The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) is about to conduct the Section Officer (Horticulture) Exam to fill 108 vacancies in departments like Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). With the exam dates scheduled for 16th, 17th, 21st, and 22nd April 2026, candidates must strategize their preparation effectively. And no preparation can begin without the knowledge of the syllabus. Hence, this comprehensive article will cover the latest DSSSB SO Horticulture Syllabus 2026, exam pattern, marking scheme, and preparation tips to help you ace the exam.
DSSSB Section Officer Exam Pattern 2026
Before understanding the exam syllabus and we need to get a good idea of the exam pattern, so that we can strategize our preparations. The DSSSB Section Officer Horticulture Exam 2026 follows a two-tier selection process consisting of Tier 1 and Tier 2 exams. The Tier 1 exam serves as a screening test, while Tier 2 is the main selection round. Both exams include objective-type questions, with Tier 2 focusing more on horticulture-specific topics. A negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for incorrect answers. The total duration for each exam is 2 hours. Below is the detailed exam pattern:
| DSSSB Section Officer Exam Pattern 2026 |
| Tier |
Subjects |
Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
| Tier 1 |
General Awareness |
20 |
20 |
2 Hours |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability |
20 |
20 |
| Arithmetical & Numerical Ability |
20 |
20 |
| Hindi Language & Comprehension |
20 |
20 |
| English Language & Comprehension |
20 |
20 |
| Subject-Specific (Horticulture) |
100 |
100 |
| Total |
|
200 |
200 |
| Tier 2 |
Subject-Specific (Horticulture) |
150 |
150 |
2 Hours |
| English Language & Comprehension |
50 |
50 |
| Total |
|
200 |
200 |
Negative Marking
|
Yes (-0.25 per wrong answer) |
DSSSB Section Officer Syllabus 2026
The DSSSB Section Officer Horticulture Syllabus 2026 comprehensively evaluates candidates across general subjects and specialized horticulture knowledge. The DSSSB Section Officer syllabus spans fruit/vegetable production, floriculture, plant pathology, soil science, post-harvest technology, and modern practices like greenhouse cultivation. Candidates must master both theoretical concepts and practical applications, with emphasis on Delhi’s horticultural needs. Here is the detailed syllabus for DSSSB SO Horticulture:
TIER 1 Syllabus:
| DSSSB Section Officer Syllabus Section A |
| Subjects |
Marks |
Syllabus Topics |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability |
20 |
- Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Analogies, Similarities & Differences
- Space Visualization & Problem Solving
- Analysis, Judgment & Decision Making
- Visual Memory & Discrimination
- Observation & Relationship Concepts
- Arithmetical Reasoning & Number Series
- Verbal & Figure Classification
|
| General Awareness |
20 |
- Current Events & General Awareness
- History, Polity & Constitution
- Sports & Art & Culture
- Geography & Economics
- Everyday Science & Scientific Research
- National & International Organizations
|
| Arithmetical & Numerical Ability |
20 |
- Number Systems (Simplification, Decimals, Fractions)
- LCM, HCF, Ratio & Proportion
- Percentage, Average, Profit & Loss
- Discount, Simple & Compound Interest
- Mensuration, Time & Work, Time & Distance
- Data Interpretation (Tables & Graphs)
|
| English Language & Comprehension |
20 |
- Vocabulary & Grammar
- Sentence Structure & Synonyms
- Antonyms & Correct Usage
- Reading Comprehension
|
| Hindi Language & Comprehension |
20 |
- Vocabulary & Grammar
- Sentence Structure & Synonyms
- Antonyms & Correct Usage
- Reading Comprehension
|
| DSSSB Section Officer Syllabus Section B |
| Category |
Marks |
Topics Covered |
| Core Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences |
100
|
- Introduction to Agro-Meteorology and Climate Change
- Fundamentals of Agronomy
- Agricultural Heritage
- Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Introductory Biology
- Introduction to Forestry
- Fundamentals of Soil Science
- Fundamentals of Crop Physiology
- Fundamentals of Plant Pathology
- Fundamentals of Horticulture
|
| Crop Production & Management |
- Crop Production Technology
- Production Technology of Vegetables and Spices
- Production Technology for Ornamental Crops, MAP, and Landscaping
- Production Technology for Fruits and Plantation Crops
- Farming System and Sustainable Agriculture
- Principles of Seed Technology
- Principles of Organic Farming
- Rainfed Agriculture and Watershed Management
- Weed Management
|
| Soil, Fertilizer & Pest Management |
- Manures, Fertilizers, and Soil Fertility Management
- Agricultural Waste Management
- Problematic Soils and Their Management
- Pests of Crops and Stored Grains and Their Management
- Crop Improvement
- Introduction to Nematology
- Diseases of Field Crops and Horticultural Crops and Their Management
|
| Agricultural Engineering & Technology |
- Introductory Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
- Farm Machinery and Power
- Renewable Energy and Green Technology
- Agricultural Informatics
- Geoinformatics and Nanotechnology for Precision Farming
- Protected Cultivation and Secondary Agriculture
- Environmental Studies and Disaster Management
- Statistical Methods
|
| Agribusiness & Rural Development |
- Agricultural Finance and Cooperation
- Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Prices
- Farm Management, Production, and Resource Economics
- Rural Sociology and Educational Psychology
- Farming System and Sustainable Agriculture
- Management of Beneficial Insects
- Livestock and Poultry Management
|
| Food Science & Post-Harvest Management |
- Basics of Food Safety and Nutrition
- Post-Harvest Management and Value Addition of Fruits and Vegetables
- Basis of Food Safety and Nutrition
- Agricultural Extension Education
- Fundamental of Genetics
- Agricultural Microbiology
- Agricultural Informatics
|
TIER 2 Syllabus:
Part A — Subject/Qualification Related (Horticulture)
| Topic |
Subtopics |
| Fruit Science |
Classification of fruits, cultivation practices, major fruit crops (Mango, Banana, Citrus), training & pruning |
| Vegetable Science |
Types of vegetables, seasonal crops, nursery raising, hybrid varieties |
| Floriculture & Landscaping |
Flower crops, ornamental plants, garden design, landscaping principles |
| Nursery Management |
Nursery techniques, seed treatment, transplanting, propagation methods |
| Plant Propagation |
Sexual & asexual methods (cutting, grafting, layering, budding) |
| Soil Science & Fertility |
Soil types, soil health, nutrients, fertilizers, manures |
| Irrigation & Water Management |
Irrigation methods (drip, sprinkler), water conservation techniques |
| Protected Cultivation |
Greenhouse, polyhouse, shade net, controlled environment farming |
| Plant Protection |
Pests, diseases, control measures, pesticides, IPM practices |
| Post-Harvest Management |
Storage, grading, packaging, transportation, shelf life |
| Garden Design & Urban Horticulture |
Parks, kitchen gardens, rooftop gardening, urban landscaping |
Part B — English Language & Comprehension
| Topic |
Subtopics |
| Reading Comprehension |
Passage-based questions, inference, tone |
| Grammar |
Error detection, sentence correction, parts of speech |
| Vocabulary |
Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution |
| Fill in the Blanks |
Context-based grammar questions |
| Sentence Improvement |
Phrase replacement, sentence structure |
| Verbal Ability |
Idioms & phrases, usage |
Quick Weightage Reference
| Section |
Marks |
Weightage |
| Part A (Horticulture) |
150 |
75% |
| Part B (English) |
50 |
25% |
DSSSB SO Horticulture Tier 2 Exam Pattern
| Subjects |
Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
| Subject/ Qualification Related Paper |
150 |
150 |
2 Hours |
| English Language & Comprehension |
50 |
50 |
— |
| Total |
200 |
200 |
2 Hours |
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