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Mrunal UPSC Mains-2015 (GS3)
Mrunal UPSC Mains-2015 (GS3)
Mrunal UPSC Mains-2015 (GS3)
Mrunal http://mrunal.org
[Download] UPSC Mains2015: General Studies Paper
3 (GS3), incl. past papers topicwise sorted;
observation, analysis; 45% matter covered in
Mrunal.org itself
Posted ByMrunalOn 28/12/2015 @ 7:32 pm In QuestionPapers | 5 Comments
Instructions
GS3 Mains2015: Linear Format Question Paper
Observation / Analysis of GS3 Paper
First time opening
Survey and SC are the kings
Classic Moves
Bookie Mentality
Positive questions from S&T
Syllabus contours now visible
Misc. observations
Relevance of Mrunal.org aka Bogus marketing propaganda
Topicwise Papers since Pattern Change
[Block #1] Economy
Growth and Resource mobilization
Economy: Budget
Economy: Investment and Infrastructure
Economy: Liberalization
[Block#2] Agriculture
Food: Etech. in aid of farmers
Food: Food processing industry
Food: Land reforms
Food: MSP
[Block #3] Science
Disaster Management
Environment
ScienceTech: Awareness
ScienceTech: Indians
[Block#4] Security
Security: Extremists
Security: Cyber security and social media
Security Security forces
Security: Cross border
Security: Org. Crime & money laundering
Instructions for UPSC Mains GS Paper3
There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH
All the questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by each question is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which is
stated clearly on the cover of this QuestioncumAnswer (QCA)
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.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the QuestioncumAnswer Booklet must be
clearly struck off.
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 Mains2015: Linear Format Question Paper
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.
Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing nonfarm employment and income in
rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable>
In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture
nonviable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted
in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and
income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?
In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change
the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.
What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in industry in
India? Can ecommerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?
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.
“Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme
and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of servers visavis in
house machinebased hosting for government businesses.
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 opensource licensing
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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 GS3 Paper
First time opening
First time since the pattern change (2013) questions come from following syllabus topics:
Etechnology 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/alerts197366687.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/roadtransport
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 netneutrality, 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 “desiGPS”. 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) skillHRD (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 Paper2, but
not here in paper3.
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.
[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
2015
with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.
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, 2015
examine the merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.
Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it
often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the
2014
rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism
driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss.
With a consideration towards the strategy of inclusive growth, the new companies
bill, 2013 has indirectly made CSR a mandatory obligation. Discuss the challenges
2013
expected in its implementation in right earnest. Also discuss other provisions in the
bill and their implications.
“Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’
2015
programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.
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 2014
desperately needs come from? Explain.
Economy: Budget
GS3 Syllabus Topic: Government Budgeting
In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
2015
change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.
What are the reasons for introduction of Fiscal responsibility and Budget
Management (FRBM) act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their 2013
effectiveness.
What is meaning of the term taxexpenditure? Taking housing sector as an example,
2013
discuss how it influences budgetary policies of the government.
Discussion the rationale for introducing Good and services tax in India. Bring out
2013
critically the reasons for delay in roll out for its regime.
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
2015
whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing
the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.
The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and
resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication 2014
would it have on industrialisation and agriculture in India?
National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving
vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this 2014
regard.
Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure
2014
projects, can transfer unsuitable>
Adaptation of PPP model for infrastructure development of the country has not been
2013
free from criticism. Critically discuss the pros and cons of the model.
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
2014
growth of services visavis industry in the country? Can India become a developed
country without a strong industrial base?
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 2014
long run?
Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indian. Are the
2013
competing with the MNCs satisfactorily?
Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multitrade retail sector on supply chain
2013
management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.
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 2013
not picket up. Discuss the reasons.
[Block#2] Agriculture
[Block#2] Agriculture
Topics related to farming, food processing and food security
Food: Etech. in aid of farmers
GS3 Syllabus Topic: etechnology to aid farmers;s Technology missions;
How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity
2015
and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?
Food: Food processing industry
GS3 Syllabus Topic: Food processing and related industries in India (scope &
significance, location, upstreamdownstream requirements, supply chain management);
storage, transport & marketing of agroproduce and related issues & constraints;
Economics of animalrearing
Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing nonfarm employment and income
2015
in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable>
In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made
agriculture nonviable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land 2015
leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in industry
2015
in India? Can ecommerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?
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 2014
also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine.
India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in food industry
2013
for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.
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 2013
implementation of the agriculture friendly land reforms in India.
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 2013
it has generated in WTO
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 2013
to the distortions created by it.
[Block #3] Science
Topics related to environment, sciencetech 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. 2015
Discuss various aspects.
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
2014
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.
How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for predisaster management.
As an administrator ,what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster 2013
management
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
2013
and forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining.
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 2015
producers and the related industry?
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 2014
carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth.
Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project
is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coalfired 2014
thermal plants located at Pitheads.
Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of
2013
conventional energy.
What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it
2013
different from any other hydroelectricity project?
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 2015
preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?
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
2013
management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of
hazardous wastes in India?
ScienceTech: 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
2013
components. Explain how silicon tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system?
What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their
2013
applications in aviation and automobile industry
India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing
formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a
2015
powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros
and cons making this database publicly available under opensource licensing
In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a
source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and 2014
trade secrets.
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
2013
judgment rejecting Novartis patent application for “Glivec”. Discuss briefly the pros
and cons of the decision.
How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and
2013
disadvantages of the technology.
What do you understand by fixed dose drug combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their
2013
merits and demerits.
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 2015
substantive and gainful innovation.
ScienceTech: 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 2015
ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.
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 2014
universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment.
Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the
contributors to the emergence of drugresistant diseases in India? What are the
2014
available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues
involved.
[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 2015
strategies needed to win the left wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens
back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.
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 2015
security of our country?
Article 244 of Indian Constitution relates to Administration of Scheduled areas and
tribal areas. Analyze the impact of nonimplementation of the provisions of fifth 2013
schedule on the growth of Left Wing Extremism.
Security: Cyber security and social media
GS3 Syllabus Topic: Basics of Cyber Security; Role of media and socialnetworking sites
in internal security challenges; Internal security challenges through communication
networks
Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of server visavis
2015
inhouse machinebased hosting for government businesses.
Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital
Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security 2015
Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation.
What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient
2013
built in features of a digital signature.
What are social networking site and what security implications do these sites
2013
present?
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
2013
threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country’s
preparedness to deal with the same.
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? 2015
Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex
Court.
Security: Cross border
GS3 Syllabus Topic: Border Areas (securite challenges and management thereof);
Security forces & agencies (mandate); Role of External State & NonState 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
2014
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.
The diverse nature of India as a multireligious and multiethnic society is not
immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighbourhood. Discuss 2014
along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.
How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the
2014
strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.
In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the highrisk areas for piracy was moved from
65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What 2014
impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?
China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic
2014
corridor. What thread does it dispose for India’s security? Critically examine.
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 2013
Myanmar?
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 2013
menace?
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