FCI AGM Phase I cheat sheet

Number series: check differences, ratios, squares/cubes, alternating patterns, and prime-based sequences before assuming a single rule.

Coding-decoding: letter positions A=1 to Z=26; reverse position = 27 − forward position; apply shift patterns consistently.

Blood relations: draw a family tree with gender and generation markers; never assume gender from a name or relation word alone.

Syllogism: use Venn diagrams; a conclusion is valid only if true in every possible diagram consistent with the premises.

Direction sense: fix north upward; right turn = clockwise 90°, left turn = anticlockwise 90°; track net displacement with Pythagoras.

Seating arrangement: for circular arrangements, fix one person to break rotational symmetry; clockwise and anticlockwise orders are distinct.

Analogy and classification: identify the relation type (part-whole, cause-effect, synonym, worker-tool) before choosing the pair.

Data sufficiency: evaluate each statement independently and then together; do not solve fully if sufficiency can be decided earlier.

Percentage change: successive changes of a% and b% give net change = a + b + ab/100 percent.

Profit and loss: profit% = (SP − CP)/CP × 100; discount% = (MP − SP)/MP × 100; SP = MP × (1 − discount/100).

Simple interest = P × R × T / 100; compound interest = P[(1 + R/100)^T − 1] for annual compounding.

Time-speed-distance: distance = speed × time; for same distance, time is inversely proportional to speed.

Boats and streams: downstream speed = boat + stream; upstream speed = boat − stream; boat speed = (down + up)/2.

Time and work: if A finishes in x days and B in y days, together they take xy/(x + y) days; use LCM of days for efficiency.

Averages: new average after adding a value = (old sum + value)/(old count + 1); for equal additions, average shifts by the same amount.

Mensuration: area of circle = πr²; volume of cylinder = πr²h; surface area of sphere = 4πr²; volume of cone = (1/3)πr²h.

Subject-verb agreement: singular subjects take singular verbs; ignore parenthetical phrases between subject and verb.

Articles: use 'a' before consonant sounds, 'an' before vowel sounds; use 'the' for specific or unique references.

Prepositions: 'since' with a point in time, 'for' with a duration; 'between' for two, 'among' for more than two.

Tenses: present perfect (has/have + past participle) links past action to present; past perfect (had + past participle) marks the earlier of two past actions.

Active to passive: object becomes subject; verb becomes be + past participle; retain tense and number.

Direct to indirect speech: change pronouns to reflect speaker, shift tense back one step, and adjust time/place words (now → then, here → there).

Cloze and comprehension: read the full passage first; answer must be supported by the text, not by general knowledge.

Idioms and phrases: meaning is figurative; for example, 'a piece of cake' means something very easy, not a food item.

FCI was established in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act, 1964; headquarters at New Delhi.

FCI operates through five zones: North, South, East, West, and North-East, each headed by a General Manager.

Constitutional articles: Article 14 equality before law; Article 19 freedoms; Article 21 life and personal liberty; Article 32 writ jurisdiction of Supreme Court.

Fundamental Duties are in Article 51A; Directive Principles of State Policy are in Part IV (Articles 36–51).

Indian agriculture: wheat is a rabi crop; rice is a kharif crop; pulses are major sources of protein.

National Food Security Act, 2013: provides subsidized food grains to eligible households through the Public Distribution System.

Reserve Bank of India was established in 1935; it controls monetary policy and issues currency notes except one-rupee notes.

Important days: National Food Security Day is observed on 20 November; World Food Day on 16 October.

Static GK: know capitals, currencies, and national animals/birds of major countries; India's national animal is the tiger, national bird the peacock.

Indian states: know capitals and formation years; for example, Telangana was formed in 2014 with Hyderabad as capital.

Current affairs: track appointments to constitutional posts (President, RBI Governor, Chief Election Commissioner) and their terms.

International organizations: UN headquarters in New York; WTO in Geneva; FAO in Rome; IMF in Washington, D.C.

Sports: know host nations of recent Olympic Games, Cricket World Cups, and Asian Games; current champions and venues.

Awards: Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian award; Param Vir Chakra is the highest wartime military decoration.

Schemes: PM-KISAN provides income support to farmers; PM Fasal Bima Yojana is crop insurance; Ayushman Bharat provides health cover.

Geography: longest river in India is the Ganga; largest state by area is Rajasthan; Tropic of Cancer passes through eight Indian states.

Food spoilage: microbial growth is favored by moisture, warmth, and neutral pH; drying, salting, and refrigeration reduce spoilage.

Water activity (aw): bacteria need aw above 0.91; most molds grow above 0.80; below 0.60 most microorganisms cannot grow.

Grain storage: safe moisture content for wheat is about 12–13%; for rice about 13–14%; higher moisture promotes mold and aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin is produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus; it is a health hazard in improperly stored groundnuts and cereals.

Cold storage: refrigeration slows microbial growth but does not kill microorganisms; deep freezing at −18°C or below preserves food longer.

Food additives: preservatives include benzoic acid and sorbic acid; antioxidants include BHA and BHT; colors and flavors are regulated.

Quality control: HACCP identifies critical control points; ISO 22000 is a food safety management standard; FSSAI regulates food safety in India.

Adulteration tests: starch in milk detected by iodine; chalk in flour by acid; metanil yellow in turmeric by hydrochloric acid.

Procurement cycle: indent → tender or quotation → evaluation → purchase order → receipt → inspection → payment.

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is announced by the Government of India based on CACP recommendations to protect farmers from price falls.

FCI procurement: wheat and paddy are procured at MSP; quality specifications include moisture, foreign matter, and damaged grains.

Buffer stock: FCI maintains buffer stocks to ensure food security and price stability; stocks are released through Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).

Public Distribution System (PDS): fair price shops distribute subsidized grains; ration cards identify eligible households.

Supply chain: bullwhip effect is demand distortion upstream; causes include batch ordering, price fluctuations, and shortage gaming.

Inventory management: Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) = √(2DS/H), where D is annual demand, S is ordering cost, and H is holding cost per unit per year.

Warehouse layout: FIFO (first in, first out) reduces deterioration; proper stacking, fumigation, and pest control preserve grain quality.