Natural Resources & Industrial Location — UPSC Questions
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
Previous year questions and Mains practice questions on this exact syllabus topic, collected from every GainingSun analysis mapped to it. Each question links back to the analysis it came from, so you can read the material behind the answer.
Previous year questions (from 4 analyses)
Questions UPSC has set on this syllabus topic, as cited in our analyses.
'Climate Change' is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC Mains 2017)
From Europe's 'Most Severe' Heatwave: How Attribution Science Pins the Blame on Climate Change
Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? Genetic predisposition of some people Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases Using antibiotics in livestock farming Multiple chronic diseases in some people Select the correct answer using the code given below: A) 1 and 2 B) 2 and 3 only C) 1, 3 and 4 D) 2, 3 and 4 Correct Answer: B Explanation: Multi-drug resistance in pathogens is driven mainly by the misuse of antibiotics — taking incorrect doses (statement 2) and the heavy use of antibiotics in livestock farming (statement 3). Statements 1 and 4 relate to the health status of people, not to resistance developing in the pathogens, so they are not causes of multi-drug resistance. (UPSC Prelims 2019)
From Why QR Codes Now on Vaccines & Antibiotics: Schedule H2, Spurious Drugs and AMR Explained
The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised Nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order. Elaborate. (UPSC Mains GS2, 2019)
From G7 Summit 2026 Explained: India, Global South, AI, Hormuz and Critical Minerals
Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean (UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026, GS Paper I) Bahrain Syria Qatar Egypt • Select the answer using the code given below: A) 1 and 2 only B) 1 and 3 only C) 2 and 4 only D) 1, 3 and 4 only Correct Answer: B Explanation: Bahrain and Qatar lie inside the Persian Gulf, so their ships must transit the Strait of Hormuz to reach the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the open Indian Ocean. Syria has only a Mediterranean coastline, and Egypt reaches the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait; neither needs the Strait of Hormuz.
From Strait of Hormuz Explained: LNG Tanker Disha, the US-Iran Deal and India's Energy Security
Mains practice questions (from 30 analyses)
Practice questions written for this topic, each tied to the current affairs that would answer it.
"Attribution science has transformed the climate debate from general warnings into event-specific evidence." In light of the recent European heatwave, discuss how extreme-event attribution strengthens both climate mitigation and adaptation policy. Examine its relevance for a heat-vulnerable country like India. (250 words)
From Europe's 'Most Severe' Heatwave: How Attribution Science Pins the Blame on Climate Change
Counterfeit and substandard medicines pose a serious threat to public health and worsen antimicrobial resistance. In this context, examine how a QR code-based track-and-trace system can strengthen drug safety in India, and discuss the challenges in its effective implementation. (250 words)
From Why QR Codes Now on Vaccines & Antibiotics: Schedule H2, Spurious Drugs and AMR Explained
Gas-based power, though a small share of India's generation mix, plays a disproportionately important role in grid balancing. In the light of below-normal monsoon forecasts and geopolitical disruptions in West Asia, examine the vulnerabilities in India's energy security and suggest measures to strengthen the resilience of its power system. (250 words)
The 2026 G7 Summit shows that global governance is increasingly shaped by security crises, technology competition, supply-chain vulnerabilities and Global South concerns. Discuss India’s role in bridging the priorities of advanced economies and developing countries.
From G7 Summit 2026 Explained: India, Global South, AI, Hormuz and Critical Minerals
The Strait of Hormuz remains a structural vulnerability in India's energy security despite efforts at diversification. Examine the geographical and strategic significance of the strait, and discuss the measures India has taken and should take to insulate its economy from disruptions in this chokepoint. (250 words)
From Strait of Hormuz Explained: LNG Tanker Disha, the US-Iran Deal and India's Energy Security
The AN-32 crash in Assam highlights the importance of logistics platforms in India’s defence preparedness. Discuss the role of tactical airlift in national security and examine the challenges of modernising ageing military aircraft fleets.
From Explained: AN-32 Aircraft, IAF’s Transport Workhorse and India’s Airlift Challenge
"India's heavy dependence on imported crude oil and on a single maritime chokepoint exposes its economy to recurring external shocks." In the light of the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, examine India's vulnerabilities and evaluate the measures needed to strengthen its long-term energy security. (250 words, 15 marks — GS Paper III: Indian Economy / Energy Security)
From Strait of Hormuz Crisis: How China's Falling Crude Imports Are Easing India's Oil Shock
"Tiger corridors are as critical to long-term tiger survival as the reserves themselves, yet they remain the weakest link in India's wildlife protection regime." In light of recent project clearances in central India, examine the legal safeguards for tiger corridors and analyse the challenge of balancing conservation with regional development in Left-Wing Extremism–affected, tribal-majority districts. (15 marks, 250 words)
From Gadchiroli Mining & Tadoba-Indravati Tiger Corridor: Why Wildlife Clearance Matters
"Illegal sand mining in protected riverine ecosystems like the National Chambal Sanctuary reflects a deeper failure of environmental governance and federal coordination, rather than a mere law-and-order problem." Critically examine in the light of recent judicial intervention and India's regulatory framework for sand mining. (15 marks, 250 words)
From Chambal Sand Mining Crisis: Why the Supreme Court Took Suo Motu Action to Save the Gharial
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak highlights the vulnerabilities of the global health security architecture against emerging zoonotic diseases. In this context, examine the relevance of the "One Health" approach and assess India's preparedness to deal with such public health emergencies. (250 words)
From Explained: 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo, the PHEIC, and India's Response
Critical minerals have become central to economic security, clean energy transition and strategic autonomy. Discuss the significance of rare earth supply chains for India and suggest measures to reduce India’s external vulnerability.
From Explained: US-China Rare Earth Export Curbs and Why Indium Matters for India
The recent Iranian attacks on petrochemical facilities in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait along with Israeli strikes in Lebanon have sharply escalated tensions in West Asia. In this context, examine the impact of targeting energy infrastructure on global oil supply chains and discuss the measures India should adopt to safeguard its energy security amid such regional conflicts.
Discuss the strategic vulnerabilities in global supply chains of critical materials like helium and analyse how geopolitical conflicts in West Asia can impact India’s semiconductor ambitions and broader technology self-reliance goals.
Evaluate the implications of the 2025 decline in coal-fired electricity generation for India's energy transition and its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Examine the implications of India's inclusion in the US-led Pax Silica initiative for its technological self-reliance and strategic positioning in the global supply chain landscape.
From US Invites India to Join Pax Silica: Enhancing AI and Tech Ties to Reduce Global Supply Chain Risks
Discuss the role of energy conservation in achieving India's sustainable development goals, with reference to key government initiatives and their impact on environmental and economic fronts. (250 words)
From President of India Presents National Energy Conservation Awards on National Energy Conservation Day
Examine the strategic and economic implications of the recent US-China trade concessions on rare earth minerals and tariffs for emerging economies like India in the Indo-Pacific region.
Evaluate the implications of the US-China trade truce agreed at the 2025 Busan APEC summit for global supply chains and India's strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific economic architecture.
Evaluate the vulnerabilities of global internet infrastructure due to dependence on major cloud providers, with reference to recent outages and their implications for digital economies.
Analyze the impact of China's rare earth export controls on global supply chains and discuss how they influence India-US trade relations in the context of strategic partnerships and economic autonomy.
From China's Rare Earth Export Squeeze: Potential Catalyst for India-US Trade Deal Amid Timing Challenges
Examine the role of rare earth elements in ensuring India's energy security and economic independence, and suggest policy measures to overcome challenges in domestic production and supply chain vulnerabilities.
From Rare Earth Elements: Driving Global Trade Wars and India's Push for Self-Reliance
Discuss the evolution of India-Mongolia relations and analyze how the recent elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership contributes to India's foreign policy objectives in Central Asia.
Discuss the public health and demographic implications of declining twinning rates in India, with reference to the need for establishing a national twin registry to address environmental and genetic factors.
Examine the role of geopolitical factors in shaping China's energy security strategies, with special reference to its crude oil stockpiling, and discuss the implications for import-dependent economies like India.
Examine the implications of India's decision to upgrade its diplomatic mission in Kabul for regional stability and bilateral relations with Afghanistan in the context of evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Examine the challenges in balancing eco-tourism development with environmental conservation in ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravalli hills, in the context of recent judicial interventions.
Analyse the implications of China's expanding export controls on rare earth elements for global supply chains and India's strategic interests in the context of ongoing US-China trade tensions.
From China Expands Rare Earth Export Controls: Five New Elements Added Amid Trump-Xi Talks
Examine the role of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in advancing sustainable development, with special reference to their applications in climate mitigation and resource management. (250 words)
From 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Pioneering Metal-Organic Frameworks for Sustainable Innovations
Examine the geopolitical implications of Pakistan's offer to the US for developing an Arabian Sea port in Pasni, particularly in the context of US-China rivalry and its potential impact on India's strategic interests in South Asia. (250 words)
Examine the trade-offs between economic development and sustainable energy transition in India, and suggest measures to achieve a balanced approach towards net-zero goals.
From CEA Highlights Key Challenges in India's Energy Transition: Balancing Growth and Green Goals