GS

1. 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 byterrorists 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

2. 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
2. What are the reasons for introduction of Fiscal responsibility and
Budget Management (FRBM) act, 2003? Discuss critically its
salient features and their effectiveness.
10
3. What is meaning of the term tax-expenditure? Taking housing
sector as an example, discuss how it influences budgetary policies
of the government.
10
4. Discussion the rationale for introducing Good and services tax in
India. Bring out critically the reasons for delay in roll out for its
10

3. regime.
investment
model
5. 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
6. 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
2. 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]
3. India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in
food industry for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the
statement.
10
4. Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multi-trade retail sector on supply
chain management in commodity trade pattern of the economy. 5
5. 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]
6. 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

4. 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
2. Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the
problems of conventional energy. 10
DISASTER
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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

5. a. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient built
in features of a digital signature.
b. How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and disadvantages
of the technology.
c. 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
2. What are social networking site and what security implications do
these sites present?
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.

6. 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
a. 9A: Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multi-trade retail sector on supply chain
management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.
b. 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
a. 16A. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient
built in features of a digital signature.
b. 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
a. 17A. What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their
applications in aviation and automobile industry

7. b. 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

8. 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
http://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
http://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 1. P. Bharath Kumar’s summary of 2nd
ARC’s crisis 10 10

9. risk
assessment
management report (sept. competition)
2. Nalinesh Chand explained how MNREGA, PMGSY
etc. can be used for risk reduction (Oct. competition)
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
http://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
http://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.
http://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.