GS-III UPSC PYQ 2024

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

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)

What are the major challenges faced by the Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management.

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)

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.

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

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)

What is the need for expanding the regional air connectivity in India? In this context, discuss the government's UDAN Scheme and its achievements. 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 Regional Air Connectivity and the UDAN Scheme Introduction Air connectivity in India was long concentrated in a few metro cities, leaving smaller towns and regions poorly served. Recognising this gap, the government launched the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme in 2016 — the Regional Connectivity Scheme — to make flying affordable and accessible to ordinary citizens. Need for Expanding Regional Air Connectivity Balanced regional development: Connecting smaller towns and remote regions spreads economic opportunity and reduces regional disparity. Economic growth: Air connectivity boosts trade, tourism, investment and local enterprise in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. easemyprep.in Tourism and culture: It opens up tourist, religious and heritage destinations. Connecting remote and difficult regions: It links the North-East, hilly, island and border areas, supporting strategic and developmental needs. Affordable mobility: It makes air travel accessible to the common citizen, saving time over poor surface transport. easemyprep.in Reviving unused infrastructure: It puts unserved and under-served airports and airstrips to use. The UDAN Scheme Objective: To make regional air travel affordable and to develop unserved and under-served airports. Key features: A cap on airfares for a portion of seats on regional routes; Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines, financed through a small levy on certain other routes and contributions from states; concessions on airport charges and fuel; and the revival of unserved airports, heliports and water aerodromes. easemyprep.in Variants: UDAN has expanded to cover the North-East , hilly regions, international routes (UDAN International), tourism (Krishi UDAN for agricultural produce) and seaplane and helicopter connectivity. Achievements UDAN has operationalised a large number of routes and revived many previously unserved and under-served airports, heliports and water aerodromes; it has carried crores of passengers; connected Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, the North-East and hilly and island regions; and boosted tourism and regional economies. Challenges The financial viability of many routes and airports; airlines exiting unviable routes; sustaining VGF; infrastructure and connectivity at small airports; and low traffic on some routes. easemyprep.in Way Forward Strengthen the viability framework; develop airport infrastructure; integrate UDAN with tourism and surface transport; and ensure the long-term sustainability of regional routes. Conclusion Expanding regional air connectivity is vital for balanced, inclusive development. The UDAN scheme has made notable progress in connecting smaller cities and remote regions and democratising air travel — its lasting success depends on making regional routes commercially sustainable. 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.

What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate

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

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 initiatives in this regard. (Answer in 150 words)

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?

Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India.

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

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. 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 INTERNAL SECURITY 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 Social media and end-to-end encrypted messaging services, while empowering communication and free expression, pose a serious security challenge — they are exploited for radicalisation, misinformation and crime, while encryption makes lawful interception difficult. Security implications of social media and encrypted messaging Radicalisation and recruitment by terror outfits through curated digital echo-chambers. Fake news and misinformation that incite communal violence and mob lynchings. Terror coordination through encrypted apps that evade interception. Cyber crime, financial fraud and child sexual abuse material. Anti-national propaganda, deepfakes and foreign influence operations. Erosion of social cohesion through algorithmic polarisation. easemyprep.in Measures adopted at various levels Legal and regulatory: Sections 69 and 69A of the IT Act for interception and blocking; the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 — grievance officers, time-bound takedowns, and traceability of the "first originator" of unlawful content; the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023; and the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Institutional: CERT-In, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and the PIB Fact Check Unit. easemyprep.in Operational: Engagement with platforms for takedown of harmful content, and calibrated internet restrictions in sensitive situations — though the Supreme Court in Anuradha Bhasin (2020) required these to be proportionate and reviewed. Other remedies to address the problem Digital and media literacy to "inoculate" citizens against misinformation. An independent fact-checking ecosystem. AI-based detection of harmful and unlawful content. Counter-narratives against extremist propaganda. Balanced regulation that respects free speech under Article 19 and privacy upheld in K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) , with judicial oversight of interception. International cooperation through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties, and stronger platform self-regulation with transparency reports. Capacity building in cyber-policing and forensics. easemyprep.in Conclusion The challenge is to neutralise the misuse of social media and encryption without sacrificing the freedom of expression and privacy that define a democracy. A balanced, whole-of-society approach — smart regulation, technology, awareness and global cooperation — is the way forward. 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.

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)

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?

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 commercialised. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.