UPSSSC Agriculture Technical Assistant (AGTA) Previous Year Papers analysis is crucial for the 2,759-post AGTA Recruitment 2026 (Advt. 06-Exam/2026). The Mains exam has 100 MCQs / 2 hours / 0.25 negative marking with a heavily agriculture-skewed split: Agriculture Science: 65 marks, General Hindi: 20 marks, Computer: 15 marks. This is not a general Group C exam — Agriculture Science alone decides your rank. This article gives you topic-wise question analysis, 9 high-frequency agronomy questions, UP-specific crop and horticulture facts, government scheme key details, and a 6-week preparation plan.
Exam Snapshot: 2,759 posts | Advt. 06-Exam/2026 | Dept.: Agriculture Dept., UP | Pay Level 4: ₹25,500 basic / ₹35K–42K in-hand | 100 MCQs / 0.25 neg marking | PET 2025 mandatory | Expected cut-off: 65–75 (UR)
Marks Distribution — Agriculture Dominates
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Strategy Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Science (कृषि विज्ञान) | 65 | 65 | B.Sc Agri level — Agronomy, Soil, Plant Protection, Horticulture, Govt Schemes |
| General Hindi (सामान्य हिंदी) | 20 | 20 | Grammar-based — 15+/20 easily achievable with 1 week of preparation |
| Computer & IT Knowledge | 15 | 15 | Basic hardware/software, MS Office, Internet, e-Governance |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 0.25 negative marking; no interview — pure Mains merit |
0.25 Negative Marking Strategy: Agriculture questions — attempt if you have basic recall (40–50% confidence is enough at 0.25 penalty). Hindi grammar and Computer — near certain only. If two agriculture options look identical, skip; the cost is just 0.25 mark.
Agriculture Science — Topic-Wise PYP Analysis (65 Marks)
1. Agronomy — 15–20 Questions (Highest Single Topic)
Agronomy is the backbone of this exam. Previous papers consistently test Kharif/Rabi/Zaid crops, UP-specific cropping systems, seed rates, sowing time, and irrigation methods.
| Topic | Expected Qs | High-Yield Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Kharif Crops (June–November) | 6–8 | Rice, Maize, Sugarcane, Cotton, Groundnut, Soybean, Arhar (Pigeon pea). Sowing: Jun–Jul; Harvesting: Oct–Nov. Rice seed rate: 25–30 kg/ha (transplanting). |
| Rabi Crops (Oct–March) | 5–7 | Wheat, Mustard, Gram (Chickpea), Pea, Lentil (Masoor). Wheat: sown Oct 15–Nov 25; seed rate 100–125 kg/ha; optimal temp 10–15°C for germination. |
| Zaid Crops (Mar–June) | 2–3 | Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber, Bottle gourd, Moong (Mung bean). Summer crop — require high temperature and short duration. |
| UP Cropping Systems | 4–5 | Rice–Wheat (most dominant in UP, Terai and Gangetic plain); Sugarcane–Wheat; Rice–Mustard; Maize–Wheat–Moong. Rice–Wheat system covers ~11 million ha in IGP. |
| Irrigation Methods | 2–3 | Drip irrigation: row crops, fruits (water saving ~50%); Sprinkler: uneven terrain, fodder crops; Flood/furrow: rice, sugarcane; Critical irrigation stages for wheat: Crown Root Initiation (CRI) at 20–21 DAS. |
| Organic Farming | 2–3 | Vermicomposting (earthworms decompose organic matter); Green manuring (Dhaincha/Sesbania); Biofertilizers (Rhizobium for legumes, Azotobacter for non-legumes, PSB for phosphorus solubilisation); Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). |
9 High-Frequency Agronomy Questions from Previous Papers
- Q: Which is the most important cropping system in Uttar Pradesh?
→ Rice–Wheat cropping system (covers the largest area in the Indo-Gangetic Plains; practiced in Terai, Eastern and Central UP) - Q: What is the critical irrigation stage for wheat crop?
→ Crown Root Initiation (CRI) stage — at 20–21 days after sowing. This is the most critical irrigation for wheat; missing it causes maximum yield loss. - Q: Biofertilizer used for nitrogen fixation in rice crop?
→ Blue-Green Algae (BGA) / Azolla — these fix atmospheric nitrogen in waterlogged rice fields. Rhizobium is for legumes (not rice). - Q: What is the seed rate for wheat crop per hectare?
→ 100–125 kg/ha (for normal sowing); 125–150 kg/ha for late sowing to compensate for reduced germination. - Q: Which crop is called the "Cash Crop of UP"?
→ Sugarcane — UP is India's largest sugarcane-producing state. Sugarcane accounts for ~50% of India's total sugarcane production from UP alone. - Q: What is vermicomposting and which organism is used?
→ Vermicomposting is the decomposition of organic matter by earthworms. Common species used: Eisenia fetida (Red Wiggler) and Lumbricus rubellus. - Q: Drip irrigation is most suitable for which type of crops?
→ Horticultural crops (fruits like mango, banana, citrus) and row crops (sugarcane, cotton). Water saving: 40–50% compared to flood irrigation. - Q: What is the Kharif season sowing period in UP?
→ June to July (onset of monsoon). Harvesting in October–November. Key Kharif crops: Rice, Maize, Arhar, Cotton, Groundnut. - Q: What does IPM stand for and what is its first principle?
→ Integrated Pest Management. First principle: Use all available pest control methods (biological, cultural, physical, chemical) in combination; chemical pesticides are the last resort, not the first.
2. Soil Science — 10–12 Questions
| Topic | Expected Qs | High-Yield Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Types in UP | 3–4 | Alluvial soil (most dominant — entire Gangetic plain, Terai belt, highly fertile). Also: Bhangar (old alluvial, kankar nodules) vs Khadar (new alluvial, near rivers, more fertile). Usar/Saline soil: alkaline, needs reclamation (gypsum treatment). |
| NPK — Functions & Deficiency | 3–4 | N (Nitrogen): vegetative growth, leaf colour. Deficiency: yellowing (chlorosis) starting from old leaves — apply Urea (46% N). P (Phosphorus): root development, flowering. Deficiency: purple/reddish leaves — apply DAP (46% P₂O₅). K (Potassium): disease resistance, grain quality. Deficiency: leaf margin scorching — apply MOP (60% K₂O). |
| Soil Health Card Scheme | 2–3 | Launched 2015. Free soil testing for farmers every 2 years. Tests 12 parameters: N, P, K, pH, EC, OC, S, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B. Card recommends fertilizer dose for each specific crop. |
| Soil Reaction (pH) | 2–3 | Most crops prefer pH 6–7 (slightly acidic to neutral). Rice: tolerates 4.5–8.5. Sugarcane: pH 6.5–7.5. Acid soils: apply lime. Alkaline/saline soils: apply gypsum (CaSO₄). |
| Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) | 1–2 | Indicator of soil health. SOC < 0.5% = critically low (most UP soils). Improved by adding FYM, compost, green manure. |
3. Plant Protection — 10–12 Questions
| Topic | Expected Qs | High-Yield Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Major Crop Diseases | 5–6 | Rice Blast (Pyricularia oryzae — fungal; lesions on leaves, neck, panicle); Wheat Rust (Puccinia — Yellow/Brown/Black rust; black rust most devastating); Sugarcane Red Rot (Colletotrichum falcatum — red discolouration inside stalk); Sugarcane Smut (Ustilago scitaminea — black whip-like growth from bud) |
| Major Crop Pests | 3–4 | Rice Stem Borer (Scirpophaga — deadheart in vegetative, whitehead at heading stage); Wheat Aphid (Sitobion avenae — sucks sap, also transmits BYDV virus); Cotton Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera — bores into bolls; major cotton pest); Sugarcane Early Shoot Borer (Chilo infuscatellus — deadheart in young crop) |
| IPM Components | 3–4 | Biological control: natural enemies (parasitoids like Trichogramma for stem borer eggs); Cultural control: crop rotation, resistant varieties, proper spacing, roguing; Pheromone traps: monitoring and mass trapping; Biopesticides: neem oil (0.5%), Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for caterpillars |
| Weed Management | 1–2 | Critical period of weed competition: first 4–6 weeks after sowing. Herbicides: pre-emergent (Pendimethalin for wheat), post-emergent (2,4-D for broad-leaf weeds in wheat). Allelopathy: some crops suppress weeds naturally (sorghum, sunflower). |
4. Government Schemes — 8–10 Questions (Easiest Marks)
These are pure memory marks — factual, no calculations, high repeatability across exam years. Prepare all schemes below in 2–3 days.
| Scheme | Key Features | Expected Qs |
|---|---|---|
| PM-KISAN (PM Kisan Samman Nidhi) | ₹6,000/year income support to eligible farmers (₹2,000 per installment, 3 installments annually). Direct DBT to bank account. Aadhaar linking mandatory. | 2–3 |
| PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | Crop insurance scheme. Farmers pay low premium (Kharif: 2%, Rabi: 1.5%, Horticultural: 5% of SI). Rest paid by Centre + State. Covers yield losses due to weather, pests, disease. | 2–3 |
| Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme | Free soil testing every 2 years. Tests 12 soil parameters. Launched 2015. Distributed 23+ crore cards nationally by 2023. | 1–2 |
| e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market) | Online trading platform for farm produce. Launched April 2016. Farmers can sell produce online through APMC-linked e-NAM portal without middlemen. | 1–2 |
| RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana) | Centrally Sponsored Scheme to incentivize states to increase investment in agriculture and allied sectors. States get funds based on Agriculture GDP growth. | 1 |
| Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) | Organic farming promotion scheme. Cluster approach — 50-acre clusters of farmers. ₹50,000/ha/3yr assistance. Focus on certification and marketing of organic produce. | 1 |
| PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) | Solar pump scheme for farmers. Component A: solar power plants; Component B: standalone solar pumps; Component C: solarise grid-connected pumps. Reduces diesel costs. | 1 |
