UPSC Mains General Studies-III Syllabus

(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.
Government Budgeting.
Major Crops – Cropping Patterns in various parts of the country, – Different Types of Irrigation and Irrigation Systems; Storage, Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues and Related Constraints; E-technology in the aid of farmers.
Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices; Public Distribution System – Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology Missions; Economics of Animal-Rearing.
Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Significance, Location, Upstream and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management.
Land Reforms in India.
Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Investment Models.
Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.
Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Disaster and Disaster Management.
Linkages between Development and Spread of Extremism.
Role of External State and Non-state Actors in creating challenges to Internal Security.
Challenges to Internal Security through Communication Networks, Role of Media and Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges, Basics of Cyber Security; Money-Laundering and its prevention.
Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas – Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism.
Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Indian Economy & Issues Relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development & Employment

Planning

Meaning of Planning
Need for Planning in Economic Development
Imperative Vs. Indicative Vs. Structural Planning
Objectives of Planning
Indian Planning History
Techniques of Indian Planning
Achievements & Failures of Indian Planning
Shortcomings of Planning in India
NITI Aayog Vs. Planning Commission

Mobilisation of Resources

Types of Resources – Financial, Human, Natural etc.
Need for Resource Mobilisation
Role of Savings & Investment
Government Resources – Tax & Non-Tax ( or Fiscal & Monetary Policy)
Banking Sector & NBFCs
Capital Market
External Sources – FDI, ODA etc.
Public Borrowing & Management of Public Debt
Challenges in Mobilising Resources for Development
Steps That Can Be Taken

Growth & Development

Meaning of Development & Growth
Difference between Development & Growth

Determinants of Growth & Development
Importance & Limitations of Economic Growth
Jobless Growth
Pro-Poor Growth
Balanced & Unbalanced Growth
Dimensions of Development
Measurement & Indicators of Development
Approaches to Development:
- Market-Based Approach
- Role of State and Planned Approach
- Mixed Economy Approach
Challenges to Development & Growth

Employment

Nature – Rural vs. Urban, Formal Vs. Informal
Terms Related to Employment – Labour Force Participation Rate, Employment Rate, Working Age Population etc.
Sectoral Distribution of Employment
Quality of Employment
Causes of Lack of Employment
Restructuring of Workforce
Government Initiatives for Generating Employment

Inclusive Growth & Issues Arising From It
What is Inclusive Growth? Elements of Inclusive Growth Need for Inclusive Growth	Indicators of Inclusive Growth Challenges in Achieveing Inclusive Growth in India 12th FYP & Inclusive Growth

Government Budgeting

Need for Government Budgeting Components of the Government Budget

Revenue Account – Revenue Receipts & Revenue Expenditure
Capital Account – Capital Receipts & Capital Expenditure

Changes in Budgetary Process in 2017 Measures of Government Deficit

Revenue Deficit

Fiscal Deficit
Primary Deficit

Fiscal Policy Deficit Reduction FRBM Act Other Types of Budgets – Outcome, Zero-Based, etc.

Land Reforms in India
Rationale for Land Reforms Components of Land Reforms Impact of Land Reforms Problems in Implementaion of Land Reforms	Success of Land Reforms Recent Initiatives – Land Leasing, Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, etc.

Effects of Liberalization on the Economy
Phase of Liberalisation	Impact on Different Sectors of the Economy

Changes In Industrial Policy & their Effects on Industrial Growth
Industrial Policy Before 1991 Industrial Policy After 1991 Phases of Industrial Growth Linkage Between Economic Reforms and Economic Outcomes	Weaknesses and Failures of Industrial Policies National Manufacturing Policy SEZs Make in India

Infrastructure
Energy Ports Roads	Airports Railways

Investment Models

Need for Investment Sources of Investment Types of Investment Models

Domestic Investment Models
- Public Investment Model
- Private Investment Model
- Public Private Participation Investment Model

Foreign Investment Models:
- FDI
- FII, etc.
Sector Specific Investment Models
Cluster Based Investment Models

Investment Models Followed by India

AGRICULTURE

Major Crops Cropping Patterns in Various Parts of the Country
Importance of Cropping Pattern Types of Cropping Pattern Reasons Why Cropping Pattern Differ	Factors Influencing Cropping Pattern Emerging Trends in Cropping Pattern Long-Run Effects of Current Trends in Cropping Pattern

Different Types of Irrigation & Irrigation Systems Storage
Modes of Irrigation Sources of Irrigation Choosing an Irrigation System Problems Associated with Irrigation	Progress of Irrigation Under Five Year Plans Environmental Effects of Irrigation Need for Systemic Irrigation Reforms Need for a National Water Policy

Transport & Marketing of Agricultural Produce & Issues & Related Constraints
Process of Agricultural Marketing – Marketing Channels, Functionaries, Costs, etc. Role of FCI Regulated Markets Warehousing Cooperative Marketing Shortcomings of Current Agricultural Marketing Process	APMCs National Agricultutral Market (NAM) Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) Contract Farming Futures Trading in Agricultural Commodities

E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers, Technology Missions

Issues Related to Direct & Indirect Farm Subsidies & Minimum Support Prices
Agricultural Pricing Policy Rationale for Subsidies Types of Subsidies	Effectiveness, Extent & Problems of Subsisies Clash with WTO Agreements

Public Distribution System Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping
Objectices/Significance Functioning – Fair Price Shops, FCI, Ration Cards, Aadhar Linking, etc. Shortcomings or Problems Associated with PDS	Need to Improve the Working of PDS Measures to Improve the Loopholes & Lacunaes Associated with PDS Steps Taken by Governement in this Regard

Issues of Buffer Stocks & Food Security
Buffer Stock – Objectives & Norms in India Impact of Government Procurement & Distribution	Need for Food Security NFSM And othe Food Security Realted Government Initiatives

Economics of Animal-Rearing

Food Processing & Related Industries in India
Scope & Potential in India Significance Location Constraints and Challenges	Upstream & Downstream Requirements Supply Chain Management Government Policies and Initiatives – SAMPADA, 12th FYP, etc.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Developments & their Applications & Effects in Everyday Life

Chemicals in Food

Artificial Sweetening Agents
Food Preservatives

Drugs

Antacid
Antihistamines
Neurologically Active Drugs
- Tranquilizers
- Analgesics
Antimicrobials
- Antibiotics
- Antiseptic and Disinfectant

Anti-Fertility Drugs, etc.

Cleansing Agents

Soaps
Synthetic detergents

Glass Water Softener Water Purification/Disinfection Microwave Oven, etc.

Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology
Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Satyendra Nath Bose Meghnad Saha Homi Jehangir Bhabha Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar	A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Vikram Sarabhai Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Har Gobind Khorana Tessy Thomas C.N.R. Rao

Indigenization of Technology & Developing New Technology
IT & Computers Space Nanotechnology Biotechnology	Robotics Defence Nuclear

Awareness in Different Fields
IT & Computers Space Nanotechnology Biotechnology	Robotics Defence Nuclear

Issues Relating to Intellectual Property Rights
Need for Intellectual Property Rights Types of IPR IPR Regime in India	International Agreements Related to IPRs Geographical Indicators Recent Issues – Evergreening, Compuslory Licensing, Prominent Cases etc.

BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENT

Conservation

What is Biodiversity? Types of Biodiversity – Genetic, Species, Ecosystem, etc. Importance of Biodivesirty – Ecosystem Services, Bio Resources of Economic Importance, Social Benefits etc. Resasons for Loss of Biodiversity

Conservation

In-situ & Ex-Situ
Eco-Sensitive Areas
Ecological Hotspots
National Guidelines, Legislations & Other Programmes.
International Agreements & Groupings

Environmental Pollution & Degradation

Types of Pollution & Pollutants Impact of Pollution & Degradation

Ozone Layer Depletion and Ozone Hole
Greenhouse Gas Effect & Global Warming
Eutrophication
Desertification
Acid Rain
Hazardous Waste, etc.

Causes/Sources of Pollution & Degradation Prevention & Control of Pollution & Degradation National Environment Agencies, Legislations and Policies International Environment Agencies & Agreements

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
What is EIA? Indian Guidelines & Legislations EIA Process	Need & Benefits of EIA Shortcomings of EIA in India Measures to Make EIA Effective

Disaster Management
Types of Disasters Management of Disasters	Community Level Disaster Management Governement Initiatives on Disaster Management

SECURITY

Linkages Between Development & Spread of Extremism
Factors Responsible for Spread of Extremism Steps that State can Taken to Reduce the Spread of Extremism due to Underdevelopment	Naxalism

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

Threats from Non-State Actors

J&K Separatism
Left Wing Extremism
North East Insurgency
Terrorism in Hinterland & Border Areas
Right Wing Terrorism

Reasons for Spread of Terrorism State Sponsored Terrorism

Institutional Framework to Tackle Challenge of Internal Security

NIA
NATGRID
MAC
UAPA
TADA
POTA
NCTC

Challenges to Internal Security Through Communication Networks
Role of Media & Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges Challenges in Managing Social Media	Steps That can be Taken

Basics of Cyber Security
Cyber Security Threats to Indian Cyber Security Steps taken by India	International Cooperation on Cyber Security Cyber Warfare Terms Associated with Cyber Security

Money-Laundering & its Prevention
Process of Money Laundering Impact of Money Laundering Challenges to Tackle Money Laundering	Steps to Counter Money Laundering Terms Related To Money Laundering

Security Challenges & their Management in Border Areas
Challenges in Managing Border Security – Coastal & Terrestrial Land Boundary Disputes with Neighbours	India’s Policy in Border Area Security Management

Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism
Types of Organised Crime Challenges in Controlling Organised Crime	Indian Context – Link between Organised Crime & Terrorism

Various Security Forces & Agencies & Their Mandate
Central Armed Police Forces Central Paramilitary Forces	Security & Intelligence Agencies – IB. R&WA, etc.