How To Prepare UPSC Civil Services Mains Paper IV

(GS-3)
insightsonindia.com/2013/08/12/how-to-prepare-upsc-civil-services-mains-general-studies-paper-iv-gs-3

INSIGHTS August 13, 2013

How to prepare GS – 1 (i.e, Paper-II)

How to prepare GS – 2 (i.e, Paper-III)

How to prepare GS – 4 (i.e Paper – V)

UPSC has brought changes to the Civil Services Mains examination in both the pattern and
the syllabus. We know that now there are 4 General Studies Papers apart from one Essay
and Optional paper each.

This article discusses preparation strategy for General Studies – 3 (i.e Paper-II, Paper-I is
Essay)

Before you start reading further, please remember the following important mantra given by
the Almighty UPSC:

“The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues,
and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio‐ economic goals, objectives and
demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.”

This sentence is the guiding light for your preparation. You don’t have to master the topics,
all you need is BASIC UNDERSTANDING and the ability to analyze. Basic understanding
comes from reading and re-reading. Ability to analyze what you have understood from
reading comes from WRITING PRACTICE.

STRATEGY

GS-3 broadly covers –

Technology,
Economic Development,
Bio diversity,
Environment,
Security and
Disaster Management.

(You can observe that it resembles GS-2 of old patters

sans statistics and international relations) Two important things fundamental to your
exam preparation:

Get familiar with all the topics and sub-topics by writing them many times – they
should be strongly etched in your memory.
Keep a copy of the syllabus always near you no matter where you are.
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Now, how to deal with GS-3? Assuming you are now familiar with the syllabus of GS-3,
we will discuss a topic by topic what to read, from where to read and what not to read for
these topics. TOPIC-1

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,

development and employment.

This is a very broad area and includes both static and dynamic part. Before going for big
books, it is compulsory to read following NCERT textbooks (download full textbooks -PDF
without watermark)

1. NCERT Class X – Understaning Economic Development

2. NCERT Class XI – Indian Economic Development
3. NCERT Class XII – Macroeconomics (chapters 2,5 and 6 are very important)
4. ET in The Classroom (This is important in getting acquainted with basics of dynamic
part of Economics – It is an excellent source. I have archived previous articles Here.)

Three books above will make your concepts very clear. After understanding your concepts,
you have to read the above topics by relating them to the current events. For this reading
one Business newspaper helps a lot. Business standard is the best (if you are comfortable
with ET or FE, it is fine. But do try BS once)

More questions from Economics can be expected in this paper henceforth. To be ready for
any questions that UPSC might ask, it is good to read a standard book on these topics.

There are many books on Indian economy – all bulky. Fortunately, TMH has released a
book on Indian economy for Prelims and Mains, and it is very good (by Ramesh Singh)

Indian Economy for Civil Services Examinations – Ramesh Singh

I think reading this book is a must. Don’t go for Uma Kapila, Dutt and Sundaram and
Mishra-Puri unless you have plenty of time for these. For now sticking to one good book is
advised.

TOPIC-2

Inclusive growth and issues arising from it

We had 11th Five year plan which exhorted the ‘Inclusive Growth’ mantra and then 12th
Fiver year document, going a step further aiming for a ‘Faster, More Inclusive and
Sustainable Growth’.

These two documents are good to understand issues related to inclusive growth, approach
of the government and achievements in the 11th plan period. However, to get conceptual
clarity, reading one or two articles from the following document would help you immensely.

Conceptualizing Inclusive Growth

For a thorough review of Inclusive Growth strategy in India read this article:

Inclusive Growth in India – Past Performance and Future Prospects

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TOPIC – 3

Government Budgeting

It is nothing but knowing about what is a budget and how it is passed in the parliament and
then how it is implemented.

These documents should help you understand these:

First Basics –GOVERNMENT BUDGETING

NCERT Class XII – Macroeconomics (Chapter 5)
The Budgetary Process
2013-14 Budget Highlights

TOPIC-4

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

Understanding concepts is important here too. NCERT comes to the aid here;

NCERT – Resources and Development (a quick reading of this book will also help in
understanding many other topics in this paper)

For cropping pattern read this, only this document:

Cropping Pattern in India (give stress to understanding the concept in it, no need to
read entire paper)

For irrigation methods, irrigation systems and Irrigation in India,

Irrigation Methods
Types of Dams (storage structures)
Irrigation types (Government Source)

For agriculture marketing, storage and reforms in these areas, one should resort to ‘State of
India Agriculture report’ and Economic Survey.

Agriculture Marketing Reforms

Agricultural Prices and Markets – State of India Agriculture Report

E-technology for the aid of Farmers

E-technology in the aid of farmers

TOPIC – 5

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

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This is the most important topic in this paper – all sub-topics are dynamic in nature and 1-2
questions will be directly asked from these. This topic encompasses the broad area of Food
Security, which is a hot topic these days.

Apart of getting conceptual clarity on these topics, aspirants also have to develop critical
perspective on these sub-topics. I will provide links to important articles that have come in
The Hindu, Business Standard and Business Line.

First, Minimum Support Price and Farm Subsidies:

Agriculture – Price Policy and MSP

News Articles (to develop opinion)

Farms need a free market -BusinessLine

How to fix agricultural pricing mess – Business Standard
India’s food conundrum – The Hindu

Regarding Public Distribution System, it is a vast area, so careful study of less materials is
needed.

Public Distribution System – IGNOU Notes – 1

Public Distribution System and Food Security – IGNOU Notes – 2

News Articles;

Food Security Bill – The devil is in the detail – The Hindu

The shaky geopolitics of India’s food security – The Hindu

For basics of Food Security – NCERT source – Class IX Economics

Now, technology missions! Government of India is fond of launching these technology

missions for various crops to boost their production, area coverage and make their
production profitable. This is a boring topic and I don’t think UPSC will ask any question on
this (it is completely factual)

I will provide links to few such Technology Missions;

Technology Mission on Cotton

Technology Mission on Jute
Technology Mission on Horticulture
Technology Mission on Sugar
New Missions under 12th plan

(You need to know only what these missions were meant for and what’s their progress so
far)

Economics of Animal Breeding! – This has come from nowhere. Study it here

You can have a look at this report of Planning Commission (only 3 pages)

Role of livestock in Indian Economy

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TOPIC – 6

Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

Food processing is a sunrise industry and lately there has been a lot of thrust from the
government on this industry.

PIB article on this industry

Food processing ministry – schemes
In the 12th Plan

Articles:

Economic Times
The Hindu Businessline – Untapped Potential
The Hindu Businessline – Key Challenges

TOPIC – 7

Land reforms in India

This is a hot favourite topic for UPSC and luckily you get plenty of material to read on this
topic. That is the problem. In this exam, sticking to one source is the secret of success (of
course, not for all topics)

For this topic read from following two sources (IGNOU):

Land reforms – 1
Land Reforms – 2

TOPIC – 8

Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on
industrial growth

You can read these topics from the above mentioned book by Ramesh Singh. It is
explained very well.

Indian Economy for Civil Services Examinations – Ramesh Singh (Chapters 6 and
10, 4th edition – the above link is for latest 5th edition)

TOPIC-9

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

Just two sources; one, India 2013 and Economic Survey

India 2013 (chapters on Energy and Transport)

Economic Survey – Chapter 11 – Energy, Infrastructure and Communications
Latest Energy stats – Very Good Report

TOPIC – 10
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 Investment models

This is a puzzling topic. Because it is given along with Infrastructure related topics, I
assume it to be related to investment models applied to the same field. If not, one can
enumerate so many investment models just for financial sector alone!

For example, within PPP model, there are various modalities are involved (see below)

Table 1: Schemes and Modalities of PPP

Schemes Modalities

Build-own-operate The private sector designs, builds, owns, develops, operates and manages an
(BOO) asset with no obligation to transfer ownership to the government. These are
Build-develop- variants of design-build-finance-operate (DBFO) schemes.
operate (BDO)
Design-construct-
manage-finance
(DCMF)

Buy-build-operate The private sector buys or leases an existing asset from the Government,
(BBO) renovates, modernises, and/ or expands it, and then operates the asset, again
Lease-develop- with no obligation to transfer ownership back to the Government.
operate (LDO)
Wrap-around
addition (WAA)

Build-operate- The private sector designs and builds an asset, operates it, and then transfers it
transfer (BOT) to the Government when the operating contract ends, or at some other pre-
Build-own-operate- specified time. The private partner may subsequently rent or lease the asset
transfer (BOOT) from the Government.
Build-rent-own-
transfer (BROT)
Build-lease-
operate-transfer
(BLOT) Build-
transfer-operate
(BTO)

Source: Public Private Partnership, Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF.

These two sources might help:

Infrastructure Investments – Planning Commission

Public-Private Partnership in Indian Infrastructure Development: Issues and Options
– RBI

SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

TOPIC -11

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 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and

developing new technology.

. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology

and issues relating to intellectual property rights

There are many sources for these topics:

First, for non – science grads, a reading of NCERT Class VI to X Science Texts is advised.
This will clear many concepts for you and will enable you to understand other topics in the
syllabus.

Second, earlier, toppers used to recommend a book by Spectrum publications,

Developments in Science and Technology

The problem with this book is its vastness – they have simply dumped every topic in detail
like paranoid. For students with science background this book is advised, they have
released 2013 edition – you have to study it selectively. Very selectively. This book has all
the topics that are included in the syllabus and that are not included also.

If one goes through previous question papers, one can observe that UPSC has always
asked questions on S&T from within the syllabus. For example, there will be a question on
biotechnology, space, robotics, nanotechnology and computers – they might be from latest
developments in the respective fields, but all are from the syllabus.

Third source is The Hindu and Frontline. Every Thursday, The Hindu carries a separate
page on S&T – if one is regular with this page and have the collection of cuttings, this will
help in 5 mark and 2 mark questions asked from current event section.

Fourth source is Wikipedia and New Scientist sites. From this site, read articles on
Nanotechnology, Robotics, IPR etc.

Under IPR, you may have to read about Novartis case, so The Hindu article is here. Also
TRIPS is important.

For India’s achievements in the field of S&T, you must readIndia 2013 Year Book (chapters
on Defence and Scientific and technological developments)

TOPIC-12

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

BASICS:

Environment and Pollution

Atmosphere Oxygen and Pollution (Technical)

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This particular topic encompasses topics such as biodiversity and climate change, forest
and wildlife conservation, river conservation, pollution in cities, waste management,
pollution from human activities, marine pollution etc – so it is a vast area.

This has to be read with respect to India and the world.

First choice should be The Hindu Environmental Survey 2012 (they may release 2013
survey now).

Sources from the ministry of environment(look at the left side for related links when you
land on the page):

Annual Report of the Environment Ministry 2012-13 (for chapters on conservation, EIA and
forests etc) – Click Here.

Complete info on Conservation. click here.

Complete details on – Environmental Impact Assessment, FAQ’s on EIA

Current events on EIA – The Hindu article

TOPIC – 13

Disaster and disaster management

This is again a current event and a dynamic portion.

Download special edition of Yojana on Disaster Management.

A report on Disaster Management. (read selectively). You will find everything in it you ever
wanted to know about the topic!

SECURITY ISSUES

TOPIC-14

. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

. 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

. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime
with terrorism

Internal Security – Internal Security Challenges

Cyber Security – National Cyber Security Policy 2013 – assessment

Money Laundering –

Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)

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 What is Money Laundering – Basics
FATF on Money Laundering

For a starter, here is a book just released by Oxford University Press, exclusively on these
topics. Titled ‘India’s National Security – A Reader‘ and written by eminent scholars in this
field, it covers external and internal security threats by state and non-state actors, as well
as nuclear issues too. Read the review here.

You can buy it from Flipkart . (Buy it only after reading the above
review)

(This section will be updated with latest news articles – soon)

TOPIC-15

Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

This topic is completely factual. You can read it on Wikipedia.

Indian Armed Forces

Indian Paramilitary Services
Agencies

A SMALL LECTURE

Until now we saw what books to read. Now the question is how to remember most of the
things we read and how to translate them into better answers.

A common mistake most of the aspirants commit is reading so many books for a
single topic.This mistake costs both your time and ability to remember things clearly
and concisely.
Stick to a single source and read it again and again. Remember The Same Source.
Avoid the temptation of doing ‘Research’ on a topic.
Always Remember – UPSC tests Basic Understanding. Not mastery over a topic.
Make short notes on each topic. It is while making notes that readers tend to do
RESEARCH and scout various sources. Stick to one book even if you are not 100%
satisfied with it.
Remember that old saying? – Jack of all trades, master of NONE. If you try to do
Research, most probably your name won’t appear in the Final List. I guarantee it.
For Paper-II (i.e GS-1) being thorough with Current Events plays a crucial role in
enabling you to acquire analytical skills.

Very Important Part In The Preparation

Writing. Writing. Writing.

But what? – One must practice answer writing to Previous year questions, or take a
Mock Test. Whatever, before you enter examination hall, you must have spent lot of
time on answer writing.

Most Important Part In The Preparation

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 Revision. Revision. Re-Revision.
You do this and you appear for the Personality Test.
If you don’t Revise what you read all these months – you slightly miss the Personality
Test, or You narrowly miss appearing in the Final List.

Well, to sum up. To get the interview call all you need to do is:Read, Re-read the same
source, Write and Revise.

Preparation for this paper can be finished in 20 days provided you are focused and
determined.

Of course. Eat well, Sleep well and Keep a good health. If you get a running nose on the
day of the exam, 2 hours out of 3 hours goes in draining it and drying it.

(This article is not final yet. It will be updated soon with further inputs and resources.
Suggestions are welcome.)

Copyright (C) INSIGHTS ACTIVE LEARNING

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