BOTANY

PAPER – I
1. Microbiology and Plant Pathology:
Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses, viroids, bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma; Applications of
microbiology in agriculture, industry, medicine and in control of soil and water pollution; Prion and Prion
hypothesis.
Important crop diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and nematodes; Modes of infection
and dissemination; Molecular basis of infection and disease resistance/defence; Physiology of parasitism and
control measures; Fungal toxins; Modelling and disease forecasting; Plant quarantine.
2. Cryptogams:
Algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes - structure and reproduction from evolutionary viewpoint;
Distribution of Cryptogams in India and their ecological and economic importance.
3. Phanerogams:
Gymnosperms: Concept of Progymnosperms; Classification and distribution of gymnosperms; Salient features
of Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Coniferales and Gnetales, their structure and reproduction; General account of
Cycadofilicales, Bennettitales and Cordaitales; Geological time scale; Type of fossils and their study
techniques. Angiosperms: Systematics, anatomy, embryology, palynology and phylogeny.
Taxonomic hierarchy; International Code of Botanical Nomenclature; Numerical taxonomy and
chemotaxonomy; Evidence from anatomy, embryology and palynology. Origin and evolution of angiosperms;
Comparative account of various systems of classification of angiosperms; Study of angiospermic families –
Mangnoliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae,
Dipterocarpaceae, Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Verbenaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae,
Poaceae, Arecaceae, Liliaceae, Musaceae and Orchidaceae.
Stomata and their types; Glandular and non-glandular trichomes; Unusual secondary growth; Anatomy of C3
and C4 plants; Xylem and phloem differentiation; Wood anatomy.
Development of male and female gametophytes, pollination, fertilization; Endosperm - its development and
function; Patterns of embryo development; Polyembroyony and apomixes; Applications of palynology;
Experimental embryology including pollen storage and test-tube fertilization.
4. Plant Resource Development:
Domestication and introduction of plants; Origin of cultivated plants; Vavilov’s centres of origin; Plants as
sources for food, fodder, fibre, spices, beverages, edible oils, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums,
resins and dyes, latex, cellulose, starch and its products; Perfumery; Importance of Ethnobotany in Indian
context; Energy plantations; Botanical Gardens and Herbaria.
5. Morphogenesis:
Totipotency, polarity, symmetry and dfferentiation; Cell, tissue, organ and protoplast culture; Somatic hybrids
and Cybrids; Micropropagation; Somaclonal variation and its applications; Pollen haploids, embryo rescue
methods and their applications.
PAPER – II
1. Cell Biology:
Techniques of cell biology; Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells - structural and ultra-structural details; Structure
and function of extra-cellular matrix (cell wall), membranes-cell adhesion, membrane transport and vesicular
transport; Structure and function of cell organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER, dictyo-somes 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; photo-phosphorylation 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; Phytogeo-graphical regions of India.
CHEMISTRY
PAPER – I
1. Atomic Structure:
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, Schrodinger wave equation (time independent); Interpretation of wave
function, particle in one-dimensional box, quantum numbers, hydrogen atom wave functions; Shapes of s, p
and d orbitals.
2. Chemical Bonding:
Ionic bond, characteristics of ionic compounds, lattice energy, Born-Haber cycle; covalent bond and its general
characteristics, polarities of bonds in molecules and their dipole moments; Valence bond theory, concept of
resonance and resonance energy; Molecular orbital theory (LCAO method); bonding in H2+, H2, He2+ to Ne2,
NO, CO, HF, and CN–; Comparison of valence bond and molecular orbital theories, bond order, bond strength
and bond length.
3. Solid State:
Crystal systems; Designation of crystal faces, lattice structures and unit cell; Bragg’s law; X-ray diffraction by
crystals; Close packing, radius ratio rules, calculation of some limiting radius ratio values; Structures of NaCl,
ZnS, CsCl and CaF2; Stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric defects, impurity defects, semi-conductors.
4. The Gaseous State and Transport Phenomenon:
Equation of state for real gases, inter-molecular interactions and critical phenomena and liquefaction of gases,
Maxwell’s distribution of speeds, intermolecular collisions, collisions on the wall and effusion; Thermal
conductivity and viscosity of ideal gases.
5. Liquid State:
Kelvin equation; Surface tension and surface energy, wetting and contact angle, interfacial tension and
capillary action.
6. Thermodynamics:
Work, heat and internal energy; first law of thermodynamics.
Second law of thermodynamics; entropy as a state function, entropy changes in various processes, entropy–
reversibility and irreversibility, Free energy functions; Thermodynamic equation of state; Maxwell relations;
Temperature, volume and pressure dependence of U, H, A, G, Cp and Cvá and â; J-T effect and inversion
temperature; criteria for equilibrium, relation between equilibrium constant and thermodynamic quantities;
Nernst heat theorem, introductory idea of third law of thermodynamics.
7. Phase Equilibria and Solutions:
Clausius-Clapeyron equation; phase diagram for a pure substance; phase equilibria in binary systems, partially
miscible liquids–upper and lower critical solution temperatures; partial molar quantities, their significance and
determination; excess thermodynamic functions and their determination.
8. Electrochemistry:
Debye-Huckel theory of strong electrolytes and Debye-Huckel limiting Law for various equilibrium and
transport properties. Galvanic cells, concentration cells; electrochemical series, measurement of e.m.f. of cells
and its applications fuel cells and batteries.
Processes at electrodes; double layer at the interface; rate of charge transfer, current density; over-potential;
electro-analytical techniques: Polarography, amperometry, ion selective electrodes and their uses.
.
9. Chemical Kinetics:
Differential and integral rate equations for zeroth, first, second and fractional order reactions; Rate equations
involving reverse, parallel, consecutive and chain reactions; branching chain and explosions; effect of
temperature and pressure on rate constant; Study of fast reactions by stopflow and relaxation methods;
Collisions and transition state theories.
10. Photochemistry:
Absorption of light; decay of excited state by different routes; photochemical reactions between hydrogen and
halogens and their quantum yields.
11. Surface Phenomena and Catalysis:
Absorption from gases and solutions on solid adsorbents, Langmuir and B.E.T. adsorption isotherms;
determination of surface area, characteristics and mechanism of reaction on heterogeneous catalysts.
12. Bio-inorganic Chemistry:
Metal ions in biological systems and their role in ion transport across the membranes (molecular mechanism),
oxygen-uptake proteins, cytochromes and ferredoxins.
13. Coordination Compounds:
(i) Bonding theories of metal complexes; Valence bond theory, crystal field theory and its modifications;
applications of theories in the explanation of magnetism and electronic spectra of metal complexes.
(ii) Isomerism in coordination compounds; IUPAC nomenclature of coordination compounds; stereochemistry
of complexes with 4 and 6 coordination numbers; chelate effect and polynuclear complexes; trans effect and its
theories; kinetics of substitution reactions in square-planer complexes; thermodynamic and kinetic stability of
complexes.
(iii) EAN rule, Synthesis structure and reactivity of metal carbonyls; carboxylate anions, carbonyl hydrides and
metal nitrosyl compounds.
(iv) Complexes with aromatic systems, synthesis, structure and bonding in metal olefin complexes, alkyne
complexes and cyclopentadienyl complexes; coordinative unsaturation, oxidative addition reactions, insertion
reactions, fluxional molecules and their characterization; Compounds with metal-metal bonds and metal atom
clusters.
14. Main Group Chemistry:
Boranes, borazines, phosphazenes and cyclic phosphazene, silicates and silicones, Interhalogen compounds;
Sulphur – nitrogen compounds, noble gas compounds.
15. General Chemistry of ‘f’ Block Elements:
Lanthanides and actinides; separation, oxidation states, magnetic and spectral properties; lanthanide
contraction.
PAPER - II
1. Delocalised Covalent Bonding:
Aromaticity, anti-aromaticity; annulenes, azulenes, tropolones, fulvenes, sydnones.
2. (i) Reaction Mechanisms: General methods (both kinetic and non-kinetic) of study of mechanism of
organic reactions: isotopic method, cross-over experiment, intermediate trapping, stereochemistry; energy of
activation; thermodynamic control and kinetic control of reactions.
(ii) Reactive Intermediates: Generation, geometry, stability and reactions of carbonium ions and carbanions,
free radicals, carbenes, benzynes and nitrenes.
(iii) Substitution Reactions: SN1, SN2 and SNi mechanisms; neighbouring group participation; electrophilic
and nucleophilic reactions of aromatic compounds including heterocyclic compounds–pyrrole, furan,
thiophene and indole.
(iv) Elimination Reactions: E1, E2 and E1cb mechanisms; orientation in E2 reactions–Saytzeff and
Hoffmann; pyrolytic syn elimination – Chugaev and Cope eliminations.
(v) Addition Reactions: Electrophilic addition to C=C and C=C; nucleophilic addition to C=0, C=N,
conjugated olefins and carbonyls.
(vi) Reactions and Rearrangements: (a) Pinacol-pinacolone, Hoffmann, Beckmann, Baeyer–Villiger,
Favorskii, Fries, Claisen, Cope, Stevens and Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements.
(b) Aldol condensation, Claisen condensation, Dieckmann, Perkin, Knoevenagel, Witting, Clemmensen,
Wolff-Kishner, Cannizzaro and von Richter reactions; Stobbe, benzoin and acyloin condensations; Fischer
indole synthesis, Skraup synthesis, Bischler-Napieralski, Sandmeyer, Reimer-Tiemann and Reformatsky
reactions.
3. Pericyclic Reactions:
Classification and examples; Woodward-Hoffmann rules – electrocyclic reactions, cycloaddition reactions
[2+2 and 4+2] and sigmatropic shifts [1, 3; 3, 3 and 1, 5] FMO approach.
4. (i) Preparation and Properties of Polymers: Organic polymers–polyethy-lene, polystyrene, polyvinyl
chloride, teflon, nylon, terylene, synthetic and natural rubber.
(ii) Biopolymers: Structure of proteins, DNA and RNA.
5. Synthetic Uses of Reagents:
OsO4, HIO4, CrO3, Pb(OAc)4, SeO2, NBS, B2H6, Na-Liquid NH3, LiAlH4, NaBH4, n-BuLi and MCPBA.
6. Photochemistry:
Photochemical reactions of simple organic compounds, excited and ground states, singlet and triplet states,
Norrish-Type I and Type II reactions.
7. Spectroscopy:
Principle and applications in structure elucidation:
(i) Rotational: Diatomic molecules; isotopic substitution and rotational constants.
(ii) Vibrational: Diatomic molecules, linear triatomic molecules, specific frequencies of functional groups in
polyatomic molecules.
(iii) Electronic: Singlet and triplet states; n π* and π π* transitions; application to conjugated double bonds
and conjugated carbonyls–Woodward-Fieser rules; Charge transfer spectra.
(iv) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR): Basic principle; chemical shift and spin-spin interaction and
coupling constants.
(v) Mass Spectrometry: Parent peak, base peak, metastable peak, McLafferty rearrangement.

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