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UPSC GS Paper 3 current affairs

Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management. 124 stories mapped to GS3, with the GS3 previous-year questions they help answer.

Latest GS3 stories

GS3 syllabus topics

GS3 previous-year questions 75

  1. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks What do you mean by Digital Rupee? In this context, explain the working and progress of India's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
  2. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Discuss how the contradiction between 'rapid infrastructure development' and 'disaster-risk reduction' in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examples.
  3. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Ladakh is strategically located between China and Pakistan. As a measure to win hearts and minds of locals, discuss the Border Area Development Programmes (BADP) by the Central Government and civic…
  4. 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability?
  5. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Explain how fake news and disinformation pose threat to Internal Security and Public Order in Indian context? In this regard, discuss salient features of amendments in respect of Information…
  6. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Examine the view that financial inclusion is an integral part of social and economic inclusion in a country like India. Also throw light on the usefulness of the R.B.I.'s Financial Inclusion Index.
  7. 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks Discuss the different types of subsidies and supports provided by the Government of India to agricultural sector. Examine the related issues pertaining to Agreement on Agriculture of World Trade…
  8. 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks How are startups in India promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and employment? Discuss the global and domestic challenges in their working and suggest suitable measures to overcome these challenges.
  9. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks Discuss the rationale of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. What are its achievements? In what way can the functioning and outcomes of the scheme be improved?
  10. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks What are the challenges before the Indian economy when the world is moving away from free trade and multilateralism to protectionism and bilateralism? How can these challenges be met?
  11. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?
  12. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?
  13. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the…
  14. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks India aims to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. What are the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry in India? Mention the salient features of the India Semiconductor Mission.
  15. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks Distinguish between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) with special reference to India. Why is the IHDI considered a better indicator of…
  16. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the major challenges to internal security and peace process in the North-Eastern States? Map the various peace accords and agreements initiated by the government in the past decade.
  17. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks Explain how narco-terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism.
  18. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks 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.
  19. 2024 · GS3 · 15 marks 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…
  20. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.
  21. 2024 · GS3 · 15 marks Discuss the merits and demerits of the four 'Labour Codes' in the context of labour market reforms in India. What has been the progress so far in this regard?
  22. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks Describe the context and salient features of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
  23. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks 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…
  24. 2024 · GS3 · 15 marks 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…
  25. 2023 · GS3 · 10 marks Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard.
  26. 2023 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to farm sector in India? Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to agricultural subsidies.
  27. 2023 · GS3 · 10 marks Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in the healthcare?
  28. 2023 · GS3 · 10 marks Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam…
  29. 2023 · GS3 · 15 marks The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean…
  30. 2022 · GS3 · 10 marks Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels.
  31. 2022 · GS3 · 10 marks Is inclusive growth possible under market economy? State the significance of financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India.
  32. 2022 · GS3 · 15 marks Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above…
  33. 2022 · GS3 · 15 marks Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard?
  34. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers?
  35. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.
  36. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India's water crisis?
  37. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What…
  38. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the…
  39. 2020 · GS3 · 10 marks How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
  40. 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenario.
  41. 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?
  42. 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?
  43. 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19 impacted the GST compensation fund and created new federal tensions?
  44. 2020 · GS3 · 10 marks What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?
  45. 2019 · GS3 · 10 marks What is India's plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme?
  46. 2019 · GS3 · 10 marks Do you agree with the view that steady GDP growth and low inflation have left the Indian economy in good shape? Give reasons in support of your arguments.
  47. 2019 · GS3 · 10 marks Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017.
  48. 2019 · GS3 · 15 marks Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across…
  49. 2019 · GS3 · 15 marks Elaborate the policy taken by the Government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector.
  50. 2018 · GS3 · 15 marks How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and currency manipulations in world trade affect macroeconomic stability of India?
  51. 2018 · GS3 · 15 marks India's proximity to two of the world's biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities…
  52. 2018 · GS3 · 10 marks Sikkim is the first 'Organic State' in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State?
  53. 2018 · GS3 · 10 marks "Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)". Comment on the progress made in India in this regard.
  54. 2018 · GS3 · 15 marks Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to rising cyber-crimes. The Justice B. N. Srikrishna Committee Report addresses issues related to data security. What, in…
  55. 2018 · GS3 · 10 marks Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries?
  56. 2017 · GS3 · 10 marks Account for the failure of manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive exports rather than capital-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than…
  57. 2017 · GS3 · 15 marks "Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic-Product (GDP) in the post-reform period" Give reasons. How far the recent changes in Industrial Policy are capable…
  58. 2017 · GS3 · 10 marks India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space mission, both in terms of technology and…
  59. 2017 · GS3 · 10 marks The North-Eastern region of India has been infested with insurgency for a very long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed insurgency in this region.
  60. 2017 · GS3 · 15 marks 'Climate Change' is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?
  61. 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Discuss India's achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development?
  62. 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the country?
  63. 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poor section of the Indian society?…
  64. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks "Success of Make in India program depends on the success of Skill India programme and radical labour reforms." Discuss with logical arguments.
  65. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks 'Success of 'Make in India' programme depends on the success of 'Skill India' programme and radical labour reforms.' Discuss with logical arguments.
  66. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks In what way could the replacement of price subsidy with direct benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.
  67. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks 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 industry?
  68. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks 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.
  69. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks 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 growth of services…
  70. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its spatial expanse, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010…
  71. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal…
  72. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Should the pursuit of carbon credits and clean development mechanisms set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of a carbon credit? Discuss with…
  73. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as business professions, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming…
  74. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks In 2012, the longitudinal marking for high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65 degrees east to 78 degrees east in the Arabian Sea by the International Maritime Organisation. What impact does…
  75. 2013 · GS3 · 10 marks What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the Ministry of Environment and Forests' concept of GO AND NO GO zones for coal mining sector.