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GS Paper: GS3

  • What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology/? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of society?

    Applied biotechnology focuses on the practical application of these biological insights to solve real-world problems in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, environment, and industry.

    R&D Achievements in Applied Biotechnology

    Genomics: Genome India Project sequenced 10,000 Indian genomes. It provides a baseline for understanding genetic diseases unique to the Indian population.

    Climate-Resilient Crops: Eg- Sahbhagi Dhan for drought and Swarna-Sub1 for flood- prone areas has secured yields in disaster-prone regions.

    Human health

    Indigenous Vaccine Platforms: Eg- Development of the world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (ZyCoV-D) and the indigenously developed HPV vaccine (Cervavac) for cervical cancer.

    Bio-fortification: R&D has led to the creation of nutrient-rich crop varieties, such as Sakti-1 maize (high lysine and tryptophan) and CR Dhan 310 (high protein rice).

    Bio-remediation and Waste-to-Wealth: Success in developing “Microbial Consortia” for cleaning oil spills (OilZapper) and converting agricultural waste into ethanol (2G Biofuels).

    Restorative Health

    Regenerative Research: Eg- LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad has pioneered significant advancements in using limbal stem cells to restore vision.

    Synthetic Biology: Research into metabolic engineering has allowed for the microbial production of high-value compounds like Artemisinin (anti-malarial drug), reducing dependence on plant extraction.

    Molecular Diagnostics: The creation of low-cost, paper-based diagnostic strips (like the FELUDA test) for various infectious diseases has decentralized high-end testing.

    Uplifting Poorer Sections of Society

    Food and Nutritional Security: Bio-fortified crops directly combat “Hidden Hunger” among the rural poor by providing essential vitamins and minerals through their daily staple diet.

    Increased Farm Income: Biotech seeds like Bt Cotton and bio-stimulants reduce the cost of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, increasing the net profit margin for farmers.

    Affordable Healthcare: Local manufacturing of biologicals and biosimilars through biotech processes makes life-saving drugs like insulin and monoclonal antibodies affordable.

    Animal Husbandry and Dairy: Achievements in In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) for cattle and sex-sorted semen technology have helped landless laborers increase milk yield and improve livestock quality.

    Clean Environment and Sanitation: Biotech-based Bio-toilets utilize anaerobic bacteria to treat human waste in areas without sewage systems, improving hygiene and dignity for urban slum dwellers.

    Employment Generation: The growth of the Bio-Economy (targeted at $300 billion by 2030) creates a range of jobs from high-end research to low-skilled manufacturing.

    Energy Security: The production of bio-gas and ethanol from farm residue provides a secondary source of income for farmers while offering cheaper, cleaner fuel for cooking and transport.

    Resilience to Climate Change: For the poor who are most vulnerable to weather shocks, biotech-developed salt-tolerant or heat-resistant seeds provide a safety net against crop failure.

    Applied biotechnology is no longer a luxury science but a fundamental pillar for inclusive growth.

  • The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings?

    The Blue LEDs invention triggered a fundamental shift in lighting technology, comparable to the transition from the candle to the incandescent bulb. Without the Blue LED, the world was stuck with energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs and mercury-laden fluorescent lamps.

    Impact on Everyday Life

    Energy Efficiency: LEDs convert 50% of energy to light, compared to just 4% for incandescent bulbs lasting 100,000 hours. This efficiency slashes global CO2 emissions.

    Electronics & Mobility: Provided the essential backlighting for LCD screens in smartphones and laptops, allowing for thinner designs and significantly longer battery life.

    Cost-saving: Eg- 50000 hours of white LEDs cost $86 compared to $350 in incandescent light.

    Democratization of Light: Enabled low-power, solar-powered LED lamps, providing safe and affordable light to over a billion people in off-grid rural areas.

    New innovations: Eg- New screens of mobiles & TV which are more efficient & sustainable.

    Advancements in Healthcare and Sanitation

    Water Purification: UV-light emitting diodes are used to sterilize drinking water by destroying the DNA of bacteria and viruses.

    Medical Treatment: Blue light is used in phototherapy to treat neonatal jaundice and certain skin conditions.

    Sustainable Agriculture (Vertical Farming)

    Blue light is essential for photosynthesis.

    Indoor Farming: By fine-tuning light “recipes” using Blue and Red LEDs, farmers can grow food indoors in urban environments without pesticides, using 90% less water

    Enhanced Communication and Connectivity

    Optical Storage: The development of the blue laser led to Blu-ray technology, allowing for much higher data storage densities than earlier red-laser CDs or DVDs.

    Li-Fi: Current research is using Blue LEDs for Light Fidelity (Li-Fi), a high-speed wireless communication technology that transmits data through light pulses.

    Government initiatives promoting LEDs

    UJALA ( Unnat Jyoti by affordable LED for all)

    Street Lighting National Program (SLNP) as Prakash Rath

    In 2026, as we strive for Net Zero goals, the Blue LED remains our most effective tool for “decarbonizing” the night.

  • Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake-related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades

    Vulnerability of India to Earthquake-Related Hazards

    Active Plate Tectonics – High seismicity in the Himalayan belt, North-East India, Kutch region, and Andaman-Nicobar Islands.

    Wide Seismic Zonation

    Zone V (Very High Risk) – Himalayan states, Kutch, Andaman & Nicobar.

    Zone IV – Delhi, Bihar, parts of J&K and NE India.

    Major cities such as Delhi, Guwahati, Srinagar, Imphal lie in high-risk zones.

    Weak enforcement of earthquake-resistant building codes (BIS).

    Rapid and Unplanned Urbanisation without seismic safety.

    Secondary and Cascading Hazards – Landslides, liquefaction, fires, dam failure, and infrastructure collapse.

    Vulnerability of critical infrastructure – Disruption of transport, power, water, and communication networks.

    Examples of Major Earthquake Disasters in India (Last Three Decades)

    Latur Earthquake, Maharashtra (1993)

    Magnitude – ~6.3

    Intraplate earthquake caused by reactivation of ancient fault lines in the Deccan Plateau

    Over 9,000 deaths.

    Bhuj Earthquake, Gujarat (2001)

    Magnitude – 7.7

    Intraplate fault movement due to stress transmitted from the Indian Plate-Eurasian Plate collision

    Around 13,800 deaths and massive infrastructure loss.

    Kashmir Earthquake (2005)

    Magnitude – 7.6

    Thrust faulting due to ongoing collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate

    Extensive landslides and isolation of remote villages.

    Sikkim Earthquake (2011)

    Magnitude – 6.9

    Active tectonics of the Himalayan collision zone

    Triggered widespread landslides.

    Damage to roads, bridges, and hydropower projects.

    Hazard zonation mapping, disaster resilient infrastructure and institutional strengthening for quick response and recovery is essential to achieve Sendai targets on disaster risk reduction.

  • What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?

    NFSA marks a paradigm shift in the approach to food security from welfare to rights based approach. It is the world’s largest food transfer programme and social safety net, accounting for around 50% of India’s overall social assistance budget.

    Salient Features of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

    Legal entitlement to food for 75% of rural and 50% of urban population81 crore people).

    Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) supplies 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at highly subsidized prices:

    Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households receive 35 kg per family per month.

    Life-cycle approach:

    Pregnant & lactating women: Free meals + (PMMVY).

    Children: ICDS & Mid-Day Meal/PM-POSHAN.

    State-wise coverage is determined by the NITI Aayog by using the NSS Household Consumption Survey data.

    Identification of eligible households is done by States/UTs

    Food security allowance: If foodgrains are not supplied, beneficiaries receive compensation.

    Grievance redressal mechanisms at state and district levels including State Food Commissions.

    Role of NFSA in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India

    Reduced out-of-pocket spending on staple foods has improved dietary diversity by ‘crowding in’ the consumption of nutrient-dense foods

    Fortified rice under NFSA covers 291 districts (Phase II) and over 65% of NFSA households

    Malnourishment in children under 5 years has reduced (NHFS-5)

    Stunting – from 38.4% to 35.5%,

    Wasting – 21.0% to 19.3% and

    Underweight – 35.8% to 32.1% .

    Malnutrition among women aged 15-49 years has also reduced from 22.9% to 18.7%.

    Food Security during COVID under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

    Regular PDS supply has reduced seasonal hunger in tribal belts of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh

    ICDS covers an 90 million children, 11 million pregnant women, and 2 million adolescent girls

    However, despite these steps there are few challenges

    As per study by Crisil using a ‘thali index’, up to 50% of rural and 20% of urban Indians cannot afford two balanced meals a day

    Fiscal Burden – Food subsidy budget @ 2.1 lakh cr in 2025-26

    Even with PDS support, food deprivation remained 40% in rural and 10% in urban areas

    Diversion – Eg- 28% of allocated foodgrains fail to reach beneficiaries as per HCES 2022-23.

    Inclusion and exclusion errors due to faulty beneficiary identification.

    Corruption at Fair Price Shops (FPS) – Issues of under-weighing, overcharging etc

    Persistent triple burden of malnutrition

    Way Forward

    Shanta Kumar Committee Recommendations on Revamping of PDS

    Direct Procurement by States

    Private Sector Involvement in procurement, storage, and distribution

    Diversify the food basket – Include millets, pulses, edible oil and iodised salt

    Nutrition Education and Behavior Change through nudge theory. Eg- POSHAN Abhiyaan’s Jan Andolan people’s movement approach

    Involvement of Civil Society – Eg- Akshaya Patra Foundation’s centralized kitchens model

    Strengthening Life-cycle Approach to Nutrition– Eg- Karnataka’s “Mathrupoorna” scheme provides one full meal to pregnant women.

    To realise SDG 1,2,3,and 12, the focus needs to shift from Food Security to Nutritional Security

  • Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy.

    Landslides are the downhill movement of rock, debris or earth due to slope failure, triggered by natural or anthropogenic factors.

    Causes of Landslides

    Natural Causes

    Intense or Prolonged Rainfall leads to liquefaction – Eg- 2018 Kerala floods triggered major landslides in Idukki and Wayanad.

    Hydrological Factors: Water seepage through porous materials raises pore pressure and weakens the slope.

    Earthquakes – Seismic shaking destabilises slopes.

    Weathering & Erosion

    Physical and chemical weathering reduce slope strength

    River undercutting erodes base material.

    Snowmelt – Eg- Landslides linked to glacial retreat in Chamoli (Uttarakhand).

    Volcanic Activity – Though rare in India, globally volcanic regions face debris flows and lahars.

    Anthropogenic Causes

    Unregulated Construction– Eg- Frequent landslides along Char Dham highway in Uttarakhand.

    Deforestation – Reduces root binding capacity and slope cohesion. Eg- Western Ghats tea and cardamom plantations.

    Mining & Quarrying Activities– Eg- Quarry-linked landslides in Kerala’s Idukki district.

    Poor Drainage –Blocked drains, leaking pipelines, and slope saturation trigger failures.

    Unplanned Urbanisation – Unscientific hill-cutting and unsustainable tourist influx. Eg- Joshimath Crisis in Uttarakhand

    Effects of Landslides

    Loss of Life and Injury – Eg- 2024 Wayanad landslide killed 250+ people and injured 400

    Damage to critical Infrastructure– Eg- Frequent closure of NH-44 in J&K and HP.

    Economic Losses – 1% to 2% of the Gross National Product (GSI)

    River Blockage due to debris creates temporary dams and flash floods. Eg- 2021 Rishiganga disaster.

    Environmental Degradation – Loss of forests, soil fertility, biodiversity, and increased erosion.

    Disaster induced displacement – as per Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), India recorded 5.4 million displacements in 2024 due to disasters Eg- Joshimath crisis (2023).

    Components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy (NLRMS)

    Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping using GIS, remote sensing, LiDAR.

    At macro scale (1:50,000 / 25,000)

    At meso level (1:10,000)

    Developing landslide monitoring & early warning systems – Eg- use of Rainfall thresholds, automated sensors, Doppler radar support etc

    Awareness generation and capacity building of local communities in landslide safety and mitigation.

    Land use regulation – Eg- Restricting construction in high-risk slopes.

    Creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Landslide Management

    Mitigation Measures –

    Engineering solutions – Retaining walls, slope drainage, rock bolting, geo-textiles,

    Nature based solutions – Afforestation in himalaya

    Establishment of a National Landslide Inventory for modelling and planning.

    Response & Relief – SOPs for search and rescue, emergency shelters.

    Institutional Mechanism & Coordination – Defining roles of NDMA, GSI, MoRTH, state DMAs and local bodies.

    Research & Development – Geotechnical studies, rainfall-landslide correlations.

    To prevent a catastrophe like the Wayanad Landslide of 2024, engineering as well as nature-based solutions along with early warning systems, and effective land use practices are essential.

  • How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers?

    Land reform refers to the systematic alteration of laws, regulations, and practices governing land ownership, distribution, and use to achieve social and economic justice.

    Impact of land reforms on socio-economic conditions of Farmers

    Abolition of Zamindari

    States like Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka eliminated intermediary rights, transferring ownership to actual cultivators.

    Increased security, reduced exploitation, and improved bargaining power.

    West Bengal’s Operation Barga (1978) registered sharecroppers and guaranteed them 75% share in output when they used their own inputs.

    Raised incomes of more than 1.5 million tenant farmers.

    Land ceiling laws and redistribution of surplus land in states such as Kerala and West Bengal improved access to land for landless labourers and marginal farmers.

    Punjab and Haryana undertook extensive land consolidationmodern machinery, improved cropping intensity, and raised productivity.

    Ownership titles enabled farmers to access Kisan Credit Card, cooperative banks, and PSB loans

    Reduction in rural poverty and inequality

    Rural poverty fell sharply in Kerala and West Bengal post-tenancy reforms.

    States with stronger reforms saw better literacy, nutrition, and health outcomes.

    Empowerment of women – States like Kerala recognized women’s rights in land inheritance.

    Major Challenges

    Land Reforms is ‘state subject’ – Lack of political will and uniformity in implementation

    Legal loopholes – In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madras there was no limit on the size of the lands that could be declared to be under the ‘personal cultivation’ of the zamindar

    Fragmented Landholdings – Average operational holding has fallen to 0.74 ha (NABARD), making consolidation challenging.

    Inadequate Institutional Capacity – Revenue departments face deficits in manpower, technology, and coordination.

    Despite legal provisions, women hold only 11-13% of operational holdings due to inheritance barriers.

    High Land Litigation – Over two-thirds of civil cases in lower courts involve land disputes

    Land reform 2.0 based on modernisation of records (DILRMP), redistribution of land and land leasing reforms is essential to realise the objective of ‘Doubling Farmers Income’.

  • What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?

    A cropping pattern is the distribution of various crops within a specific area at a given time. Presently, rice and wheat account for 75% of overall foodgrain production and 37% of net-sown area.

    Challenges Before Crop Diversification

    94% of the total agri and allied sector output is outside MSP support.

    Input constraints – Limited HYV seeds, overdependence on chemical fertilizers. Eg- Seed replacement rate is 35-45% (over 90% in USA)

    Input Subsidy Bias – Subsidies for power, urea, canal water favour water-intensive crops, making alternatives less attractive.

    Low income trap limits farmers ability to invest in High Value crops and Technology.

    High monsoon dependence – About 55% of cultivable land is rainfed – increasing risk and limiting diversification.

    Fragmented landholdings – 86% Small and marginal farmers – restrict mechanisation.

    Shift to commercial crops – Expansion of cotton (Deccan belt) and sugarcane (Punjab-Haryana, Krishna-Godavari basin) crowds out food crops.

    Human factors – Population pressure, subsistence farming, and low risk appetite hinder diversification.

    Institutional weaknesses – Defective land tenure, and poor processing for perishables. Eg- Only 13% mandis digital.

    Market Uncertainty – Lack of assured markets for pulses, oilseeds, millets, fruits, and vegetables limits farmers’ ability to shift.

    Infrastructural gaps – Eg- cold storage can accommodate only 11% of total produce.

    Role of Emerging Technologies in promoting Crop Diversification

    Precision Agriculture – Drones, IoT sensors, GIS enable farmers to manage diverse crops with accurate irrigation, nutrition, and pest control.

    Biotechnology – Stress-tolerant and climate-resilient varieties encourage diversification. Eg- Drought Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Variety “SAATVIK (NC 9)”

    Micro-Irrigation – Drip and sprinkler systems make cultivation of horticulture, vegetables, and spices viable even in dry regions.

    Protected Cultivation Technologies – Eg- Polyhouses and shade nets allow off-season vegetables, flowers, and exotics.

    Digital Platforms like e-NAM, agritech apps, FPO digital platforms provide real-time prices and reduce market risk for alternative crops.

    Cold-Chain Technologies support high-value horticulture diversification. Eg: Apple packhouses.

    Biofertilisers improve soil health and make pulses, oilseeds, and millets more viable in rainfed regions.

    Climate-Smart Advisory Systems – AI-based weather advisories, satellite-based crop monitoring help farmers shift to climate-resilient crops.

    Financial inclusion under JAM and DBT under PM KISAN increases capital investment and promotes diversification to high value crops

    When science meets scale, when innovation becomes inclusive, when technology drives transformation, the foundation for great achievements is laid – PM Modi


  • How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India’s water crisis?

    Micro irrigation is a water-efficient irrigation technique that delivers water directly to plant roots using drip or sprinkler systems, reducing water wastage.

    18% of the world’s population but only 4% of global freshwater resources.

    ~85% of India’s freshwater is used in agriculture (FAO).

    Groundwater depletion:

    1,006 blocks are over-exploited or critical (CGWB, 2023).

    Punjab and Haryana – ~1 metre annual groundwater decline.

    Per capita water availability fell from 1,820 m³ (2001)1,486 m³ (2025).

    Role of Micro-Irrigation in Solving India’s Water Crisis

    Significant Water Saving – saves around 30-50% water compared to flood irrigation.

    Higher Water Use Efficiency (WUE)

    Sprinkler Irrigation – 75%

    Drip Irrigation – 90%

    Higher Yields: Eg- increases yields by 45% for wheat, 20% for gram, and 40% for soybean.

    Reduced Water Loss through evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation

    Lower Fertilizer Use: Through fertigation, fertilizers are applied directly to the plant roots along with water

    Reduced Groundwater Extraction – Eg- Drip in sugarcane in Maharashtra reduced water use by 22-25%.

    Improves Climate Resilience – Provides controlled irrigation during dry spells.

    Micro-irrigation can double irrigation coverage using existing water resources (NITI Aayog).

    Limitations of micro-irrigation

    Low Adoption – micro-irrigation covers only 7.6% of the net sown area

    High Initial Cost – Eg- Drip irrigation costs .

    Regular maintenance needs to avoid clogging, leakage, and damage is technically difficult for farmers.

    Technical Knowledge Gap: lack of know-how to correctly install, operate, and maintain micro-irrigation systems.

    Social and Cultural Barriers: Traditional farming practices and resistance to change.

    Regional imbalance – Eastern and northern states lag.

    Not Suitable for all crops– Eg-Flood irrigation is preferred for water-intensive crops like paddy

    Government Initiatives

    PMKSY – “Per Drop More Crop” – subsidies up to 55%.

    Micro-Irrigation Fund under NABARD – 10000 Cr

    Andhra Pradesh Micro-Irrigation Project (APMIP)

    Micro-irrigation is critical for achieving equitable, efficient and sustainable irrigation management. (“Vision for Sujalam Bharat”)

  • Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the components of both these Budgets.

    Under Article 112, the Budget comprises the Revenue Budget, which covers routine government income and expenditure, and the Capital Budget, which deals with asset creation and long-term liabilities.

    Difference Between Revenue Budget and Capital Budget

    Components of the Revenue Budget

    Revenue Receipts

    Tax Revenue – Income tax, corporate tax, GST, customs, excise, etc.

    Non-Tax Revenue – Dividends & profits from PSUs/RBI, fees, fines, interest receipts.

    Grants-in-Aid – External grants from other countries/institutions.

    Revenue Expenditure

    Salaries, Pensions & Administrative Costs

    Subsidies – food, fertiliser, petroleum.

    Interest Payments on past borrowings.

    Grants to States & UTs, grants for social services.

    Expenditure on Routine Government Operations – police, defence services (revenue), judiciary.

    Components of the Capital Budget

    Capital Receipts

    Borrowings – Market loans, external loans, treasury bills.

    Disinvestment Proceeds – Sale of government equity in PSUs.

    Recovery of Loans – Repayment from states, PSUs, and others.

    Small Savings & Provident Fund Collections

    Capital Expenditure

    Creation of Assets – Roads, railways, bridges, irrigation, defence capital.

    Loans and Advances – To states, UTs, PSUs, and financial institutions.

    Investment in PSUs and Infrastructure Projects

    A healthy fiscal structure requires containing revenue expenditure and prioritising capital expenditure to strengthen productivity and economic growth.

  • Do you agree that the Indian economy has recently experienced V- shapes recovery? Give reasons in support of your answer.