IBPS AFO Exam Analysis 2026: The IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) Preliminary Examination 2026 has been conducted successfully. Based on the feedback shared by candidates and the memory-based discussion, the overall difficulty level of the exam was reported to be Easy to Moderate. The Agriculture section was considered one of the scoring sections, with questions covering Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Forestry, Genetics, Plant Physiology, Entomology and current agricultural topics.
Candidates reported that several questions were direct and based on basic concepts, definitions, scientific names, locations of agricultural institutes and recently discussed topics. Since the analysis is based on candidate feedback and memory-based questions, the exact wording and answers may vary.
The IBPS AFO Preliminary Exam included questions from English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude and Agriculture. As per the candidate feedback discussed in the session, the Agriculture section had a strong scoring potential, with many candidates reporting a high number of attempts.
| Particulars | IBPS AFO Exam Analysis 2026 |
| Exam | IBPS AFO Prelims 2026 |
| Post | Agriculture Field Officer |
| Exam Stage | Preliminary Examination |
| Overall Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Agriculture Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Agriculture Questions | 25 |
| Analysis Type | Memory-Based |
| Major Scoring Area | Agriculture |
| Mains Preparation | Candidates advised to start immediately |
According to the feedback discussed after the examination, the overall IBPS AFO Prelims 2026 paper was Easy to Moderate. The Agriculture section was particularly considered manageable because a large number of questions were based on fundamental concepts.
Candidates reported that some sections were easier, while Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning were relatively more time-consuming for some students.
The Agriculture section contained questions from multiple topics instead of concentrating heavily on a single subject. This gave candidates with broad Agriculture preparation an advantage.
The Agriculture section consisted of 25 questions. Based on the memory-based discussion, questions were asked from a wide range of topics, including:
Agricultural institutes and their locations
Plant diseases and deficiencies
Horticulture
Animal Husbandry
Forestry
Genetics
Plant Physiology
Post-Harvest Management
Agricultural Marketing
Organic Farming
Entomology
Soil Science
Agroforestry
Agricultural current affairs
Several questions were reportedly direct and could be answered by candidates who had prepared basic definitions, facts, scientific names and important agricultural concepts.
The following questions are based on the memory-based discussion and candidate feedback. The exact wording of the questions and options should be verified when the official question paper or a reliable final memory-based compilation becomes available.
A question was reportedly asked about Little Leaf Disease, with candidates identifying it with zinc deficiency.
Answer: Zinc deficiency
Candidates reported a question asking which among the given options was a climacteric fruit.
Reported Answer: Mango
A question from Animal Husbandry asked about a disease affecting a large number of animals at the same time. The discussion indicated epizootic as the relevant answer, although the exact question wording should be checked against the options.
A direct question was asked about the other name of shifting cultivation.
Reported Answer: Slash-and-burn cultivation
A question was asked about the hormone responsible for milk let-down.
Answer: Oxytocin
Candidates reported a question asking the location of the National Rice Research Institute (NRRI).
Answer: Cuttack, Odisha
A Genetics question reportedly asked what high heritability combined with high genetic advance indicates.
Reported Answer: Additive gene action
A question related to an agricultural marketing portal was reportedly asked. Candidate feedback indicated e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) as the relevant topic.
A question related to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and agricultural/rural development was also reported. Candidates also discussed a possible NABARD-related question, but the exact wording should be verified.
A question related to agricultural marketing and DMI/NIC was reportedly included in the examination.
A question was asked regarding the main objective/principle of organic farming.
The question focused on the purpose of organic farming and its emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, soil health and reduced dependence on synthetic inputs.
A Horticulture question reportedly asked where the highest concentration of capsaicin is found in chilli.
Reported Answer: Placenta
A question related to the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was reported. Candidates discussed its establishment/year and location.
The transcript indicates that 2006 was the year discussed during the analysis.
A direct question was reportedly asked about the definition of marketable surplus.
Marketable surplus refers to the quantity of agricultural produce that remains available for sale after meeting the farmer's consumption, seed, feed and other necessary requirements.
A question was asked about the botanical family of lettuce.
Answer: Asteraceae
A question was reportedly asked about the exotic honey bee species introduced into India.
Reported Answer: Apis mellifera
A question related to the Golden Revolution was reported.
Answer: Horticulture, particularly fruits and honey production
A Soil Science question reportedly asked about the factor K in the Universal Soil Loss Equation.
Answer: Soil erodibility
The transcript also indicates that candidates had encountered this concept in recent revision material.
A direct question was reportedly asked about the scientific name of the tiger.
Answer: Panthera tigris
A Plant Physiology question asked about the central element present in the chlorophyll molecule.
Answer: Magnesium (Mg)
Candidates were specifically advised not to confuse magnesium with manganese in such basic questions.
A Post-Harvest Technology question was reported on the purpose of curing crops such as onion and garlic.
Purpose: Removal of excess moisture and improvement of storage life.
The transcript also refers to the names Richards and Smith in connection with the reported question/options.
A Forestry question was reportedly related to fast-growing tree species and their uses for fuelwood, pulpwood and timber.
Reported Answer: Eucalyptus
A question reportedly asked about the organism involved in the degradation of lignin.
Reported Answer: White-rot fungi
A question related to the composition of wool was reported.
Answer: Keratin
A question was reportedly asked about implements used for secondary tillage. Candidates discussed implements such as harrows and cultivators.
An Entomology question reportedly dealt with a pesticide that enters the plant and affects insects feeding on plant sap.
Answer: Systemic insecticide
Note: The transcript contains discussion of more than 25 individual questions/topics because some questions were reconstructed and corrected during the live session. Therefore, candidates should treat the above as a memory-based compilation rather than an official question paper.
Based on the discussion, the Agriculture questions covered a broad range of topics.
| Agriculture Topic | Questions/Topics Reported |
| Plant Pathology | Little Leaf Disease, lignin degradation |
| Animal Husbandry | Zoonotic/Epizootic disease, milk let-down hormone |
| Horticulture | Climacteric fruit, capsaicin, lettuce, curing |
| Genetics | Heritability and genetic advance |
| Forestry | Fast-growing tree, agroforestry |
| Soil Science | Universal Soil Loss Equation |
| Plant Physiology | Chlorophyll and magnesium |
| Entomology | Systemic insecticide |
| Agricultural Marketing | Marketable surplus, e-NAM |
| Organic Farming | Main objective/principle |
| Fisheries | NFDB |
| Apiculture | Apis mellifera, Golden Revolution |
| Agriculture Institutes | NRRI |
| Agricultural Practices | Shifting cultivation, tillage |
Apart from Agriculture, candidates also shared feedback about the other sections.
The English Language section was reported to be comparatively manageable. Some candidates reported attempting around 24ā25 questions, although attempts varied from candidate to candidate.
The Reasoning section was described by some candidates as lengthy. Although individual questions were not necessarily very difficult, the time required to solve certain questions affected attempts.
Quantitative Aptitude was reported as one of the comparatively challenging/time-consuming sections by some candidates. Candidates mentioned that calculations and lengthy questions could affect overall attempts.
Agriculture was widely considered a scoring section. Candidates reported high attempts, with several students claiming around 23ā24 attempts out of 25.
The exact number of good attempts cannot be officially determined immediately after the examination because it depends on factors such as question difficulty, normalization, candidate performance and the overall competition.
However, based on the candidate feedback discussed in the memory-based analysis, Agriculture appeared to have a high attempt potential.
Candidates should therefore avoid treating any unofficial attempt figure as a guaranteed qualifying score.
Yes. Candidates who feel that their Prelims examination went well should start Mains preparation immediately instead of waiting for the result.
The IBPS AFO Mains examination requires deeper preparation, and the Agriculture section carries significant importance. Candidates should use the time available to strengthen conceptual understanding rather than simply revising one-line facts.
Agronomy
Soil Science
Horticulture
Plant Pathology
Genetics and Plant Breeding
Agricultural Economics
Animal Husbandry
Forestry
Agricultural Engineering
Entomology
Government schemes
Agricultural current affairs
Important agricultural institutions
Definitions and basic concepts
The memory-based analysis provides several useful takeaways for future IBPS AFO aspirants:
Basic concepts remain important. Many questions were reportedly direct.
Agricultural facts and locations should be revised.
Scientific names are important for AFO preparation.
Definitions can directly appear in the examination.
Current agricultural developments should not be ignored.
Multiple Agriculture subjects should be covered rather than focusing on only Agronomy or Horticulture.
Last-minute revision of important concepts can be useful.
Mains preparation should begin early rather than waiting for the Prelims result.
The IBPS AFO Prelims 2026 was reported to be Easy to Moderate overall, with Agriculture emerging as a potentially scoring section. The paper covered a broad range of Agriculture-related subjects, including Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Genetics, Plant Physiology, Soil Science, Entomology and Agricultural Marketing.
The major takeaway for candidates is that basic Agriculture concepts, factual knowledge and recent revision topics played an important role. Candidates who have performed well in Prelims should now focus on Mains preparation without waiting for the official result.
For candidates whose examination did not go as expected, there is no need to lose confidence. IBPS AFO recruitment is conducted regularly, and candidates can also target other Agriculture Officer and state-level agriculture recruitment opportunities.