UPSC IAS Mains 2015 General Studies Paper 3 Detailed Analysis

General studies Paper 3 was held on 20th Dec 2015 and there were total of 20 questions asked with each question having a weightage of 12.5 marks. As seen from the trend most of the questions focused on issues of current affairs. A very high focus was on “digital” aspect.

Some questions that were very obvious before the exam - turned up like

  • Swaach Bharat Cess was a predicted question - Question on National Mission for Clean Ganga program turned up
  • Gas subsidy was a predicted question - Independence Day speech focused on Give it Up campaign - So direct benefit transfer of subsidies turned up to be a question
  • “Digital India” and “DigiLockers” were the focus of editorials in “Times of India” and “The Hindu” - Finally making up questions in GS3
  • Again Gold Monetization Scheme and Gold Bonds was a predicted question

In Short you can say that most of the questions focused on new schemes implemented by the government last year. Seeing the pattern we can say focus areas were:

  • Labour Reforms
  • Digital India
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Growth
  • ISIS
  • Left Wing Extremism

Moral: Focus on any and all schemes released by Government of India despite the fact it turned to be a successful or unsuccessful scheme.

For next year 2016 important topics across GS (all papers) as of now can be:

  • Devaluation of Yuan - Impact on Indian Currency in Global Perspective
  • Digital Led in Medical Innovations
  • Introduction of Injectible Polio Vaccine
  • Paris Summit
  • ISIS
  • Cybercrime
  • Cyber Laws
  • Easing Industrial Licensing
  • Easing Application for Company Set up
  • Make in India
  • One Rank, One Pension

Examrace Team at Aug 22, 2021