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UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 syllabus

GS Paper 3 covers technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management. Here it is in 20 topics and 82 subtopics you can study and tick off one at a time.

Answers
descriptive
Marks
250
Time
3 hours

Contents

  1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
  2. Inclusive Growth and Issues Arising from It
  3. Government Budgeting
  4. Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation systems, storage, marketing, e-technology for farmers
  5. Farm subsidies, MSP, PDS, buffer stocks, food security, economics of animal-rearing
  6. Food Processing and Related Industries in India
  7. Land Reforms in India
  8. Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Industrial Policy
  9. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways
  10. Investment Models
  11. Science and Technology — developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
  12. Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; indigenization of technology
  13. Awareness in IT, Space, Robotics, Nano/Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights
  14. Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment
  15. Disaster and Disaster Management
  16. Linkages Between Development and Spread of Extremism
  17. Role of External State and Non-State Actors in Creating Internal Security Challenges
  18. Cyber Security, Role of Media, Money Laundering and Its Prevention
  19. Security Challenges in Border Areas, Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism
  20. Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandate

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

  1. Five-Year Plans and Planning Commission's Legacy
  2. NITI Aayog's Role and Functions
  3. Resource Mobilization — Tax and Non-Tax Revenue
  4. Growth vs Development Debate
  5. Employment Trends and Jobless Growth
  6. Gig and Platform Economy

Inclusive Growth and Issues Arising from It

  1. Financial Inclusion — JAM Trinity
  2. Regional Disparities in Development
  3. Universal Basic Income Debate
  4. Aspirational Districts Programme

Government Budgeting

  1. Types of Budgets — Line-item, Zero-based, Outcome
  2. Revenue and Capital Budget Components
  3. Fiscal, Revenue and Primary Deficits
  4. FRBM Act
  5. Tax Reforms — GST, Direct Tax Code

Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation systems, storage, marketing, e-technology for farmers

  1. Cropping Patterns — Kharif, Rabi, Zaid
  2. Major and Minor Irrigation Projects
  3. Micro-Irrigation and Watershed Development
  4. Agricultural Marketing Reforms — e-NAM
  5. e-Technology for Farmers

Farm subsidies, MSP, PDS, buffer stocks, food security, economics of animal-rearing

  1. Minimum Support Price Mechanism
  2. Public Distribution System Reforms
  3. Buffer Stock Management
  4. National Food Security Act
  5. Animal Husbandry and Livestock Economy

Food Processing and Related Industries in India

  1. Food Processing Sector — Scope and Challenges
  2. Cold Chain and Supply Chain Infrastructure
  3. Government Schemes — PM Kisan Sampada Yojana

Land Reforms in India

  1. Phases of Land Reform in India
  2. Land Ceiling and Tenancy Reforms
  3. Digitization of Land Records
  4. Land Acquisition Act 2013

Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Industrial Policy

  1. 1991 Economic Reforms
  2. Evolution of Industrial Policy since Independence
  3. Make in India and PLI Schemes
  4. MSME Sector Challenges

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways

  1. Power Sector — Generation Mix and Challenges
  2. Road and Highway Development (Bharatmala)
  3. Railways — Modernization and Challenges
  4. Ports and Sagarmala Programme
  5. Civil Aviation — UDAN Scheme

Investment Models

  1. Public-Private Partnership Models (BOT, HAM)
  2. FDI vs FII
  3. Sovereign Wealth Funds and Investment Trends

Science and Technology — developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

  1. Space Technology and ISRO Missions
  2. Defence Technology and Indigenization
  3. Biotechnology Applications
  4. Emerging Tech — AI, Quantum Computing, Blockchain

Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; indigenization of technology

  1. Notable Indian Scientists' Contributions
  2. Make in India for Defence and Space
  3. Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative

Awareness in IT, Space, Robotics, Nano/Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights

  1. Intellectual Property Rights Framework
  2. Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks
  3. Data Protection and Privacy Laws
  4. Emerging Digital Technologies

Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment

  1. Types and Sources of Pollution
  2. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
  3. International Climate Agreements
  4. Environmental Impact Assessment Process
  5. Biodiversity Conservation Efforts

Disaster and Disaster Management

  1. Disaster Management Act 2005 and NDMA
  2. Types of Natural and Man-made Disasters
  3. Disaster Risk Reduction Frameworks
  4. Case Studies of Major Disasters

Linkages Between Development and Spread of Extremism

  1. Left Wing Extremism — Causes and Government Response
  2. Development-Displacement Linkages
  3. Tribal Rights and Forest Rights Act

Role of External State and Non-State Actors in Creating Internal Security Challenges

  1. Cross-Border Terrorism
  2. State-Sponsored Terrorism
  3. Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking

Cyber Security, Role of Media, Money Laundering and Its Prevention

  1. Types of Cyber Threats
  2. Critical Infrastructure Protection
  3. National Cyber Security Policy
  4. Money Laundering and Prevention Framework

Security Challenges in Border Areas, Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism

  1. India-Pakistan Border Issues
  2. India-China Border and LAC
  3. India-Bangladesh and India-Nepal Border Issues
  4. Coastal Security

Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandate

  1. Central Armed Police Forces and Their Roles
  2. Coast Guard and Maritime Security
  3. Intelligence Agencies
  4. Defence Reforms — CDS and Theatre Commands

This is Mented's breakdown of the official UPSC syllabus into study-sized subtopics. For the syllabus as notified, see the Civil Services Examination notice on upsc.gov.in.

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