UPSC GS Paper 3 Syllabus 2025, Check Preparation Strategy, Books List
UPSC GS 3 Paper Syllabus 2025 for the main exam can be divided into six major subjects. The UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 syllabus, preparation tips, books, and previous year's question papers are provided here.
Anil Solonki15 Sept, 2025
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UPSC GS Paper 3 Syllabus 2025: General Studies Paper III or UPSC Mains Paper IV is conducted for 250 marks in the first half on exam day. The Union Public Service Commission has defined the detailed UPSC GS Paper 3 syllabus in the official notification.
There are a total of six major sections having 20 questions in the GS Paper III. Each question is designed to test candidates on their grasp of diverse topics related to economics, security, environment, and development. The UPSC 2025 Mains exam date has been released, allowing candidates to plan their preparation strategy effectively. Read on to access the complete UPSC GS Paper 3 syllabus and a list of sources to cover the topics mentioned in the syllabus.UPSC GS 3 Paper Syllabus 2025
Before starting the preparation, it is recommended to go through the UPSC Syllabus Mains PDF to check the GS 3 mains syllabus. The UPSC General Studies III paper is titled ‘Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management’ . This paper is actually the fourth paper after Essay, GS I, and GS II. The UPSC GS 3 paper pattern is as follows:- Candidates will be allotted 3 hours to complete the question paper.
- There are a total of 20 questions from six major subjects or sections.
- Out of these, questions 1 to 10 will be marked with a 150-word limit .
- Question numbers 11 to 20 will be 15 markers with a word limit of 250 words.
- The maximum mark for UPSC GS Paper 3 is 250.
UPSC Mains General Studies III Subjects
While the notification mentions the UPSC GS Paper 3 syllabus without categorising it into subjects, the syllabus can be roughly divided into six core subjects . This division of GS 3 subjects makes it easier for candidates to find study material for General Studies Paper 3 preparation. The names of UPSC Mains General Studies III subjects are provided below- Economic Development
- Agriculture
- Science and Technology
- Biodiversity and Environment
- Disaster and disaster management
- Internal Security
GS 3 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Mains
The IAS GS 3 syllabus is the foundation of preparation for this paper. It guides students to select the optimum resources without wasting their precious time. The topic-wise breakdown of the GS Paper 3 Syllabus for UPSC Mains is provided in the following table:| GS Paper 3 Syllabus for UPSC Mains | |
| Subject | Topics |
| Economic Development |
|
| Technology |
|
| Agriculture |
|
| Biodiversity and Environment |
|
| Internal Security |
|
| Disaster Management |
|
Books to Cover UPSC GS Paper 3 Syllabus
The UPSC GS Paper 3 syllabus is quite extensive and hence cannot be covered with a single resource. Candidates are required to refer to multiple resources and create their own GS 3 paper notes for the UPSC Mains exam. Here is a list of books that can be referred to for preparation:| UPSC GS Paper 3 Books | |
| Subject | Books |
| Economic Development |
|
| Science and Technology |
|
| Agriculture |
|
| Biodiversity and Environment |
|
| Internal Security |
|
| Disaster Management |
|
| Additional Books |
|
UPSC Mains GS 3 Previous Year Question Paper
The role of UPSC previous-year questions cannot be neglected in the preparation of the CSE Mains exam. Going through the GS 3 PYQ will guide candidates in analysing the trend of the GS III paper over the years and making a strategy accordingly. It will also help them find out important topics for the exam. Here is the direct download link for the GS 3 previous year question papers:| UPSC GS 3 Previous Year Question Paper | |
| Year | Download Link |
| GS 3 Paper 2023 | Click Here |
| GS 3 Paper 2022 | Click Here |
| GS 3 Paper 2021 | Click Here |
| GS 3 Paper 2020 | Click Here |
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Preparation Strategy for UPSC GS Paper 3 Syllabus
The GS Paper 3 is dynamic in nature, and hence candidates need to take a systematic approach to cover all six subjects of the syllabus. Start by thoroughly understanding the UPSC GS Paper 3 syllabus and analysing the previous year question papers provided above. Once you pick the necessary GS 3 study material, follow the below subject-based approach :- Economic Development: Start with NCERT economics books for foundational knowledge. Then delve into specialized books to understand concepts thoroughly.
- Agriculture: Study agricultural topics focusing on recent developments such as subsidies and farm bills by referring to newspapers and the websites of the Government.
- Science and Technology: Stay updated with current affairs compilations such as The Hindu to understand analytical questions in this subject.
- Environment and Biodiversity: This subject is also dynamic and questions are mostly asked from current events. Candidates must go through the latest EIA report and related news.
- Security and Challenges: Refer to a standard book for basics and then make notes with inputs from current affairs compilations on security-related topics. Do have a map of India to understand border security threats thoroughly.
- Disaster Management: Use IGNOU notes and chapters related to disaster management in the India Yearbook for this subject. For management part candidates can refer to guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
| UPSC Related Articles | ||
| UPSC Mains 2024 | UPSC Optional Subject | UPSC GS 4 Paper Syllabus |
| UPSC Exam Pattern | UPSC GS 2 Paper Syllabus | UPSC GS 1 Paper Syllabus |
UPSC GS Paper 3 Syllabus FAQs
What is the syllabus of GS Paper 3 in UPSC Mains?
The syllabus of GS Paper 3 in UPSC Mains covers a variety of topics from Technology, Economic Development, Security, Disaster Management, Biodiversity, and Environment.
How many subjects are there in UPSC GS Paper 3?
There are a total of 6 subjects in the UPSC GS Paper 3.
What is the weightage of GS 3 in UPSC Mains?
The total weightage of GS 3 in UPSC Mains is 250 marks.
How much time is required to prepare GS 3 for UPSC?
Candidates can prepare the GS paper in 3 to 4 months along with other GS papers.
Is coaching required for the GS 3 paper in UPSC?
The Coaching such as Physics Wallah can help candidates cover the syllabus comprehensively and practice answer writing for UPSC Mains
Talk to a counsellorHave doubts? Our support team will be happy to assist you!
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