Civil Service Exam Syllabus for IAS Main Exam – Botany Paper II

Civil Service Exam Syllabus for IAS Main Exam – Botany – Paper I

Paper – II

1. Cell Biology :

Techniques of cell biology; Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells – structural and ultrastructural details; Structure and function of extracellular matrix ( cell wall ), membranes – cell adhesion, membrane transport and vesicular transport; Structure and function of cell organelles ( chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER, dictyosomes ribosomes, endosomes, lysosomes, peroxisomes ); Cytoskelaton and microtubules; Nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear pore complex; Chromatin and nucleosome; Cell signalling and cell receptors; Signal transduction; Mitosis and meiosis; Molecular basis of cell cycle; Numerical and structural variations in chromosomes and their significance; Chromatin organization and packaging of genome; Polytene chromosomes; B – chromosomes – structure, behaviour and significance.

2. Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution :

Development of genetics; Gene versus allele concepts ( Pseudoalleles ); Quantitative genetics and multiple factors; Incomplete dominance, polygenic inheritance, multiple alleles; Linkage and crossing over; Methods of gene mapping, including molecular maps ( idea of mapping function ); Sex chromosomes and sex – linked inheritance, sex determination and molecular basis of sex differentiation; Mutations ( biochemical and molecular basis ); Cytoplasmic inheritance and cytoplasmic genes ( including genetics of male sterility ).

Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins; Genetic code and regulation of gene expression; Gene silencing; Multigene families; Organic evolution – evidences, mechanism and theories.

Role of RNA in origin and evolution.

3. Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics :

Methods of plant breeding – introduction, selection and hybridization ( pedigree, backcross, mass selection, bulk method ); Mutation, polyploidy, male sterility and heterosis breeding; Use of apomixes in plant breeding; DNA sequencing; Genetic engineering – methods of transfer of genes; Transgenic crops and biosafety aspects; Development and use of molecular markers in plant breeding; Tools and techniques – probe, southern blotting, DNA fingerprinting, PCR and Fish.

Standard deviation and coefficient of variation ( CV ); Tests of significance ( Z – test, t – test and chi – square test ); Probability and distributions ( normal, binomial and Poisson ); Correlation and regression.

4. Physiology and Biochemistry :

Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies; Photosynthesis – photochemical reactions; photophosphorylation and carbon fixation pathways; C3, C4 and CAM pathways; Mechanism of phloem transport; Respiration ( anerobic and aerobic, including fermentation ) – electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation; Photorespiration; Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis; Lipid metabolism; Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism; Enzymes,

Coenzymes; Energy transfer and energy conservation; Importance of secondary metabolites; Pigments as photoreceptors ( plastidial pigments and phytochrome ); Plant movements; Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization, senescence; Growth substances – their chemical nature, role and applications in agri – horticulture; Growth indices, growth movements; Stress physiology ( heat, water, salinity, metal ); Fruit and seed physiology; Dormancy, storage and germination of seed; Fruit ripening – its molecular basis and manipulation.

5. Ecology and Plant Geography :

Concept of ecosystem; Ecological factors; Concepts and dynamics of community; Plant succession; Concept of biosphere; Ecosystems; Conservation; Pollution and its control ( including phytoremediation ); Plant indicators; Environment ( Protection ) Act.

Forest types of India – Ecological and economic importance of forests, afforestation, deforestation and social forestry; Endangered plants, endemism, IUCN categories, Red Data Books; Biodiversity and its conservation; Protected Area Network; Convention on Biological Diversity; Farmers’ Rights and Intellectual Property Rights; Concept of Sustainable Development; Biogeochemical cycles; Global warming and climatic change; Invasive species; Environmental Impact Assessment; Phytogeographical regions of India.

Civil Service Botany Syllabus, Civil Services, UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern