GS Paper III · Prelims

UPSC Science & Technology Preparation

S&T is applied current science mapped to the syllabus — space, biotech, IT, nuclear, health tech — not a B.Tech paper.

Papers: Prelims GS-I · Mains GS Paper III
Institute: FIRST IAS INSTITUTE (Delhi — Hauz Khas & Gurgaon — Sector 14)

1 Syllabus

Aligned to the official UPSC CSE notification. Always re-check the latest PDF on UPSC exam syllabus.

Prelims: General Science; current developments in science and technology.
Mains GS-III: Science and Technology — developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Achievements of Indians in S&T; indigenisation of technology.
Awareness in IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and IPR issues.

2 Previous year questions (PYQs)

Typical S&T PYQ themes:

ISRO missions, launch vehicles, space applications for governance.
Biotech: GM crops, vaccines, gene editing (themes).
Digital public infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity.
Nuclear energy (as asked).
IPR: patents, compulsory licensing.

Official papers:

3 Resources

NCERT Science 6–10 + selected 11–12 biology/physics for basics.
PIB / ISRO / DBT one-page notes tagged to syllabus bullets.
Link Economy and Environment.
CSAT numeracy is separate — CSAT Preparation.

4 Strategy

Weekly: 5 developments, each with principle + India application + issue.
Prelims: working principle in simple language.
Mains: applications in agriculture, health, education, defence, environment — pick 3, not 12.

5 Common mistakes

Copying jargon from tech blogs.
Ignoring Class 6–10 basics that Prelims still asks.
Writing a science lecture with no governance angle in Mains.
Skipping IPR and indigenisation.

6 Answer-writing example

Sample Mains demand: “Discuss the applications of space technology in Indian governance. What constraints remain?”

Introduction: Space as a civilian utility (nav, remote sensing, comms), not only launches.

Body — applications: crop insurance, disaster maps, land records, telemedicine, navigation.

Body — constraints: last-mile data use, privacy, debris, some import dependence.

Conclusion: Missions matter when ministries actually use the data in schemes.

More on evaluated writing: How FIRST IAS INSTITUTE helps in answer writing.

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