Officer’s Marathon GS 3 PYQ: 2013-22

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS 2013-2022: GS III

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

“Economic growth in the recent past has been led by increase in labour
1. productivity.” Explain this statement. Suggest the growth pattern that will lead to 2022
creation of more jobs without compromising labour productivity.
2. Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s Gross 2021
Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015.
3. Do you agree that the Indian economy has recently experience V-shaped 2021
recovery? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Explain the meaning of investment in an economy in terms of capital formation.
4. Discuss the factors to be considered while designing a concession agreement 2020
between a public entity and a private entity.
5. Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have 2020
been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP?
6. Do you agree with the view that steady GDP growth and low inflation have left 2019
the Indian economy in good shape? Give reasons in support of your arguments.
7. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed 2018
by the erstwhile Planning Commission in India?
Among several factors for India’s potential growth, savings rate is the most
8. effective one. Do you agree? What are the other factors available for growth 2017
potential?
Account for the failure of manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labor-
9. intensive exports rather than capital-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more 2017
labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive exports.
10. The nature of economic growth in India is described as jobless growth. Do you 2015
agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.
Craze for gold in Indians have led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and
11. put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, 2015
examine the merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.
12. “Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ 2015
programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.
While we found India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of
13. employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India 2014
desperately needs come from? Explain.

TOPIC: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it

1. Is inclusive growth possible under market economy? State the significance of 2022
financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India.
2. Explain intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity from the 2020
perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development.

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3. It is argued that the strategy of inclusive growth is intended to meet the objectives 2019
of inclusiveness and sustainability together. Comment on this statement.
4. What are the salient features of ‘inclusive growth’? Has India been experiencing 2017
such a growth process? Analyze and suggest measures for the inclusive growth.
Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to
5. the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the 2016
poorer section of the Indian society? Give arguments to justify your opinion.
Comment on the challenges for inclusive growth which include careless and
6. useless manpower in the Indian context. Suggest measures to be taken for facing 2016
these challenges.
Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However,
7. it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between 2014
the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt
capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss.
With a consideration towards the strategy of inclusive growth, the new companies
8. bill 2013 has indirectly made CSR a mandatory obligation. Discuss the 2013
challenges expected in its implementation in right earnest. Also discuss other
provisions in the bill and their implications.

TOPIC: Government Budgeting

1. Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the 2021
components of both these Budgets.
Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax (compensation to
2. States) Act of 2017. How has Covid-19 impacted the GST compensation fund and 2020
created new federal tensions?
Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and
3. Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the 2019
GST introduced in India since July 2017
4. The public expenditure management is a challenge to the government of India in 2019
the context of budget-making during the post-liberalization period. Clarify it.
Comment on the important changes introduced in respect of the Long-term capital
5. Gains Tax (LCGT) and Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) in the Union Budget for 2018
2018-2019.
One of the intended objectives of Union Budget 2017-18 is to ‘transform, energize
6. and clean India’. Analyze the measures proposed in the Budget 2017-18 to 2017
achieve the objective.
7. Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the 2016
requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context?
8. In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer 2015
(DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.
What are the reasons for introduction of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget
9. Management (FRBM) Act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their 2013
effectiveness.

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10. What is meaning of the term tax-expenditure? Taking housing sector as an 2013
example , discuss how it influences budgetary policies of the government.
11. Discuss the rationale for introducing Goods and Services tax in India. Bring out 2013
critically the reasons for delay in roll out for is regime.

TOPIC: Major crops cropping patterns in various part 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

1. What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal 2022
farmers in India?
2. How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India’s water 2021
crisis?
3. What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging 2021
technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?
4. What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? 2020
In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?
5. Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its 2020
judicious use under depleting scenario.
6. How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers? 2019
7. How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural 2019
production?
8. Elaborate on the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing 2019
agricultural production from water-stressed areas.
9. How was India benefited from the contributions of Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Dr.
M.S. Swaminathan in the fields of water engineering and agricultural science 2019
respectively?
10. Sikkim is the first ‘Oganic State’ in India. What are the ecological and 2018
economical benefits of Organic State?
Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the
11. production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it 2018
succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?
How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping
12. patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and 2018
consumption.
What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping
13. system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the 2017
system
14. What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing 2016
the water-use efficiency.
15. What is allelopathy? Discuss its role in major cropping systems of irrigated 2016
agriculture.

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Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the

16. need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri 2016
Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

TOPIC: Storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues

and related constraints; Economics of Animal-rearing; Food processing and
related industries in India – scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstream requirements, supply chain management

1. Elaborate the scope and significance of the food processing industry in India. 2022
2. What are the main bottlenecks in upstream and downstream process of marketing 2022
of agricultural products in India?
3. What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce 2020
in India
4. What are the challenges and opportunities of food processing sector in the
country? How can income of the farmers be substantially increased by 2020
encouraging food processing?
5. Elaborate on policy taken by the Govt. of India to meet the challenges of the food 2019
processing sector?
6. Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, 2018
vegetables and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries?
What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost-effective small processing unit?
7. How the food processing unit will be helpful to uplift the socio-economic status 2017
of poor-farmers?
Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and
8. income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector 2015
in India.
In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made
9. agriculture non-viable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land 2015
leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
10. What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in 2015
industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?
There is also a point of view that Agriculture Produce Market Committees
11. (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of 2014
Agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically
examine.
12. India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in food industry 2013
for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.

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TOPIC: E-technology in the aid of farmers; Technology missions

1. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes 2020
in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies?
Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after
2. Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation 2017
and food security in India?
3. How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity 2015
and income? What steps has the Govt. taken in this regard?

TOPIC: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum
support prices; Public Distribution System – objectives, functioning,
limitations, revamping; buffer stocks and food security;

1. What are the major challenges of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India? 2022
How can it be made effective and transparent?
2. What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has 2021
the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?
3. What are the reformative steps taken by the govt. to make food grain distribution 2019
system more effective?
4. What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue 2018
the farmers form the low-income trap?
How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of
5. farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and 2017
food processing for small and marginal farmers?
“In the villages itself no form of credit organisation will be suitable except the
6. cooperative society.” All Indian rural credit survey. Discuss this statement in the
background of agriculture finance in India. What constraints and challenges do 2014
financial institutions supplying agricultural finances face? How can technology
be used to better reach and serve rural clients?
Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India.
7. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along 2013
with the concerns it has generated in WTO.
What are the different types of agriculture subsidies given to farmers at the
8. national and state levels? Critically analyze the agriculture subsidy regime with 2013
the reference to the distortions created by it.

TOPIC: Land reforms in India

1. How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio- 2021
economic conditions of marginal and small farmers?
2. Discuss the role of land reforms in agricultural development. Identify the factors 2016
that were responsible for the success of land reforms in India.

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Establish the relationship between land reform, agriculture productivity and

3. elimination of poverty in Indian Economy. Discuss the difficulty in designing and 2013
implementation of the agriculture friendly land reforms in India.

TOPIC: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy

and their effects on industrial growth

1. How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and currency manipulations 2018
in world trade affect macroeconomic stability of India?
“Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic
2. Product (GDP) in the post-reform period”. Give reasons. How far the recent 2017
changes in Industrial Policy are capable of increasing the industrial growth rate?
How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of
3. the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development 2016
of the country?
Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but
4. India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the
huge growth of services vis-à-vis industry in the country? Can India become a 2014
developed country without a strong industrial base?
Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalised. What
5. influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and 2014
long run?
6. Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indian. Are the 2013
competing with MNCs satisfactorily?
7. Discuss the impact of FDI entry into multi-trade retail sector on supply chain 2013
management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.
Though India allowed foreign direct investment (FDI) in what is called multi
8. brand retail through joint venture route in September 2012, the FDI even after a 2013
year, has not picket up. Discuss the reasons.

TOPIC: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.,

Investment models

Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable
1. energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies form fossil 2022
fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.
Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects? 2022
2. Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in
India.
3. “Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic 2021
growth.” Discuss in the light of India’s experience.
4. With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy 2018
programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy.

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Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non
5. to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Comment on the progress 2018
made in India in this regard.
Examine the developments of Airports in India through Joint Ventures under
6. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the 2017
authorities in this regard.
What are ‘Smart Cities’? Examine their relevance for urban development in
7. India. Will it increase rural-urban differences? Give arguments for Smart 2016
Villages’ in the light of PURA and RURBAN Mission.
Justify the need for FDI for the development of the Indian economy. Why there
8. is gap between MoUs signed and actual FDIs? Suggest remedial steps to be taken 2016
for increasing actual FDIs in India.
There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool
9. of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this potential,
the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues 2015
plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and
administration.
The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation
10. and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1st January 2014. What 2014
implication would it have on industrialization and agriculture in India?
National Urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving
11. vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in 2014
this regard.
Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation
12. infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable liabilities to the future. What 2014
arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations
capacities are not compromised?
13. Adaptation of PPP model for infrastructure development of the country has not 2013
been free from criticism. Critically discuss the pros and cons of the model.

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TOPIC: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and

effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers,
Robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual
property rights

Launched on 25th December 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much
1. in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its 2022
predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What
potential benefits does it hold for the human race?
The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges
2. in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken 2022
to meet them?
Each year a large amount of plant material, cellulose, is deposited on the surface
3. of Planet Earth. What are the natural processes this cellulose undergoes before 2022
yielding carbon dioxide, water and other end products?
The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amani and
4. Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention 2021
impacted the everyday life of human beings?
What are the research and developmental achievements in applied
5. biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections 2021
of the society?
6. What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in health 2020
sector?
Covid-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However,
7. technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give 2020
an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic
Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy form sunlight in contrast to the
8. conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our 2020
Government for this purpose?
9. Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How 2018
has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma?
Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical
10. conditions including Leukemia, Thalassemia, damaged conea and several burns. 2017
Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other
treatments?
India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database
containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations
11. is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patients. 2015
Discuss the pros and cons making this database publicly available under open-
source licensing.
What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by
12. robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel research in premier research 2015
institutes for substantive and gainful innovation.

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In a globalized world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a

13. source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents 2014
and trade secrets.
What do you understand by Umpire decision review in cricket? Discuss its 2013
14. various components. Explain how silicon tape on the edge of a bat may fool the
system?
15. What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their 2013
applications in aviation and automobile industry.
Bring out the circumstances in 2005 which forced amendment to section 3(d) in
16. the Indian Paten Law, 1970. Discuss how it has been utilized by Supreme Court 2013
in its judgement rejecting Novartis patent application for “Glivec”. Discuss
briefly the pros and cons of the decision.
17. How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and 2013
disadvantages of the technology.
18. What do you understand by fixed dose drug combinations (FDCs)? Discuss 2013
their merits and demerits.

TOPIC: Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of

technology and developing new technology

What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work?
1. What approaches were adopted by the Indian Vaccine manufacturers to 2022
produce COVID-19 vaccines?
2. How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system present 2021
available in the world?
3. What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our 2019
space programme?
4. How is the government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine 2019
from patenting by pharmaceutical companies?
5. Discuss the work of ‘Bose-Einstein Statistics’ done by Prof. Satyendranath Bose 2018
and show how it revolutionized the field of Physics.
India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including
6. the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured into manned 2017
space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Explain critically.
Give an account of the growth and development of nuclear science and
7. technology in India. What is the advantage of fast breeder reactor programme in 2017
India?
Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology.
8. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic 2016
development.
Why is nanotechnology one of the key technologies of the 21st century? Describe
9. the salient features of Indian Government’s Mission on Nanoscience and 2016
Technology and the scope of its application in the development process of the
country.

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What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and ‘Protection

10. Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives 2015
from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.
Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science
11. is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and 2014
the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment.
Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the
12. contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the 2014
available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various
issues involved.

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TOPIC: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,

environmental impact assessment

Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain
1. the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause 2022
global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.
2. Discuss in detail the photochemical smog emphasizing its formation, effects and 2022
mitigation. Explain the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol.
3. Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders 2021
Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in Nov’ 2021.
Describe the key points of the revised Global Ari Quality Guidelines (AQGs)
4. recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these 2021
different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean
Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards?
Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties
5. (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2021
(UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference?
6. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 2020
differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated 2020
7. by the Govt. of India?
What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the 2020
8. Government of India for water conservation and water security?
Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an 2019.
9. environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for
sustainable development of a region.
Coastal sand mining whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to
10. our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, 2019
citing specific examples
What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid
11. wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the 2018
toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment?
12. What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of 2018
wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.
13. How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 2018
helpful in conservation of flora and fauna?
‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate
14. change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate 2017
change?
Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the
15. country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the 2017
environment.
Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental
16. impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss 2016

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the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major
developmental projects
What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of 2013
17. environment and forests concept of ‘GO AND NO GO’ zones for coal mining.
Give an account of the current status and the targets to be achieved pertaining to
18. renewable energy sources in the country. Discuss in brief the importance of 2016
National Programme on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
The Namami Gange and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes
19. and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can 2015
help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?
To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar
20. energy be attribute? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power 2015
producers and the related industry?
Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up
21. under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the 2014
value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic
growth.
Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before
22. project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal- 2014
fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.
23. Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of 2013
conventional energy.
24. What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it 2013
different from any other hydroelectricity project?
Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an
25. example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution 2013
control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and
handling of hazardous wastes in India?

TOPIC: Disaster and disaster management

1. Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of Indian 2022
subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples.
2. Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion of India. What are the available 2022
coastal management techniques for combating the hazard?
3. Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the 2021
important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy.
Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give
4. examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes 2021
in different parts of India during the last three decades.
5. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government 2020
of India departing from the earlier reactive approach.
Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process.
6. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation in the case 2019
of landslides.

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Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impact and its threat to
7. people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? 2019
Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.
Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
8. before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)’. How is this 2018
framework different from Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005?
On December 2004, tsunami brought havoc on 14 countries including India.
9. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life 2017
and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the
mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.
The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the
10. years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods. Highlight the mechanisms for 2016
preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.
With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines,
discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents 2016
11. of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand.
The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian
12. subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has 2015
significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.
Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal
duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a
13. focus on the Septemeber 2010 guidelines from the National Disaster 2014
Management Authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with
the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.
How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster
14. management? As an administrator, what are key areas that you would focus in 2013
a disaster management.

TOPIC: Linkages between development and spread of extremism; Linkages

of organized crime with terrorism

1. Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists 2022
and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels.
Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and
2. obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the 2021
menace of terrorism
What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India?
3. What strategy should Govt. of India, civil administration and security forces 2020
adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?
The banning of ‘Jamaat-e-Islamic’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the
4. role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine 2019
the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency
affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize the influence of OGWs.

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The Indian Govt. has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending
5. the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA Act. Analyze 2019
the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing
the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations.
6. Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many
parts of the country. Briefly explain the Govt. of India’s approach to counter the 2018
challenges posed by LWE.
7. Mob violence is emerging as a serious law and order problem in India. By giving 2017
suitable examples, analyze the causes and consequences of such violence.
The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions
8. do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of 2017
terrorist funding?
The north-eastern region of India has been infested with insurgency for a very
9. long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed insurgency in this 2017
region
“Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over the last few decades.” 2016
10. Analyze the above statement.
The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in
backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers
11. who face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and Naxalbari foci, discuss the 2015
corrective strategies needed to win the left-wing extremism (LWE) doctrine
affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.
Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in India youth joining the
12. ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal 2015
security of our country?
Article 244 of Indian Constitution relates to Administration of Scheduled areas
13. and tribal areas. Analyze the impact of non-implementation of the provisions of 2013
fifth schedule on the growth of Left-Wing Extremism.

TOPIC: Role of external state and nonstate actors in creating challenges to

internal security; Security challenges and their management in border areas;

Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent

1. internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest 2022
a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.
2. What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, 2022
technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.
Analyse the multi-dimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state
3. actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken 2021
to combat these threats.
For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to
4. deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable 2020
perception among locals

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 Officer’s Marathon GS 3 PYQ: 2013-22

Analyze internal security threats and trans-border crimes along Myanmar,

5. Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss 2020
the role played by various security forces in this regard.
Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security
6. challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the 2019
various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also,
discuss the steps to counter the challenges.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of
7. China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC 2018
and enumerate the reasons why India has distance itself from the same.
The terms ‘Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Surgical Strikes’ are often used in connection with 2016
8. armed action against terrorist attacks. Discuss the strategic impact of such actions.
Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations
9. with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border 2016
management.
International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive
10. airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this 2014
airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggest ways to contain
the threat.
The diverse nature of India as a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society is not
11. immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighborhood. Discuss 2014
along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.
How illegal trans-border migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss
12. the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such 2014
migration.
In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved
13. from 65 ° East to 78° East in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime 2014
organisation. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?
China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an
14. economic corridor. What thread does it dispose for India’s security? Critically 2014
examine.
How far are India’s internal security challenges linked with border management,
15. particularly in view of the long porous border with most countries of South Asia 2013
and Myanmar?

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 Officer’s Marathon GS 3 PYQ: 2013-22

TOPIC: Challenges to internal security through communication networks,

role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,
basics of cyber security;

What are the different element of cyber security? Keeping in view the challenges
1. in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed 2022
a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.
Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border
2. cyber-attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated 2021
attacks.
3. Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight 2020
the menace.
4. What is the Cyber Dome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling 2019
internet crimes in India.
Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to
5. rising cybercrimes. The justice B.N. Srikrishna committee Report addresses issues 2018
related to data security. What, in your view, are the strengths and weakness of
the report relating to protection of personal data in cyber space?
6. Discuss the potential threats of Cyber-attack and the security framework to 2017
prevent it.
Use of Internet and social media by non-state actors for subversive activities is a
7. major concern. How have these have misused in the recent past? Suggest 2016
effective guidelines to curb the above threat.
8. Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of server vis- 2015
à-vis in-house machine-base hosting for government businesses.
Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital 2015
9. Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security
Policy, 20213 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation.
10. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Give various 2013
salient built in features of a digital signature.
What is social networking site and what security implication do these sites 2013
11. present?

Cyber warfare is considered by some defense analysts to be larger threat than even
12. Al Qaeda or terrorism. What do you understand by Cyber Warfare? Outline the 2013
cyber threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country’s
preparedness to deal with the same.

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TOPIC: Money-laundering and its prevention

Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money

1. laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both 2021
at national and international levels.
India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has
2. enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug 2018
trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and
human trafficking. What counter-measures should be taken to prevent the same?
Money laundering poses a serious threat to country’s economic sovereignty. What 2013
3. is its significance for India and what steps are required to be taken to control this
menace?

TOPIC: Various security forces and agencies and their mandate

Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed forces
(Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human
1. rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the 2015
activists? Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by
the Apex Court.

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