TOPIC
GS3
2013–2026
Science and Technology — PYQ Trend Intelligence
MATCHES
53
mapped PYQs
What the data shows
In the mapped 2013–2026 GS 3 dataset, 53 questions connect to science and technology across 14 exam years. The highest observed count is 7 in 2013. These counts describe historical coverage, not the probability of a future exam question.
Method: topic hierarchy adapted from the supplied GS1–GS4 topic-map PDFs (2013–2025); questions are linked using MainsBuddy metadata term matching, restricted to GS3. Overlapping themes may include the same question. 2026 questions are mapped as a separate extension beyond the PDFs. Cross-topic matches may occur; these are provisional classifications, not verified question-level PDF mappings.
Questions by year
2026
5
2025
6
2024
5
2023
4
2022
3
2021
4
2020
3
2019
3
2018
1
2017
2
2016
2
2015
4
2014
4
2013
7
Answer-writing intelligence
Directives recorded for mapped questions include Describe, Explain, Distinguish, Discuss, Review. Compare how the demand changes across years: identify the directive, split the question into its components, and practise within the stated mark allocation.
Mapped previous year questions
- Describe the various Technology Missions initiated in Indian agriculture and examine their role in food security.
- Explain by giving two examples, how biotechnology has helped the Indian farmers in processing their perishable crops.
- Distinguish between a Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) and a thermal nuclear reactor. In the context of first indigenously developed prototype FBR at Kalpakkam, explain the term ‘criticality’. What are its implications for clean energy future of our country?
- Mention salient features of ‘Mission Drishti’. Discuss the imaging techniques used in the satellite launched on 3rd May 2026. Why it is being considered world’s first satellite of its kind?
- What is agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Explain its working. Describe its applications with suitable examples. Discuss the advantages, risks and challenges associated with agentic AI systems.
- How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology can play a crucial role in this endeavour?
- What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change?
- Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?
- How does nanotechnology offer significant advancements in the field of agriculture? How can this technology help to uplift the socio-economic status of farmers?
- Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.
- Write a review on India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022?
- What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.
- Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government's initiatives in this regard.
- What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details.
- The world is facing an acute shortage of clean and safe freshwater. What are the alternative technologies which can solve this crisis? Briefly discuss any three such technologies citing their key merits and demerits.
- What are asteroids? How real is the threat of them causing extinction of life? What strategies have been developed to prevent such a catastrophe?
- How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it.
- Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does Al help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare?
- Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage.
- The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles?
- The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them?
- Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race?
- What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines?
- How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world?
- Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.
- What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?
- What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society?
- What do you understand by nanotechnology, and how is it helping in the health sector?
- How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies?
- The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid the management of the pandemic.
- What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme?
- How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies?
- How can biotechnology help to improve the living standards of farmers?
- Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma?
- Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including Leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and severe burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments?
- India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbitter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space missions. What are the main obstacles to launching a manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Examine critically.
- Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How has application of this technology helped India in its socio-economic development?
- Why is nanotechnology one of the key technologies of the 21st century? Describe salient features of the Government of India’s Mission on Nanoscience and Technology and the scope of its application in the development process of the country.
- What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and ‘Precision Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.
- What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss initiatives that can propel research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation.
- Discuss the advantages and security implications of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government businesses.
- India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations, is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros and cons of making this database publicly available under open-source licensing.
- Scientific research in Indian universities is declining because a career in science is not as attractive as business professions, engineering or administration, and universities are becoming consumer-oriented. Critically comment.
- Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What mechanisms are available for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the issues involved.
- In a globalized world, Intellectual Property Rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets.
- International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory. What do you understand by ‘airspace’? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss challenges this poses and suggest ways to contain the threat.
- Bringing out circumstances in 2005 which forced amendment to Section 3(d) in Indian Patent Law, 1970, discuss how it was used by the Supreme Court in rejecting Novartis’ patent application for ‘Glivec’. Discuss briefly pros and cons of the decision.
- What do you understand by Fixed Dose Drug Combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their merits and demerits.
- What do you understand by Umpire Decision Review System in cricket? Discuss its various components. Explain how silicone tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system.
- What is a digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Give various salient built-in features of a digital signature.
- How does 3D printing technology work? List advantages and disadvantages of the technology.
- What is an FRP composite material? How is it manufactured? Discuss applications in aviation and automobile industries.
- What do you understand by run-of-river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project?
Study the trend, choose a real question, write your answer, and evaluate it.