Origin, distribution, cultural practices, and yield of Cereals (rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, millets, barley).
Pulses (chickpea, lentil, peas, pigeon pea, mungbean, urdbean).
Oilseeds (groundnut, sesame, soybean, mustard, sunflower, safflower, linseed).
Fiber crops (cotton, jute, sunnhemp), Sugar crops (sugarcane), Fodder crops, and Medicinal/Aromatic crops.

UNIT-IV: Weed Management

Principles, classification, biology, ecology of weeds, and crop-weed competition/allelopathy.
Integrated Weed Management (IWM); herbicide classification, persistence, selectivity, and application methods.
Management of problematic weeds in cropped and non-cropped situations.

UNIT-V to UNIT-IX: Water, Soil & Sustainable Systems

Water Management: Irrigation scheduling, methods, water quality, drainage, and crop water requirements.
Soil Fertility: Essential nutrients, INM, slow-release fertilizers, site-specific nutrient management.
Dryland Agronomy: Drought types, contingency planning, watershed management.
Problem Soils: Reclamation techniques for salt-affected and acid soils.
Sustainable Land Use: Conservation agriculture, agroforestry, waste recycling, and wasteland remediation.

Sub-Subjects: 6.1: Agricultural Economics | 6.2: Agriculture Extension Education

UNIT-I: General & Statistics

Agricultural importance, crop production principles, major soils, and deficiency symptoms.
Basic plant biology, biochemistry, and pest/disease management.
Statistical measures: central tendency, dispersion, regression, correlation, probability, sampling, and significance tests.

UNIT-II: Micro & Macro Economics

Consumer behavior, demand theory, elasticity, indifference curves, supply theory, price determination.
Macroeconomics: money, banking, national income, agricultural marketing, credit, and WTO impacts.

UNIT-III: Farm Management & Finance

Farm management principles, farming systems economics, factor-product relationships.
Agricultural finance, credit analysis (4Rs, 5Cs, 7Ps), repayment plans, and institutional banking (RBI, NABARD, RRBs).

UNIT-IV & V: Extension Education & Communication

Extension concepts, philosophy, programme planning, and historical evaluation in USA/Japan/India.
Rural sociology, community differences, social groups, leadership, and educational psychology.
Communication models, media mix, Cyber extension (Kisan Call Centers), adoption process, and capacity building.

Sub-Subjects: 7.1: Agricultural Statistics | 7.2: Computer Application | 7.3: Bioinformatics

UNIT-I: General Agriculture

Role of Agriculture/Forestry/Livestock in national economy.
Crop production principles, diseases/pests, extension setup, and rural development.

UNIT-II: Mathematics & Calculus

Real and complex numbers, de Moivre’s theorem, Set theory, Vector spaces, Matrices and Determinants.
Two-dimensional geometry (line, circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola).
Differential calculus: limits, Taylor's series, maxima/minima, partial differentiation, Jacobians.
Integral calculus: double integrals, Gamma/Beta functions; Differential equations.
Finite differences, interpolation, numerical integration, and Newton-Raphson method.

UNIT-III: Statistics & Experimental Design

Frequency distributions, Central Tendency, Dispersion, and Probability laws (Binomial, Poisson, Normal).
Sampling theory, errors, tests of significance (t-test, F-test, Chi-square, SND test).
Correlation, regression, and Experimental Designs (CRD, RBD, ANOVA).

UNIT-IV: Computers & Bioinformatics

Computer architecture, OS commands (DOS, Windows), viruses, MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
Programming concepts: flowcharts, algorithms, BASIC, C language.
Internet, WWW, email, and Bioinformatics (NCBI GenBank sequence databases).

Sub-Subjects: 8.1: Vegetable Science | 8.2: Fruit Science | 8.3: Post-Harvest Management | 8.4: Floriculture & Landscaping | 8.5: Plantation, Spices, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops

UNIT-I

Agriculture status in national economy, basic principles of crop production, major soils, NPK functions.
Cell biology, Mendelian genetics, plant biochemistry, and statistics basics.

UNIT-II

Orchard establishment, pruning, training, and propagation techniques.
Cultivation of major fruits (mango, banana, citrus, guava, grape, papaya, apple, etc.).
Plantation crops (coconut, cashew) and Spices (black pepper, coriander, turmeric).
Tropical, subtropical, and temperate vegetable production (cole crops, cucurbits, solanaceous, roots, leafy).
Nursery management, fruit/vegetable nutrition, post-harvest ripening, and processing/preservation.
Commercial floriculture (rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, gladiolus, orchids), landscaping, and lawns.
Breeding methods: male sterility, incompatibility, pedigree, mass selection, heterosis, and pest/disease control.

Sub-Subjects: 9.1: Forest Production & Utilization | 9.2: Silviculture & Agroforestry | 9.3: Forest Resource Management | 9.4: Forest Biology & Tree Improvement

UNIT-I

Role of Forestry in national economy; basic crop production and rural development principles.
Economics, agri-extension, statistics, and major plant pests/diseases.

UNIT-II

Forest ecosystems, types, classification, ecological succession, nursery, and planting techniques.
Social forestry, farm forestry, urban forestry, silvicultural practices, and forest mensuration.
Agroforestry systems, forest soils, watershed management, tree seed technology, and rangelands.
Forest genetics, tree improvement, remote sensing, global warming, and climate mitigation.
Major and minor forest products, medicinal plants, wood preservation, and forest pathology/entomology.
Indian Forest Act, policies, forest engineering, economics, and Joint Forest Management (JFM).

Sub-Subjects: 10.1: Soil & Water Cons. | 10.2: Irrigation & Drainage | 10.3: Food Processing | 10.4: Farm Power | 10.5: Renewable Energy

UNIT-I to IV: Engineering Fundamentals

Math & Stats: Differential/integral calculus, linear algebra, Fourier series, numerical analysis.
Electrical & Computers: Electric motors, measuring instruments, computer basics, power distribution.
Thermodynamics & Mechanics: Fluid mechanics, theory of machines, strength of materials, soil mechanics.

UNIT-V to VII: Core Ag-Engineering

Farm Machinery: Tractor stability, tillage mechanics, ergonomics, field capacity, cost analysis.
Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, biogas, gasifiers, biofuels, and biomass storage.
Processing & Food: Drying, milling, material handling, cold storage, packaging, quality control.
Soil & Water: Hydrology, irrigation systems, pumps, groundwater, soil erosion control, land shaping, and drainage.

Sub-Subjects: 11.1: Food & Nutrition | 11.2: Human Development | 11.3: Resource Management | 11.4: Apparel & Textile | 11.5: Extension Education

UNIT-I: General Agriculture & Environment

Agriculture importance, crop production, soil fertility, plant biochemistry, and genetics.
Natural resources, ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and environmental ethics.

UNIT-II to VI: Core Home Science

Food & Nutrition: Nutritive value of foods, meal planning, diet therapy, food safety laws, GM foods.
Human Development: Prenatal care, child development, adolescence, family dynamics, child welfare.
Resource Management: Ergonomics, interior design, housing, family finance, consumer education.
Apparel & Textile: Fiber classification, fabric construction, traditional embroideries, dyeing/printing.
Extension & Communication: Audio-visual aids, rural extension methods, women empowerment.

Sub-Subjects: 12.1: Veterinary Biotechnology | 12.2: Veterinary Biochemistry

UNIT-I & II: Cell Biology & Biochemistry

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure, membranes, organelles, cell division, and chromosome organization.
Sub-unit structure of macromolecules, viruses, bacteriophages, and ribosomes.
Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, vitamins, and hormones.
Metabolic pathways, biological oxidation, and analytical methods (spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis).

UNIT-III & IV: Immunology & Molecular Biology

Antigens, antibodies, molecular immune response, RIA, gas transport, clinical biochemistry, and endocrine glands.
Genome organization, replication, transcription, translation, gene expression regulation, and PCR.
Recombinant vaccines, fermentation technology, animal cell culture, IVF, stem cells, and animal cloning.

UNIT-I: Anatomy & Physiology

Cell/tissue morphology, organ systems histology, cardiovascular, digestive, and renal physiology.
Endocrine glands, blood composition, osmoregulation, gametogenesis, and electrophysiology.

UNIT-II: Pathology, Microbiology & Parasitology

Bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases of livestock/poultry; immunology and vaccines.
General pathology: inflammation, necrosis, tumors; Parasitic life cycles and management.

UNIT-III & IV: Clinical Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction & Public Health

Clinical diagnosis, disease treatment, surgical principles, anesthesia, and radiology.
Estrus synchronization, pregnancy diagnosis, dystocia management, and AI.
Zoonotic diseases, milk/meat hygiene, pharmacology, chemotherapy, toxicology, and drug resistance.

UNIT-I & II: Genetics, Breeding & Nutrition

Population and molecular genetics, Mendelian laws, quantitative traits, selection methods, and livestock statistics.
Proximate principles, digestion/metabolism in ruminants vs. non-ruminants, feed formulation, and fodder processing.
Animal physiology: respiration, circulation, muscle contraction, excretion, and reproduction.

UNIT-III & IV: Management, Products & Extension

Livestock housing, dairy/poultry production management, breeding programmes.
Processing, quality control, and preservation of meat, milk, and poultry products; WTO/IPR issues.
Rural sociology, livestock extension methods, marketing, key village schemes, and basic statistical analysis.

UNIT-I to V

Taxonomy & Resources: Finfish/shellfish taxonomy, freshwater, brackish water, and marine fishery dynamics.
Aquaculture: Fish reproduction, induced breeding, hatchery management, cage/pen culture systems.
Aquatic Environment: Limnology, oceanography, aquatic pollution, and biodiversity conservation.
Fishing Technology & Processing: Fishing crafts/gears, fish preservation, packaging, canning, and by-products.
Economics & Extension: Hatchery economics, PRA/RRA, women in fisheries, extension communication, and statistics.

Sub-Subjects: 16.1: Dairy Microbiology | 16.2: Dairy Chemistry

UNIT-I to IV

Dairy Chemistry: Milk composition, colostrum, physico-chemical properties of milk constituents, adulterant detection.
Dairy Microbiology: Milk hygiene, psychrotrophs/thermodurics, microbial spoilage, milk-borne pathogens, and grading.
Product Chemistry: Chemistry of cream, butter, ghee, cheese ripening, milk powder, and indigenous dairy products.
Processing & Starters: Thermal processing (Pasteurization, UHT), starter cultures (LAB), probiotics (dahi, yogurt), and plant hygiene standards.

Sub-Subjects: 17.1: Dairy Technology | 17.2: Dairy Engineering

UNIT-I to III

Dairy Technology: Preservation principles, fluid milk processing, HACCP, membrane filtration, product packaging, and sensory evaluation.
Dairy Equipment: Homogenizers, HTST pasteurizers, evaporators, spray dryers, plant layout design, and computer automation.
Engineering Fundamentals: Fluid mechanics, Bernoulli equation, sanitary pumps, artificial refrigeration, thermodynamics, and electrical engineering.

Sub-Subjects: 18.1: Food Processing Technology | 18.2: Food Process Engineering | 18.3: Food Safety & Quality

UNIT-I to IV

Food Chemistry & Nutrition: Food constituents, colloidal systems, nutritional requirements, additives, and analytical techniques.
Food Engineering: Mass/energy balance, unit operations (drying, milling, extrusion, freezing), equipment design, and energy audit.
Manufacturing Tech: Bakery, meat, poultry, seafood, fruits, vegetables, beverages, and non-thermal processing (irradiation, microwave).
Food Microbiology & Safety: Microbial growth factors, foodborne pathogens, fermentations, sanitation, waste disposal, and food regulations.

Sub-Subjects: 19.1: Agri-Business Management

UNIT-I to IX

Agri-Context: Rural economic structure, crop production, pest management, forestry, watershed, and ag-research set up.
Aptitude & Communication: Quantitative reasoning, English comprehension, Data Interpretation (graphs/tables), and Logical Reasoning.
Management Principles: Managerial economics, market structure, agricultural marketing, cooperatives, and agribusiness entrepreneurship.

Sub-Subject: 20.1: Water Science and Technology

UNIT-I to IV

General Agriculture: Principles of crop production, major soils, NPK roles, basic genetics, and plant protection.
Water Resources: Rainfall-runoff relationships, surface/groundwater resources, watershed management, and water harvesting.
Soil-Water Relations: Infiltration, hydraulic conductivity, Darcy's law, soil physical properties, and evapotranspiration.
Hydraulics & Management: Fluid flow concepts, irrigation methods/scheduling, pumps, land drainage, water pricing, and water laws.

You may also be interested in

ICAR AIEEA (PG) Master's Degree Entrance Syllabus