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GS 3

UPSC Mains 2015

20 questions · 240 marks · Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

GS 1GS 2GS 3Ethics
Internal Security12 Marks

Q1.Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital Armed Forces” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation.

View answerDirective: Critically evaluate
Internal Security12 Marks

Q2.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 that affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Internal Security12 Marks

Q3.Religious indoctrination via social media has resulted in Indian youth joining ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous to the internal security of our country?

View answer
Internal Security12 Marks

Q4.Human right activists constantly highlight the fact that the Armed forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human right abuses by security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists. Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by Apex Court.

View answerDirective: Critically evaluate
Disaster Management12 Marks

Q5.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.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Environment & Ecology12 Marks

Q6.Discuss 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?

View answerDirective: Discuss
Science & Technology12 Marks

Q7.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 of making the database publicly available under open source licensing.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Science & Technology12 Marks

Q8.Discuss the advantage and security implication of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in house machine based hosting for government business.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Science & Technology12 Marks

Q9.What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel the research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation.

View answerDirective: Explain
Science & Technology12 Marks

Q10.What do you understand about “Standard Positioning System” and “Precision positioning system” in the GPS era? Discuss the advantage India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Economy12 Marks

Q11.There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool for industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognising this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issue plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Economy12 Marks

Q12.To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment cost and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for thermal power producers and related industries?

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Economy12 Marks

Q13.“Success of Make in India program depends on the success of Skill India programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Economy12 Marks

Q14.The Craze for gold in India has led to a surge in the import of gold in recent years and put pressure on the balance of payments and the external value of the rupee. In view of this, examine the merits of the Gold Monetization scheme.

View answerDirective: Examine
Economy12 Marks

Q15.What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in developing the food processing industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming this bottleneck?

View answerDirective: Explain
Economy12 Marks

Q16.In what way could the replacement of price subsidy with direct benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Economy12 Marks

Q17.How can the Digital India program help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What step has the government taken in this regard?

View answerDirective: Discuss
Economy12 Marks

Q18.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.

View answerDirective: Critically evaluate
Economy12 Marks

Q19.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.

View answerDirective: Discuss
Economy12 Marks

Q20.The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

View answerDirective: Do you agree