The Agricultural Engineering syllabus for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination is divided into two papers, each with distinct sections covering various topics. Here’s an outline of the syllabus:
Paper I
Section A
- Soil and Water Conservation
- Scope of soil and water conservation.
- Mechanics and types of erosion.
- Principles of erosion control.
- Methods of erosion control: biological and engineering.
- Watershed management.
- Irrigation and Drainage
- Soil-water-plant relationship.
- Water requirement of crops.
- Planning and design of irrigation systems.
- Irrigation efficiencies.
- Drainage principles and practices.
- Water Resources Development
- Water resources of India.
- Multipurpose projects.
- Hydrology.
- Groundwater development.
- Water harvesting techniques.
Section B
- Farm Power and Machinery
- Sources of farm power.
- Thermodynamics of internal combustion engines.
- Design and selection of farm machinery for tillage, sowing, planting, interculture, plant protection, harvesting, threshing, and transportation.
- Cost analysis of farm machinery.
- Farm Electrification
- Rural electrification.
- Electric motors and distribution system.
- Wiring and illumination.
- Electrical machines and transformers.
- Post-Harvest Technology
- Principles of drying, dehydration, and storage of agricultural produce.
- Processing techniques and equipment.
- Quality control in food processing.
- Packaging and transport of agricultural produce.
Paper II
Section A
- Surveying and Leveling
- Principles and types of surveying.
- Instruments and their uses.
- Contour mapping.
- Earthwork calculation.
- Agricultural Structures
- Planning and design of farm buildings.
- Materials of construction.
- Environmental control in farm buildings.
- Structures for crop storage, animal housing, and biogas plants.
- Environmental Engineering
- Impact of agriculture on the environment.
- Pollution control measures.
- Waste management.
- Conservation of natural resources.
Section B
- Renewable Energy Sources
- Solar energy: principles, collectors, and applications.
- Wind energy.
- Biomass energy.
- Biogas production and utilization.
- Instrumentation and Control
- Measurement systems.
- Transducers and their applications.
- Process control systems.
- Data acquisition systems.
- Agricultural Processing
- Unit operations in agricultural processing.
- Mechanical, thermal, and chemical processing.
- Preservation techniques.
- Value addition to agricultural products.
The syllabus covers a broad range of topics essential for Agricultural Engineering in the context of the Indian Forest Service. Candidates should refer to the official UPSC notification and detailed syllabus for any updates or specific guidelines.
