Are you seeking answers to questions like, “How should I prepare for ARD in the NABARD Grade A exam?” “Which books are recommended for ARD in NABARD Grade A?” “What are the important topics for ARD in NABARD?” “What are some reliable sources for ARD Current Affairs in NABARD?”
If yes, you have come to the right place. This blog decodes the ARD component in the NABARD Grade A exam and offers a practical strategy for your 2024 preparation. It provides insights into the exam pattern and the previous year’s questions. Additionally, it discusses important topics, the expected difficulty level, and lists topics for answer writing practice for the ARD component.
NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Understanding ARD
The first step to preparing for ARD is to understand its role in the NABARD Grade A exam pattern for Phase 1 and 2 respectively.
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Type | Objective | Objective + Descriptive |
| Negative Marking | 1/4th of the marks allotted | 1/4th of the marks allotted (objective questions only) |
| Total Questions* | 40 Questions | 30 Objective Questions |
| 6 Descriptive Questions | ||
| Total Marks* | 40 Marks | 40-50 marks |
*Following are a few points you need to make a note of to clearly understand the role of ARD in the exam pattern discussed above.
- Phase 1 is divided into 8 sections (merit and non-merit) carrying a total of 200 marks for 200 questions; ARD is a merit section carrying 40 questions of 1 mark each.
- Phase 2 Paper 2 is a combined paper of ESI + ARD.
- The total marks for Paper 2 (ESI + ARD combined) is 100 marks.
- Phase 2 questions in both objective (30 questions) and descriptive (6 questions) sections are spread across a combination of ESI and ARD syllabus.
- Objective questions carry 1 and 2 marks each.
- Out of 6 descriptive questions, candidates attempt only 4.
Read more about the detailed exam pattern for NABARD Grade A here.
Let’s now examine in brief the PYQ analysis for Phase 1 and 2, respectively, along with a few questions asked from ARD in the NABARD Grade A 2023 examination. Based on the PYQ analysis, we will subsequently identify important topics for ARD, ensuring an integrated study approach for both Phase 1 and 2.
ARD Phase 1: PYQ Analysis
Following is a breakdown of the number of questions asked over the last five years in Phase 1.
| SNo. | Topics | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| 1 | Introduction to Agriculture | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Agronomy | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Farming System | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Cropping System and Pattern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Agrometeorology | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Seed and Sowing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Soil and Water Conservation | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 8 | Water Resource and Irrigation | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | Agriculture Engineering | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Plantation and Horticulture | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 11 | Animal Husbandry | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 12 | Fisheries | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Forestry | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Agriculture Extension | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Agriculture Economics | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 16 | Important Agronomic Practices | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 17 | Rural Development | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | ARD Current Affairs | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| 19 | ESI Current Affairs | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Note: Current affairs questions under ARD and ESI for NABARD Grade A can often overlap and fall in a gray area. For example, questions on schemes related to the topic of Agricultural Economy will fall under both ESI and ARD. | ||||||
Key Takeaways:
- Based on the PYQ analysis we can conclude that questions are distributed across the ARD syllabus.
- Comprehensive coverage and integration of the ARD static syllabus with current affairs is crucial for optimal exam preparation.
- In Phase 1 ARD, the weightage of current affairs questions is relatively lower as compared to the static questions.
- On average, you can expect 8-10 questions from ARD current affairs out of the total 40 questions in phase 1.
ARD Phase 1: Type of Questions
Following are a few questions from the ARD section of the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination to help you understand the types of questions asked under some important topics for ARD.
| S.No. | Question | Topic |
| 1 | DAY-NRLM has a provision for interest subvention, to cover the difference between the Lending Rate of the banks and 7% on all credit from the banks/ financial institutions availed by women SHGs, for a maximum of ________ per SHG. | ARD Current Affairs |
| 2 | What is the optimum storage moisture percentage for food grains? | Agricultural Engineering |
| 3 | What is the term for the stage of erosion when it becomes exhaustive, leading to the formation of finger-like projections? | Soil Water and Conservation |
| 4 | Which of the following is a milch and drought-purpose cattle breed that originated from Nashik and Ahmednagar of Maharashtra? | Animal Husbandry |
| 5 | Credit target for agriculture and allied sector has been announced to be increased to ______ crore with a focus on animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries. | ARD Current Affairs |
| 6 | Which of the following Irrigation projects have a Culturable Command Area of 2000 to 10,000 ha area? | Water Conservation and Irrigation Management |
| 7 | What should be the optimum range of Dissolved Oxygen for fish to grow? | Fisheries |
| 8 | Salt concentration in soil is measured by electrical conductivity. What is the S.I. unit of EC? | Soil Water and Conservation |
Now, let us look at the PYQ analysis and the types of questions asked in Phase 2.
ARD Phase 2: PYQ Analysis
Following is a breakdown of the number of objective questions asked over the last few years in Phase 2.
| S.No. | Topic Name | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| 1 | ARD Static | 11 | 11 | 5 | 22 | 15 |
| 2 | ARD Current Affairs | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| ARD Total Questions | 16 | 18 | 9 | 28 | 28 | |
| Phase 2 Total Questions (Objective) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 65 | 65 | |
| Note: Before 2021, Paper II was entirely objective, with 35 questions of 2 marks and 30 questions of 1 mark each. Paper II is now divided into 50% objective and 50% descriptive questions. | ||||||
Key Takeaways:
- A balance can be seen forming between the questions asked in ESI and ARD in the last two years making ARD and ESI equally important to clear Phase 2.
- Kindly note that some Schemes asked in the ARD questions can be related to both ESI and ARD so you are advised to give due importance to both ESI and ARD in your NABARD Grade A preparation.
- Current Affairs covering 6 months before the examination should be prepared very thoroughly from EduTap’s current affairs magazine. Note that current affairs comprise three important pillars: General current affairs, Government Schemes, and Programmes and Reports.
ARD Phase 2: Type of Questions
Following are a few questions from the ARD section of the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 (mains) examination to help you understand the types of questions asked under some important topics for ARD.
| S.No. | Objective Questions | ||
| 1 | How many days of wage employment are provided under MGNREGS for Scheduled Tribe households living in forest areas? | ||
| 2 | Under the MGNREGS, an additional 50 days of wage employment are provided over and above 100 days in the areas affected due to which of the following reasons? | ||
| 3 | Under the MGNREGS, if the demanded employment is not provided within 15 days, the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance of at least ___________ of the minimum wage for the first 30 days, and ___________ of the minimum wage thereafter for the remaining financial year. | ||
| S.No. | Descriptive Answer Writing Questions | Marks | Topic |
| 1 | What is Agroforestry? What are its features? Discuss the benefits and challenges associated with it. | 10 | Agroforestry |
| 2 | What is extension education and what are the methods employed for extension education? Also, discuss its benefits. | 10 | Agricultural Extension |
| 3 | Briefly explain the five problems associated with agricultural marketing. | 15 | Agricultural Economy |
Based on our PYQ analysis for Phase 1 and 2, let’s look at the important topics for both ARD static and ARD current affairs that you must prioritize during your NABARD Grade A 2024 preparation.
ARD: Important Topics of Phase 1 + 2
Kindly note that the following list of important topics is to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not imply that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.
| ARD Static: Important Topics | |||
| 1 | Agronomy: Production, Definition, & Meaning | 9 | Post-harvest method |
| 2 | Farming System: Types of Farming | 10 | Animal Husbandry: Breeds, Terminology |
| 3 | Types of Soils and Soil Water | 11 | Milk and its properties |
| 4 | Methods to prevent soil erosion | 12 | Poultry: Breed and Terminology |
| 5 | Nutrient deficiency and symptoms | 13 | Fisheries: Types and Production |
| 6 | Horticulture: Production and Branches | 14 | Aquaculture: Breeds, types, and terminology |
| 7 | Vegetative Propagation and Types | 15 | Forestry and Types |
| 8 | Major Diseases and Pest | 16 | Agriculture Extension Institute and Schemes |
| ARD Current Affairs: Important Topics | |||
| 1 | ARD Schemes of the latest 6 months | 5 | Key Stats of Cooperative Banks |
| 2 | Flagship Agriculture Schemes: AIF, PMKSY, PMFBY, PM-KMY, e-NAM, KCC, SHC, PMMSY, NHM | 6 | Flagship Rural Development Schemes: PMAY-G, PMGSY, NRuM, MGNREGA, JJM, NRLM, DDUGKY |
| 3 | Census: 2011, SECC, Livestock, Agriculture | 7 | Annual Reports: MoA&FW, AH&D, NABARD, and MSP |
| 4 | Latest Union Budget & Economic Survey | 8 | Indian State of Forest Report |
Learn more about how to effectively prepare for ARD Current Affairs for Phase 1 and 2.
Now that you are clear with the important topics and questions asked, let us look at the expected difficulty level for NABARD Grade A 2024 examination.
ARD: Expected Difficulty Level of Phase 1 + 2
Following is an overview of the difficulty level for the ARD component based on our in-depth expert PYQ analysis of the last five years.
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Phase 1 + 2 | Moderate – Difficult | Moderate – Difficult | Easy-Moderate | Easy – Moderate | Moderate |
To summarise, aspirants can expect the NABARD Grade A 2024 Agriculture and Rural Development section to be moderately difficult.
Click here to learn more about the difficulty level of NABARD Grade A and compare it with other competitive exams like RBI Grade B, CAT, SSC CGL, and more.
Now, the last step for developing an effective ARD preparation strategy is being aware of available resources.
ARD: Booklist and Resources
Following is our expert-recommended list of books for ARD static that you need to refer to, especially when undertaking a self-study approach.
| S.No. | Book(s) | Author/Publisher | Link |
| 1 | Fundamentals of Agriculture (Part 1 + 2) | Arun Katyayan | Buy Online |
| Agriculture at a Glance | RK Sharma | Buy Online | |
| Competitive Book for Agriculture | NemRaj Sunda | Buy Online | |
| 2 | Elements of Agricultural Engineering | Dr Jagadeeshwar Sahay | Buy Online |
| A Textbook of Animal Husbandry | GC Banerjee | Buy Online | |
| Handbook of Fisheries | ICAR | Buy Online | |
| Note: Choose ONE book from each of the three options provided. | |||
Other Resources: Newspapers and Websites
Following is our expert-recommended list of important official websites for Current Affairs that you need to refer to, especially when undertaking a self-study approach.
| S.No. | Name of Resource | Remarks |
| 1 | Press Information Bureau | For Govt. reports and schemes. |
| 2 | Krishi Jagran | For regional news and advancements of private corporations. |
| 3 | BusinessLine | Or any newspaper with a designated agriculture and agricultural economy section. |
| 4 | Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) | Given are a few examples of syllabus-concerned ministries/organisations. |
| 5 | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) | |
| 6 | National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) | |
| 7 | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University | Filter topics based on the syllabus and PYQ analysis. |
| 8 | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) e-Courses |
Other Resources: Lesson Videos and PYQ Analysis
Following is our expert-recommended list of lectures for both static and current affairs syllabi that you need to refer to, especially when undertaking a self-study approach.
| S.No. | Topic | Link |
| 1 | Fisheries | Watch Now |
| 2 | Cropping System and Cropping Pattern | Watch Now |
| 3 | Rural Development | Watch Now |
| 4 | ARD Current Affairs | Watch Now |
| 5 | Marathon Video | Watch Now |
| 6 | NABARD Grade A 2023 Analysis (Phase 1) | Watch Now |
| 7 | NABARD Grade A 2023 Analysis (Phase 2) | Watch Now |
Now that you have the complete information of the ARD syllabus, important topics, types of questions asked, and important resources, it is time to download solved PYQs
NABARD Grade A Previous Year’s Questions PDF Download
EduTap’s FREE PYQ Analysis PDFs dive deep into past NABARD Grade A exams. These PDFs provide solutions to every question, break down topics, and link to helpful notes. Start from the 2018 exam and study till the latest one.
A comprehensive examination of the PYQs can help you familiarise yourself with the questions that will be asked, identify areas where you need to improve and develop effective personalized strategies.
Following are a few tips to help you organize your thoughts and build a personalized strategy.
NABARD Grade A: ARD Preparation Strategy
Here is a 4-step comprehensive approach to strategizing your ARD preparation.
1. Analysing Previous Year Papers
- Review ARD papers from the last few years for insights.
- Identify recurring topics and question types.
- Understand the structure of the questions asked. For example, are they all factual and direct, or are there any application-based questions? Are current affairs-based questions asking you to select a specific date for the scheme, or is the question asking you to list down the impact of the scheme?
2. Fundamental Coverage of Static Syllabus
- Set a time-bound schedule for comprehensive coverage. Study schedules can help develop consistency.
- Emphasize multiple revisions of key chapters: Agronomy, Farming System, Soil and Water Conservation, Plantation and Horticultural Crop, Animal Husbandry, and Poultry, Fisheries, and Forestry.
- Retention and application of concepts are crucial to cracking the exam.
- Practice questions after each chapter revision. The best way to retain information is to try writing answers on learned topics.
3. Current Affairs Integration
- Shift focus to current affairs after thorough static syllabus coverage.
- Utilise practice quizzes for effective revision.
4. Revise and Practice
- Regularly revise topics covered and go through the available notes to reinforce understanding.
- Practice writing at least three answers based on every chapter covered.
- Adhere strictly to the prescribed syllabus for efficient preparation. Don’t get lost in the sea of resources available. Trust the resources you choose, and cover them thoroughly.
Equipped with the right preparation resources and an effective strategy on how to cover the ARD section, an essential step for you acing the ARD in NABARD Grade A 2024 is honing your answer writing skills.
ARD Answer Writing Practice
Here is a list of topics to help you hone your answer writing skills and revise important topics from the syllabus.
- Explain MSP and how it supports small and marginal farmers.
- What is Agroforestry? Explain its types, objectives, and advantages.
- Organic farming has changed the way of agriculture in India. Discuss organic farming.
- What is soil erosion? Discuss various methods for its prevention.
- Explain the methods of vegetative propagation. What are the various facets of vegetative propagation and list some benefits.
- Micro-irrigation is the future method of irrigation. Discuss.
- Explain various housing systems in poultry.
- What is Aquaculture? Explain various types of aquaculture practiced in India.
- Discuss the evolution of the Panchayati Raj System in India.
- Fruits and vegetables have a very short shelf life. However, various post-harvest techniques are used to enhance it. Discuss these techniques.
You are now all set to ace the ARD component. However, one question is still unanswered. When is the NABARD Grade A 2024 recruitment notification expected? Let’s find out.
NABARD Grade A 2024: Expected Notification
Let us analyze the previous year’s trends to come at a tentative date for the 2024 recruitment notification.
| Event | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 (COVID) |
| Notification Release | 2 September 2023 | 18 July 2022 | 17 July 2021 | 15 January 2020 |
| Prelims Date | 16 October 2023 | 7 September 2022 | 18 September 2021 | 25 February 2020 |
| Result Date of Prelims | 4 November 2023 | 3 October 2022 | 15 October 2021 | 23 March 2020 |
| Mains Date | 19 November 2023 | 29 October 2022 | 16 November 2021 | 24 September 2020 |
As per the trend of the last 4 years, except for 2020, the notification was released in the 3rd quarter of the year.
If the same trend of the last 3 years is to be followed for 2024, the notification can be expected at the end of August or the beginning of September 2024.
NABARD Grade A 2024: Expected Vacancies
NABARD has consistently released a good number of vacancies over the last few years. Based on this trend, aspirants can expect about 150+ vacancies in the 2024 recruitment notification for assistant managers.
To learn more about whether the General Elections 2024 will have an impact on the notification release, click here.
Conclusion
As you embark on your journey to prepare for the NABARD Grade A 2024 exam, this blog has equipped you with valuable insights into the exam pattern, important topics, question types, difficulty level, and effective preparation strategy to ace the component of Agriculture and Rural Development.
By addressing your concerns and providing a roadmap for preparation, the blog ensures that you are well-prepared to tackle the ARD section with confidence and competence.
FAQs
The ARD section in Phase 1 is critical, carrying 40 marks out of the total 200. Aiming for a score of 20+ is recommended for a strong qualification to Phase 2.
ARD Current Affairs has less weightage than Static, with approximately 8-10 questions out of 40. These questions are factual and directly relate to recent developments, reports, estimates, and schemes in Agriculture.
Prioritize fundamental topics like Agronomy, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Rural Development for ARD Static. For ARD Current Affairs, focus on recent schemes, flagship programs, and important reports.
PYQ analysis highlights the distribution of questions across the ARD syllabus. Comprehensive coverage of both ARD static and current affairs is essential. Focus on developing a deep understanding of fundamental topics, and adopt an integrated approach for Phase 1 and 2 preparation.
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