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UPSC Essay Topics - Important Essay Topics for UPSC Mains 2023

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Understanding UPSC Essay Topics holds significant importance as it evaluates the candidate's ability to analyse, present arguments, and communicate effectively. In this article, we will explore the diverse range of UPSC essay topics, their significance, and essential tips to excel in this section. Get ready to enhance your writing and analytical skills and make a strong impression on the evaluators with well-crafted essays.

UPSC Essay Paper

The Essay paper in the UPSC Mains examination requires candidates to write multiple essays , each on a different topic, chosen from a given list of options. The essay topics for UPSC cover a wide range of issues, including social, economic, political, cultural, and philosophical aspects, both national and international.

The essay paper holds significant weightage in the UPSC Mains examination, contributing 250 marks out of the total 1750 marks . Scoring well in this section can have a considerable impact on the overall ranking and selection for the coveted civil services.

Weekly UPSC Essay Topics By Vajiram & Ravi

The UPSC Essay Paper is an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their proficiency in expressing ideas and analysing complex issues. Vajiram & Ravi Pensive-Weekly Essay Writing Programme provides you with two Essay Topics every Saturday based on the previous year's question papers and the changing trends analysis. You can submit your Essay for peer evaluation on vajiramandravi.com. This will help you nourish your writing skills, give you clarity of thought, and build the capacity to express opinions in a logical and coherent manner.

Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2023

The purpose of the essay paper is to assess the candidate's ability to critically analyse a topic, present well-structured arguments, and communicate their ideas effectively. It also evaluates their knowledge of various issues, their clarity of thought, and their capacity to express opinions in a logical and coherent manner.

Some of the Important Essay Topics to prepare for the UPSC Mains Examination 2023 are:

• Gender Equality
• Environment/Urbanization
• Economic Growth
• Federalism/Decentralization
• Agriculture
• Economics 

UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy

Every year, UPSC typically provides you with two or more essay topics centred around philosophical thoughts, Indian philosophical schools, or quotes from notable personalities. To effectively address these philosophical topics, you should refer to Philosophy Books to gain a foundational understanding. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy :

• Everything comes to him, who hustles while he waits.
• We are always blind as we want to be.
• You cannot step twice in the same river.
• A disciplined mind brings happiness.
• The price of Greatness is Responsibility.
• People would rather Believe than Know.
• Mind - A beautiful Servant? Or a dangerous Master?

UPSC Essay Topics on Art and Culture

The UPSC Essay Topics related to Indian society, art, and culture cover a wide range of subjects, offering great diversity. To gain knowledge about the static content on these topics, you should rely on fundamental books on society, as recommended for the exam. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Indian Art and Culture :

• Culture changes with economic development.
• Culture is what we are, Civilization is what we have.
• Social reform is a myth if places of worship are open only to all castes and not to all genders.
• Impact of Globalization on Indian Art and Culture.
• Caste System - India’s Enduring Curse.
• Godmen - A Threat to Indian Art and Culture?

UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology

UPSC essay topics on Science and Technology can largely be addressed through current affairs. You may also benefit from consulting a Science and Technology Book for UPSC to compose a comprehensive and well-rounded essay. Here are some UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology:

• Deglobalisation is good for the world.
• Science is organised Knowledge. Wisdom is Organised life.
• Technology is a Weapon against Poverty.
• Prioritising Education Technology for Global Growth.
• Technology is the silent factor in International Relations.
• Scientific and Technological Progress cannot be equated with Human Progress.

UPSC Essay Topics on Education

Education stands as one of the preferred UPSC Essay Topics, with an essay related to this subject often appearing in the paper each year. To tackle this topic effectively, you should stay abreast of Current Affairs , incorporating significant changes and advancements in the field. Let's explore some of the Essay topics for UPSC centred around education:

• Self Education is a lifelong curiosity.
• Education Breeds Peace.
• Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
• Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking.
• Schooling is not Education.

UPSC Essay Topics on Polity and Governance

To comprehensively address Polity and Governance topics, you should acquire fundamental knowledge from Polity Books for UPSC and Current Affairs. These resources offer static information about relevant issues and their historical context, which proves valuable while writing UPSC Essay Topics on Polity. Here are some Essay Topics on Polity and Governance:

• The Role of Politics in Development.
• Should Youth in India Consider Politics as a Career?
• Art, Freedom and Creativity will change society faster than politics.
• The politics of Identity is the Politics of the Weak.
• People should not be afraid of their Government. The Government should be afraid of its people.
• Government Surveillance - Good or Bad?

UPSC Essay Topics on Economy

Essays concerning economic growth are frequently included in the Essay Paper. To tackle these topics effectively, you should refer to Economy Notes for UPSC to gain a comprehensive understanding. Once the fundamentals are grasped, you can enhance their essays by incorporating examples, data, and statistics to create a multidimensional perspective. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Economy:

• We don't have to sacrifice a Strong Economy for a Healthy Environment.
• India, a $5 trillion Economy - Dream or Reality?
• Digital Economy: A leveller or a source of Economic Inequality?
• Innovation is the key determinant of social welfare and economic growth.
• Labour Reforms in India and its Role in Economic Growth.

UPSC Essay Topics on Social Issues

Social issues are a significant aspect of the UPSC essay paper, reflecting the candidates' understanding of societal challenges and their ability to propose viable solutions. These essays provide a platform for candidates to analyse, critique, and suggest measures for pressing social concerns. Topics related to social issues in the UPSC Essay paper may include:

• Inclusivity and Plurality are the hallmarks of a Peaceful Society.
• A Gender-sensitive Indian Society is a prerequisite for Women and Child Empowerment.
• The weaker sections of Indian Society - are their Rights and Access to Justice getting Better?

Previous Year UPSC Essay Topics

Practising previous year's essay topics will help you become familiar with the UPSC exam pattern , word limit, and the types of essay questions frequently asked in the Mains Examination. Analysing past essay topics will also allow you to identify recurring themes and trends, enabling you to prioritise their preparation accordingly. Regular practice with past essay topics will instil confidence in you, helping you feel more comfortable and prepared for the actual exam.

• Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
• Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
• History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
• A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.
• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
• A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

Tips to Excel in UPSC Essay Paper

• Understand the Topics: Thoroughly comprehend the essay topics, including the keywords and instructions. Choose a topic that aligns with your strengths and interests.
• Plan and Structure: Devote some time to plan your essay. Create an outline and organise your thoughts in a structured manner, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Be Objective: Present balanced arguments and avoid a biased or one-sided approach. Consider multiple perspectives and present a holistic view.
• Provide Examples and Evidence: Support your arguments with relevant examples, data, quotes and evidence to strengthen your essay.
• Maintain Clarity: Write in a clear and concise manner. Use simple language and avoid jargon or overly complex vocabulary.
• Practice Regularly: Regular practice is essential to improve Essay writing skills. Write essays on diverse topics to enhance your versatility.
• Time Management: Allocate appropriate time for planning, writing, and revising each essay to manage time effectively during the examination.
• Revise and Edit: Review your essays for coherence, grammar, and structure. Make necessary edits to refine your work.

FAQs on UPSC Essay Topics

What are the important UPSC Essay Topics?

Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics asked in Mains Examination previously:

• Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have.
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
• What is research but a blind date with knowledge?
• Best for an individual is not necessarily best for society.
• Wisdom finds truth.
• Ships don’t sink because of water around them, ships sink because of water that gets into them.
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality.
• Technology as the silent factor in international relations.

How do I Prepare for the UPSC Essay?

To prepare for the UPSC essay, focus on understanding the essay syllabus and past topics to identify recurring themes. Regularly practise writing essays on various topics to improve your writing skills and time management. Structure your essays with a clear introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Which is the best source to practise UPSC Essay Topics?

The best sources to prepare Essay for UPSC include official UPSC materials, newspapers, and magazines like The Hindu, Yojana , and Kurukshetra for current affairs, standard books on diverse subjects, government reports and publications, online platforms like PIB and PRS India, UPSC previous year papers for understanding the exam pattern, and regular practice of essay writing on various topics.

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• Indian Exams /

UPSC Essay Topics

• Updated on  
• May 30, 2023

With every passing day, the democratic setup of India is strengthening, and so are its administrative wings where transparency and accountability are evident. Well, it gives credibility to the fact that there are top administrative officers whose brilliant performance is at par excellence. Amid rigorous competition, UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) gets efficient candidates on board who crack this toughest exam in India to serve the nation. This competitive examination includes 3 steps, Prelims, Mains and Personal Interview . Nevertheless, it’s a daunting task to crack such tests without meticulous preparation and strategies. In this blog, we have collated information related to the UPSC essay topics and their related components. 

This Blog Includes:

Upsc exam dates 2023, general overview , upsc essay topics previous years, upsc essay topics-important areas, upsc essay topics in english, essay topics on arguments for or against , essay reports for 200 words, 2019 essays, 2018 essays, other upsc essay topics, what is upsc looking for in an essay, how to make transition from one para to another, read essays, topper tips for upsc essay writing.

The following are the important dates for the UPSC exam in 2023:

UPSC is India’s apex body that recruits candidates across the country for All India Group A & Group B central services. While prelims is an objective type of paper, the UPSC mains comprises nine subjective papers including an essay paper. Candidates have to write two UPSC essays on the allocated topics with a word count of 1000-1200. 

Have a Look at the Public Administration Syllabus for UPSC !

It is paramount to have a tap on all those important UPSC essay topics which were widely asked in previously based question papers. Let’s take a look at important UPSC essay topics, you need to start practising:

Now that you have got the list of important UPSC essay topics, have a look at the History Questions for UPSC & SSC Exams !

Usually, the UPSC Essay questions cover these areas:

• Media & Society
• Philosophies
• Environment/urbanization
• Social justice/poverty
• Economic sector
• Indian Culture & Society
• Administration
• Cauvery Water Dispute
• Satluj Yamuna Link Canal case
• The Inter-State River Water Amendment Bill
• Agricultural schemes of the government in the era of farmer suicide:
• effectiveness of the schemes
• Atal Bhujal Yojana scheme
• Apolitical Education
• Politics and the Degradation of the education system
• Frequent changes in educational curriculum
• The higher education system and its issues
• CSR funds for skill enhancement
• National Policy for skill development
• Current environmental crisis due to extensive population growth
• Lack of initiatives and policymaking to save the environment
• The impact of globalization on the environment
• The unrecognised slum areas and the slum dwellers
• Unequal economic distribution
• Revolution of technology
• Demographic dividend
• The position of India against China
• The modern Foreign policy
• International relations- changing nature
• Fast track diplomacy and Para diplomacy
• Basic income and subsidy policy
• Can subsidies eradicate poverty?
• The debate over nationalism
• The effect of global capitalism
• UN multilateralism and its role
• Universal civil code
• Agriculture
• Impaired food security
• UPI, BHIM, and ADHAAR linkage and cyber security
• BRICS developmental bank and its policy
• The anti-western attitude
• The China factor
• The pollution in urban areas
• Threatening diseases and health hazards
• Progressive thoughts regarding religious beliefs
• Social mobility
• Artificial intelligence

Essay Topics for UPSC 2023

• Emerging Threats to India’s Internal Security
• Crime against women is an expression of male domination
• Crisis of Credibility in Indian Electronic Media
• Securing India’s International Borders is a Challenging exercise for the Indian Armed Forces
• Parenting in a competitive Indian Society is a challenge
• Ensuring social justice is a human right
• Life is a Long Journey between Human Beings and Being Humane
• Mindful Manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self
• Ships don’t sink because of water around them, ships sink because of water that gets into them
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
• Culture is what we are, Civilization is what we have
• There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality
• Technology is the silent factor in the international relations
• Solitude during a Pandemic is not welcome
• Political awareness amongst the social elite is inconsequential
• Provision for Primary Education Sector in the New Education Policy
• Impact of the Agricultural Laws on Farmers

Here are the previous year’s questions for UPSC Exam:

• Wisdom finds Truth
• Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be
• Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society
• Courage to accept and dedication to improving are two keys to success
• South Asian societies are woven not around the state but around their plural culture and plural identities
• Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness
• Biased Media is a real threat to the Indian Democracy
• Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of a jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and Upskilling
• The Earth is not for Humans Only
• The Impact of Social Media on Social Relationships
• Role of the Indian Army in Nation Building
• Alternative Technologies for a climate change resilient India
• A good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge
• Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere
• Management of Indian border disputes- a complex task
• Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life
• The past is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values
• People that value privilege above principle lose both
• Reality does not conform to the ideal but confirms it
• Civil wrong emerging from religious bigotry, constitutionally punishable
• Reservation suppresses civil dynamism
• Privacy is an elitist Idea

Must Read: Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay

Now that you have a clear picture of the major UPSC essay topics, we have another set of current affair-based topics for you:

• Kashmir Problem – Historical Injustice or Misguided Geopolitics?
• India – $5 Trillion Economy: Dream or Reality?
• COVID-19 Pandemics, though Catastrophic, are in the end Meant to Reset Humanity and its Priorities
• Biased Media is a Real Threat to Indian Democracy
• Importance of Skilling the Youth of the Nation
• New India at 75
• The Future of TV Channels with the Advent of OTT Platforms
• Impact of Work From Home on Employees’ Health
• Remote Working vs Working From Office
• Environment vs Growth
• Cyberspace and Internet
• Digital Economy

You will be asked to write answers to different essays on the question. Your essay should be closer to the subject and organize ideas in an orderly fashion, and write concisely. In UPSC Exam, your marks are only based on the content however, the examiner will pay attention to your grammar, coherence and the manner in which you have structured your content.

Making proper transitions from one paragraph to another is important. It can be done in three ways:

• Create a connection sentence at the end of the paragraph.
• Add a question at the end of the paragraph to create interest for the next paragraph.
• Use transition words to signal a change in the paragraph.
• Speech on Fear
• Essay on India
• Importance of Social Media
• Child Labour
• Essay on Digital India
• Essay On Sikkim
• Save Electricity Essay: Format & Samples
• Essay on Education System
• Essay on Global Warming
• Essay on Internet

Apurva Pandey from batch 2017 shared her topper tips on how to prepare and write essays for UPSC.

In UPSC exams, there will be 2 essay questions for which you have to write essays within 1000-1200 words each.

The IAS exam usually consists of topics related to general awareness. For a clear insight, you can refer to the aforementioned UPSC essay topics.

The latest topics for essay writing are: Kashmir Problem – Historical Injustice or Misguided Geopolitics?; India – $5 Trillion Economy: Dream or Reality? COVID-19 Pandemics, though Catastrophic, are in the end Meant to Reset Humanity and its Priorities; Biased Media is a Real Threat to Indian Democracy, etc

Hopefully, this blog on UPSC essay topics has helped you with a clear understanding of the way forward. To read informative articles like this one, keep following Leverage Edu !

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Home » Mains Practice Questions » Essay

This exam necessitates a lot of serious study and devotion. Every applicant who understands the UPSC’s trends and expectations and works diligently toward achieving a rank under suitable supervision has a chance to succeed.

This year’s Mains – 2021 questions in GS, Essay, and even Optional papers need in-depth examination of trending topics as well as certain key static topics that may or may not be in the news.

Analytical skills can only be enhanced by regularly thinking and writing. Regular writing, in particular, is essential for improving your analytical abilities. Writing answers after reading other people’s answers or reading a synopsis will get you nowhere.

You must adhere to the standards outlined in the preceding article. You can get knowledge but not wisdom by consulting a summary.

Legacy IAS team will frame as many questions as feasible on each and every component of the GS syllabi as part of this initiative. This will allow you to take continuous notes and write answers until your  UPSC Mains Exam 2022-2023.

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Important Essay Topics for UPSC Mains Exam

With every passing day, the democratic setup of India is strengthening, so are its administrative wings where transparency and accountability are evident. Well, it gives credibility to the fact that there are top administrative officers whose brilliant performance is at par excellence. Amid rigorous competition, UPSC ( Union Public Service Commission ) gets efficient candidates on-board who crack this toughest exam in India to serve the nation. This competitive examination includes 3 steps, Prelims, Mains and Personal Interview. Nevertheless, it’s a daunting task to crack such exam without meticulous preparation and strategies. In this blog, we have collated information related to the UPSC essay writing topics and their related components. It is paramount to have a tap on all those important UPSC Essay Topics which have been widely asked in previous years question papers .

Let’s take a look at important UPSC essay writing topics , you need to start practicing:

Social Topics

• Literacy and education.
• Modernization and Westernization in India
• Gender Equality-problems and perspectives
• Information Revolution and its increasing effects
• Consumerist culture and its effects.
• Reservation: Need, problems and solutions
• The issue of child labour: what to do?
• The mentality of misusing freedom
• Composite culture of India
• Rewriting of History
• The problem of conversion and its solution
• Uniform Civil Code: Need and perspective
• Sustainable Development
• Population Explosion:  Problem and solution
• Indian nationalism: Nature and perspectives
• The freedom of expression and its limitations.
• Socialism: An irrelevant ideology
• The responsibilities of Journalism
• Human Rights: Need of every human being        
• Corruption: A part of our way of life
• The problem of language and its solution             
• Need of saving childhood
• Youth unrest: Causes and solutions
• The problem of vulgarity
• Need for a youth and culture policy
• Indian culture: Unity in Diversity.

Like above questions Mirant Parikh, IAS(AIR 67, CSE 2016) has written Essay on one of above questions:

Click here for Full Copy

Political topics.

• India as a soft state
• The Constitutional Review: need and perspective
• The need of interaction between administration and public
• Every right is attached with a duty.
• The criminalization of politics
• Political instability: A hurdle in national development
• Achievements and failures of Democracy in India
• Is India really a secular state?
• Parliamentary Democracy: situation, problems and solutions
• Corruption in politics
• Judicial Activism
• The need of sensible administration
• National Security: Challenges and hopes
• Democracy: A way of life
• Kashmir problem: Need of a proper solution
• Coalition politics: past, present and future
• The gifts of Democracy: Casteism, Regionalism and Communalism.

Economic Topics

• India in the age of privatization, liberalization and globalization.
• New economic policies and the ideal of Democratic Socialism
• Poverty and socialism: the Indian contradiction
• New economic policies: oceans of poverty and islands of wealth
• Regional imbalance in development
• Human resource development and management.

International Topics

• The problems of third world countries
• The problem of international terrorism
• India's contribution to the world
• United Nations: Evaluation
• Human Rights: A universal propaganda
• Indian foreign policy: Need of restructuring
• India and its neighboring countries
• Idealism and pragmatism in foreign policy.

Mock answer by Mirant Parikh, IAS (AIR 67, CSE 2016)

Click here for full copy

Philosophical/imaginative topics.

• God is a subject of belief, not of reason
• The philosophy of post-modernism in context of India
• India's basic philosophy and its effect on our society
• Religion and Politics: the professions without capital
• 'Who cares’: the basic of youth culture.

Other topics

• New concepts of alternative medicine: Realities about them
• Natural disasters: the management of rescue
• Need of a sport policy for India
• Environment Protection: problem and solution.

Essay Preparation Strategy By: Mirant Parikh (AIR 67, CSE 2016)

Apart from these topics, candidates should browse through articles, columns, features of newspapers, magazines, journals for the preparation of good essays. Regular clippings and jotting down of important points on the side of clipped topics will ease your time and tension while giving a cursory look during the UPSC IAS examination period.

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How to Write an Essay? 9 Tips To Score Better in UPSC Essay Paper

It can be easily said that many UPSC exam aspirants overlook the importance of preparing their writings well. A majority of novices mistakenly feel they can write the perfect content on their exam day, while the repeaters equate the knowledge gained through their General studies preparation to successful writing. In both cases, writing practice is left unconsidered.

UPSC essay paper carries a total of 250 marks comprising 2 essays in total (125 marks each). Leaving behind writing a good content of 1000 to 1200 words to mere chance is a grave error.

Do not worry, we have you covered!

Check out These Tried and Tested Tips to Write Essay for UPSC

Our experts understand the significance of converting your gained knowledge conceptually into well put-down words. Therefore, we have compiled a list of 9 superb essay writing tips that’ll help you prepare the right way:

Right Knowledge

To write an astounding essay for UPSC, you must first possess the correct knowledge.

UPSC essay syllabus is not your regular school or college question. Here, along with your knowledge of a topic, your ability to produce it sequentially, consistently and with precision is given equal importance.

So, how do you gain the knowledge to do that?

Undoubtedly, the content will come from your general studies preparation.

Besides this, you must regularly read magazines like Economic and Political weekly, Yojana, etc. These magazines will not only help you revise your GS content but will also give you good ideas regarding the content presentation.

You must also try reading non-fiction occasionally; it’s a great way to grow your thought process and learn how to represent them powerfully through words.

Also Read: What is the Difference Between the Indian Forest Service and Indian Foreign Service?

Avoid Unnecessary Jargon

You must keep the language of your UPSC essay paper simple. The exam tests your vocabulary too, agreed, but avoid using complex words just to sound well-read.

Instead, concentrate on writing clear, concise and meaningful sentences that put your point across. It is best to avoid redundant sentences. A common mistake made by many is writing lengthy sentences. It’s best to put down small and simple sentences rather than elaborate ones that will make the reader lose out on the crux of your point.

Keep up the Good Vocabulary

As mentioned above, a good vocabulary showcases how well-read you are. This doesn’t mean you use it incessantly. But, a strong word can add value to your sentences when used the right way.

We know that you can’t read up an entire dictionary in a week. And we do not expect you to do so too.

The best way to build up a strong vocabulary is by reading the newspaper daily. Even reading non-fiction can be of great help here. What you must do is write down the words, phrases and quotes that seem unique alongside their meanings.  Writing an example sentence along with it will also help you retain it in your memory longer.

Create Intelligent and Worldly-Wise Subheadings

The subheading is the entire body copy at a glance. Representing a paragraph with a catchy, smart and content-aligned subheading can get you major points in an essay for the UPSC exam. It raises the interest of the examiner and also aids readability.

Keep your Paragraphs Coherent to Each Other

When writing a long essay for UPSC of 1000-1200 words, it’s quite easy to end up losing out on the main message you want to convey.

To ensure that you deliver the desired message, it is crucial to present your sentences/ paragraphs in an organized and sequential manner.

Practice is essential if you want to deliver a write-up that showcases your well-connected thinking ability. You can end a paragraph with a question, or an introduction to the next paragraph. This will help you maintain a smooth connection between your subtopics.

Let’s take a look at two sample paragraphs for the topic taken from some essay book for UPSC – “women, gender inequality and the Indian economy,”

The practice of men handling major financial decisions and managing the family’s income in India’s traditional patriarchal society is another reason for the sad state of women’s dependence on men. Such practices hinder potential women equality in economic development.

Similar practice in higher echelons of the corporate sector where women are obstructed in entering powerful positions by way of glass-ceiling is a continuation of such patriarchal ideologies.

Notice how the sentences actually tell and take forward the message in a sequence respectively.

Giving an outro and intro to your paragraphs is a great way of establishing a connection and sequence between the two.

The Introduction Should Ideally be a Relatable Quote or an Event

Starting your GS answers with a definition is the right thing to do, but doing so in essays just makes it stale and boring.

You must try to up the examiner’s interest by quoting a famous personality, an interesting quote, or a relatable real-life/fictional event.

Books, magazines and newspapers will help you learn essay-worthy anecdotes and incidents.

Let’s Take the Same topic as above

• Starting with a definition

“In simple terms, Gender Inequality can be defined as the unequal treatment of individuals because of their gender.”

• Starting with an interesting fictional event/ story

“Let me take you to a modest two-room house in a remote village in India. Rupa is crying in a corner of her room. Her father wouldn’t allow her to go to her primary school anymore. Her brother has already left for today’s class, but Rupa has chores to finish around the house. Father says it’s not important for girls to study.”

The contrast between the two is stark and clearly the latter reads more interesting to the reader.

Create Your Essay’s Content as per the Topic

One way of writing for a particular topic might not necessarily work for the other. To completely understand how to write an essay, you must first understand the nature of your topic and then decide how you want to tackle it down further.

For example, the topics presented as a question are best written in the problem and solution pattern.

Back-up Your Arguments with Substantial Reasons

To add value to your essay for UPSC, it is a must to include constitutional provisions, examples, statistics and expert opinions.

Let’s say, in an essay on “women, gender inequality and the Indian economy,” it is not enough to state that: –

“Gender inequality is predominant in the education sector in India. The bridge between the enrolment ratio of men and women has widened. The drop-out rates of girls are alarmingly more than boys, which adds to the gender gap prevalent in our society.”

Agreed, the points made are valid, but substantiating them with required facts is important to add value to it.

So, adding a fact like below will back up your opinions and fetch you more marks.

“at higher education level, the GER for males is approximately 19 %, while for females, it is merely 15-16% approximately (as per 12th five-year plan.)”

Write a Powerful Conclusion

You must always summarise your essay on an optimistic note in 3-4 lines. It is advisable to not skip on giving your vision for the future.

Important Topics for UPSC CSE Essay Syllabus

There are certain topics that have a higher possibility of being included. These are: –

• Rural Empowerment
• Women Empowerment
• Internal Security
• Social Justice

Although highly suggested, please do not limit yourself to the above strictly. you can use these topics for preparing a model essay.

Also Read: A Detailed Guide to Choosing the Best Optional Subject for UPSC Exam

Let’s Take a Look at Some Good Questions from Previous UPSC Essay Paper: 

• Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible?
• Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmental implications
• Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it?
• Is the criticism that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified?

Conclusion:

To conclude, keep your essays expansive yet meaningful and relevant to the topic, you can refer to different essay books for UPSC for this purpose. You must try not to steer away from what is asked. And finally, when preparing for essay writing for UPSC, keep up the daily reading, and do not forget, “practice makes perfect.”

Very nicely guided

This guide was actually helpful and is providing a structured image of how to write the essay paper, as you know may students are suffering from stress, can you also provide some tips on that?

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Greeta sulochana.

Greeta Sulochana is a content evangelist with a flair for compelling creative writing. She has penned down her thoughts in poetry and prose since the past five years, and has catered her skills to the Indian and international audiences. She started out as an advertising intern with Grey worldwide, and is now a full-fledged writer in passion and profession, who has worked for major national brands.

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• IAS Preparation
• UPSC Preparation Strategy
• 7 Easy Steps Essay Writing UPSC Mains Exam

7 Easy Steps on Essay Writing for UPSC Mains Exam

The UPSC Mains Exam has a total of 9 papers which includes an essay paper as well. The Essay Paper in the IAS Mains Exam consists of two sections A and B with four topics each of 125 marks and a total of 250 (125×2) marks. Candidates have to select a topic from each section and write about it in 1,000 to 2,000 words within the given time of three hours. The Essay paper is considered as crucial in determining the final result of selection and ranking of a candidate. The Essay Paper is considered as crucial as it is a compulsory paper and its marks are incorporated in computing the total and moreover what makes it crucial is that there is no in-depth study in an essay unlike optional subjects where any aspirant can claim expertise. Let us take a look at the conventional way of writing an essay that includes introduction, body and conclusion. Though this is fundamental but the concept of an essay when it comes in terms of UPSC Paper it is quite tricky. An essay should be of topical text that is easy to understand or follow and comprehensive, succinct, composite and definite, as well as informative and logical. So, here are a few tips on how to structure an Essay Paper in the UPSC Mains Exam. For the effective composition of an essay one should generally follow the below points that are ideally suggested by the senior UPSC Aspirants and toppers:   What to write in the Essay?

• Read the topic carefully
• Think and recollect the points to be included in the topic for 30 minutes

What not to write in the Essay?

• Provoking Essay
• Do not get personal
• Deviating from the subject

Tips to enhance your Essay writing

• Recommended Reading
• Reading Books as Hobby

Before choosing the topic, read all the topics more than once and choose the topic wisely from the given choices so that you will find enough points to write about the topic. Once you choose a topic and start to write you may find difficult and tend to change the topic in between which would be foolishness and it will be too late to change the topic as you would have already utilized much time. Read the topic twice and think about the topic for 30 minutes.

Once you have chosen the topic to write don’t start to write immediately instead ‘think about the topic for 30 minutes’. Because when one starts writing without thinking about the topic they may miss out on many important points and in between or at the end they may remember more significant points which would be too late as there would be no enough pace left in the answer sheet or time to write more.   Hence, it is recommended to utilize the first 30 minutes to think about the topic before starting to write as you have three hours to write the essay.

• Think about the topic for 30 minutes
• Write down the random points that come to your mind at the end of the sheet
• Arrange the points that you have jotted down in sequence

Some important tips to make your Essay worthy

Once you have recalled, collected and noted the points then the next step is to structure it as given below:

• Introduction
• Background/past example
• Main concept/theory
• Correlate with current event
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Suggested Changes

It is advised while writing an essay on a topic that may be provocative not to get personal and criticize a person or government in your writing. Some topics would be provocative where you may tend to lose control of your writing and write something in an offensive way, which is not appreciable and recommended as well.   If you are writing about the disadvantages it is suggested to come up with a few reforms that may change the disadvantages into advantages.

Always memorize the quotes correctly and the name of the person who has quoted them. If you are not sure about the quote then it is advised to leave it instead of writing it incorrectly.

For effective essay writing one should clearly be sure of the purpose of writing the essay and should remember the “Five Wives and One Husband” concept i.e., – Who?, Why?, What?, When?, Where?, and How?,  that is taught in the school on the first day of Essay Writing. Following this concept will make you stick around the topic and not paddle away from the topic.

Essay writing also needs continuous reading; hence it is suggested to candidates read diverse topics and books some of the recommended are:

• Editorial section of The Hindu Newspaper
• Magazines like Frontline, Kurukshetra, Yojana
• Watch discussions and debates on television
• Work on previous question papers essay topic

Finally, when it comes to Essay as one of the papers in the UPSC Exam , it is all about understanding and assessing the personality of a candidate through which his/her views, ideas, suggestions, values, attitude, aptitude, coordination, and communication (written) abilities and other attributes are analyzed that especially UPSC looks for in an aspirant. If you want to analyze or enhance your essay writing skills then participate now in our UPSC Essay Contest and win a cash prize as well as free registration for UPSC Civil Services Mains Test Series.

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UPSC Essay Topic wise Question Papers of last 31 years (1993-2023) for Civil Services IAS/IPS Exam Free Download

In the UPSC mains examination, essay paper is worth 250 marks and three hours. Here is the topic wise questions from the earlier years for the benefit of civil service IAS IPS aspirants.

1.1 India Since Independence

1.2 federalism, decentralization, 1.3 administration, 1.4 judiciary, 1.5 poverty, social justice, 1.6 indian society, culture and values, 1.7 media, tv & cinema, literature, 2.1 growth vs development, 2.2 environment vs development, 2.4 sectors of economy, 3.1 values in education, 3.2 scheme implementation, 3.3 higher education, 4.1 character, honesty, ethics, 4.2 knowledge, 4.3 compassion, 4.4 truth and reality, 4.5 youth, discipline, 4.6 towards excellence, 5.1 @national politics, 5.2 @world / quote type, 5.3 empowerment overall, 5.4 compared to men, 6.1 globalization, 6.2 international org./ bilateral, 6.3 security, 6.4 history, 7.1 science and religion, 7.2 science and education, 7.3 computer and internet, 7.4 sci-tech: others, appendix: linear paper of upsc essay 2023, appendix: linear paper of upsc essay 2022, appendix: model answer pe free lecture & powerpoint, appendix: syllabus of essay paper in upsc, 1 india: democracy, administration, society, culture.

• Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s Success? -2013
• In the context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter, explore, on an evolutionary scale, the terms ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’. Critically comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian democracy -2012
• Dreams which should not let India sleep. -2015
• Why should we be proud of being Indians? -2000
• Whither Indian democracy? -1995
• How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? -2003
• What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. -1997
• What have we gained from our democratic set-up? -2001
• My vision of India in 2001 a.d. -1993
• Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India. -2017
• Water disputes between States in federal India. -2016
• Cooperative federalism : Myth or reality. -2016
• Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmental implication -2011
• Evaluation of panchayati raj system in India from the point of view of eradication of power to people. -2007
• Water resources should be under the control of the central government. -2004
• The language problem in India: its past, present and prospects. -1998
• There are better practices to “best practices”. -2021
• How should a civil servant conduct himself? -2003
• Politics without ethics is a disaster. -1995
• The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy -1996
• Need for transparency in public administration -1996
• The country’s need for a better disaster management system. -2000
• Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle. -1994
• We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. -2017
• Justice must reach the poor -2005
• Judicial activism and Indian democracy. -2004
• Judicial activism. -1997
• A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity. (- जिस समाज में अधिक न्याय होता है उस समाज को दान की कम आवश्यकता होती है।) – 2023
• There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless (बिना आर्थिक समृद्धि के सामाजिक न्याय नहीं हो सकता, किन्तु बिना सामाजिक न्याय के आर्थिक समृद्धि निरर्थक है ) -2020
• Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness. -2019
• The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. -2009
• Food security for sustainable national development -2005
• Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999
• Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have (जो हम है, वह संस्कार; जो हमारे पास है, वह सभ्यता ) -2020
• Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? -2000
• Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000
• The composite culture of India. -1998
• The Indian society at the crossroads. -1994
• From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? -2010
• New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion -1996
• Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy. -2019
• Responsibility of media in a democracy. -2002
• Role of media in good governance -2008
• Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it? -2011
• How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets? -2007
• Is sting operation an invasion on privacy? -2014
• Mass media and cultural invasion. -1999
• The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India. -1998
• Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world (कवि संसार के अनधिकृत रूप से विधायक होते हैं) – 2022

2 Economy, Development

• Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. -2018
• Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality. -2016
• Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare. -2016
• Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms. -2016
• Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. -2015
• Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country? -2014
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country-2013
• Can capitalism bring inclusive growth? -2015
• Resource management in the Indian context. -1999
• Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993
• Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence (आर्थिक समृद्धि हासिल करने के मामले में वन सर्वोत्तम प्रतिमान होते हैं।) – 2022
• Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India. -2018
• Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010
• Urbanisation and its hazards -2008
• Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
• Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997
• Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993
• Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. -2006
• Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs -1994
• Special economic zone: boon or bane -2008
• Is the criticism that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified ?-2012
• Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India. -2017
• BPO boom in India. -2007
• Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India? -2014
• Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? -2009

3 Education

• Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in – school. (- शिक्षा वह है जो विद्यालय में विधालय में सीखी गई बातों को भूल जाने के बाद भी शेष रह जाती है।)
• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms. -2017
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil-2015
• Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood. -2007
• Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014
• Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001
• Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? -2014
• Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996
• Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008
• What is real education? -2005
• “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. -2006
• Restructuring of Indian education system. -1995
• Privatization of higher education in India. -2002
• Credit – based higher education system – status, opportunities and challenges -2011

4 Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics

• A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities (हर असमंजस के लिए मुस्कराहट ही चुनिन्दा साधन है) – 2022
• Philosophy of wantlessness is a Utopian, while materialism is a chimera. -2021
• Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me. -2021
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication (सरलता चरम परिष्करण है ) -2020
• Ships don’t sink because of water around them ships sink because of water that gets into them (जहाज अपने चारों तरफ के पानी के वजह से नहीं डूबा करते, जहाज पानी के अंदर समां जाने की वजह से डूबता हैं ) -2020
• Life is a long journey between being human and being humane.  (मनुष्य होने और मानव बनने के बीच का लम्बा सफर ही जीवन है)-2020
• Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be -2019
• Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society -2019
• Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success -2019
• Wisdom finds truth -2019
• A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both. -2018
• Customary morality cannot be a guide to modem file. -2018
• Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed. -2016
• Character of an institution is reflected in its leader. -2015
• With greater power comes greater responsibility. -2014
• Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. -2014
• Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man. -2007
• He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires and fears is more than a king. -1993
• Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team. (- सोच एक खेल की तरह है, यह तब तक शुरू नहीं होता है जब तक कि एक विपरीत टीम/पक्ष न हो।) – 2023
• Mathematics is the music of reason. (- गणित ज्ञान का संगीत है।) – 2023
• The real is rational and the rational is real. -2021
• Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self (विचारपरक संकल्प स्वयं के शांतचित्त रहने का उत्प्रेरक है )-2020
• ‘The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values. -2018
• A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. -2018
• There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. -2003
• Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. -1995
• Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. -2017
• Compassion is the basic of all morality of the world -1993
• Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. -2015
• Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)-2013
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right (केवल इसलिए कि आपके पास विकल्प हैं, इसका यह अर्थ कदापि नहीं है कि उनमें से किसी को भी ठीक होना ही होगा) – 2022
• Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it. -2018
• Truth is lived, not taught -1996
• When money speaks, the truth is silent. -1995
• Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. -2002
• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining (छप्पर मरम्मत करने का समय तभी होता है, जब धूप खिली हुई हो) – 2022
• You cannot step twice in the same river (आप उसी नदी में दोबारा नहीं उतर सकते) – 2022
• Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin -2008
• Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret -1994
• If youth knew, if age could. -2002
• Youth culture today. -1999
• Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? -2014
• Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (- दूरदर्शी निर्णय तभी लिए जाते है अंतर्ज्ञान और तर्क का परस्पर मेल होता है।) – 2023
• Not all who wander are lost. (- भटकने वाले सभी गुम नहीं हो जाते।) – 2023
• Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane (- रचनात्मकता की प्रेरणा अलौकिक ता में चमत्कार ढूंढने के प्रयास से उपजति है) – 2023
• A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for (जहाज बन्दरगाह के भीतर सुरक्षित होता है, परन्तु इसके लिए तो वह होता नहीं है) – 2022
• Quick but steady wins the race. -2015
• Useless life is an early death. -1994
• Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. -1995
• The paths of glory lead but to the grave. -2002
• The pursuit of excellence. -2001

5 Women empowerment

• Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight. -1997
• Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. -2006
• The new emerging women power: the ground realities. -1995
• Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. -2021
• If women ruled the world -2005
• The hand that rocks the cradle -2005
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality (पितृ-सत्ता की व्यवस्था नजर मैं बहुत काम आने के बावजूद सामाजिक विषमता की सबसे प्रभावी संरचना है) -2020
• Fulfilment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth. -2017
• If development is not engendered, it is endangered. -2016
• Whither women’s emancipation? -2004
• Empowerment alone cannot help our women. -2001
• Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. -1999
• Woman is god’s best creation. -1998
• Men have failed: let women take over. -1993
• Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal ?-2012

6 International issues, Internal Security, History

• South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities. -2019
• Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994
• ‘globalization’ vs. ‘nationalism’ -2009
• National identity and patriotism -2008
• Globalizations and its impact on Indian culture. -2004
• The masks of new imperialism. -2003
• As civilization advances culture declines. -2003
• The implications of globalization for India. -2000
• My vision of an ideal world order. -2001
• India’s contribution to world wisdom. -1998
• The world of the twenty-first century. -1998
• Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. -2010
• Technology as the silent factor in international relations (अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संबंधों मैं मौन करक के रूप मैं प्रौद्योगिकी) -2020
• Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world ? -2017
• Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities -1996
• The global order: political and economic -1993
• India’s role in promoting ASEAN co-operation. -2004
• Importance of Indo-US nuclear agreement -2006
• Management of Indian border dispute is a complex task. -2018
• In the Indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism -2011
• Are we a ‘soft’ state ? -2009
• Good fences make good neighbours -2009
• Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007
• Terrorism and world peace -2005
• True religion cannot be misused. -1997
• History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. -2021
• Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010

7 Science-Technology

• Spirituality and scientific temper. -2003
• Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ?-2012
• What is research, but a blind date with knowledge! -2021
• Modern technological education and human values. -2002
• Value-based science and education. -1999
• The march of science and the erosion of human values. -2001
• The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced. -2021
• Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling. -2019
• ‘Social media’ is inherently a selfish medium. -2017
• Cyberspace and Internet : Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run -2016
• Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006
• The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. -2000
• Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993
• Technology cannot replace manpower. -2015
• Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation-2013
• The modern doctor and his patients. -1997
• The lure of space. -2004

Section-A (write any one)

• Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team. (- सोच एक खेल की तरह है, यह तब तक शुरू नहीं होता है जब तक कि एक विपरीत टीम/पक्ष न हो।)
• Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (- दूरदर्शी निर्णय तभी लिए जाते है अंतर्ज्ञान और तर्क का परस्पर मेल होता है।)
• Not all who wander are lost. (- भटकने वाले सभी गुम नहीं हो जाते।)
• Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane (- रचनात्मकता की प्रेरणा अलौकिक ता में चमत्कार ढूंढने के प्रयास से उपजति है)

Section-B (write any one)

• Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines. (-लड़कियां बंदिशों के तथा लड़के अपेक्षा के बोझ तले दबे हुए होते हैं दोनों ही समान रूप से हानिकारक व्यवस्थाएं हैं।)
• Mathematics is the music of reason. (- गणित ज्ञान का संगीत है।)
• A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity. (- जिस समाज में अधिक न्याय होता है उस समाज को दान की कम आवश्यकता होती है।)

Answer one-one essay from each section in 1000-1200 words

• History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man (इतिहास वैज्ञानिक मनुष्य के रूमानी मनुष्य पर विजय हासिल करने का एक सिलसिला है।) – 2022
• A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for (जहाज बन्दरगाह के भीतर सुरक्षित होता है, परन्तु इसके लिए तो वह होता नहीं है) & 2022
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right (केवल इसलिए कि आपके पास विकल्प हैं, इसका यह अर्थ कदापि नहीं है कि उनमें से किसी को भी ठीक होना ही होगा) – 2022

Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

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List of Essay Topics asked in UPSC Mains Examination

October 18, 2019 by Sandeep

An essay is a written piece of content, a short one, a detailed one or a very elaborate one, usually pertaining to a particular topic, chosen from a specific subject of study. An essay contains useful information and researched notes about a subject topic, writer’s opinions and personal comments, views, facts and anecdotes.

The structure and organization of an essay makes it beautiful and interesting to read. Essays could vary from general essays, topical essays, subjective essays, travel essays, spiritual essays, educational essays, technical essays and much more. An essay should quintessentially contain a good introduction, followed by a detailed body and finally a good conclusion.

45 Essay Topics for UPSC CSE Mains Exam

• Judiciary  and its working
• Water disputes between States
• Modi’s agricultural schemes in the era of rampant farmer suicide
• Apolitical Education
• The importance of higher education
• Skilling the youth of India
• Environment  vs Growth
• Why is administration insensitive about the plight of slum dwellers
• India’s role in changing global world order
• Foreign Policy of Modi era
• National  health  protection  scheme
• Universal Basic Income vs Subsidy
• Nationalism debate
• Indian Model of Secularism
• Feminization of agriculture
• Digitalization  Drive
• India’s standing in BRICS countries.
• Pollution Crisis in urban areas
• Cultural Transformation in 21st century
• Artificial intelligence
• Higher Education versus skill acquisition
• Entrance exams versus Qualifying exams – what is the relevance of entrance exams for admissions to UG and PG courses in India?
• Scrapping of section 377 – the latest addition to Human rights protection
• Pro poor policies of Modi Government
• Controversies surrounding the Present day NDA government in India
• Relevance of the Supreme court’s decision to decriminalise the crime of adultery laid under section 497 of IPC
• Worsening INR
• Impact of increasing oil prices on Indian economy
• Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India.
• Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India
• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.
• Joy is the simplest form of Gratitude
• Fulfilment of ‘new women’ in India a myth.
• We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.
• ‘Social Media’ is inherently a selfish medium.
• Relevance of Non-Alignment Movement (NAM)
• If Development is not engendered, it is endangered
• Need Brings Greed , if need increases it spoils breed
• Water Dispute Between States in Federal India
• Innovation is the key determinant to Economic Growth and Social welfare
• Co-operative Federalism –Myth or Reality
• Cyberspace and Internet – Blessing or curse to the Human Civilisation in the long run
• Digital Economy- A leveler or a source of Economic Inequality

Preparation tactics for essay paper in UPSC Mains

There are certain subjects in  UPSC , whose preparation will help you in the subject plus the essay paper. For instance, the general studies paper covers an entire lot of topics and important information that will help you crack the general studies paper and simultaneously building your confidence for the essay paper as well. In this section, we explore more of such points that will help you gain an edge in preparation for the essay paper.

• Familiarise yourself with all the parts of speech.
• Basics of grammar and grammatical theory are truly important.
• When focusing on a subject, be careful enough to present arguments on both sides of the central theme.
• Do not blindly read and follow previously written essays. Innovation is the key to climbing a higher ladder of success.
• Learn to present your suggestions in a unique way.
• Read a lot of fiction and nonfiction books. They improve your language, communication skills, plus presentation skills.
• Reading should become your favourite hobby if you are dreaming of clearing the essay paper with good marks. Spend at least an hour every day reading something that helps you score in your general studies and essay paper.
• Current affairs in the financial and economic spheres of the country are always a hot choice of topics for the examiners. You can directly or indirectly expect a lot of questions from these sections. Improve your general awareness. Read through critical opinions and comments.
• It pays to read good magazines. Reading at least two newspapers in your reading time and following various patterns in writing will help improve writing skills. Develop a unique style of writing.
• Make your essay powerful. Strengthen your essay with subject-appropriate words and terms. A standard dictionary for reference should be kept handy during preparation.
• Memorising difficult words is not going to help much. Instead, work on developing and building a good vocabulary.
• Everybody likes consistency. Be consistent in your language, word choice, and expressions.
• Do not use redundant words over and again. If you have to use the same word at different places, replace the common word with a new word meaning the same.

Essay writing skills to be practiced to deliver a good essay in the IAS exam

• Never drift from the central theme given in the paper. Staying on-spot with the subject given leaves a good impression with the examiner.
• Structure your essay as per the topic. Organization of the essay plus your writing must be followed.
• Write concisely. Keep your sentences short; make them clear and understandable to the reader.
• When you write, you should write for an audience. You aren’t writing to read it yourself, so make it appealing to the reader.
• Writing should be effective; nobody is interested in abstract reading, make it creative and interesting.
• Expression of ideas and clarity in communication are essential pre requisites.
• Use language that is commonly used by everyone. Using complicated language that is technically perfect, but poor communication-wise does not fetch good marks.
• Avoid grammatical mistakes. Take care not to make spelling errors; they leave a very bad impression on the evaluator.
• Important things to avoid in essay writing:
• Concentrating all your writing on a single point or perspective. Bring in multiple dimensions to your topic, do not isolate or stagnate your writing on one platform alone.
• Expressing extreme personal views in essays. Be neutral in your language and expression. Do not try to hurt anybody’s sentiments with your writing. Your writing should open doors to more thinking and not make the examiner shut it down from a negative perspective.

Points to remember

• When it comes to an essay paper, candidates usually tend to be overconfident, thinking they can write well, irrespective of their preparation for it. This is just a myth, and every paper in UPSC needs its share of good preparation.
• Your preparation should involve writing down important quotes, and anecdotes said by famous personalities, they will help you gain higher marks in the essay paper.
• Preparing notes is not just a necessity; it will simultaneously help you develop very good writing and written communication skills.
• A few topics are asked over and again in the UPSC papers. For such common topics, you could write your brief draft or framework, which you can use as a ready reckoner when attempting them. It saves you a lot of time.
• Completely keep away from SMS languages, they pull your marks away. No short forms for long words, use words as is.
• Be creative in writing subheadings. The content following a subheading should contain the main element linked to the main topic plus follow the extra information intended to provide under that.

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The UPSC essay paper is one of the nine papers for the IAS main exam. With this, the scores obtained in the UPSC essay topics will also be considered in the merit list. Hence, it is important to cover all the aspects of the UPSC essay syllabus .

In this paper, candidates need to write two essays, each with a word limit of 1000-1200 words. Moreover, they are required to choose one IAS essay topic out of the four options in each section i.e. A and B.

The UPSC essay paper is conducted for 250 marks with one essay UPSC paper for 125 marks. Therefore, aspirants should use the best books and strategies to excel in this section.

In this article, we have compiled all the details of the UPSC IAS essay for the candidates aspiring for the upcoming civil services exam.

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UPSC Essay Paper 2023 Structure

• As per the UPSC exam pattern , the essay paper is one of the nine subjects in the civil services main exam. In this paper, aspirants need to write essays on assigned UPSC essay topics .
• Candidates should practice writing essays on multiple topics in order to learn how to arrange their ideas and execute the same in the proper order.
• Furthermore, the UPSC essay paper will carry 250 marks with an exam duration of 3 hours.

UPSC Essay Previous Year Papers

The previous year’s UPSC essay paper is one of the finest resources to prepare well for this section. This will strengthen their vocabulary and writing skills and also provide them insights into the type of essay topics UPSC asked over the years.

Hence, we have compiled below the official UPSC essay previous paper PDF link for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018 for the reference of the candidates.

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Best Strategy for UPSC Essay Writing

UPSC essays must be well-formatted and presented in a manner that the readers can easily understand without any obstacles. Above all, it must include the ideas about the issue mentioned in the question.

Candidates must note that the general essay papers also play an important role in compensating for the less scores in general studies and optional papers. Hence, it is advisable to focus on improving the vocabulary and writing skills from the first leg of the preparation.

Let’s look at the best strategy to score high marks in the UPSC essay topics in the main exam.

• Go through the entire UPSC essay syllabus to cover all the aspects of the section.
• Build a habit of reading newspaper editorials and journals every day. Going by the trend analysis, it is found that many essay questions were asked directly from current affairs in the past few years.
• Next, note down relevant quotes from the books/magazines/journal and implement them whenever required in the essay writing.
• Focus on IAS essay topics related to democracy, environment/urbanization, judiciary, social justice/poverty, philosophies, media & society, education, economic sector, etc as questions can be asked from these topics.
• Pick the essay topic very carefully. Also, it is advised to take some time to think about the topic and collect ideas and thoughts.
• One should make sure that the essay comprises sections like introduction, main body, theme, and conclusion.
• Moreover, aspirants can also reach out to their mentors, experts, seniors, or teachers for feedback on their essay writing. This will allow them to recognize their mistakes and focus more on their weak points for effective preparation.

Read More: How to write an essay for UPSC here!

Best Books for UPSC Essay Writing

Along with the best UPSC essay strategy , aspirants should also choose the finest books that comprise multiple essay topics UPSC for the exam. Here, we have shared below the best books and resources to strengthen the preparation of the general essay section:

• Monthly Current Affairs Magazines by OnlyIAS
• Only IAS Yogana Magazine
• Only IAS Praarambh Post-Independence India
• Only IAS Kurukshetra Magazine
• Only IAS Praarmabh Indian Society
• The Hindu (editorial articles)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How to score 150 in UPSC essay?

Ans. One can score 150 marks on the UPSC essay paper by managing time effectively throughout the exam and avoiding any kind of deviation from the topic.

Q2. What are the topics for UPSC essay?

Ans. Some of the important IAS essay topics include democracy, environment/urbanization, judiciary, social justice/poverty, philosophies, media & society, education, economic sector, etc

Q3. What is essay paper 1 in UPSC?

Ans. The UPSC essay paper 1 is one of the nine papers for the IAS main exam. In this paper, candidates need to write two essays, each with a word limit of 1000-1200 words. The maximum mark is 250 with a duration of 3 hours.

Q4. Is UPSC essay tough?

Ans. Yes, the UPSC essay paper is moderately tough as per the past year’s exam analysis. However, it also depends on the aspirant knowledge of the topic.

Q5. How many pages is 1,000 words in UPSC?

Ans. 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced is about 1000 words in UPSC.

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How to prepare for UPSC for beginners

UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)  civil services exam is one of the country’s most competitive and difficult exams. It requires a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication. As a beginner, you might be confused about how to start your preparation. Here is a complete guide for beginners on how to crack the UPSC exam:

Understand the Exam:

The first thing you need to do is to know the UPSC exam structure and syllabus. The exam has three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. Each stage has a different syllabus, format, and evaluation scheme.

Make a Study Plan:

A well-planned study plan is essential for effective preparation. Make a realistic and balanced study plan that covers all the subjects and topics. Follow your plan faithfully and revise regularly.

Strengthen the Fundamentals:

The next thing you need to do is strengthen your core subjects basics. The best source for this is the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) books. They cover subjects like History, Geography, Economy, and Polity in a simple and clear way. You can also opt for making short notes for revision. This will save you lots of time before prelims and mains. It needs to be noted that a strong fundamental understanding will help you in a better understanding of standard books.

Keep Up with Current Affairs:

Current affairs are a vital part of the UPSC exam. You need to keep up with the latest happenings and issues at the national and international level. Reading a national newspaper daily, such as The Hindu, is advised. You can also follow a monthly magazine whichever suits you.

Pick Your Optional Subject Wisely:

One of the most crucial decisions you need to make is picking your optional subject. This subject should be based on your interest, aptitude, and availability of study material. It should also align with your overall preparation.

Refer to Standard Books:

Once you have grasped the basics, refer to standard books for each subject. These books provide detailed and in-depth knowledge and help you develop a conceptual understanding. Keep revising what your learn throughout.

Practice Answer Writing:

Answer writing is a skill that needs to be polished. Practice writing answers to previous years’ questions and model answers. This will help you improve your presentation, clarity, and expression.

Join a Test Series:

A test series is a useful tool to assess your preparation. Join a trustworthy test series and take mock tests regularly. This will help you get familiar with the exam pattern and improve your time management. Make sure to analyze your mistakes and improve accordingly.

Stay Healthy and Manage Stress:

UPSC preparation is a demanding process that can affect your health. Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and sleep well. Manage stress through relaxation techniques and positive thinking.

Review and Adapt:

Periodically review your progress and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Adapt your study plan accordingly and work on your weak areas. Seek guidance from mentors, educators, or fellow aspirants if required.

Believe in Yourself:

The UPSC journey is a long and tough one, but it is also a rewarding and fulfilling one. Stay positive, believe in yourself, and keep yourself motivated. Consistent hard work and perseverance will lead you to success.

FAQ on UPSC Preparation For Beginners

Q1: Can I start UPSC preparation without any background in humanities?

Answer: Yes. While a humanities background can be helpful, it’s not mandatory. Many successful UPSC aspirants come from diverse educational backgrounds. Begin with NCERTs to build a strong foundation.

Q2: How should I choose my optional subject?

Answer: Choose an optional subject based on your interest, background, and the availability of study material. Ensure that you are comfortable with the subject, as it can significantly impact your overall score.

Q3: Is coaching necessary for UPSC preparation?

Answer: Coaching is not mandatory, and many aspirants succeed through self-study. However, coaching can provide structure, guidance, and a supportive environment. The decision to join coaching depends on personal preferences and circumstances.

Q4: Should I start answer writing practice from the beginning?

Answer: Yes, start answer writing practice early. It helps in improving writing skills, time management, and understanding the demands of UPSC questions. Begin with the previous year’s papers and model answers.

Q5: Can I clear UPSC in the first attempt?

Answer: Yes, many aspirants clear UPSC in their first attempt. Success depends on a combination of factors such as consistent preparation, effective time management, and adaptability.

Q6: How do I stay motivated during the long preparation period?

Answer: Set realistic goals, break down your study sessions, and celebrate small achievements. Stay connected with fellow aspirants, and take breaks when needed. Remember that success in UPSC is a gradual process.

Q7: Can I prepare for UPSC while working or studying?

Answer: Yes, many aspirants manage UPSC preparation alongside work or studies. Plan your schedule efficiently, make the most of weekends, and ensure consistent daily efforts.

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Beginner’s Guide To UPSC Exam Preparation

We at Insights IAS have been guiding students with varied backgrounds and preparation levels since 2011. And with these many years of experience in dealing with issues of students, we feel it is important for any aspirant to have a very clear idea about the examination that they are preparing for. You need to take a firm decision on preparing for the UPSC exam after having analysed the avenues & prospects of a civil servant, recruitment procedure, competition level, the demand of the examination and the level of commitment required for an aspirant.

The UPSC examination needs you to know what should not be done, identify the Myths along with what should be done.

In this article, we have tried to cover all basic questions that would arise in the minds of a beginner.

What is Civil Service?

Civil service refers to the body of government officials who are employed in civil occupations that are neither political nor judicial. They are entrusted with the administration of the country and mandated to carry out the policy of the government of the day. A well-functioning civil service helps to foster good policymaking, effective service delivery, accountability and responsibility in utilizing public resources which are the characteristics of good governance. The civil service is expected to give continuity and change to the administration no matter the political scenario and turmoil affecting the country.

The importance of the Civil Service to governance stems from the following:  

• Service presence throughout the country and its strong binding character 
• The administrative and managerial capacity of the services 
• Effective coordination between institutions of governance 
• Leadership at different levels of administration. 
• Service delivery at the cutting-edge level 

What is Civil Service Examination?

Civil Service Examination popularly known as IAS examination is a competitive examination in India conducted by UPSC for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India.

What is UPSC?

The Union Public Service Commission, commonly abbreviated as UPSC, is India’s premier central recruiting agency. It is responsible for appointments to and examinations for All India services and group A & group B of Central services.

What are the different Exams Conducted by UPSC?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central agency of the government which is responsible for conducting examinations for recruiting officers and staff into various services of the central government. It conducts the Civil Services Exam every year along with various other important exams.

What are the prospects of being a civil servant?

The Civil Service is made up of a large number of different departments, which implement government policies and deliver services to the public.

Civil Service administrators may have direct dealings with individuals and have the chance to make a real difference to people’s lives, or may conduct research, compile reports and work on policy documents.

The career prospects in civil services are many. A candidate who clears UPSC or the state level civil services examination and has completed his/her training is commissioned as an officer. 

For instance, In Central Services, the first posting is usually as a Diplomatic attaché/ Undersecretary/ Probationary IPS officer, depending on the branch chosen. In state civil services, it is referred to as Deputy Collector/Deputy Superintendent of Police/ Taxes Commissioner etc.

A Civil Servant will have the power to move and bring a systemic change in society.

On a personal front Civil Service offers job security. Special facilities include subsidized accommodation, telephone and transport facilities, medical benefits, leave travel concession, etc. Post-retirement, they get very good social welfare facilities.

However, Last but not least; one derives a great deal of satisfaction and feels privileged to make the lives of people better.

What are the Different Services under the Civil Services Examination?

There are about 19 services that come under the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC every year:

• Indian Administrative Service
• Indian Foreign Service
• Indian Police Service
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Information Service, Junior Grade Group ‘A’
• Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Railway Protection Force Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Group ‘A’
• Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Group ‘A’
• Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade III)
• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade)
• Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS), Group ‘B’
• Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS), Group ‘B’
• Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS), Group ‘B’

What is the minimum qualification to appear for CSE?

The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University Under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.

However, many aspirants like to take up Humanities in school as well as in college, since the pattern of the exam is based on subjects such as Indian Polity, Constitution, Geography, World News, History, etc. You can choose any degree and any subject of your choice, the only thing that matters is your interest in it, and alternate career options that you can build out of that subject and degree.

What is the pattern for UPSC Exam?

The pattern of the UPSC exam is officially divided into two stages called Preliminary and Main Examination while in practice, it is a three-stage exam. As per the IAS exam pattern, candidates who clear the Prelims are eligible for Mains and candidates who clear the Main reach the interview stage. The three stages of the IAS exam are Prelims, Mains and Personality Test.

Preliminary Exam : It has two papers of objective type and carries a maximum of 400 marks. General Ability Test (GAT) and the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT). This will test the analytical skills of the candidates. All questions are objective in nature.

Mains Exam : There are two types of Papers – Qualifying Papers and Papers that will be counted for Merit. The former will consist of two language exams, one of the candidate’s choice and the other of English. The latter will consist of 9 papers including 7 merit and 2 qualifying language papers. The main exam will comprise both essay writing and objective type questions. The sum total of all papers and the score secured in the interview round will be used for the ranking of candidates.

Personality Test: An interview of 275 Marks would be taken of the candidates qualified in Main Exam. This would include Psychometric Test, Assessment Test as well as a Personal Interview. Marks obtained in the test would be added in the calculation for the declaration of the final Merit list.

How many students appear in the examination and what is the competition?

What is the syllabus for UPSC Exam ?

Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation General Science

Syllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper II)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level)

Qualifying Papers:

• Paper A: (One of the Indian Languages to be selected from the ones included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution – 300 Marks)
• Paper – B English -300 Marks; This paper is of qualifying nature

Merit Papers:

• Paper-I Essay – 250 Marks; Can be written in the medium or language of the candidate’s choice
• Paper-II General Studies-I 250 Marks; (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
• Paper-III General Studies-II 250 Marks (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
• Paper-IV General Studies-III 250 Marks (Economy, Development, Science and Technology, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
• Paper-V General Studies-IV 250 Marks (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 
• Paper-VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 -250 Marks
• Paper-VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 -250 Marks

UPSC Exam Preparation – Where to Begin?

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is considered to be the mother of all examinations. One may be worried about the vast syllabus and the paucity of time. However, remember, this exam is not only about knowledge. It is also about your ATTITUDE towards the exam and Emotional Quotient. 

Your attitude should be an ambitious one guided by a clear strategy and rooted in humility. Confidence must be a constant companion. As you know confidence is proportional to incremental improvements.

The preparation phase is a journey – short /long which can mould our attitude towards life. One not only gets humongous knowledge but also gets only better in the process and nothing less in any way.

The success in this examination is for those who are determined and committed and for the one who believes in themselves.

Preparation for this examination can be done by

• Taking Guidance / Coaching 

For studying who can rely on Self-Study, Insights IAS is a reliable source as we have rolled out various free initiatives catering to students who study from any corner of the world with an internet connection.

Students who feel they would need a guide throughout / coaching will have to be cautious in choosing the institutions and ensure that the services offered are according to their needs.

What books to refer to?

Firstly, start your preparation With NCERTs, The NCERT textbooks from classes six to twelve play a very significant role in IAS exam preparation. Aspirants can get basic concepts and theories from NCERT textbooks.

This is a sample booklist for UPSC CSE. Your selection of books may vary depending on your preference. However here are the books widely recommended by toppers.

Strong Fundamentals and wide knowledge are one part of your preparation. The actuality starts once you start applying the knowledge you have. Application of Knowledge comes in an array of Recollection of retained information, skills of analysis, skills of elimination (in prelims exam), proper presentation and structuring of mains answers.

All this gets developed with PRACTICE & REVISION.

Keep your sources/books minimal and revise them n number of times. 

A detailed article on How to Read Books, How to Make Note, How to Start writing Answers etc will be covered in other articles.

You must constantly improve your abilities such as working hard under pressure, enduring the long process without draining your energy, staying disciplined and updated on a regular basis, self-control with respect to avoiding going for multiple strategies or sources, sticking to a plan, and ability to talk about any issue with precision and relevance etc.

These Should be Priorities for your UPSC Preparation: 

• A timetable and strategy:  Nothing is possible without proper planning, a daily timetable and short/long term goals set. So, plan and timetable is the first pillar.
• A strong foundation and conceptual clarity:  it is important to ensure whatever we read, we understand it thoroughly. UPSC questions are very much applied, they need analysis and that can come only when we are crystal clear with our concepts of subject matter.
• Consolidation and revision: The syllabus is like a vast ocean, it is important to keep consolidating and revising it time and again. So make notes and continuously revise every now and then.
• Evaluation of Preparation:  At every point of time, you should know where your preparation stands, which is possible through self-evaluation and evaluation through tests.
• Consistency: Nothing happens without it. People who show consistency are sure shot to be rewarded, provided they work smartly
• Discussions and Answer writing: Discussions are very important; they will help in clearing your doubts & better understanding of the subject matter. Similarly, Answer writing has a very important role, knowledge without the ability to express and articulate is futile. It is important to develop the ability to deliver in 8 minutes.

If you’re looking for the best coaching for UPSC exam, Insights IAS is the right IAS coaching centre. We’re an IAS academy with a reputation for teaching excellence & UPSC rank holders. Sign up for InsightsIAS’ INSTA courses today.

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