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Subject pillar · 2586 pieces

GS III

General Studies Paper III is the broadest paper in the Mains — economy, agriculture, science and technology, environment, internal security and disaster management, all inside 250 marks. It is also the paper that moves fastest year…

2,586Total pieces
1,119Study articles
1,467Current affairs
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About this pillar

What's covered

General Studies Paper III is the broadest paper in the Mains — economy, agriculture, science and technology, environment, internal security and disaster management, all inside 250 marks. It is also the paper that moves fastest year to year.
Because so much of Paper III is current, the temptation is to chase news. That is the wrong instinct. The questions reward a stable framework — how a policy instrument works, who it affects, what the trade-off is — into which this year's development can be slotted. A candidate who understands how monetary transmission works will handle any rate decision; one who memorised the last decision will not.
Everything below is organised so the framework comes first and the example second.

Official UPSC CSE syllabus

UPSC Syllabus for GS III

  • Main Examination — General Studies Paper III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
  • Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  • Government Budgeting.
  • Major crops — 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.
  • Science and Technology — developments 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 and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
  • Disaster and disaster management.
  • 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.

Source: Official UPSC Civil Services Examination notification — Preliminary & Main Examination syllabus.

Editor's picks

Start with these

The newest pieces on GS III. Start here if this pillar is new to you.

News in GS III

Latest current affairs

The 10 newest Why-in-News pieces filed under GS III, each with GS mapping and a practice question.

All GS III current affairs →
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Everything in GS III

All GS III pieces

The complete index of all 2,586 pieces filed under GS III, newest first. It includes the highlights above.

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