CUET Agriculture 302 — Official Syllabus 2026 (NTA)

This is the official syllabus for CUET UG Agriculture (Subject Code 302) as per the NTA notification for the year 2026. The syllabus is divided into 4 units.

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Exam Overview

Parameter	Details
Subject Code	302
Subject	Agriculture
Total Questions	50 (Attempt any 40)
Marks per Question	+5 correct, -1 incorrect
Total Marks	200
Duration	45 minutes
Number of Units	4

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Unit 1 — Agrometeorology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Biochemistry and Microbiology

1.1 Agrometeorology

• Weather and climate
• Weather elements — rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation
• Effect of weather on crop production
• Greenhouse effect and climate change
• Weather forecasting and its importance in agriculture

1.2 Genetics and Plant Breeding

• Cell Biology: Cell structure, cell organelles, cell division (mitosis & meiosis)
• Mendelian Genetics: Laws of inheritance, monohybrid and dihybrid ratios
• Extensions of Mendelism: Incomplete dominance, codominance, epistasis, pleiotropy, multiple alleles
• Linkage and Crossing Over: Chromosome theory of inheritance, genetic mapping
• Mutations: Types, causes, and significance in plant breeding
• Polyploidy and Aneuploidy: Types and applications
• Plant Breeding Methods: Introduction, selection, hybridization, mutation breeding, heterosis and hybrid vigour
• Biotechnology: Genetic engineering, tissue culture, GMOs, Bt crops, Golden Rice

1.3 Biochemistry

• Carbohydrates — classification, structure, functions
• Proteins — amino acids, structure, enzymes
• Lipids — classification, fatty acids, functions
• Nucleic acids — DNA and RNA structure, replication, transcription, translation
• Vitamins and their deficiency diseases
• Enzymes — classification, mechanism of action

1.4 Microbiology

• Bacteria — structure, classification, reproduction, beneficial and harmful bacteria
• Fungi — structure, classification, beneficial and harmful fungi
• Viruses — structure, classification, plant viruses
• Beneficial microorganisms in agriculture — biofertilizers (Rhizobium, Azotobacter, PSB, Mycorrhiza)
• Soil microbiology — decomposition, nutrient cycling

1.5 Seed Science and Technology

• Seed structure and germination
• Seed dormancy — types and methods to break dormancy
• Seed testing — purity, germination percentage, vigour
• Seed certification — classes of seed (breeder, foundation, certified)
• Seed treatment and storage

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Unit 2 — Livestock Production

2.1 Scope and Importance

• Importance of livestock in Indian economy
• White Revolution, Blue Revolution
• Livestock census and statistics

2.2 Care and Management

• Cattle: Important breeds — milch (Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi), draught (Nagori, Hallikar), dual-purpose (Hariana, Kankrej)
• Buffalo: Murrah, Surti, Jaffarabadi, Mehsana
• Sheep: Merino, Rambouillet, Corriedale; Indian breeds — Nali, Chokla, Marwari
• Goat: Jamunapari, Barbari, Beetal, Black Bengal
• Poultry: White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock; Indian breeds — Aseel, Kadaknath
• Camel, Horse, Pig: Important breeds and management
• Feeding and nutrition — balanced ration, feed additives
• Housing management — types, space requirements, ventilation
• Artificial insemination — advantages, procedure

2.3 Livestock Products

• Milk — composition, processing, pasteurization, products (curd, cheese, butter, ghee)
• Eggs — structure, grading, preservation
• Meat — quality, preservation, processing
• Wool and silk production

2.4 Common Diseases

• Cattle: Rinderpest, FMD, Mastitis, Brucellosis, Anthrax
• Poultry: Ranikhet disease, Fowl pox, Marek's disease, Coccidiosis
• Vaccination schedules

2.5 Fisheries

• Types of fisheries — freshwater, brackish water, marine
• Important fish species — Rohu, Catla, Mrigal (Indian major carps), Hilsa, Pomfret
• Fish culture methods — composite fish culture, cage culture
• Fish pond management — stocking, feeding, water quality
• Fish preservation — icing, freezing, salting, smoking, canning
• Seaweed and its importance

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Unit 3 — Crop Production

3.1 Introduction to Agriculture

• History of agriculture in India
• Classification of crops — based on season (Kharif, Rabi, Zaid), utility, life span, botanical classification
• Cropping systems — monocropping, mixed cropping, intercropping, relay cropping, crop rotation
• Agricultural revolutions — Green, White, Blue, Yellow, Golden

3.2 Soil, Soil Fertility, and Fertilizers

• Soil: Definition, composition, formation (weathering), soil profile, soil types of India
• Soil Properties: Physical (texture, structure, porosity, density, colour), Chemical (pH, EC, CEC, buffering capacity)
• Soil Fertility: Essential plant nutrients — macro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) and micro (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl)
• Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms: Visual identification
• Fertilizers: Nitrogenous (Urea 46% N, Ammonium Sulphate 20.5% N), Phosphatic (SSP 16% P₂O₅, DAP 18-46-0), Potassic (MOP 60% K₂O)
• Manures: FYM, compost, vermicompost, green manuring
• Biofertilizers: Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSB, BGA, Mycorrhiza
• Problematic Soils: Saline, sodic, acidic — characteristics and reclamation

3.3 Irrigation and Drainage

• Importance of irrigation in Indian agriculture
• Sources of irrigation — canals, tubewells, tanks, rivers
• Methods of irrigation — surface (flood, furrow, basin), pressurized (sprinkler, drip/micro)
• Irrigation scheduling — critical stages of irrigation for major crops
• Water use efficiency — duty, delta, base period
• Drainage — importance, types, methods of drainage

3.4 Weed Control

• Definition, classification of weeds (annual, biennial, perennial; monocot, dicot)
• Harmful and beneficial effects of weeds
• Methods of weed control — preventive, cultural, mechanical, chemical, biological, integrated
• Important herbicides — classification (pre-emergence, post-emergence, selective, non-selective)
• Common weeds: Phalaris minor (wheat), Echinochloa (rice), Cyperus rotundus (sedge)

3.5 Crops — Production Technology, Pests, and Diseases

• Cereals: Rice, Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Barley, Minor Millets
• Pulses: Chickpea, Pigeonpea, Mungbean, Urdbean, Lentil, Field Pea
• Oilseeds: Groundnut, Mustard, Soybean, Sunflower, Sesame, Safflower, Castor, Linseed
• Commercial Crops: Sugarcane, Cotton, Jute, Tobacco
• For each crop: Origin, botanical name, varieties, seed rate, spacing, nutrient management, water management, harvesting
• Major Pests: Stem borer, BPH, bollworm, pod borer, aphids, whitefly, fruit fly
• Major Diseases: Blast, rust, smut, blight, wilt, mosaic — causal organisms and management
• IPM: Principles, biological control agents (Trichogramma, Chrysoperla, NPV), ETL/EIL concepts

3.6 Modern Agriculture

• Conservation agriculture — minimum tillage, mulching, crop residue management
• Precision agriculture — GPS, GIS, remote sensing applications in agriculture
• Organic farming — principles, certification, NPOP, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
• Protected cultivation — greenhouse, polyhouse, shade net, mulching
• Sustainable agriculture — soil health, biodiversity conservation
• Farm mechanization — tractors, implements, drone technology in agriculture

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Unit 4 — Horticulture

4.1 Fruits

• Tropical Fruits: Mango (varieties: Alphonso, Dashehari, Langra; rootstocks, disorders), Banana (Grand Naine, Robusta), Papaya, Guava, Sapota, Litchi, Pineapple, Jackfruit
• Subtropical Fruits: Citrus (Nagpur mandarin, Kinnow, sweet orange), Pomegranate, Ber, Grape, Fig, Aonla
• Temperate Fruits: Apple (Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, rootstocks M9, MM106), Pear, Peach, Plum, Walnut, Almond, Cherry, Strawberry
• Propagation methods — budding (T-budding, shield budding), grafting (veneer, wedge, approach), layering (air, ground), cutting
• Orchard management — layout, training, pruning, rejuvenation

4.2 Vegetables

• Solanaceous: Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Capsicum
• Cucurbitaceous: Cucumber, Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Pumpkin, Watermelon, Muskmelon
• Cruciferous (Cole crops): Cauliflower, Cabbage, Knol-khol, Broccoli
• Root vegetables: Carrot, Radish, Turnip, Beetroot
• Bulb crops: Onion, Garlic
• Leguminous: Pea, French bean, Cowpea
• Leafy vegetables: Spinach, Amaranth, Fenugreek
• Tuber crops: Potato, Sweet Potato, Tapioca
• Kitchen gardening, nutrition gardening

4.3 Flowers

• Loose flowers: Marigold, Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, Crossandra, Tuberose
• Cut flowers: Rose, Gladiolus, Carnation, Gerbera, Orchid, Anthurium, Lily
• Commercial floriculture — protected cultivation of flowers, export potential
• Landscape gardening — garden types (Mughal, English, Japanese), principles of landscape design
• Indoor plants, ornamental plants, lawn management

4.4 Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables

• Principles of preservation — asepsis, removal of moisture/air, high/low temperature, chemicals
• Methods — canning, bottling, freezing, dehydration, irradiation, chemical preservation
• Role of sugar, salt, acid, SO₂ in preservation
• Fermentation and pickling

4.5 Processing of Fruits and Vegetables

• FPO standards and specifications
• Jam (45% fruit, 68% TSS), Jelly (transparent), Marmalade (citrus peel)
• Squash (25% juice, 40% TSS), RTS (10% juice), Nectar (20% juice), Cordial
• Ketchup, Sauce, Chutney, Pickle
• Candy, crystallized fruits, fruit bar/leather
• Chips, dehydrated products, canned products
• Wine and vinegar production

4.6 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

• Medicinal Plants: Tulsi, Neem, Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Isabgol, Senna, Brahmi, Safed Musli
• Aromatic Plants: Mentha, Citronella, Lemongrass, Vetiver, Geranium, Lavender
• Spices: Black Pepper (King of Spices), Cardamom (Queen of Spices), Turmeric, Ginger, Clove, Cinnamon, Saffron (most expensive spice)
• Plantation Crops: Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Coconut, Arecanut, Cocoa, Cashew, Oil Palm

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Topic-wise Question Distribution (Expected)

Unit	Topics	Expected Questions (out of 50)
Unit 1	Agrometeorology, Genetics, Plant Breeding, Biochemistry, Microbiology	12–15
Unit 2	Livestock Production, Fisheries	5–7
Unit 3	Crop Production, Soil, Irrigation, Pests, Diseases	15–18
Unit 4	Horticulture, Post-Harvest, Flowers, Medicinal Plants	10–13

Note: Unit 1 and Unit 3 together carry 60-65% of the paper. Prioritize Genetics, Crop Production, and Soil Science.

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How AgriDots Covers This Syllabus

Every topic listed above is covered in structured lessons on AgriDots:

• Unit 1 → 9 subject courses with 60+ lessons covering Agrometeorology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Plant Breeding, Molecular Biology, Plant Physiology, Plant Reproduction, Biochemistry, and Microbiology
• Unit 2 → 3 subject courses covering Animal Breeds, Livestock Management, and Animal Health
• Unit 3 → 6 subject courses covering Soil Science, Irrigation, Weed Management, Major Crops, Entomology, and Plant Pathology
• Unit 4 → 6 subject courses covering Fruits & Vegetables, Floriculture, Medicinal Plants, Post-Harvest Technology, Plantation Crops, and Landscaping

Each lesson includes AI-powered quizzes, concept highlighting, and FSRS spaced repetition to help you retain facts for exam day.