UPSC Mains PYQ Explorer
Fourteen years of UPSC Mains previous-year questions (2013–2026) — Essay + GS Papers I–IV — mapped topic-wise and decoded with what UPSC is testing and how to approach each answer.
Every UPSC General Studies Paper III (Economy, Agriculture, Science & Tech, Environment, Security, Disaster Management) Mains previous-year question from 2013 to 2026, arranged chapter and subtopic-wise with answer approaches.
GS3 PYQ Analysis
288 questions · 17 chapters · 2013-2026
288
Total PYQs
3495
Total Marks
17
Chapters
Year-wise question count (2013-2026)
SLOT 1 - ECONOMY
- 1.Indian Economy (issues relating to: planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development, employment)
- 2.Inclusive growth and issues therein
Economy
Government Budgeting
Economy
Infrastructure (energy, ports, roads, airports, railways); Investment models
Economy
Effects of Liberalisation on the economy; Changes in Industrial policy & their effects on industrial growth
Economy
SLOT 2 - AGRICULTURE
Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems.
Agriculture
E-technology to aid farmers, Technology missions.
Agriculture
- 1.Food processing and related industries in India (scope & significance, location, upstream -downstream requirements, supply chain management)
- 2.Storage, transport & marketing of agro-produce and related issues & constraints
- 3.Economics of animal-rearing
Agriculture
Land Reforms in India
Agriculture
- 1.Farm subsidies and MSP and issues therein (direct and indirect)
- 2.PDS (objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping, issues of buffer stocks & food security)
Agriculture
SLOT 3 - DISASTER MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Disasters & Disaster Management
Disaster Management, Environment & Science & Technology
Environmental conservation; Environmental pollution and degradation; Environmental Impact Assessment
Disaster Management, Environment & Science & Technology
- 1.S&T developments and everyday applications & effects
- 2.Awareness in fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotech, Biotech, IPR issues
Disaster Management, Environment & Science & Technology
Achievements of Indians in S&T; Indigenisation of technology & development of new technology
Disaster Management, Environment & Science & Technology
SLOT 4 - SECURITY
- 1.Linkages between Development & spread of Extremism;
- 2.Linkages of Organized crime and Terrorism
Security
- 1.Border Areas (security challenges and management thereof)
- 2.Security forces & agencies (mandate)
- 3.Role of External State & Non-State actors in creating internal security challenges
Security
Money laundering & Prevention
Security
- 1.Basics of Cyber Security
- 2.Role of media and social-networking sites in internal security challenges
- 3.Internal security challenges through communication networks.
Security
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