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ICAR AIEEA (PG) - Plant Sciences (Focus: Economic Botany & Plant Genetic Resources) Syllabus & Exam Pattern

Prepare for your exam with the latest official syllabus, detailed topic-wise breakdown, and mark distribution.

Comprehensive syllabus for the ICAR All India Entrance Examination for Admission (AIEEA) PG, specifically for the \'Plant Sciences\' Major Subject Group (Code 03). This exam is the gateway for JRF/Master\'s admissions in Economic Botany and Plant Genetic Resources.

Exam Overview

Conducting Body National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Name ICAR AIEEA (PG) - Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
Major Subject Code 03 (Plant Sciences)
Mode of Exam Computer Based Test (CBT)
Total Marks 480

Exam Pattern

Exam Pattern
Section Details
Total Questions 120 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Duration 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Marking Scheme +4 for Correct Answer, -1 for Incorrect Answer
Language English Only
Subject Coverage The paper covers the entire 'Plant Sciences' syllabus. Specialization in Economic Botany is chosen at counseling, but questions from all Plant Science units (Genetics, Pathology, Micro, etc.) are included in the single paper.

Subject-wise Syllabus

Economic Botany
Plant Genetic Resources
Genetics & Breeding
Allied Subjects
Major Crops: Origin, Botany & Utilization +
  • • Cereals & Millets High
    Origin, evolution, botany, and economic uses of Rice, Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, and Minor Millets (Foxtail, Kodo, Proso).
  • • Pulses & Legumes High
    Domestication history and botany of Pigeonpea, Chickpea, Black gram, Green gram, Cowpea, Soybean, Lentil, Pea, Horse gram, Moth bean, and Lathyrus.
  • • Oilseed Crops Moderate
    Groundnut, Sesame, Rapeseed & Mustard, Sunflower, Safflower, Castor, Linseed, Niger, and Coconut. Fatty acid profiles and industrial uses.
  • • Fiber Crops Moderate
    Cotton (Gossypium spp.) species diversity, Jute (Corchorus), Sunnhemp, Mesta, Agave, and Flax. Retting processes and quality parameters.
  • • Sugar & Starch Crops Moderate
    Sugarcane (Saccharum complex), Sugarbeet, Potato, Sweet Potato, Cassava (Tapioca), and Arrowroot.
  • • Fruits & Vegetables Moderate
    Mango, Banana, Citrus, Guava, Papaya, Apple, Tomato, Brinjal, Okra, Cucurbits, Cole crops, and Leafy vegetables. Centers of diversity.
  • • Spices & Condiments Low-Moderate
    Black Pepper, Cardamom, Ginger, Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander, Fennel, Fenugreek, and Saffron.
  • • Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Low-Moderate
    Ashwagandha, Aloe, Tulsi, Isabgol, Poppy, Mentha, Lemon grass, Vetiver, and Citronella. Active principles and uses.
  • • Narcotics & Fumigatories Low
    Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum vs rustica), Betelvine, Arecanut, and Cannabis.
  • • Ethnobotany Low
    Traditional knowledge systems, tribal uses of plants, sacred groves, and documentation of indigenous knowledge.
Biodiversity & Conservation +
  • • PGR Fundamentals High
    Definition of Plant Genetic Resources, Gene pool concept (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary), Genetic erosion, and Genetic vulnerability.
  • • Centers of Origin High
    Vavilovian centers of diversity (Primary vs Secondary centers), Megacenters of biodiversity, and Zhukovsky's modifications.
  • • Germplasm Exploration High
    Principles of plant exploration, Sampling strategies (Random vs Biased), Grid survey, Collecting wild relatives, and Field gene banks.
  • • Conservation Strategies High
    In-situ conservation (Biosphere reserves, National parks), Ex-situ conservation (Seed gene banks, Cryopreservation, DNA banks), and On-farm conservation.
  • • Germplasm Exchange & Quarantine Moderate
    Plant Quarantine regulations in India (PQ Order 2003), SPS Agreement, Sanitary certificates, and Interception of invasive pests/weeds.
  • • Documentation & Database Moderate
    Passport data, Characterization (Morphological vs Molecular), Evaluation, Core collections, and PGR databases (WIEWS, Genesys).
  • • Institutes & Organizations Moderate
    Role of NBPGR (New Delhi), IPGRI/Bioversity International, FAO, CGIAR centers (IRRI, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, etc.).
  • • Legal Framework & IPR High
    Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nagoya Protocol, ITPGRFA, PPV&FR Act 2001 (Farmers' Rights, Breeders' Rights), UPOV, and Patent Act.
  • • Seed Physiology for Storage Moderate
    Orthodox vs Recalcitrant seeds, Intermediate seeds, Seed viability testing, and Storage conditions for long-term conservation.
  • • Biotechnology in PGR Moderate
    Molecular markers for diversity analysis (RFLP, RAPD, SSR, SNP), In-vitro conservation, and Cryopreservation techniques.
Core Plant Science Topics +
  • • Mendelian Genetics High
    Laws of inheritance, Gene interaction (Epistasis), Multiple alleles, Pleiotropy, and Penetrance/Expressivity.
  • • Cytogenetics High
    Cell Cycle (Mitosis/Meiosis), Chromosome structure, Structural and Numerical chromosomal aberrations (Polyploidy, Aneuploidy).
  • • Molecular Genetics Moderate
    DNA structure & replication, Transcription, Translation, Genetic Code, Operon concept, and Fine structure of the gene.
  • • Breeding Methods (Self-Pollinated) High
    Mass selection, Pure line selection, Pedigree method, Bulk method, SSD, and Backcross method.
  • • Breeding Methods (Cross-Pollinated) High
    Population improvement, Recurrent selection, Heterosis breeding (Hybrids), Synthetic and Composite varieties.
  • • Specific Breeding Tools Moderate
    Male Sterility (CMS, GMS, CGMS), Self-incompatibility systems, Mutation breeding, and Polyploidy breeding.
Pathology, Micro & Seed Science +
  • • Plant Pathology Basics Moderate
    Classification of Fungi, Bacteria, Viruses; Koch's postulates; Major diseases of Rice (Blast, BLB), Wheat (Rusts), and Sugarcane (Red rot).
  • • Agricultural Microbiology Low-Moderate
    Biofertilizers (Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Mycorrhiza), Nitrogen fixation, Carbon cycle, and Soil microbes.
  • • Seed Science Moderate
    Seed Act 1966, Classes of seed (Nucleus, Breeder, Foundation, Certified), Seed certification standards, and Seed dormancy.
  • • General Agriculture Low
    Major soils of India, Agro-climatic zones, Green Revolution, NITI Aayog, and Current agricultural statistics.

Recommended Books

Book NameAuthor/PublisherImportance
Economic Botany Singh, Pandey & Jain High (Core Text)
Plant Genetic Resources: Principles and Management R.S. Rana / Paroda High (Specific for PGR)
Objective Plant Science Phundan Singh Very High (For MCQs)
Plant Breeding: Principles and Methods B.D. Singh High
Economic Botany in the Tropics S.L. Kochhar Medium (Reference)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a separate exam paper for Economic Botany? +

No. You must appear for the 'Plant Sciences' (Code 03) paper. Economic Botany & PGR is a sub-subject within this group. Your rank in the Plant Science exam determines your eligibility for the Economic Botany M.Sc. seat.

Does the syllabus include General Agriculture? +

Yes, basic questions on General Agriculture, soils, and recent agricultural statistics are asked and are common to all ICAR PG exams.

What is the weightage of the Economic Botany section? +

Since the paper covers all Plant Sciences, Economic Botany & PGR typically constitutes about 15-20% of the questions. However, detailed knowledge is required for the JRF interview/counseling.

Is there negative marking? +

Yes, typically +4 marks for a correct answer and -1 mark for an incorrect answer.