UPSC Civil Services Mains 2020 GS 3 Paper Analysis: Practising General Questions On Each Syllabus Topic Pays Off

In the last two parts of this series, we discussed the General Studies -1 and General Studies - 2 papers of the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam (CSE Main) 2020. In this part we shall discuss the General Studies - 3 (GS-3) paper.

The total candidates allowed to appear for UPSC Main exam are around twelve to thirteen times the number of the vacancies. For UPSC 2020, the total number of vacancies was 796 so accordingly around 10 thousand candidates would have given the UPSC Mains 2020.

GS -3 paper analysis

The paper can be rated as easy to medium with a sprinkling of tough questions.

Certain questions were straight and simple, directly from the syllabus. The questions on constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce, challenges and opportunities of food processing sector, different types of cybercrimes, rice-wheat system, water storage and irrigation system etc. are some examples.

Some questions were directly from the issues in the current affairs. For example, the questions on COVID-19 pandemic and technology, key features of the National Clean Air Programme, GST compensation fund, draft Environment Impact Assessment, salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan etc.

Few questions can be called tough because they required imaginative thinking on the part of the candidate. It is unlikely that a candidate would have directly read on the specific topic from the specific angle. For example, the questions on intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity, steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants, factors to be considered while designing a concession agreement, etc.

The paper also shows a balance between ‘static’ and ‘dynamic’ portions of the syllabus. As we suggested for the GS-1 paper, the candidate should try to maintain the balance between ‘old’ and ‘new’ in the GS - 3 preparation as well.

A good idea would be to take the syllabus and practice general questions on each topic. For example, general questions on food processing, cyber security, left-wing extremism, etc. General questions include a) causes/types b)effects/impact c)challenges d) steps taken by government e) your suggestions/way forward.

The questions being asked by the UPSC lean more towards the analytical side. Candidates should prepare accordingly.

The paper each year testifies that candidates who study ‘mindfully’ stand to benefit. One should always think of the questions that can come while studying the syllabus.

It is also important to practice papers before the exam. The aim shouldn’t just be to complete the paper or attempt sufficient questions, but also to write quality answers.