GS-III UPSC PYQ 2019

Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyze the Impact of Sand Mining along the Indians coasts, citing specific examples. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme? (150 words, 10 marks)

How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers? How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 2–3 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to INDIAN ECONOMY Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 2–3 lines ) Practice all GS3 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide Biotechnology and the Living Standards of Farmers Introduction Agricultural biotechnology — encompassing genetic engineering, tissue culture, marker-assisted breeding, biofertilisers and gene editing — offers powerful tools to raise productivity, cut costs and build resilience. Properly harnessed and regulated, it can directly improve the incomes, health and security of India's farmers. How Biotechnology Can Improve Farmers' Living Standards Higher yields and productivity: High-yielding, hybrid and improved varieties developed through marker-assisted selection and tissue culture raise output per hectare and farm income. Bt cotton turned India into the world's largest cotton producer and lifted the incomes of cotton farmers. Lower input costs: Pest- and herbicide-tolerant traits cut pesticide use and labour; biofertilisers and biopesticides reduce dependence on costly agrochemicals, improving net returns and farmer health. easemyprep.in Stress-tolerant crops: Drought-, flood-, salinity- and heat-tolerant varieties — such as the submergence-tolerant "Swarna Sub-1" rice — protect farmers on marginal lands against climate shocks. Nutritional and value gains: Biofortified crops — iron- and zinc-rich varieties, Golden Rice, protein-rich pulses — improve household nutrition and can fetch premium prices. Disease-free planting material: Tissue culture supplies uniform, disease-free saplings of banana, potato, sugarcane and orchids, boosting horticulture incomes. easemyprep.in Animal husbandry and allied gains: Vaccines, embryo transfer, sexed semen and disease diagnostics raise milk yields and livestock health — a vital income source for the landless. Post-harvest and processing: Biotech-enabled longer shelf life and enzymes reduce wastage and open value-added markets. Concerns and Limitations Biosafety and environmental risks (gene flow, pest resistance, loss of biodiversity); corporate control of seeds and high cost; the controversy over Bt brinjal (moratorium) and GM mustard; ethical and labelling debates; weak regulatory capacity (GEAC); and farmer dependence and indebtedness if traits fail. easemyprep.in Way Forward Strengthen an independent, transparent biosafety regulator; promote public-sector and farmer-friendly research through ICAR; conduct rigorous, case-by-case field trials; protect farmers' rights under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 ; encourage low-cost biofertilisers and tissue culture; and ensure informed choice and capacity-building. Conclusion Biotechnology is not a panacea but a potent enabler. With robust regulation, public investment and farmer-centred deployment, it can decisively raise productivity, resilience and incomes — making it integral to doubling farmers' income and achieving sustainable food security. Value addition (Ease My Prep, August 2026) Current data: the world's first genome-edited rices, 4 April 2025 — ICAR-IIRR's DRR Rice 100 (Kamala) ( ~19% higher yield, ~20 days earlier, ~20% lower methane ) and ICAR-IARI's Pusa DST Rice 1 ( 9.66–30.4% more on saline-alkaline soils ); projected irrigation saving ~ 7,500 million cubic metres . easemyprep.in Regulatory enabler: India exempted SDN-1/SDN-2 genome-edited plants from GEAC rules in 2022 (no foreign DNA; SDN-3 stays regulated). That, not new science, is why edited rice reached farmers in 2025 while GM mustard spent two decades in court. Landmark case: *Gene Campaign v. Union of India* (23 July 2024) — split verdict on GM mustard DMH-11: Nagarathna J. quashed the GEAC approval for want of consultation, Karol J. upheld it ; both directed a national GM policy in four months ; referred to a larger bench. Public pipeline: 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient and biofortified varieties released 11 August 2024 , mostly marker-assisted and conventional breeding — India's yield gains are not GM-dependent. easemyprep.in Durability limit: Bt cotton remains India's only commercially approved GM crop , and pink bollworm resistance shows a single-gene fix without refuge compliance has a finite life — the yield gain is borrowed, not owned. Bt brinjal is under moratorium since 2010. Constitutional anchor: agriculture is State List Entry 14 — field trials need State permission; central clearance is not national cultivation, and with the BRAI Bill, 2013 lapsed, approval sits inside a ministry, not an independent regulator. Global comparison: Brazil's EMBRAPA (1973) shows public ownership of traits answers the seed-price objection — a state-held pipeline competing with private trait owners. easemyprep.in Equity constraint: a trait travels in a bought seed, but 86.2% of holdings are small and marginal on 47.3% of operated area . Without a public seed chain (State seed corporations, PACS, FPOs) and active use of PPV&FR Act, 2001 benefit-sharing, biotechnology tracks purchasing power: the binding constraint is the regulator and the delivery channel, not the science. Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS3 — Economy, Environment & Security Questions Download App More GS3 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. 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What is the CyberDome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India. How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to INTERNAL SECURITY Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS3 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide The CyberDome Project is a flagship initiative of the Kerala Police , conceived in 2014, to address the cyber-security needs of citizens and to combat cyber-crime through prevention rather than mere post-facto investigation. What is the CyberDome Project? CyberDome is a state-of-the-art cyber-crime prevention, research and capacity-building centre functioning as a non-profit collaborative platform. Its defining feature is that it brings together, under one roof, the police, academia, the IT industry, ethical hackers, cyber-security experts, NGOs and the public . It is conceived as a think-tank and a public-private partnership rather than a conventional police wing, and it focuses on proactive prevention, threat intelligence and citizen protection . easemyprep.in How it can help control internet crimes in India Proactive threat intelligence: CyberDome continuously scans cyberspace, including the dark web , for emerging threats, data leaks and criminal activity, enabling early warning and pre-emptive action. Combating online child abuse: A major focus area is detecting and reporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) ; the project collaborates with global agencies and NGOs to identify offenders and rescue victims. easemyprep.in Cyber-forensic support: It strengthens investigations by providing technical and forensic expertise to police units handling cyber-crime cases. Capacity building: It trains police personnel in cyber-investigation, digital forensics and emerging technologies, addressing the chronic skills gap in law enforcement. Crowd-sourced security: By engaging ethical hackers, students and volunteers , it harnesses community talent to identify vulnerabilities and assist the police — a cost-effective force multiplier. easemyprep.in Public awareness and cyber hygiene: It runs campaigns to educate citizens, students and businesses on safe online practices, reducing the pool of potential victims. Tackling fraud, fake news and radicalisation: It monitors and counters online financial fraud, misinformation and the misuse of social media for radicalisation. A replicable model: CyberDome demonstrates a collaborative, prevention-first model that other states can adopt to complement central institutions such as CERT-In and the I4C. easemyprep.in Limitations and the way forward To scale such a model nationally, India must address constraints of funding, talent retention, legal clarity on the role of volunteers, and data-privacy safeguards . CyberDome should be networked with the national cyber-security architecture so that state-level prevention and central-level coordination reinforce each other. Conclusion easemyprep.in As cyber-crime grows in scale and sophistication, prevention and collaboration are as vital as investigation and prosecution. The CyberDome model — pooling the strengths of the state, industry, academia and citizens — offers a replicable template for building a cyber-resilient India. Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS3 — Economy, Environment & Security Questions Download App More GS3 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.[ 250 Words, 15 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. (150 words, 10 Marks)

How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production? How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to INDIAN ECONOMY Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS3 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide Integrated Farming System and Sustainable Agriculture Introduction An Integrated Farming System (IFS) combines crops, livestock, fishery, horticulture, agro-forestry and allied enterprises on the same farm so that the by-product or waste of one enterprise becomes an input for another. Promoted by ICAR, it is a science-based answer to the unsustainability of input-intensive monoculture. How IFS Helps Sustain Agricultural Production Resource recycling and reduced input cost: Crop residues feed livestock; dung and slurry become organic manure and biogas; pond silt fertilises fields — closing nutrient loops and cutting dependence on costly chemical inputs. Income stability and risk diversification: Multiple enterprises spread risk — failure of one (for example a crop hit by drought) is offset by income from dairy, poultry or fish, giving small farmers a year-round cash flow. easemyprep.in Soil health and ecological balance: Crop-livestock integration, legumes and agro-forestry restore soil organic carbon, fix nitrogen, check erosion and enhance biodiversity. Water-use efficiency: Farm ponds support fish and irrigation; rice-fish systems use the same water for two outputs. Employment and nutritional security: IFS is labour-absorbing and provides diverse foods — grain, milk, eggs, fish and fruit — improving household nutrition. easemyprep.in Climate resilience: Diversified systems withstand weather shocks far better than monocultures. Limitations IFS is knowledge- and management-intensive; it needs initial investment and assured water; viability is constrained on tiny fragmented holdings; marketing of diverse produce is challenging; and extension support is weak. Way Forward Strengthen ICAR and KVK demonstration and training; provide credit and subsidy for IFS units; promote FPO-led aggregation and marketing; integrate IFS with MGNREGA assets, watershed and natural-farming programmes; and tailor models to agro-climatic zones. easemyprep.in Conclusion IFS embodies the shift from "productivity at any cost" to sustainable, diversified and resilient farming . While not a universal substitute for specialised commercial agriculture, it is highly effective for India's small and marginal farmers and central to doubling farm incomes sustainably. Value addition (Ease My Prep, August 2026) Institutional evidence base: The All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems under ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram has developed agro-climatic-zone-specific models, with Krishi Vigyan Kendras as the demonstration and training arm — which is why IFS recommendations are location-specific rather than a single blueprint. Quantified sustainability gains: Network results show on-farm nutrient and feed recycling cutting purchased fertiliser and feed cost by 15-25% , and income variability under drought and price shocks falling by roughly 20-25% . That is a direct answer to declining factor productivity: the same output at lower purchased input. easemyprep.in Soil health as the master variable: Continuous organic matter from manure, slurry, residue and pond silt raises soil organic carbon , which governs water-holding capacity, nutrient supply and structure — precisely the deficit that has stalled yields in intensive cereal systems. Ecosystem services: A multi-species system supports natural enemies and pollinators, breaks pest, disease and weed cycles and reduces pesticide load, delivering regulating services that a monoculture must buy from a chemical company. Agro-forestry and rising soil carbon sequester carbon, biogas displaces fuelwood, and manure substituting for synthetic nitrogen avoids nitrous oxide emissions; draught power, biogas and residue improve the farm's energy ratio — sustainability in its thermodynamic and not merely rhetorical sense. Current data: Economic Survey 2025-26 records livestock growing 6.1% and fisheries 7.2% against crop GVA averaging 4.0% (FY20-FY24); milk output reached 239.30 million tonnes (2023-24) and fish production 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25), up 106% in a decade . The allied sectors IFS integrates are where sustained growth is actually occurring. easemyprep.in The honest ceiling — answering 'how far': IFS raises output per hectare, stability and resource efficiency, but it is optimised for household self-sufficiency and diversified income, not for a large marketable surplus of a single staple. It sustains production *systems*; it does not replace the specialised commercial agriculture that fills a buffer stock of about 604 lakh tonnes feeding an 81.35 crore NFSA entitlement. The two must coexist, zone by zone. Global comparison: FAO recognises rice-fish culture in Zhejiang, China as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System — integration is an ancient, validated technology, not a new experiment; the Netherlands offers the opposite lesson, that the sustainability principle is *circularity* rather than diversity for its own sake. Analytical edge: Change the metric — evaluate farm programmes on income per hectare *per year*, employment days generated and household dietary diversity rather than on the yield of a single crop. That is what links IFS credibly to SDG 2, 12 and 13 . easemyprep.in Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS3 — Economy, Environment & Security Questions Download App More GS3 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impact and its threat to people. How and why can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different type of vulnerability with reference to disasters.[150 Words, 10 Marks]

Elaborate the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas. (150 words, 10 Marks)

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 respectively? (150 words, 10 marks)

What is the Cyber Dome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India. (150 words, 10 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 the India-Myanmar border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges. (250 words, 15 Marks)

It is argued that the strategy of inclusive growth is intended to meet the objectives of inclusiveness and sustainability together. Comment on this statement. (250 words, 15 Marks)

What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make the food grain distribution system more effective? (250 words, 15 marks)

The Indian government has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA Act. Analyze the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations. (250 words, 15 Marks)

The banning of ‘Jamaat-e – Islamic’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over- ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize the influence of OGWs. (150 words, 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. (150 words, 10 Marks)

How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production? (150 words, 10 Marks)

The public expenditure management is a challenge to the Government of India in the context of budget making during the post liberalization period. Clarify it. (250 words, 15 Marks)

How can biotechnology help to improve the living standards of farmers? (250 words, 15 marks)

Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Elaborate the policy taken by the Government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector. (250 words, 15 Marks

How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? (250 words, 15 marks)

Discuss the role of environmental health in addressing the challenges of public health in urban areas.