In 2013, the syllabus of UPSC Mains underwent a major overhaul. Two papers of General Studies (GS) were replaced by four new papers of GS thus increasing the weightage of GS papers in overall UPSC Mains exam. GS3 is one of the four GS papers.

UPSC Mains GS3 Syllabus

As per UPSC notification, UPSC Mains GS3 Syllabus broadly covers topics like Economic Development, Technology, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. These topics have been further provided in details covering following sub-topics:

Economic Development 

• Indian Economy and issues relating to 
  • planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
• Government Budgeting
• Agriculture
  • Major crops and cropping patterns in various parts of the country, 
  • Different types of irrigation and  irrigation systems storage, 
  • Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related  constraints 
  • e-technology in the aid of farmers
  • Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices 
  • Public Distribution System
    • Objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping 
    • Issues of buffer stocks and food security 
  • Technology missions 
  • Economics of animal-rearing
• Food processing and related industries in India
  • Scope’ and significance, 
  • Location, upstream and downstream requirements, 
  • Supply chain management
• Land reforms in India
• Effects of liberalization on the economy 
  • Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
• Infrastructure
  • Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models

Technology 

• Developments in Science and Technology and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology 
  • Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
• Awareness in the fields of 
  • IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology 
  • Issues relating to intellectual property rights

Biodiversity & Environment 

• Conservation, 
• Environmental pollution and degradation, 
• Environmental impact assessment.

Security 

• Linkages between development and spread of extremism
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; 
• Money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas 
• Linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Disaster Management

• Disaster and disaster management.

Trends in GS 3 Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

While preparing any subject for UPSC Mains Exam, it is very important for aspirants to look at the trends in PYQs of Mains along with the syllabus. While going through the UPSC Mains GS3 Syllabus mentioned above you will get to know which topic is important for GS 3 Mains. But knowing only about the topics is not enough as the topics mentioned in the UPSC Mains GS3 Syllabus are very broad and it is not feasible to cover everything related to those topics.

Here comes the importance of analysing the trends in GS 3 Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Analyzing the trends in GS 3 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) holds immense significance while preparing for the prestigious civil services examination. This practice offers several key advantages:

• Understanding Exam Pattern: It helps you to comprehend the evolving nature and patterns of the GS 3 Mains paper. It also provides insights about question types and the weightage given to different subjects.
• Identifying Important Topics: By studying past question papers, you can identify recurring themes and important topics. By recognizing the core areas that UPSC tends to focus on, you can prioritize your preparation and allocate time efficiently.
• Adapting to Changing Requirements: Analyzing trends in GS 3 Previous Year Questions will allow you to stay updated about any shifts in the examination pattern and modify your preparation accordingly.
• Boosting Confidence: Familiarity with the types of questions asked and having successfully attempted them during practice builds a sense of readiness and reduces anxiety during the actual examination.

In essence, analyzing the trends in GS 3 Previous Year Questions is a strategic approach that will empower you with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the challenges of one of the most demanding examinations in the world.

Analysis of the trends in GS 3 Previous Year Questions reveals some prominent trends which are as follows:

• Number of questions asked from different sections remained constant (since 2019):

As seen in above table the number of questions from five major sections of GS 3 has remained constant over the past 5 years. A slight change in number of questions in some sections above is also due questions that are cross-sectional in nature and can be included under more than one section. A further detailed categorization of questions from past 5 years is given below:

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
  1. Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (2019) 
  2. Do you agree with the view that steady GDP growth and low inflation have left the Indian economy in good shape? Give reasons in support of your arguments. (Answer in 150 words) (2019) 
  3. Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP? (2020) 
  4. Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19 impacted the GST compensation fund and created new federal tensions? (2020) 
  5. Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015. (2021) 
  6. Do you agree that the Indian economy has recently experienced V- shaped recovery? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2021)" 
  7. Economic growth in the recent past has been led by increase in labour activity.” Explain this statement. Suggest the growth pattern that will lead to creation of more jobs without compromising labour productivity. (2022) 
  8. What is the status of digitalization in the Indian Economy? Examine the problems faced in this regard and suggest improvements. (2023) 
  9. Most of the unemployment in India as structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to complete unemployment in the country and suggest improvements. (2023)

• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  1. It is argued that the strategy of inclusive growth is intended to meet the objectives of inclusiveness and sustainability together. Comment on this statement. (2019) 
  2. Explain intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development. (2020) 
  3. Is inclusive growth possible under market economy? State the significance of financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India. (2022) 
  4. Distinguish between ‘care economy’ and ‘monetized economy’. How can care economy by brought into monetized economy through women empowerment? (2023)

• Government Budgeting.
  1. The public expenditure management is a challenge to the government of India in the context of budget making during the post-liberalization period. Clarify it. (2019) 
  2. Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the components of both these Budgets. (2021)

• Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country,
  1. How far is Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production? (2019) 
  2. What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India? (2020) 
  3. What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (2021) 
  4. What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022) 
  5. Explain the changes in cropping pattern in India in the context of changes in consumption pattern and marketing conditions. (2023)
• Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage,
  1. Elaborate the impact of National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas. (2019) 
  2. Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenario. (2020) 
  3. How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India’s water crisis? (2021) 
• Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints 
  1. What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India? (2020) 
  2. What are the main bottlenecks in upstream and downstream process of marketing of agricultural products in India ? (2022) 
• E-technology in the aid of farmers.
  1. How was India benefitted from the contributions of Sir M.Visvesvaraya and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan in the fields of water engineering and agricultural science respectively? (2019) 
  2. How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers? (2019) 
  3. How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it. (2023) 

• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices;
  1. What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to farm sector in India? Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to agricultural subsidies. (2023)
• Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping;
  1. What are the reformative steps taken by the government to make food grain distribution system more effective? (2019) 
  2. What are the major challenges of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India? How can it be made effective and transparent? (2022) 
• Issues of buffer stocks and food security;
  1. What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India? (2021) 
• Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
  1. Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non- farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India. (2015) 

• Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
  1. Elaborate the policy taken by the government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector. (2019) 
  2. What are the challenges and opportunities of food processing sector in the country? How can income of the farmers be substantially increased by encouraging food processing? (2020) 
  3. Elaborate the scope and significance of the food processing industry in India. (2022)

• Land reforms in India.
  1. How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers? (2021) 
  2. State the objectives and measures of land reforms in India. Discuss how land ceiling policy on landholding can be considered as an effective reform under economic criteria. (2023)

• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
  1. Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard. (2023)

• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
  1. Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose? (2020) 
  2. Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth. “Discuss in the light of India’s experience. (2021) 
  3. Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain. (2022)

• Investment models
  1. Explain the meaning of investment in an economy in terms of capital formation. Discuss the factors to be considered while designing a concession agreement between a public entity and a private entity. (2020) 
  2. Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. (2022)

• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
  1. COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic. (2020) 
  2. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies? (2020) 
  3. The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings? (2021) 
  4. The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them? (2022) 
  5. Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage. (2023) 
  6. The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? (2023)

• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
  1. What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme? (2019) 
  2. What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines? (2022)
  3. What is the main task of India’s third mood mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (2023)

• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  1. How is the government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? (2019) 
  2. What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in health sector? (2020) 
  3. What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of society? (2021) 
  4. How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (2021) 
  5. Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes ? What are the key goals of this mission ? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (2022) 
  6. Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in healthcare? (2023)

• Conservation,
  1. Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (2019) 
  2. What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? (2020) 
  3.  Each year a large amount of plant material, cellulose, is deposited on the surface of Planet Earth. What are the natural processes this cellulose undergoes before yielding carbon dioxide, water and other end products? (2022) 
  4. "Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. (2023) 
• Environmental pollution and degradation 
  1. Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples. (2019) 
  2. What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India? (2020) 
  3. Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021, when this idea was first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? (2021) 
  4. Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards? (2021) 
  5. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (2021) 
  6. Discuss in detail the photochemical smog emphasizing its formation, effects and mitigation. Explain the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol. (2022) 
  7. Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (2022)
  8. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global era level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean Region? (2023) 
  9. What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (2023)
• Environmental impact assessment.
  1. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (2020) 

• Disaster and disaster management.
  1. Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. (2019) 
  2. Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation in the case of landslides. (2019) 
  3. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020) 
  4. "Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. (2021) 
  5. Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy. (2021) 
  6. Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples. (2022) 
  7. Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? (2022) 
  8. Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. (2023)

• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
  1. What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India? What strategy should Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (2020) 
  2. Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism. (2022)

• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
  1. The banning of ‘Jamaat-e – islaami’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize influence of OGWs. (2019) 
  2. Analyse the multidimensıonal challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat these threats. (2021)

• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; 
  1. What is CyberDome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India. (2019) 
  2. Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace. (2020) 
  3. Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks. (2021) 
  4. What are the different elements of cyber security? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy. (2022) 

• Money-laundering and its prevention
  1. Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels. (2021) 
  2. Give out the major sources of terror funding in India and the efforts being made to curtail these sources. In the light of this, also discuss the aim and objective of the ‘No Money for Terror (NMFT)’ Conference recently held at New Delhi in November 2022. (2023)

• Security challenges and their management in border areas 
  1. Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also discuss the steps to counter the challenges. (2019) 
  2. For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals. (2020) 
  3. What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security. (2022) 
  4. Winning of ‘Heart and Minds’ in terrorism-affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir. (2023) 
  5. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms/ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (2023)

• Linkages of organized crime with terrorism
  1. Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism. (2021) 
  2. Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels. (2022) 

• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
  1. Indian government has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful activities (Prevention) act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA Act. Analyze the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations. (2019) 
  2. Analyse internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (2020) 
  3. What are the internal security challenges being faced by India? Give out the role of Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies tasked to counter such threats. (2023)

By looking at the PYQs from various sub-sections we can identify the minute details about the different aspects being asked about each topic by UPSC. For example, if you look at the questions from the Security section, most of the questions contain one common aspect i.e. ‘to suggest measures’ related to the issue asked in the question. Identifying such unique trends in PYQs is very helpful in streamlining our preparation and eliminating a lot of unnecessary content that is available in the market.