UPSC Mains 2024 GS 3 Question Paper PDF | Download Now

Today is the 3rd day of Mains[written] stage of the prestigious UPSC CSE exam 2024. Today, in the first session, GS 3 was conducted between 9 AM to 12 PM. In the 2nd session, gs paper 4[ethics and integrity] will be conducted. The UPSC Mains 2024 GS 3 Question Paper PDF is already out of exam halls now. You can download the PDF from the below given link or read the questions as given below:

Download UPSC Mains 2024 GS 3 Question Paper PDF

Questions 

1) Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on Social Services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?(150 words) 10

2) What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of RBI to control this type of inflation.  10 (Answer in 150 words)

3) What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words) 10

4) Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India. (Answer in 150 words) 10

5) What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.  (Answer in 150 words) 10

6) What is the technology being employed for electronic toll collection on highways. What are its advantages and limitations? What are the proposed changes that will make this process seamless? Would this transition carry any potential hazard? (Answer in 150 words) 10

7) Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government’s initiative in this regard. (Answer in 150 words) 10

8) What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details. (Answer in 150 words) 10

9) Explain how narco-terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism. (Answer in 150 words) 10

10) Describe the context and salient feature of Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023. (Answer in 150 words) 10

11) Discuss the merits and demerits of the four Labour Codes’ in the context of labor market reforms in India. What has been the progress so far in this regard?  (Answer in 250 words) 15

12) What is the need for expanding the regional air connectivity in India? In this context, discuss the government’s UDAN Scheme and its achievements. (Answer in 250 words) 15

13) What are the major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management.  (Answer in 250 words) 15

14) Elucidate the importance of buffer stocks for stabilizing agricultural prices in India. What are the challenges associated with the storage of buffer stock? Discuss.

15) The world is facing an acute shortage of clean and safe alternative freshwater. What are the technologies which can solve this crisis? Briefly discuss any three such technologies, citing their key merits and demerits. (Answer in 250 words) 15

16) what are asteroids? How real is the threat of them causing extinction of life? What strategies have been developed to prevent such a catastrophe? (Answer in 250 words) 15

17) What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). (Answer in 250 words) 15

18) Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods. (Answer in 250 words) 15

19) India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan, fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development being undertaken in these areas under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Border Infrastructure and
Management (BIM) Scheme. (Answer in 250 words) 15

20) Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies to address the problem. (Answer in 250 words) 15

Detailed Pattern of UPSC Mains 2024 GS 3 Question Paper

The UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 3 (GS Paper 3) focuses on Economic Development, Technology, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. This paper is a critical part of the Civil Services Mains Examination, testing candidates’ understanding of various issues affecting India’s economy, technological growth, and national security.

Key Details of GS Paper 3

• Total Marks: 250
• Duration: 3 hours
• Type of Questions: Descriptive, requiring essay-type answers.
• Number of Questions: Typically, 20 questions divided into two sections (Section A and Section B).
• Word Limit:
  • 10-mark questions: 150 words.
  • 15-mark questions: 250 words.

UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 Syllabus Overview

GS Paper 3 focuses on Economic Development, Technology, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. Here’s a concise overview of the topics:

Indian Economy & Economic Development:

• • Indian Economy and issues related to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment.
  • Government Budgeting and related issues.
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  • Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation, transport, and market structures.

Agriculture & Food Security:

• • Issues related to farm subsidies, minimum support prices (MSP), public distribution system (PDS), food security, and land reforms.

Science & Technology:

• • Developments and applications of science and technology.
  • Achievements of Indians in science and technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
  • Awareness in fields such as IT, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology.

Infrastructure:

• • Infrastructure: Energy, ports, roads, airports, railways.
  • Investment models (Public-Private Partnership).

Environment & Ecology:

• • Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation.
  • Environmental impact assessment.
  • Climate change and related policies.

Disaster Management:

• • Disaster management, vulnerability, and resilience.
  • Disaster risk mitigation strategies.

Internal Security:

• • Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking in internal security challenges.
  • Basics of cybersecurity, money laundering, and its prevention.
  • Security challenges and their management in border areas.