Top 500 Agriculture MCQs for NABARD, IBPS AFO, ICAR – Free PDF Download
Are you preparing for NABARD Grade A/B, IBPS AFO, ICAR JRF/SRF, IFFCO AGT, FCI AGM, or State Agriculture Officer exams? This is the most comprehensive collection of Top 500 Agriculture MCQs covering all major topics asked in competitive agriculture examinations. Bookmark this page, practice daily, and download the free PDF at the end.
These multiple choice questions are carefully curated from previous year papers, ICAR publications, NCERT agriculture textbooks, and standard reference books. Whether you are a BSc Agriculture fresher or an experienced candidate, this MCQ bank will sharpen your exam preparation.
Why Practice Agriculture MCQs?
- MCQs form 80–100% of the written exam in NABARD, IBPS AFO, ICAR, and most state agriculture recruitment tests.
- Practicing topic-wise MCQs helps identify weak areas early.
- Regular practice improves speed and accuracy — critical in competitive exams with negative marking.
- Revision through MCQs is faster and more effective than re-reading textbooks.
Exams Covered by These MCQs
| S.No | Exam Name | Conducting Body | Agriculture Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NABARD Grade A (Agriculture) | NABARD | High |
| 2 | IBPS AFO (Agriculture Field Officer) | IBPS | Very High |
| 3 | ICAR JRF / SRF | ICAR – NTA | Very High |
| 4 | FCI AGM (Agriculture) | FCI | High |
| 5 | IFFCO Agriculture Graduate Trainee | IFFCO | High |
| 6 | ASRB NET / ARS | ASRB | Very High |
| 7 | State Agriculture Officer (SAO) | State PSCs | High |
| 8 | RAEO / ADAO / DAO | Various State Govts | Very High |
Subject-wise Distribution of 500 MCQs
| S.No | Subject | No. of MCQs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agronomy | 80 |
| 2 | Horticulture | 60 |
| 3 | Soil Science & Soil Fertility | 60 |
| 4 | Plant Pathology | 50 |
| 5 | Entomology (Crop Protection) | 50 |
| 6 | Plant Breeding & Genetics | 50 |
| 7 | Agricultural Economics & Marketing | 50 |
| 8 | Agricultural Extension | 40 |
| 9 | Animal Husbandry & Fisheries | 30 |
| 10 | Agricultural Engineering & Irrigation | 30 |
| Total | 500 | |
Section 1: Agronomy MCQs (Sample – 20 Questions)
- The term “Agronomy” is derived from which language?
(a) Latin (b) Greek (c) French (d) German
Answer: (b) Greek — from “agros” (field) + “nomos” (management) - Which crop is known as the “Queen of Cereals”?
(a) Wheat (b) Rice (c) Maize (d) Barley
Answer: (c) Maize - Critical stage of water requirement in wheat is?
(a) Germination (b) Crown root initiation (c) Tillering (d) Maturity
Answer: (b) Crown root initiation (CRI stage) - SRI (System of Rice Intensification) was developed in which country?
(a) India (b) China (c) Madagascar (d) Philippines
Answer: (c) Madagascar - Kharif crops are sown in which month in India?
(a) October–November (b) June–July (c) February–March (d) December–January
Answer: (b) June–July - The optimum temperature for germination of rice seeds is?
(a) 10–15°C (b) 20–25°C (c) 30–35°C (d) 40–45°C
Answer: (c) 30–35°C - Which fertilizer is called “straight nitrogenous fertilizer”?
(a) DAP (b) Urea (c) MOP (d) SSP
Answer: (b) Urea — contains 46% Nitrogen - Crop rotation helps in controlling?
(a) Soil erosion (b) Weed infestation (c) Soil-borne pathogens (d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above - The “Green Revolution” in India is associated with which crop?
(a) Rice only (b) Wheat only (c) Wheat and Rice (d) Sugarcane
Answer: (c) Wheat and Rice - Which is the most efficient irrigation method?
(a) Flood irrigation (b) Furrow irrigation (c) Drip irrigation (d) Sprinkler irrigation
Answer: (c) Drip irrigation - MSP (Minimum Support Price) is recommended by?
(a) NABARD (b) CACP (c) FCI (d) ICAR
Answer: (b) CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) - Which nutrient deficiency causes “chlorosis” in plants?
(a) Phosphorus (b) Potassium (c) Iron & Nitrogen (d) Calcium
Answer: (c) Iron & Nitrogen - The ratio of C:N in well-decomposed compost is?
(a) 10:1 (b) 20:1 (c) 40:1 (d) 80:1
Answer: (a) 10:1 - Photoperiodism was discovered by?
(a) Darwin (b) Garner and Allard (c) Vavilov (d) Mendel
Answer: (b) Garner and Allard (1920) - Which weed is also called “Gajar Ghas” and is a serious pest in India?
(a) Cynodon dactylon (b) Parthenium hysterophorus (c) Cyperus rotundus (d) Chenopodium album
Answer: (b) Parthenium hysterophorus - Transgenic Bt cotton is resistant to which pest?
(a) Aphids (b) Whitefly (c) Bollworm (d) Thrips
Answer: (c) Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) - Which state is the largest producer of wheat in India?
(a) Punjab (b) Haryana (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (c) Uttar Pradesh - National Food Security Mission (NFSM) focuses on which crops?
(a) Rice, Wheat, Pulses (b) Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane (c) Oilseeds, Spices (d) Vegetables, Fruits
Answer: (a) Rice, Wheat, Pulses - Soil pH range most suitable for most crops is?
(a) 4.0–5.0 (b) 6.0–7.5 (c) 8.0–9.0 (d) 9.5–10.0
Answer: (b) 6.0–7.5 - Zero tillage in wheat helps in saving?
(a) Seed rate (b) Time and fuel (c) Fertilizer (d) Water
Answer: (b) Time and fuel
Section 2: Soil Science MCQs (Sample – 15 Questions)
- The “Father of Soil Science” is?
(a) Liebig (b) Darwin (c) Dokuchaev (d) Justus
Answer: (c) V.V. Dokuchaev (Russia) - In India, Soil Health Cards are issued under which scheme?
(a) PMFBY (b) Soil Health Card Scheme (c) NMSA (d) RKVY
Answer: (b) Soil Health Card Scheme (launched 2015) - Vermicompost is produced with the help of?
(a) Fungus (b) Bacteria (c) Earthworm (d) Algae
Answer: (c) Earthworm (Eisenia fetida) - The most abundant mineral in Earth’s crust is?
(a) Quartz (b) Feldspar (c) Mica (d) Calcite
Answer: (b) Feldspar - Laterite soils are deficient in?
(a) Iron & Aluminium (b) Nitrogen & Phosphorus (c) Calcium & Magnesium (d) Potassium & Zinc
Answer: (b) Nitrogen & Phosphorus - Regur soil is another name for?
(a) Red soil (b) Alluvial soil (c) Black cotton soil (d) Laterite soil
Answer: (c) Black cotton soil (Vertisols) - Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is measured by which method?
(a) Flame photometry (b) Walkley-Black method (c) Kjeldahl method (d) Spectrophotometry
Answer: (b) Walkley-Black method - The process of converting atmospheric N₂ to ammonia is called?
(a) Nitrification (b) Denitrification (c) Nitrogen Fixation (d) Ammonification
Answer: (c) Nitrogen Fixation - Rhizobium bacteria fixes nitrogen in association with?
(a) Cereals (b) Legumes (c) Oilseeds (d) Vegetables
Answer: (b) Legumes - Which soil order has the highest organic matter content?
(a) Entisols (b) Aridisols (c) Histosols (d) Mollisols
Answer: (c) Histosols - DTPA extractable method is used for?
(a) Macronutrients (b) Micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) (c) Soil pH (d) Organic Carbon
Answer: (b) Micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) - The Soil Health Card covers how many soil parameters?
(a) 6 (b) 10 (c) 12 (d) 15
Answer: (c) 12 parameters - Which is the most important soil forming process in India?
(a) Glaciation (b) Weathering (c) Calcification (d) Laterization
Answer: (b) Weathering - Gypsum (CaSO₄) is used to reclaim?
(a) Acidic soils (b) Saline soils (c) Sodic (alkaline) soils (d) Sandy soils
Answer: (c) Sodic (alkaline/usar) soils - Available phosphorus in soil is estimated by which method?
(a) Olsen’s method (b) Kjeldahl method (c) Walkley-Black (d) Jackson method
Answer: (a) Olsen’s method (for neutral to alkaline soils)
Section 3: Horticulture MCQs (Sample – 15 Questions)
- National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB) is located at?
(a) Pune (b) Tiruchirapalli (c) Lucknow (d) Bengaluru
Answer: (b) Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu - Which state is the largest producer of bananas in India?
(a) Maharashtra (b) Tamil Nadu (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Gujarat
Answer: (b) Tamil Nadu - Mango belongs to which family?
(a) Rosaceae (b) Anacardiaceae (c) Rutaceae (d) Sapindaceae
Answer: (b) Anacardiaceae - National Horticulture Mission (NHM) was launched in which year?
(a) 2001 (b) 2005 (c) 2010 (d) 2014
Answer: (b) 2005–06 - Tissue culture propagation in banana uses which part?
(a) Leaf (b) Root (c) Shoot tip meristem (d) Flower
Answer: (c) Shoot tip meristem - Malformation in mango is caused by?
(a) Virus (b) Fusarium moniliforme (Fungus) (c) Bacteria (d) Nematode
Answer: (b) Fusarium moniliforme (Fungal mite complex) - Parthenocarpy means?
(a) Fruit without seed (b) Fruit without flower (c) Seed without fruit (d) Asexual reproduction
Answer: (a) Fruit development without fertilization (seedless fruit) - Panama wilt of banana is caused by?
(a) Fusarium oxysporum cubense (b) Pythium sp. (c) Phytophthora sp. (d) Rhizoctonia sp.
Answer: (a) Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense - Which is the most widely grown banana variety in India?
(a) Robusta (b) Dwarf Cavendish (c) Grand Naine (d) Poovan
Answer: (c) Grand Naine (G9) - Cold storage temperature for potato is?
(a) 0–2°C (b) 3–5°C (c) 8–10°C (d) 12–15°C
Answer: (b) 3–5°C - The botanical name of Tomato is?
(a) Solanum melongena (b) Solanum lycopersicum (c) Capsicum annuum (d) Lycopersicon peruvianum
Answer: (b) Solanum lycopersicum - Apiculture is related to?
(a) Fish farming (b) Bee keeping (c) Silk production (d) Mushroom cultivation
Answer: (b) Bee keeping - Which hormone is used for fruit ripening in banana?
(a) Auxin (b) Cytokinin (c) Ethylene (d) Gibberellin
Answer: (c) Ethylene - The MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) is implemented by which Ministry?
(a) Ministry of Finance (b) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (c) Ministry of Food Processing (d) Ministry of Rural Development
Answer: (b) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare - Grapes belong to which family?
(a) Vitaceae (b) Rosaceae (c) Moraceae (d) Cucurbitaceae
Answer: (a) Vitaceae
Section 4: Plant Pathology & Entomology MCQs (Sample – 15 Questions)
- The “Father of Plant Pathology” is?
(a) H.M. Ward (b) Anton de Bary (c) Louis Pasteur (d) Koch
Answer: (b) Anton de Bary - Rice blast is caused by?
(a) Helminthosporium oryzae (b) Pyricularia oryzae (c) Xanthomonas oryzae (d) Rhizoctonia solani
Answer: (b) Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe oryzae) - Late blight of potato is caused by?
(a) Alternaria solani (b) Phytophthora infestans (c) Fusarium solani (d) Botrytis cinerea
Answer: (b) Phytophthora infestans - Tungro virus in rice is transmitted by?
(a) Aphids (b) Green leafhoppers (c) Whitefly (d) Thrips
Answer: (b) Green leafhoppers (Nephotettix virescens) - IPM stands for?
(a) Integrated Pest Management (b) Insect Population Monitoring (c) Intensive Pesticide Method (d) Integrated Production Method
Answer: (a) Integrated Pest Management - The stem borer of rice belongs to which order?
(a) Diptera (b) Hemiptera (c) Lepidoptera (d) Coleoptera
Answer: (c) Lepidoptera (Scirpophaga incertulas) - Bordeaux mixture is a combination of?
(a) Copper sulfate + Lime (b) Copper sulfate + Sulphur (c) Lime + Sulphur (d) Copper + Zinc
Answer: (a) Copper sulfate (CuSO₄) + Slaked lime (Ca(OH)₂) - Biocontrol agent Trichoderma is effective against?
(a) Bacterial diseases (b) Viral diseases (c) Soil-borne fungal diseases (d) Nematodes
Answer: (c) Soil-borne fungal diseases - Phylloxera is a serious pest of which crop?
(a) Cotton (b) Grapes (c) Mango (d) Banana
Answer: (b) Grapes (Viteus vitifoliae) - BHC (Benzene Hexachloride) is an example of which type of pesticide?
(a) Organophosphate (b) Organochlorine (c) Carbamate (d) Pyrethroid
Answer: (b) Organochlorine - Sigatoka disease of banana is caused by?
(a) Mycosphaerella fijiensis (b) Fusarium oxysporum (c) Colletotrichum sp. (d) Alternaria sp.
Answer: (a) Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Black Sigatoka) - The largest insect order is?
(a) Lepidoptera (b) Diptera (c) Coleoptera (d) Hemiptera
Answer: (c) Coleoptera (beetles) - ELISA test in plant pathology is used to detect?
(a) Fungi (b) Bacteria (c) Viruses (d) Nematodes
Answer: (c) Viruses - Neem-based pesticide Azadirachtin acts as?
(a) Contact insecticide (b) Systemic insecticide (c) Antifeedant and insect growth regulator (d) Fumigant
Answer: (c) Antifeedant and insect growth regulator - Which is the vector of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)?
(a) Whitefly (b) Banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa) (c) Mealybug (d) Thrips
Answer: (b) Banana aphid – Pentalonia nigronervosa
Section 5: Agricultural Economics & Marketing MCQs (Sample – 10 Questions)
- NABARD was established in which year?
(a) 1969 (b) 1975 (c) 1982 (d) 1991
Answer: (c) 1982 (12 July 1982) - The full form of APMC is?
(a) Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (b) Agriculture Production Management Corporation (c) Agri Policy Making Council (d) None
Answer: (a) Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee - Which bank provides the maximum agricultural credit in India?
(a) RBI (b) SBI (c) NABARD (d) SIDBI
Answer: (c) NABARD (apex institution for agriculture credit) - Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was launched in?
(a) 1991 (b) 1998 (c) 2001 (d) 2005
Answer: (b) 1998–99 - PM-KISAN scheme provides per year financial benefit of?
(a) ₹2,000 (b) ₹4,000 (c) ₹6,000 (d) ₹8,000
Answer: (c) ₹6,000 per year (in 3 installments of ₹2,000) - The term “monopsony” in agricultural markets refers to?
(a) Single seller (b) Single buyer (c) Many sellers (d) Many buyers
Answer: (b) Single buyer - ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) was launched under which scheme?
(a) RKVY (b) NMSA (c) Support to State Extension Programmes (d) NFSM
Answer: (c) Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms - The doubling farmers’ income target was set for which year by Government of India?
(a) 2020 (b) 2022 (c) 2025 (d) 2030
Answer: (b) 2022 (DFI Committee headed by Ashok Dalwai) - e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) is a platform for?
(a) Soil testing (b) Online agriculture trading across APMCs (c) Crop insurance (d) Fertilizer subsidy
Answer: (b) Online agriculture trading across APMCs - Which body determines Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) for sugarcane in India?
(a) CACP (b) Central Government (c) Sugar Mills (d) State Governments
Answer: (b) Central Government (now called FRP – Fair and Remunerative Price)
Important Agriculture Schemes & Organizations – Quick Reference
| Scheme / Organization | Full Form | Year | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICAR | Indian Council of Agricultural Research | 1929 | Agricultural R&D |
| NABARD | National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development | 1982 | Agriculture Credit |
| PMFBY | Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana | 2016 | Crop Insurance |
| PM-KISAN | PM Kisan Samman Nidhi | 2019 | Income Support |
| SHC | Soil Health Card Scheme | 2015 | Soil Nutrient Testing |
| RKVY | Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana | 2007 | Agriculture Development |
| eNAM | Electronic National Agriculture Market | 2016 | Online Agri Trading |
| NFSM | National Food Security Mission | 2007 | Food crop production |
| MIDH | Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture | 2014 | Horticulture promotion |
| ATMA | Agricultural Technology Management Agency | 2005 | Extension Services |
Tips to Crack Agriculture Competitive Exams
- 📚 Study NCERT Agriculture Books (Class 11 & 12) thoroughly as a base.
- 📋 Follow ICAR publications and technical bulletins for accurate data.
- 🎯 Practice previous year papers (IBPS AFO, NABARD, ICAR JRF) — at least 5 years.
- 📊 Make notes on government schemes, launch years, and key targets.
- ⏱️ Take mock tests to improve speed — most exams have 120–150 questions in 120 minutes.
- 🗓️ Stay updated on current agriculture news — Union Budget allocations, MSP announcements, new schemes.
- 🔬 Focus on Soil Science and Agronomy — these carry the highest weightage in IBPS AFO and NABARD.
- 🌾 Revise botanical names, family names, and crop origin regions — frequently asked.
Free PDF Download – Top 500 Agriculture MCQs
The complete Top 500 Agriculture MCQs PDF covering all 10 subjects — Agronomy, Horticulture, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant Breeding, Agricultural Economics, Extension, Animal Husbandry, and Agricultural Engineering — is available for free download.
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Disclaimer
This agricultural MCQ content is provided for the purpose of competitive exam preparation and career advancement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Agricultural Marketing, Forestry, Fisheries, and Agri Business Management graduates. All MCQs are prepared from standard reference books and official publications. We do not guarantee selection in any exam. We do not ask candidates for any fees or personal information. Please verify important facts from official sources before exam. AgriJob.in is India’s #1 Agriculture Job & Study Portal.
