1. Prologue
  2. GS3 Question Paper: Topicwise
    1. Economy (60m)
    2. Agro and Food Processing (50m)
    3. Environment+Disaster 45m
    4. Sci-tech 45m
    5. Internal security (50m)
  3. GS3 Question Paper: Linear
  4. GS3: Original Scan / Hindi Medium
  5. Bogus marketing propaganda

Prologue

  • For UPSC Civil services Mains-2013 Question pears: GS1 click me; for GS2 click me; GS3 given here and GS4 coming soon.
  • General studies paper 3 uses the same rules: 1 mark = 20 words; 250 marks = 5000 words within three hours.
  • nothing from cropping pattern, irrigation system
  • nothing from e-technology for farmer
  • nothing from ‘economics of animal rearing’
  • nothing from linkages of organized crime with terrorism
  • nothing from ‘mandates of various security forces’
  • From investment model, straightforward question on PPP (contrary to the fear that of some random extremely complicated theory will be asked.)
  • History repeats itself: Some candidates made mistake in interpreting ‘pink revolution’ = increasing onion production (given all the news related to Onion price rise). Similar thing happened few years back when UPSC asked about “hot money” – some candidate wrongly defined “hot money” as money invested by terrorists in share market. (in that era, P-notes, terrorist money in sharemarket and FII pullout- all three were making news, so concepts got mixed up).

Anyways, more detailed analysis later. Let’s check the paper itself.

GS3 Question Paper: Topicwise

UPSC-Mains-General-Studies-GS-Paper3

Economy (60m)

Economic vs inclusive growth
  1. With a consideration towards the strategy of inclusive growth, the new company’s bill, 2013 has indirectly made CSR a mandatory obligation. Discuss the challenges expected in its implementation in right earnest. Also discuss other provisions in the bill and their implications.
 10
Budget/taxation
  1. What are the reasons for introduction of Fiscal responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their effectiveness.
 10
  1. What is meaning of the term tax-expenditure? Taking housing sector as an example, discuss how it influences budgetary policies of the government.
 10
  1. Discussion the rationale for introducing Good and services tax in India. Bring out critically the reasons for delay in roll out for its regime.
 10
investment model
  1. Adaptation of PPP model for infrastructure development of the country has not been free from criticism. Critically discuss the pros and cons of the model.
 10
liberalization
  1. Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indian. Are the competing with the MNCs satisfactorily?
 10

Agro and Food Processing (50m)

food security
  1. Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO
 10
subsidies
  1. What are the different types of agriculture subsidies given to farmers at the national and state levels? Critically analyze the agriculture subsidy regime with the reference to the distortions created by it.
 10
[Food processing]
  1. India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in food industry for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.
 10
  1. Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multi-trade retail sector on supply chain management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.
 5
  1. Though India allowed foreign direct investment (FDI) in what is called multi brand retail through joint venture route in September 2012, the FDI even after a year, has not picket up. Discuss the reasons.
 5
[Land reforms]
  1. Establish the relationship between land reform, agriculture productivity and elimination of poverty in Indian Economy. Discussion the difficulty in designing and implementation of the agriculture friendly land reforms in India.
 10

Environment+Disaster 45m

CLEAN ENERGY
  1. What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project?
 5
  1. Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of conventional energy.
 10
DISASTER
  1. How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management. As an administrator ,what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster management
 10
CONVERSATION
  1. What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining.
 10
  1. Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?
 10

Sci-tech 45m

Public health related: 20m

  1. Bring out the circumstances in 2005 which forced amendment to section 3(d) in the Indian Patent Law, 1970. Discuss how it has been utilized by Supreme court in its judgment rejecting Novartis patent application for “Glivec“. Discuss briefly the pros and cons of the decision.
  2. What do you understand by fixed dose drug combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their merits and demerits.

Technology (physics/IT/nano/Misc.) 25m

  1. What do you understand by Umpire decision review in cricket? Discuss its various components. Explain how silicon tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system? 10m
  2. 5 x 3 = 15m
    1. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient built in features of a digital signature.
    2. How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and disadvantages of the technology.
    3. What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their applications in aviation and automobile industry

Internal security (50m)

MONEY LAUNDERING
  1. Money laundering poses a serious threat to country’s economic sovereignty. What is its significance for India and what steps are required to be taken to control this menace?
IT RELATED
  1. What are social networking site and what security implications do these sites present?
  1. Cyber warfare is considered by some defense analysts to be a larger threat than even Al Qaeda or terrorism. What do you understand by Cyber warfare? Outline the cyber threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country’s preparedness to deal with the same.
NAXAL
  1. Article 244 of Indian Constitution relates to Administration of Scheduled areas and tribal areas. Analyze the impact of non-implementation of the provisions of fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing Extremism.
BORDER MANAGEMENT
  1. How far are India’s internal security challenges linked with border management, particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar?

GS3 Question Paper: Linear

(10 marks 200 words each, unless specifically mentioned)

  1. With a consideration towards the strategy of inclusive growth, the new companies bill, 2013 has indirectly made CSR a mandatory obligation. Discuss the challenges expected in its implementation in right earnest. Also discuss other provisions in the bill and their implications.
  2. What are the reasons for introduction of Fiscal responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their effectiveness.
  3. What is meaning of the term tax-expenditure? Taking housing sector as an example, discuss how it influences budgetary policies of the government.
  4. Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO
  5. What are the different types of agriculture subsidies given to farmers at the national and state levels? Critically analyze the agriculture subsidy regime with the reference to the distortions created by it.
  6. India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in food industry for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.
  7. Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indian. Are the competing with the MNCs satisfactorily?
  8. Establish the relationship between land reform, agriculture productivity and elimination of poverty in Indian Economy. Discussion the difficulty in designing and implementation of the agriculture friendly land reforms in India.
  9. two questions: each with 5 marks, 100 words
    1. 9A: Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multi-trade retail sector on supply chain management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.
    2. 9B: Though India allowed foreign direct investment (FDI) in what is called multi brand retail through joint venture route in September 2012, the FDI even after a year, has not picket up. Discuss the reasons.
  10. Discussion the rationale for introducing Good and services tax in India. Bring out critically the reasons for delay in roll out for its regime.
  11. Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of conventional energy.
  12. Adaptation of PPP model for infrastructure development of the country has not been free from criticism. Critically discuss the pros and cons of the model.
  13. Bring out the circumstances in 2005 which forced amendment to section 3(d) in the India n Patent Law, 1970. Discuss how it has been utilized by Supreme court in its judgment rejecting Novartis patent application for “Glivec“. Discuss briefly the pros and cons of the decision.
  14. What do you understand by fixed dose drug combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their merits and demerits.
  15. What do you understand by Umpire decision review in cricket? Discuss its various components. Explain how silicon tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system?
  16. two questions: each with 5 marks, 100 words
    1. 16A. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient built in features of a digital signature.
    2. 16B. How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and disadvantages of the technology.
  17. two questions: each with 5 marks, 100 words
    1. 17A. What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their applications in aviation and automobile industry
    2. 17B. What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project?
  18. How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management. As an administrator ,what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster management
  19. What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining.
  20. Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?
  21. Money laundering poses a serious threat to country’s economic sovereignty. What is its significance for India and what steps are required to be taken to control this menace?
  22. What are social networking site and what security implications do these sites present?
  23. Cyber warfare is considered by some defense analysts to be a larger threat than even Al Qaeda or terrorism. What do you understand by Cyber warfare? Outline the cyber threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country’s preparedness to deal with the same.
  24. Article 244 of Indian Constitution relates to Administration of Scheduled areas and tribal areas. Analyze the impact of non-implementation of the provisions of fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing Extremism.
  25. How far are India’s internal security challenges linked with border management, particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar?

GS3: Original Scan / Hindi Medium

  1. My server (to download the PDF scan): Click ME
  2. Google docs (To view online): Click ME

Bogus marketing propaganda

Using the same three sacred audit rules from UPSC General Studies paper 1

GS3 Q. comment Bogus Genuine claim
FRBM In the economic survey ch.3 summary and in Kelkar fiscal deficit article, I did mention FRBM, but never gave its salient features for 200 words. 10 0
GST Namit wrote about GST challenges and benefits with timeline. (October) 10 10
CSR spending Lloyd D’Souza (September entry) gave all the pros and cons/challenges, although didn’t provide “other provisions in the bill” 10 6
food security vs WTO https://mrunal.org/2013/11/result-october-writing-competition-revision-notes-for-everyone-border-security-bilateral-relation-constitution-comparision-culture-and-more.html

  • In October Competition- Rahul, Akansha and Vikrant neatly explained this topic.
 10 10
Subsidies
  • #1: Again, in October competition, Rahul et al neatly summarized this subsidy issue (above link)
  • #2 truckload of schemes/subsidies under: this [Food processing] article
 10 10
pink revolution
  1. Poultry and Meat under [Food processing] article series
  2. shrimp farming under [Food processing] article

Some books mention “pink revolution” = shrimp/prawn. But

  1. food processing Ministry in its pib release calls pink revolution =meat and poultry.
  2. FAO says the same.
  3. Even Narendra Modi says the same (in November-speech, he said “Congies are promoting “pink revolution” by giving subsidy to slaughter houses“).

Anyways, Since the question mentions “pink revolution for nutrition and health” hence point goes to meat and poultry.

 10 10
FDI (two Qs) 5 x 2=10 Under [Food processing] FDI, Export dumping article -sufficient content to write 100 words on each. additional matter in economic survey summaries 10 10
Land reform https://mrunal.org/2013/11/land-reforms-tenancy-reform-tenancy-protection-acts-in-india-features-benefits-obstacles-limitations-impact-evaluation.html#809[Land reforms] article series given more than sufficient points on this. 10 10
Disaster risk assessment
  1. P. Bharath Kumar’s summary of 2nd ARC’s crisis management report (sept. competition)
  2. Nalinesh Chand explained how MNREGA, PMGSY etc. can be used for risk reduction (Oct. competition)
 10 10
Novartis Patent under [Public Health] series part 2 of 3, this section 3(D) “evergreening” was explained and pro and anti arguments also given.additional content under Arun Chettiyar‘s IPR article in September competition 10 10
3D printing https://mrunal.org/2013/09/science-tech-thehindu-june-july-aug-part-3-of-3-it-nano-space-national-cyber-security-policy-wi-vi-irnss-ilc-arihant-reactor.html#498under Hindu Sci-Tech compilations, this topic has been covered multiple times. Although I’ve never explained mechanism in ‘detail’, except that 3D printer uses “CAD drawing as reference” 5 3
money laundering https://mrunal.org/2013/11/result-october-writing-competition-revision-notes-for-everyone-border-security-bilateral-relation-constitution-comparision-culture-and-more.htmlIn October competition, Neha, Ravi Kumar and Nava Bharti gave to the point content for this. 10 10
digital signature Cyber Security from CERT compiled (September competition)But since it is a verbatim compilation of CERT website, hence cannot claim genuine credit under “spray and pray” rule. 10 0
Naxal vs. 5th sch. A.Anil Kumar, Praveen Katiyar et al (Sept. entry) 10 10
Border mgmt. https://mrunal.org/2013/11/result-october-writing-competition-revision-notes-for-everyone-border-security-bilateral-relation-constitution-comparision-culture-and-more.htmlBorder Securities entries from Ankush, Abhishek and others. Sufficient coverage of these porous borders. 10 10
total total out of 250 marks 145 119

This #epicsuccess was not possible without contribution by people in those three writing competition. So thank you all those who participated. Paper 4 coming soon.