Mains
Mains · GS Paper III · 220 questions
GS Paper III: Technology, economy, biodiversity, environment, security & disasters
UPSC's official syllabus for this paper, line by line — how many questions each line has drawn since 2016. Open a line to read them all, with an approach for each.
- Conservation, pollution & EIA“Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.” 29 questions
- Crops, irrigation & farm marketing“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.” 25 questions
- IT, space, robotics, biotech & IPR“Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.” 20 questions
- Economy: planning, growth & employment“Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.” 15 questions
- Disaster management“Disaster and disaster management.” 15 questions
- Border management & organised crime“Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.” 15 questions
- Infrastructure“Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.” 14 questions
- Cyber security, media & money-laundering“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.” 14 questions
- Farm subsidies, MSP, PDS & food security“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.” 11 questions
- Inclusive growth“Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.” 10 questions
- Government budgeting“Government Budgeting.” 8 questions
- Food processing“Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.” 8 questions
- External actors & internal security“Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.” 8 questions
- Indian achievements in S&T“Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.” 6 questions
- Liberalisation & industrial policy“Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.” 5 questions
- Science & technology in everyday life“Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.” 5 questions
- Development & extremism“Linkages between development and spread of extremism.” 5 questions
- Land reforms“Land reforms in India.” 4 questions
- Investment models“Investment models.” 2 questions
- Security forces & agencies“Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.” 2 questions
Source of the syllabus text: UPSC Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSP (Civil Services Examination, 2026), Section III, pp. 32–36 (PDF ↗).