[Download] UPSC Mains-2015: General Studies Paper-3 (GS3), incl. past papers topicwise sorted; observation, analysis; 45% matter covered in Mrunal.org itself

1. Instructions
2. GS3- Mains-2015: Linear Format Question Paper
3. Observation / Analysis of GS-3 Paper
   1. First time opening
   2. Survey and SC are the kings
   3. Classic Moves
   4. Bookie Mentality
   5. Positive questions from S&T
   6. Syllabus contours now visible
   7. Misc. observations
4. Relevance of Mrunal.org aka Bogus marketing propaganda
5. Topicwise Papers since Pattern Change
   1. [Block #1] Economy
      1. Growth and Resource mobilization
      2. Economy: Budget
      3. Economy: Investment and Infrastructure
      4. Economy: Liberalization
   2. [Block#2] Agriculture
      1. Food: E-tech. in aid of farmers
      2. Food: Food processing industry
      3. Food: Land reforms
      4. Food: MSP
   3. [Block #3] Science
      1. Disaster Management
      2. Environment
      3. Science-Tech: Awareness
      4. Science-Tech: Indians
   4. [Block#4] Security
      1. Security: Extremists
      2. Security: Cyber security and social media
      3. Security- Security forces
      4. Security: Cross border
      5. Security: Org. Crime & money laundering

Instructions for UPSC Mains GS Paper3

1. There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH
2. All the questions are compulsory.
3. The number of marks carried by each question is indicated against it.
4. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which is stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA)
5. Booklet in the space provide marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
6. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
7. Answer all the questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each. Contents of the answer are more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks.

GS3- Mains-2015: Linear Format Question Paper

1. The nature of economic growth in India in described as jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.
2. Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable>
3. In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non-viable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
4. How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?
5. In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.
6. What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?
7. Craze for gold in Indians have led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, examine the merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.
8. “Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.
9. To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power producers and the related industry?
10. There is a clear acknowledement that Speecial Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.
11. What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and ‘Protection Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.
12. What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation.
13. Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government businesses.
14. India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros and cons making this database publicly available under open-source licensing
15. The Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?
16. The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.
17. Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists? Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex Court.
18. Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal security of our country?
19. The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the left wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.
20. Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation.

Observation / Analysis of GS-3 Paper

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First time opening

First time since the pattern change (2013)- questions come from following syllabus topics:

• E-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Economics of animal rearing.
• Awareness in the fields of robotics.
• Mandate of security forces (AFSPA)

Survey and SC are the kings

• From Economic survey, we see quite a few direct/indirect questions: Importance of Skill India in success of Make in India; DBT (in context of JAM trinity) etc.
• Seems for both GS2 and GS3, UPSC examiner constantly tuned into SC judgement page. From Glivec to AFSPA to Diwali Crackers- if Supreme court makes an observation, there is a good chance of it being asked in UPSC- even four years after its expiry date (Khap Panchayat http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/alerts-197-366687.html)

Classic Moves

• UPSC’s Classic move of asking about a topic one year past its expiry date: this time Namami Gange. Whole Ganga topic was hot last year because of the ongoing court cases. Finally question this time.
• Similarly, Cooperative federalism in GS2 and Digital Armed force in GS3- both came in news in 2014, because of Modi.
• The trend of asking question by magnifying the  subtopic’ from past paper- continues.
  • 2014 they ask about demographic dividend vs. dropping employability,  and 2015- they ask about skill India for make in India;
  • same way National Water policy vs Ganga pollution (2013) and Namani Gange (2015)

Bookie Mentality

• After Nepal earthquake, something should have come in GS1 or GS3 about earthquakes- and it did. UPSC asks about earthquake mitigation.
• Both ISIS and LWE asked.
• Given past two exams, something should have come from PPP/road-transport infrastructure. But 180 departure, they ask about SEZ.
• So much brouhaha about Paris summit and GST. Some question should have come, but It did not.
• Yes, GST already asked in 2013, but Even by the strategy of “magnification of subtopic”, some question should have come, but it did not.
• Falling prices of solar equipment- seems like a question falling from sky.
• Nothing from net-neutrality, or maybe they’ll ask it one year past its expiry date- in 2016.
• Although overall, barring a few questions falling from sky, much of the paper is on expected lines from the current and contemporary topics.

Positive questions from S&T

So far, UPSC has been asking “Critique” type questions from the syllabus topic: achievements of Indians in S&T and indigenization of tech. For example- Why science research declining in Indian univ? overuse of antibiotics.
But this time positive question about IRNSS- India’s own “desi-GPS”. Or how to propel robotics research.

• In 2013 they asked about how silicon tape on bat can fool Umpire decision review or the meets of fixed dose drug combination. Gradually the lunacy is diluted. Now generic questions (except a few technical such as SPS and PPS; falling prices of solar equp.)

Syllabus contours now visible

• What do they ask from economy, resource mobilization and growth topic? (1) skill-HRD (2) Growth concepts – capitalistic growth, inclusive growth, jobless growth.
• What do they ask from Budgeting topic? the focal point is usually something that’ll improve Government’s financial resources- whether DBT, GST or FRBM.
• In other words, they’re not going in to ‘technical’ topics economy such as RBI/SEBI/IRDA’s new rules for xyz things. At max some question under regulatory bodies in Paper-2, but not here in paper-3.
• What do they ask in environment each year? Two major themes (1) water (2) energy/mining.

Misc. observations

• Topic exchange program: GS3 vs. Essay: 2014: GS3 paper they asked- can capitalism drive inclusive growth? And 2015: Essay paper they asked Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
• For last two years, they’d ask minimum two questions about liberalization / FDI impact on Economy. This time nothing.
• Nothing from land reforms for two exams continuously.
• In GS2, we can see UPSC’s continuous and rising obsession for protection of fundamental rights, same happing with food processing industry in GS3.

Relevance of Mrunal.org aka Bogus marketing propaganda

Highest conversion rate this year. ~45% of the matter in GS3 was covered in the articles and lecture series.

Question	Covered in Mrunal.org AT	Credit Claimed
DBT vs. Subsidy scenario	Revision Lecture ML2/P1: policy design	12.5/12.5
Gold monetization	Prelims Lecture L6/P1: Foreign trade	12.5/12.5
Importance of skill India in make in india	L5/P5 (Pre.) & ML3 (Rev.ppt)	12.5/12.5
Digital India and farm productivity	Revision Lecture ML4/P2: E-Tech in aid	12.5/12.5
SCM and E-Commerce	Revision Lecture ML2/P2: Food processing	12.5/12.5
Contract farming	Mrunal’s food processing article series	6/12.5 because only pros given.
IRNSS	Mrunal’s article on IRNSS	6/12.5 because SPS, PPP not covered
LWE	Pratik Nayak’s Lecture IS1/P1	12.5/12.5
ISIS	Pratik Nayak’s Lecture IR1/P1	12.5/12.5
Earthquake mitigation	Sunep Jamir lecture  MRG2/P3	12.5/12.5
Total		112/250 = 45% of Paper!

Topicwise Papers since Pattern Change

In 2013, UPSC changed the syllabus-pattern of Mains examination and the number of general studies (GS) papers were increased from two to four. Out of them, GS Paper-3 deals with Economy, Agriculture, Environment, Disaster management, science technology and security. Here are the topicwise sorted questions since the pattern change:

[Block #1] Economy

Topics related to economy, infrastructure, investment

Growth and Resource mobilization

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Indian Economy (issues re: planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development, employment); Inclusive growth and issues therein

The nature of economic growth in India in described as jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.	2015
Craze for gold in Indians have led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, examine the merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.	2015
Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss.	2014
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.	2013
“Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.	2015
While we found India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain.	2014

Economy: Budget

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Government Budgeting

In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.	2015
What are the reasons for introduction of Fiscal responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their effectiveness.	2013
What is meaning of the term tax-expenditure? Taking housing sector as an example, discuss how it influences budgetary policies of the government.	2013
Discussion the rationale for introducing Good and services tax in India. Bring out critically the reasons for delay in roll out for its regime.	2013

Economy: Investment and Infrastructure

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Infrastructure (energy, ports, roads, airports, railways); Investment models

There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.	2015
The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialisation and agriculture in India?	2014
National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard.	2014
Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable>	2014
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.	2013

Economy: Liberalization

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Effects of Liberalisation on the economy; Changes in Industrial policy & their effects on industrial growth

Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base?	2014
Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalised. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long run?	2014
Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indian. Are the competing with the MNCs satisfactorily?	2013
Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multi-trade retail sector on supply chain management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.	2013
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.	2013

[Block#2] Agriculture

Topics related to farming, food processing and food security

Food: E-tech. in aid of farmers

GS3 Syllabus Topic: e-technology to aid farmers;s Technology missions;

s

How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?

2015

Food: Food processing industry

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Food processing and related industries in India (scope & significance, location, upstream-downstream requirements, supply chain management); storage, transport & marketing of agro-produce and related issues & constraints; Economics of animal-rearing

Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable>	2015
In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non-viable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.	2015
What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?	2015
There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine.	2014
India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in food industry for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.	2013

Food: Land reforms

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Land Reforms in India

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.

2013

Food: MSP

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Farm subsidies and MSP and issues therein (direct and indirect); PDS (objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping, issues of buffer stocks & food security)

“In the villages itself no form of credit organisation will be suitable>	2014
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	2013
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.	2013

[Block #3] Science

Topics related to environment, science-tech and disaster management

Disaster Management

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Disasters & Disaster Management

The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.	2015
Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.	2014
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	2013

Environment

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Environmental conservation; Environmental pollution and degradation; Environmental Impact Assessment

What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining.	2013
To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power producers and the related industry?	2015
Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth.	2014
Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.	2014
Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of conventional energy.	2013
What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project?	2013
The Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?	2015
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?	2013

Science-Tech: Awareness

GS3 Syllabus Topic: S&T developments and everyday applications & effects; Awareness in fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotech, Biotech, IPR issues

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?	2013
What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their applications in aviation and automobile industry	2013
India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros and cons making this database publicly available under open-source licensing	2015
In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets.	2014
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.	2013
How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and disadvantages of the technology.	2013
What do you understand by fixed dose drug combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their merits and demerits.	2013
What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation.	2015

Science-Tech: Indians

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Achievements of Indians in S&T; Indigenisation of technology & development of new technology

What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and ‘Protection Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.	2015
Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment.	2014
Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.	2014

[Block#4] Security

Topics related to security, crime, extremism

Security: Extremists

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Linkages between Development & spread of Extremism;

The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the left wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.	2015
Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal security of our country?	2015
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.	2013

Security: Cyber security and social media

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Basics of Cyber Security; Role of media and social-networking sites in internal security challenges; Internal security challenges through communication networks

Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of server vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government businesses.	2015
Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation.	2015
What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient built in features of a digital signature.	2013
What are social networking site and what security implications do these sites present?	2013
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.	2013

Security- Security forces

Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists? Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex Court.

2015

Security: Cross border

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Border Areas (securite challenges and management thereof); Security forces & agencies (mandate); Role of External State & Non-State actors in creating internal security challenges

International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat.	2014
The diverse nature of India as a multireligious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighbourhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.	2014
How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.	2014
In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?	2014
China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What thread does it dispose for India’s security? Critically examine.	2014
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?	2013

Security: Org. Crime & money laundering

GS3 Syllabus Topic: Linkages of Organised crime and Terrorism; Moneylaundering & Prevention

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?

2013

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