NABARD Grade A: ARD Static Phase 1 & 2 Prep Guide

NABARD Grade A exam 2021: NABARD Grade A 2021’s notification was something we all had been waiting for, but nobody expected so many changes in it. Since the release of the notification, there were doubts regarding the ARD’s inclusion in this year’s exam pattern in phase-2. The doubts arose due to the mistake committed by NABARD of not mentioning ARD in the exam pattern of phase-2. However, NABARD on July 19 made it clear that phase-2 comprises both the ESI and ARD sections.  

Before discussing any strategy for ARD, there are some pointers every aspirant should know or remember throughout the ARD preparation. 

• The objective part still comprises about 50% of the ARD section. However, descriptive is additional.
• ARD will turn out to be a scoring section.
• Prepare for the descriptive section thoroughly, especially fisheries, rural development, agricultural engineering, agronomy, animal husbandry, and poultry.
• Develop an analytical perspective for ARD rather than focusing on hard facts.
• You will not be at liberty to draw tables or graphs, so try using subheadings for the points you wish to make in the descriptive answers.
• Start typing practice on old desktop-based keyboards, avoid laptops.

Strategy for ARD (Objective) Static + GA

List of the most important topics:

• Horticulture
• Animal Husbandry and Poultry
• Soils
• Agronomy
• Agricultural Engineering
• Agrometeorology

Important resources for GA

• Indian State of Forest Report
• Agri-Census
• Live Stock Census
• Handloom Census
• Annual Reports – Ministry of Agriculture, NABARD, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Rural Development
• MSPs
• Advance estimates
• NABARD Model Bankable Projects
• Schemes

Strategy for ARD (Subjective)

• Try to develop an analytical perspective – questions such as “what’s the impact of organic farming in the agriculture world”? To answer such questions, you need an analytical approach along with theoretical knowledge.
• A theoretical framework for building your ARD aptitude
• Be aware of ARD-based trends.
• Current problems related to agriculture, RD, economy, etc. You need to have solutions for them as well. Your personal Opinion based on what you have studied would matter.
• Try to extract facts from the reports and publications you read rather than focusing only on numbers.
• Connect things with real-life scenarios

Example of Theory/static-based Questions

1. Organic farming and its impact on the Environment
2. Various types of animal husbandry? Discuss them
3. What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing water-use efficiency.
4. Role of integrated farming system in sustaining agricultural production

Applied/Opinion based Questions

1. Are government-based farm laws a remedy or a malady?
2. Discuss the recent efforts made by the Indian government to modernise Indian agriculture and for increasing its share in the GDP.
3. Explain the significance of the blue economy for India and its role in achieving the target of doubling farmers’ income.
4. Role of livestock farming in the economy of India.

Syllabus for Phase-2 Agricultural and Rural Development with Sub-topics

The syllabus for agriculture and rural development is going to be separate.   

Agriculture  

• Definition
• Meaning and its branches
• Agronomy: definition, meaning and scope of agronomy.
• Classification of field crops.
• Factors affecting crop production, Agro Climatic Zones; Cropping Systems: Definition and types of cropping systems.
• Problems of dry land agriculture; Seed production, seed processing, seed village; Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory; Precision Farming, System of Crop Intensification, organic farming;

a) Soil and Water Conservation  

Major soil types, soil fertility, fertilisers, soil erosion, soil conservation, watershed management;   

b) Water Resource: Irrigation Management  

types of irrigation, sources of irrigation, crop-water requirement, command area development, water conservation techniques, micro-irrigation, irrigation pumps, major, medium and minor irrigation.   

c) Farm and Agri Engineering   

Farm Machinery and Power, Sources of power on the farm- human, animal, mechanical, electrical, wind, solar and biomass, bio fuels, water harvesting structures, farm ponds, watershed management, Agro Processing, Controlled and modified storage, perishable food storage, godowns, bins and grain silos.  

d) Plantation & Horticulture:   

Definition, meaning and its branches. Agronomic practices and production technology of various plantation and horticulture crops. Post-harvest management, value and supply chain management of Plantation and Horticulture crops.   

e) Animal Husbandry:   

Farm animals and their role in Indian economy, Animal husbandry methods in India, common terms pertaining to different species of livestock, Utility classification of breeds of cattle. Introduction to common feeds and fodders, their classification and utility. Introduction to poultry industry in India (past, present and future status), Common terms pertaining to poultry production and management. Concept of mixed farming and its relevance to socio-economic conditions of farmers in India. Complimentary and obligatory nature of livestock and poultry production with that of agricultural farming.   

f) Fisheries:   

Fisheries resources, management and exploitation – freshwater, brackish water and marine; Aquaculture- Inland and marine; biotechnology; post-harvest technology. Importance of fisheries in India. Common terms pertaining to fish production.   

g) Forestry:  

Basic concepts of Forest and Forestry. Principles of silviculture, forest mensuration, forest management and forest economics. Concepts of social forestry, agroforestry, joint forest management. Forest policy and legislation in India, India State of Forest Report 2015. Recent developments under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.   

h) Agriculture Extensions:   

Its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programmes, Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in dissemination of Agricultural technologies.   

i) Ecology and Climate Change:   

Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. Causes of climate change, Green House Gases (GHG), major GHG emitting countries, climate analysis, distinguish between adaptation and mitigation, climate change impact to agriculture and rural livelihood, carbon credit, IPCC, UNFCCC, CoP meetings, funding mechanisms for climate change projects, initiatives by Govt of India, NAPCC, SAPCC, INDC.   

j) Present Scenario of Indian Agriculture and Allied activities  

recent trends, major challenges in agriculture measures to enhance viability of agriculture. Factors of Production in agriculture; Agricultural Finance and Marketing; Impact of Globalization on Indian Agriculture and issues of Food Security; Concept and Types of Farm Management.  

Syllabus for Rural Development  

Concept of Rural Area, Structure of the Indian Rural Economy Importance and role of the rural sector in India  

• Economic
• Social and Demographic Characteristics of the Indian rural economy
• Causes of Rural Backwardness

Rural population in India  

• Occupational structure
• Farmers
• Agricultural Labourers
• Artisans
• Handicrafts
• Traders
• Forest dwellers/tribes and others in rural India
• Trends of change in rural population and rural work force
• problems and conditions of rural labour
• Issues and challenges in Handlooms Panchayati Raj Institutions – Functions and Working

MGNREGA, NRLM – Aajeevika, Rural Drinking water Programmes, Swachh Bharat, Rural Housing, PURA and other rural development programmes.