UPSC Themes

UPSC CSE Mains 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks · 250 words

How are startups in India promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and employment? Discuss the global and domestic challenges in their working and suggest suitable measures to overcome these challenges.

Theme

T129 Manufacturing, MSMEs, startups & industrial policy: PLI, SEZs, labour codes

What UPSC asks in this theme

Questions ask the policies for MSMEs and manufacturing share, why industrial growth lagged after reforms, failure in labour-intensive exports, PLI's rationale and results, SEZ problems, labour codes, and startups' role.

What to cover

Writing the answer

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 7 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.

On the map

Map module 7: Industry & infrastructure

More PYQs from this theme

  1. GS3202515 marks

    Discuss the rationale of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. What are its achievements? In what way can the functioning and outcomes of the scheme be improved?

  2. GS3202415 marks

    Discuss the merits and demerits of the four 'Labour Codes' in the context of labour market reforms in India. What has been the progress so far in this regard?

  3. GS3202310 marks

    Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the government in this regard.

  4. GS32017

    Account for the failure of manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive exports.

  5. GS32017

    “Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic-Product (GDP) in the post-reform period” Give reasons. How far the recent changes in Industrial Policy are capable of increasing the industrial growth rate?

  6. GS32015

    There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognising this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs require augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.

All 20 GS3 2026 questions · Technology, Economy, Environment, Security & Disaster Management · Report a typo