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UPSC IFOS Botany Paper II Syllabus

Indian Forest Service Examination

5
Topics
38
Sub-topics
8
Questions

Botany Paper II is one of 32 sections in the UPSC IFOS syllabus. It has 5 topics and 38 sub-topics, tested in Main Examination, with about 8 questions (200 marks). Optional subject, Paper II (200 marks, 3 hours, conventional essay type, answered in English). The paper has 8 questions in Parts A and B; candidates attempt 5, including one compulsory question from each part. Candidates choose any two of the 14 optional subjects..

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UPSC IFOS Botany Paper II: topic-wise syllabus

  1. 1

    Cell Biology

    • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
    • Cell wall, membranes and membrane transport
    • Cell organelles
    • Nucleus, chromatin and nucleosome
    • Cell signalling and signal transduction
    • Mitosis, meiosis and the cell cycle
    • Chromosome variations and special chromosomes
  2. 2

    Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution

    • Gene and allele concepts
    • Quantitative genetics
    • Linkage, crossing over and gene mapping
    • Sex determination and sex-linked inheritance
    • Mutation and cytoplasmic inheritance
    • Nucleic acids, proteins and the genetic code
    • Regulation of gene expression
    • Organic evolution and the role of RNA
  3. 3

    Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics

    • Methods of plant breeding
    • Male sterility and heterosis breeding
    • Micropropagation and genetic engineering
    • Transgenic crops and molecular markers
    • Standard deviation and coefficient of variation
    • Tests of significance: Z-test, t-test and chi-square
    • Probability distributions
    • Correlation and regression
  4. 4

    Physiology and Biochemistry

    • Water relations and mineral nutrition
    • Photosynthesis and carbon pathways
    • Respiration and ATP synthesis
    • Nitrogen fixation and metabolism
    • Enzymes and secondary metabolites
    • Photoreceptors, photoperiodism and vernalization
    • Growth substances and stress physiology
    • Seed dormancy, germination and fruit ripening
  5. 5

    Ecology and Plant Geography

    • Ecological factors and community dynamics
    • Plant succession and ecosystems
    • Pollution control and phytoremediation
    • Forest types of India, afforestation and social forestry
    • Endangered plants, endemism and Red Data Books
    • Biodiversity, CBD and intellectual property rights
    • Biogeochemical cycles and global warming

Frequently asked questions

What topics are in the UPSC IFOS Botany Paper II syllabus?

Botany Paper II for UPSC IFOS has 5 topics: Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics, Physiology and Biochemistry and Ecology and Plant Geography, with 38 sub-topics in all.

How many questions come from Botany Paper II in UPSC IFOS?

About 8 questions (200 marks) in Main Examination. Always check the latest notification, as numbers can change.

How do I practise UPSC IFOS Botany Paper II on Topicly?

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A study guide, not an official notice. Always confirm with the conducting body's latest notification. See the full exam page for any recorded source, check date and coverage limits.