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• Topic Wise Essay Questions From UPSC Mains 1994 2018

Last 25 Years Topic-wise Essay Questions From UPSC Mains (1994 - 2018)

Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services mains exam is the Essay. Here, prelims-qualified IAS aspirants have to write two essays out of a few given topics. The paper is for a total of 250 marks and its marks are taken into consideration for the Final Merit List. In this article, we have listed all the essay topics asked in the UPSC mains exam from 1994 to 2018. We have also classified the last 25 years essay questions into topics to make your preparation easier.

Latest – See the UPSC Essay Topics in the IAS Mains 2020 Essay Paper. Download UPSC Mains 2020 Essay Paper from the linked article.

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UPSC Essay Topics

Administration.

• Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle. (1994)
• 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)
• How should a civil servant conduct himself? (2003)

Democracy/India since independence

• Whither Indian democracy? (1995)
• What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. (1997)
• Why should we be proud of being Indians? (2000)
• What have we gained from our democratic set-up? (2001)
• How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? (2003)
• National identity and patriotism. (2008)
• 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)
• Is the colonial mentality hindering India’s success? (2013)
• Dreams which should not let India sleep. (2015)
• Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task. (2018)

Economic growth and development

• Resource management in the Indian context. (1999)
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country. (2013)
• Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country? (2014)
• Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. (2015)
• Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms. (2016)
• Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality. (2016)
• Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare. (2016)
• Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India. (2017)

Federalism, Decentralisation

• The language problem in India: its past, present and prospects. (1998)
• Water resources should be under the control of the central government. (2004)
• Evaluation of panchayati raj system in India from the point of view of eradication of power to people. (2007)
• Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? (2007)
• Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmental implication. (2011)
• Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality. (2016)
• Water disputes between States in federal India. (2016)

Indian Culture & Society

• The Indian society at the crossroads. (1994)
• New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion. (1996)
• The composite culture of India. (1998)
• Youth culture today. (1999)
• Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. (2000)
• Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? (2000)
• As civilization advances culture declines. (2003)
• From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? (2010)
• Judicial activism. (1997)
• Judicial activism and Indian democracy. (2004)
• Justice must reach the poor. (2005)

Social justice/Poverty

• Reservation, politics and empowerment. (1999)
• Food security for sustainable national development. (2005)
• The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. (2009)
• Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for the majority of farmers in India. (2017)
• Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. (2018)

Media & Society

• Misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India. (1998)
• Mass media and cultural invasion. (1999)
• Responsibility of media in a democracy. (2002)
• How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets? (2007)
• Role of media in good governance. (2008)
• Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it? (2011)
• Is sting operation an invasion on privacy? (2014)

Environment/Urbanisation

• Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. (1997)
• Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. (2006)
• Urbanisation and its hazards. (2008)
• Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? (2010)
• We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. (2017)

Economic sectors/MNCs

• Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs. (1994)
• Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. (2006)
• BPO boom in India. (2007)
• Special economic zone: boon or bane? (2008)
• Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? (2009)
• 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)
• Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India? (2014)
• Restructuring of Indian education system. (1995)
• Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. (1996)
• Irrelevance of the classroom. (2001)
• Privatization of higher education in India. (2002)
• Modern technological education and human values. (2002)
• What is real education? (2005)
• “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. (2006)
• Independent thinking should be encouraged right from the childhood. (2007)
• Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses? (2008)
• Credit – based higher education system – status, opportunities and challenges. (2011)
• Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? (2014)
• Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? (2014)
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil. (2015)
• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms. (2017)
• The new emerging women power: the ground realities. (1995)
• Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight. (1997)
• Woman is god’s best creation. (1998)
• Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. (1999)
• Empowerment alone cannot help our women. (2001)
• Whither women’s emancipation? (2004)
• If women ruled the world. (2005)
• The hand that rocks the cradle. (2005)
• Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. (2006)
• Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal? (2012)
• If development is not engendered, it is endangered. (2016)
• Fulfillment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth. (2017)

Quotes-based/Philosophy

• Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret. (1994)
• Useless life is an early death. (1994)
• Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. (1995)
• When money speaks, the truth is silent. (1995)
• Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. (1995)
• Truth is lived, not taught. (1996)
• True religion cannot be misused. (1997)
• Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. (2002)
• The paths of glory lead but to the grave. (2002)
• If youth knew, if age could. (2002)
• There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. (2003)
• Be the change you want to see in others. (2013)
• With greater power comes greater responsibility. (2014)
• Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. (2014)
• Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. (2015)
• “The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values. (2018)
• Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it. (2018)
• Attitude makes habit, habit makes character and character makes a man. (2007)
• Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin. (2008)
• Character of an institution is reflected in its leader. (2015)
• Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed. (2016)
• Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. (2017)
• A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. (2018)
• A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both. (2018)
• Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life. (2018)

Globalisation

• Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. (1994)
• The world of the twenty-first century. (1998)
• The implications of globalization for India. (2000)
• My vision of an ideal world order. (2001)
• The masks of new imperialism. (2003)
• Globalizations and its impact on Indian culture. (2004)
• ‘Globalization’ vs. ‘nationalism’. (2009)
• Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. (2010)

Science & Tech

• The modern doctor and his patients. (1997)
• Value-based science and education. (1999)
• The march of science and the erosion of human values. (2001)
• Spirituality and scientific temper. (2003)
• The lure of space. (2004)
• Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible? (2012)
• Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation. (2013)
• Technology cannot replace manpower. (2015)
• Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India. (2018)

Internet/IT

• The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. (2000)
• Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. (2006)
• Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run. (2016)
• Social media is inherently a selfish medium. (2017)

International organisations/relations

• Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities. (1996)
• India’s role in promoting ASEAN cooperation. (2004)
• Importance of Indo-US nuclear agreement. (2006)
• Has the Non- Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world. (2017)
• Terrorism and world peace. (2005)
• Are we a ‘soft’ state? (2009)
• Good fences make good neighbours. (2009)
• In the Indian context, both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism. (2011)

Miscellaneous

• India’s contribution to world wisdom. (1998)
• The pursuit of excellence. (2001)
• Geography may remain the same; history need not. (2010)
• Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? (2014)
• Quick but steady wins the race. (2015)

When preparing for IAS Mains, aspirants must focus on UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practise as this will improve one’s speed, efficiency and writing skills. It will automatically help in essay writing as well. 

Also, read:

Frequently Asked Questions on UPSC Essay Topics for UPSC Mains

Q 1. how can i write a good essay in upsc, q 2. does handwriting matter in upsc.

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Cooperative Federalism: Myth or Reality

• 03 Sep 2024

Innovation is the Key Determinant of Economic Growth and Socia...

• 27 Aug 2024

Water Disputes Between States In Federal India

• 23 Aug 2024

Need Brings Greed, If Greed Increases It Spoils Breed

• 13 Aug 2024

If Development is not Engendered, It is Endangered

• 09 Aug 2024

Social Media is Inherently a Selfish Medium

• 02 Aug 2024

We may Brave Human Laws But cannot Resist Natural Laws

• 26 Jul 2024

Fulfillment of ‘New Woman’ in India is a Myth

• 17 Jul 2024

Joy is the Simplest Form of Gratitude

• 10 Jul 2024

Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) Lost Its Relevance in a M...

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Destiny of a Nation is Shaped in its Classrooms

• 27 Jun 2024

Impact of the New Economic Measures on Fiscal Ties Between the...

• 21 Jun 2024

The Character of An Institution is Reflected in Its Leader

• 13 Jun 2024

Farming has Lost the Ability to be a Source of Subsistence for...

• 06 Jun 2024

Reality does not Conform to the Ideal, but Confirms It

• 31 May 2024

A People that Values Its Privileges Above Its Principles Loses...

• 23 May 2024

The Past is a Permanent Dimension of Human Consciousness and V...

• 16 May 2024

Customary Morality cannot be a Guide to Modern Life

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Poverty Anywhere is a Threat to Prosperity Everywhere

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WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGE

Following are the topics on which our followers have written (and writing essays) every Sunday to hone their essay writing skills. The topics are chosen based on UPSC previous year topics. Writing one essay on each Sunday will help you get better marks in this paper.

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 1 CSE 2017

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 25 CSE 2015

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 40 CSE 2015

• [VIDEO] How to Improve Marks in Essay and Ethics Papers?
• [VIDEO] How to Write Philosophical Essays

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2024

• 1 September 2024 : The worst form of injustice is pretended justice
• 25 August, 2024 : Science is the poetry of reality.
• 18 August, 2024 : A Budget Tells Us What We Cannot Afford, But It Doesn’t Keep Us from buying it
• 11 August, 2024 : The world is not magic and that is the most magical thing about it. 
• 4 August, 2024 : Art is I; Science is We. 
• 28 July, 2024 : History, in general, only informs us what bad government is
• 21 July, 2024 : Sarcasam : the last refuge of the chaste-souled individuals when their privacy is coarsely invaded.
• 14 July, 2024 : Wound is the place where light enters you
• 7 July, 2024 : What is Religion to One is Superstition To Another
• June 30, 2024 : Gender Is Spectrum
• June 23, 2024 : Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
• June 16, 2024 : Saint Has A Past. Sinner Has A Future
• June 9, 2024 : The worst disease in the world today is corruption and the cure for it is transparency.
• June 2, 2024 : Escape Competition Through Authenticity.
• May 26, 2024 : Creativity Is Allowing Yourself to Make Mistakes. Art Is Knowing Which Ones to Keep.
• May 19 2024 : In No Man’s Land, the only way to survive is to adapt.
• May 12, 2024 : Economics is concerned with what emerges, not what anyone intended.
• May 5, 2024 : A right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take from you.
• April 28, 2024 : We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility.
• April 21, 2024 : Well done is better than well said.
• April 14, 2024 : Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. 
• April 07, 2024 : Came from plant, use it; made in plant, don’t.
• March 30, 2024 : A Business That Makes Nothing More Than Money Is Poor Business
• March 24, 2024 : If Voting Really Made Difference, They Would Not Let Us Do It
• March 17, 2024 : Cinema Is Not A Slice Of Life, But A Piece Of Cake. 
• March 10, 2024 : Education Can give skill, but a liberal education can give dignity
• March 3, 2024 : Sometimes when you lose your way you find yourself
• February 25, 2024 : Who Looks Inside Awakes, Who Looks Outside Dream
• February 18, 2024 : Never Let School Interfere With Your Education
• February 11, 2024 : Whoever Controls the Media Controls the Mind
• February 04, 2024 : A certain darkness is needed to see the stars
• January 28, 2024 : Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
• January 21, 2024 : Subtle Is powerful
• January 14, 2024 : The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital. 
• January  07, 2024 : Give them Quality. That’s The Best Kind of Advertising

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2023

• December 31, 2023 : The only antidote to mental suffering is physical pain
• December 24, 2023 : All Great Changes Are Preceded By Chaos
• December 17, 2023 : We are drowning in information, but starved for Knowledge
• December 10, 2023 : Violence Is the last resort of the incompetent
• December 03, 2023 : Be a Voice, Not an Echo
• November 26, 2023 : A Society that has more justice is the society that needs less charity
• November 19, 2023 : Sell Your Cleverness and Buy Bewilderment
• November 12, 2023 : love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within
• November 5, 2023 : Clothes Make The Man
• October 29, 2023 : Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
• October 22, 2023 : Mathematics is the music of reason
• October 15, 2023 : Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines
• October 08, 2023 : Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.
• October 01, 2023 : Not All Who Wander Are Lost
• September 24, 2023 : Visionary Decision-Making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic
• September 17, 2023 : Thinking Is Like A game. It does not begin unless there is an opposition team.
• September 10, 2023 : Unless we have well-educated people, we are vulnerable on National Security
• September 03, 2023 : Harsh Laws are, at times, better than No laws
• August 27, 2023 : Nations Do Not Die From Invasion. They Die From Internal Rottenness
• August 20, 2023 : In Individuals, insanity is rare; In groups, parties and nations, it is the rule.
• August 13, 2023 : Economics Is Too Important To Leave To The Economists.
• August 06, 2023 : A self without a book-shelf is naked.
• July 30, 2023 : Wrong Choices Lead To Right Places
• July 23, 2023 : Credit where credit is due.
• July 16, 2023 : A right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take away from you.
• July 9, 2023 : The measure of intelligence is the ability to change
• July 2, 2023 : Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. 
• June 25, 2023 : In the long run , the sword will always be conquered by the spirit
• June 18, 2023 : The company you keep determines your Success
• June 11, 2023 : A disciplined mind brings happiness.
• June 4, 2023 : Our moral responsibility is not to stop the future but to shape it
• May 28, 2023 : Action breeds confidence and courage
• May 21, 2023 : A library is a hospital for the mind
• May 14, 2023 : Self-Education is Life-Long Curiosity
• May 7, 2023 : Silence is Spurious Golden
• April 30, 2023 : The price of greatness is responsibility
• April 23, 2023 : Progress is impossible without change
• April 16, 2023 : The Impact of Artificial Intelligence.
• April 9, 2023 : People would rather believe than know.
• April  2, 2023 : Prioritizing education technology for global growth
• March 26, 2023 : Technology is a weapon against poverty
• March 19, 2023 : Every choice you make makes you
• March 12, 2023 : Patience is a virture ; virtue is a grace
• March 5, 2023 : Before any fight, it is the fight of mind
• February 26, 2023 :  The Measure of a man is what he does with Power.
• February 19, 2023 : When you kill time, you kill life.
• February 12, 2023 : Delayed success mostly stays forever.
• February 05, 2023 : The wound is the place where the Light enters you.
• January 29, 2023 : Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.
• January 22, 2023 : I am what I am, so take me as I am
• January 15, 2023 : Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased
• January 08, 2023 : Time hurts but it also heals. It punishes but it rewards too- it is the greatest teacher ever for a human.
• January 01, 2023 : The Beginning is the End and the End is The Beginning.

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2022

• December 25, 2022 : To tolerate is purely an act of mind
• December 18, 2022 : The arc of moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice
• December 11, 2022 : Religion is a culture of faith; Science is a culture of doubt.
• December 04, 2022 : My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read
• November 27, 2022 : Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits
• November 20, 2022 : We are always blind as we want to be
• November 13, 2022  : By your stumbling, the world is perfected.
• November 6, 2022 : You cannot step twice in the same river
• October 30, 2022 : Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
• October 23, 2022 : A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities
• October 16, 2022 : The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining
• October 9, 2022 : A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for
• October 2, 2022 : History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man
• September 25, 2022 : Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world
• September 18, 2022 : Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence
• September 11, 2022 : Culture changes with economic development.
• September 4 2022 : We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
• August 28 2022 :  The obstacle is the path.
• August 21 2022 : What is to give light must endure burning.
• August 14 2022 : “He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” Aristotle.
• August 7 2022 : Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” Albert Einstein
• July 31, 2022 : A bad conscience is easier to cope with than a bad reputation. Friedrich Nietzsche.
• July 24, 2022 : Time is all we have and don’t
• July 17, 2022 : Life fritters away when distractions become your lifestyle
• July 10, 2022 : After every darkness comes the dawn July 10, 2022 : After every darkness comes the dawn
• July 3, 2022 : Mind – a beautiful servant? Or a dangerous master?
• June 26, 2022 : Education Breeds Peace
• June 19, 2022 : A great leader is never angry
• June 12, 2022 : That which hurts, instructs; That which instructs, creates; Creates Wonders!
• June 05, 2022 : Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do
• May 29, 2022 : The journey is a reward as well as destination
• May 22, 2022 : Imagination creates reality
• May 15, 2022 : The curious paradox is, only if we accept things as they are, things can change
• May 08, 2022:  The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are so certain of themselves, while wiser people are so full of doubts
• May 01, 2022:  Loyalty To Country Always. Loyalty To Government Only When It Deserves
• April 24, 2022: Successful Investing Is Anticipating The Anticipations of Others
• April 17, 2022: Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear
• April 10, 2022 : Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn
• April 03, 2022 : Forgiveness is the final form of love
• March 27, 2022 : The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless
• March 20, 2022 : Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form.
• March 13, 2022 : Everything we hear is an opinion; not a fact
• March 5, 2022 : There are better practices to “best practices”
• February 27, 2022 : History repeats itself first as a tragedy second as a farce.
• February 20, 2022 : What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!
• February 13, 2022 : Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
• February 6, 2022 : The real is rational and the rational is real.
• January 30, 2022 : Philosophy of Wantlessness Is Utopian, while the philosophy of materialism is chimera.
• January 23, 2022 : Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.
• January 16, 2022 : The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.
• January 09, 2022 : Knowing oneself is the beginning of all wisdom
• January 02, 2022 : Biased Media Is A Real Threat To Indian Democracy

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2021

• December 26, 2021 : What Gets Measured Gets Managed
• December 19, 2021 : The enemy of stability is complacency
• December 12, 2021 : A clear conscience fears no accusation
• December 05, 2021 : Power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas
• November 28, 2021 : The whole is more than a sum of its parts
• November 21, 2021 : Scientific and technological progress cannot be equated with the progress of humanity
• November 14, 2021 : The price of our vitality is the sum of all our fears
• November 7, 2021 : Lawlessness is the result of failure to cultivate a sense of self-evaluation
• October 30, 2021 : What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make
• October 24, 2021 : Science for the economic freedom of humanity
• October 17, 2021 : An interdependent world cannot be an inequitable world
• October 03, 2021 : Strength comes from an indomitable Will
• SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 : Ethnocracy and concentration of power can derail even an affluent nation
• SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 : Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.
• SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 : Culture of entitlement comes with unreasonable expectations and insecurities 
• SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 : Literacy is a vital skill that enhances dignity, improves health outcomes, empowers people to access their rights and bolsters opportunities
• AUGUST 29, 2021 : A parliamentary system of government rests on a functioning opposition as ‘no democracy can do without it’.
• AUGUST 22, 2021 : Development must lead to dismantle all kinds of human unfreedom
• AUGUST 15, 2021 : Sport is a reflection of larger social phenomena
• AUGUST 8, 2021 : Every social stratum has its own Common Sense and its own good sense
• AUGUST 1, 2021 : Capitalism without competition is not Capitalism. It is Exploitation.
• JULY 25, 2021 : We don’t have to sacrifice a Strong Economy for a Healthy Environment
• JULY 18,2021 : We Need not a social conscience, but a social consciousness.
• JULY 11, 2021 : The cure for evils of democracy is more democracy.
• JULY 04, 2021 : No Constitution by itself achieves perfect justice
• JUNE 27, 2021 : Our world has achieved brilliance without conscience.
• JUNE 20, 2021 : Our common humanity demands that we make the impossible possible.
• JUNE 13, 2021 : Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
• JUNE 06, 2021 : The political problem of mankind is to combine three things: economic efficiency, social justice and individual liberty.
• MAY 30, 2021 : Economics without ethics is a caricature & ethics without economics is a fairy tale.
• MAY 23 , 2021 : Indecisiveness is the rival of Progression
• MAY 16 , 2021 : Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change.
• May 09, 2021 : The possession of arbitrary power has always, the world over, tended irresistibly to destroy humane sensibility, magnanimity, and truth
• May 02, 2021 : The truth of character is expressed through choice of act ions
• April 25, 2021 : It is not our differences that divide us; It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.
• April 18, 2021 : Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
• April 11, 2021 : Solutions emerge if situations are not forced
• April 04, 2021 : Morality is subservient to materialistic values in present times
• March 28, 2021 : Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible
• March 21, 2021 : Our major social problems are not the cause of our decadence but are a reflection of it
• March 14, 2021 : The Future of Multilateralism : Towards a responsible Globalization
• March 07, 2021 : Subtlety may deceive you; Integrity never will
• February 28, 2021 :Technology as the silent factor in international relations
• February 21, 2021 :Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality
• February 14, 2021:There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless
• February 07, 2021: Culture is what we are civilization is what we have
• January 31, 2021: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
• January 24, 2021: Ships do not sink because of water around them , ships sink because of water that gets into them
• January 17, 2021: Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self
• January 10, 2021: Life is long journey between human being and being humane
• January 03, 2021: The Covid pandemic has revealed the urgent need for effective governance everywhere”
• December 27, 2020: Challenges of 21st Century – insurmountable?
• December 20, 2020: Too much Democracy is Detrimental to Development
• December 13, 2020: Happiness is not an ideal of reason, but of imagination.

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2020

• December 06, 2020 : As you Start to walk on the way, the Way appears
• November 29, 2020: Need of the Hour is to Maximise Possibilities of Agriculture in India
• November 22, 2020: The survival of democracy depends on its ability to lower social uncertainty
• November 15, 2020: There is no greatness where there is no simplicity
• November 08, 2020: Inequality can be Reduced by the Power of the Market rather than the Government
• November 01, 2020: Civil liberties are fundamental to the functioning of modern democracies
• October 25, 2020: Artificial Intelligence is Not All Evil – It can Promote Social Good Too
• October 18, 2020: Wherever law ends, tyranny begins
• October 11, 2020:Hyper-globalism is threat to human prosperity
• September 27, 2020: Our World is in a Surplus of Multilateral Challenges and a Deficit of Solutions
• September 20, 2020: In India Agriculture and the Farmer are both the Victims of Narrow Political Vision
• September 13, 2020: India Needs Aggressive and Pragmatic Neighbourhood Policy
• September 6, 2020: “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his  attitude .
• August 30, 2020: The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal
• August 23, 2020: Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.
• August 16, 2020: Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.
• August 09, 2020: Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value
• August 02, 2020: New Education Policy 2020: A Progressive Policy with Diverse Challenges
• July 26, 2020: In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate responsibility
• July 19, 2020: Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance
• July 12, 2020: The human spirit must prevail over technology
• July 05, 2020: When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
• June 28, 2020: Today India Needs ‘Harmony in Diversity’, Not Unity in Diversity.
• June 21, 2020: A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
• June 14, 2020: Post Independence, the Issue of Land is at the Core of India’s Non-Achievement of Its Development Aspirations
• June 7, 2020: Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste
• May 31, 2020: Despite Challenges, To be a Healthy and Successful Nation, India must Ensure Universal Health Coverage 
• May 24, 2020: Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
• May 17, 2020:The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little
• May 10, 2020: Urban Exclusion of Migrant Workers in India is a Reality and Needs Urgent Robust Policy Measures
• May 03, 2020: Uncertainty should ignite creativity, not depravity
• April 26, 2020: The fool doth think he is wise but the wise man knows himself to be a fool
• April 19, 2020: Social Harmony, not Social Distancing, is the final solution to all our problems
• April 12, 2020: It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities
• April 05, 2020: Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking
• March 29, 2020: “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them”
• March 22, 2020: In order to understand the world one has to turn away from it on occasion
• March 15, 2020: Pandemics such as COVID-19, though Catastrophic, are in the end Meant to Reset Humanity and its Priorities
• March 08, 2020: Those who have wisdom have all: Fools with all have nothing
• March 01, 2020: Indifferentism is the worst kind of disease that can affect people.
• [VIDEO] Perspectives on Essay Topic of Feb 23
• February 23, 2020: To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.
• February 16, 2020 : When civil services does its job, people will not need social service
• February 09, 2020 : The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
• February 02, 2020: Ability will get you success, Character will keep you successful.
• January 26, 2020: Media’s duty is to inform public, not manufacture opinion.
• January 19, 2020: Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes
• January 12, 2020 : Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition
• J anuary 5, 2020 : All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal
• December 29, 2019 : There cannot be daily democracy without daily citizenship
• December 22, 2019: War is the ultimate Price we pay for lasting Peace
• December 15, 2019 : Inclusivity and Plurality are the hallmarks of a peaceful society
• December 08, 2019: Justice Loses Character if it becomes Revenge
• December 01. 2019: Economic Growth and Development are Shaped by the Societies in which they Operate
• November 24, 2019: Social Media is the Fourth Pillar of Democracy
• November 17, 2019: Media is No More a Fourth Pillar of Democracy
• November 10, 2019: Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling
• November 03, 2019:Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy
• October 27, 2019: Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness
• October 20, 2019: South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities
• October 13, 2019: Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success
• October 06, 2019: Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society
• September 29, 2019: Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be
• September 22, 2019: Wisdom finds truth

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2019

• September 15, 2019: Kashmir Problem – Historical Injustice or Misguided Geopolitics?
• September 08, 2019: India’s Space Ambitions – Are they Welfarist?
• September 01, 2019: India – $5 Trillion Economy: Dream or Reality?
• August 25, 2019 Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
• August 18, 2019 The mind is everything. What you think you become.
• August 11, 2019: Virtue is Knowledge
• August 04, 2019: Inclusive governance begets Inclusive growth
• July 28, 2019: India’s headache: Unemployment or Underemployment?
• July 21, 2019: The road to science and spirituality are opposite, but we should tread both
• July 14, 2019: India is a leading power, rather than just a balancing power
• July 07, 2019: Should the world embrace democratic socialism or progressive capitalism?
• June 30, 2019: Impact of Digital Revolution on Human Wellbeing
• June 23, 20 19: Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty
• June 16, 2019: The definition of happiness is the full use of your powers, along the lines of excellence.
• June 09, 2019: Not Corruption, Communalism is the Greatest Threat India is facing Today
• May 19, 2019: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
• May 12, 2019: Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake
• May 05, 2019: Happiness equals reality minus expectations
• April 28, 2019: Political correctness is tyranny with manners
• April 21, 2019: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
• April 07, 2019: Dogma is the sacrifice of wisdom to consistency
• March 31, 2019: The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.
• March 24, 2019: Terrorism has No Religion
• March 17, 2019: Money and Religion – Great Unifiers of Humankind?
• March 10, 2019: Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay
• March 03, 2019: Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower
• February 24,2019: Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens
• February 17, 2019: Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by fighting back
• February 10, 2019: Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
• February 03, 2019: You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality
• January 27, 2019: Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
• January 20, 2019: All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
• January 12, 2019: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.
• January 06, 2019: National security is Irreversibly linked to good economic growth

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2018

• December 28, 2018: To plan for smart development, governments and business must recognize nature’s role in supporting economic activity
• December 23, 2018: Government Surveillance – Good or Bad?
• December 16, 2018: Trade Wars – Economic or Geopolitical?
• December 02, 2018: Immigration is Not a Threat, but Fundamentally it’s an Economic Issue
• November 25, 2018: A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both
• November 18, 2018: “The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values
• November 11, 2018: A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge
• November 04, 2018: Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task
• October 28, 2018: Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India
• October 21, 2018: Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere
• October 14, 2018: Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it
• October 07, 2018: Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life
• September 30, 2018: Commercialization of Space : Importance and the need for regulation
• September 23, 2018: E-commerce as a new form of trade and its challenges to India.
• September 16, 2018: Ability is nothing without opportunity
• September 09, 2018: Death Penalty eliminates Criminals, not Crime.
• September 02, 2018: Dissent is the foundation of democracy.
• August 26, 2018: Mars Mission and Mob lynchings are two obverse faces of India
• August 19, 2018: Strengthening Land Rights Strengthens Development
• August 12, 2018: Age of Big Data: Data is the New Oil, History is its oldest bank
• August 05, 2018: Strong Institutions and fair procedures, not personalities constitute the fundamentals of good governance
• July 29, 2018: Social reform is a myth if places of worship are open only to all castes and not to all genders.
• July 22, 2018: Section 377, not the carnal acts banned under it is ‘against the order of nature ‘
• July 15, 2018: Schooling Is Not Education
• July 08, 2018: Sometimes it takes a natural disaster to reveal a social disaster.
• July 01, 2018: Normal human activity is worse for nature than the greatest nuclear accident in history
• June 24, 2018: Gender Sensitive Indian Society is Prerequisite for Women and Child Empowerment
• June 17, 2018: Where Should India Invest More – Human Capital or Human Development?
• June 10, 2018: Has Democracy Taken Backseat Due to the Rise of Populists and Demagogues?
• June 03, 2018: We won’t have a society ,if we destroy the environment
• May 27, 2018: Can Development and Environment Protection Go Together?
• May 20, 2018: Governor is the Choke Point of Federal Circuit of India
• May 13, 2018: Anonymity is the Best and the Worst Feature of Urbanism
• May 06, 2018: A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes
• April 29, 2018: Guaranteeing Right to Vote may Establish a Democracy, But Ensuring it’s Right Use Only Will Bring a True Democracy
• April 22, 2018: Stereotyping is an Ideological Force Which Hinders and Endangers Consolidation of India
• April 15, 2018: Can Education and legislation Address Violence Against Women and Children in India?
• April 8, 2018: Banking Crisis in India – Failure of Governance and Regulation?
• April 1, 2018: Privacy is the fountainhead of all other rights
• March 25, 2018: Impact of Technology on Human Relations and Human Productivity
• March 18, 2018: India’s Focus should be on Ease of Living, not on Easy of Doing Business
• March 11, 2018: A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody
• March 04, 2018: Capitalism can not Bring Inclusive Growth
• February 25, 2018: The unprecedented advance of technologies facilitate individual empowerment but at the cost of Institutions and Democratic societies
• February 18, 2018: Threats being Faced by Liberal Democratic Systems are both Dangerous and Permanent
• February 11, 2018: For India, Stigmatised Capitalism is Better than Crony Socialism
• February 04, 2018: Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics.
• January 28, 2018: Politics of Identity is the Politics of the Weak
• January 21, 2018: Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime
• January 14, 2018: Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding
• January 07, 2018: The Root Cause of Agrarian Distress in India – Failure of Policies or Failure of Governance?

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2017

• December 31, 2017: Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India
• December 24, 2017: Fulfilment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth
• December 17, 2017: Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
• December 10, 2017: Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India
• December 03, 2017: Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms
• November 19, 2017: Has the Non- Alignment Movement(NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world
• November 12, 2017: Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
• November 04, 2017: We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws
• October 29, 2017: Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
• October 22, 2017: Harith Diwali, Swasth Diwali : What measures are needed to deal with Festivity and Air Pollution?
• October 15, 2017: Biggest Threat to Humanity – Moral Crisis or Climate Change?
• October 08, 2017: The monsoon is a defining aspect of India’s nationhood
• October 01, 2017: India’s Infrastructure Story – Why is India not able to Build like China?
• September 24, 2017: Impact of Digital Technologies on Globalisation
• September 17, 2017: Urbanisation and Solid Waste Management in India – Challenges and Opportunities
• September 10,2017: Gender Equality and Peace: Are They Connected?
• September 03, 2017: Recent Natural Disasters – What do they Reveal about Humanity?
• August 27, 2017: Godmen – A Threat to Indian Society and Culture
• August 20, 2017: Corruption in India: Neither Systemic Reforms nor Surgical Strikes would End it
• August 13,2017: Interrelationship between Gender Equality and Sustainable Development
• August 06, 2017: Utility and relevance of Parliament in our polity
• July 30, 2017: Caste System – Source of India’s Eternal Inequality?
• July 23, 2017: Indian Democracy, Media and Public Opinion – Does Public Opinion Matter in Policymaking?
• July 16, 2017: Poverty and Environment – Their Interrelationship is the Key to Sustainable World
• July 09, 2017: Soft Power is India’s Strength, not its Weakness
• July 02, 2017: Technology and Jobs – Is Technology a Curse?
• June 25, 2017: Democracy’s Relevance in the Face of New Global Threats
• June 18, 2017: Federalism in India – Competitive or Cooperative?
• June 11, 2017: Peace, Environment and Development: Are these Interrelated?
• June 04, 2017: Role of Technology in Development – Is Technology Helping or Hindering Development?
• May 28, 2017: Poverty is a State of Mind
• May 21, 2017: Does India Need Superpower Status?
• May 14, 2017: India’s Achilles Heel – Lack of Ambition or Lack of Leadership in Achieving Greatness?
• May 07, 2017: Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.
• April 29, 2017: The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation
• April 23, 2017: To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom
• April 16, 2017: One-Party-Dominant System – Is it Good for India?
• April 09, 2017: Should Youth in India Consider Politics as Career?
• April 02, 2017: Can World Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War?
• March 26, 2017: Low, stagnating female labour-force participation in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms?
• March 19, 2017: When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw
• March 12, 2017: The marks humans leave are too often scars
• March 05, 2017: Environmental Challenges and Geopolitics: How to save our Environment?
• February 27, 2017: Radical Solutions are Needed to Address Today’s Radical Problems
• February 19, 2017: India’s Importance in the Post-truth World
• February 12, 2017: The Role of Politics in Development
• February 05, 2017: Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored
• January 29, 2017: Building Walls and Banning Refugees – Does this Help Humanity?
• January 22, 2017: Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality
• January 15, 2017: Cyberspace and internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run
• January 08, 2017: Water disputes between states in federal India
• January 01, 2017: Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2016

• (December 25, 2016) – Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality
• (December 18, 2016) – Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare
• (December 11, 2016) – Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms
• (December 04, 2016) – If development is not engendered, it is endangered
• (November 27, 2016) – Social media is better at breaking things than at making things
• (November 20, 2016) – Deglobalization is good for the world
• (November 12, 2016) – Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others
• (November 06, 2016) – It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence
• (October 30, 2016) – Reducing Poverty while also Conserving Nature is an Impossible Task
• (October 23, 2016) – Poverty can be eliminated by putting science at the heart of development
• (October 16, 2016) – People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people
• (October 09, 2016) – Better Access is Key to Inclusive Cities
• (October 02, 2016) – The weaker sections of Indian society – Are their Rights and Access to Justice Getting Better?
• (September 25, 2016) – Imagination is more important than intelligence
• (September 18, 2016) – Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life
• (September 11, 2016) – Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance
• (September 04, 2016) – It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it
• (August 28, 2016) – If one can Address Moral Crisis, many of World’s Problems can be Solved
• (August 21, 2016) – Overdependence on Technology will Advance Human Development
• (August 14, 2016) – Geography may remain the same ; history need not
• (August 07, 2016) – Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom
• (July 31, 2016) – To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all
• (July 24, 2016) – True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing
• (July 17, 2016) – We Can Not Fight Terrorism – We have to Live With it
• (July 10, 2016) – A house divided against itself cannot stand
• (July 02, 2016) – When the going gets tough, the tough get going
• (June 26, 2016) – India a Reluctant Participant in the New Global Order?
• (June 19, 2016) – Inclusiveness in India – Still a Dream?
• (June 12, 2016) – No one can make you feel inferior without your consent
• (June 05, 2016) – Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted
• (May 29, 2016) – It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere
• (May 22, 2016) – Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress
• (May 15, 2016) – Fire is a good servant but a bad master
• (May 08, 2016) – The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
• (May 01, 2016) – Labour Reforms in India and its Role in Economic Development
• (April 24, 2016) – It takes a whole village to raise a child
• (April 17, 2016) – Trust take years to Build, Seconds to Break
• (April 10, 2016) – Cleanliness is next to Godliness
• (April 03, 2016) – Honesty is the Best Policy
• (March 27, 2016) – Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes
• (March 20, 2016) – Caste System – India’s Enduring Curse
• (March 13, 2016) – Fortune favors the bold
• (March 06, 2016) – Quick but steady wins the race
• (February 28, 2016) – Dreams which should not let India sleep
• (February 21, 2016) – Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole
• (February 14, 2016) – Technology cannot replace manpower
• (February 7, 2016) – Character of an institution is reflected in its leader
• (January 31, 2016) – Can Capitalism bring Inclusive Growth?
• (January 24, 2016) – Crisis Faced in India – Moral or Economic?
• (January 17, 2016) – Too many cooks spoil the broth
• (January 10, 2016) – The Best Things in Life are Free
• (January 3, 2016) – Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

WEEKLY ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2015

• 27 December 2015
• 20 December 2015
• 13 December 2015
• 06 December 2015
• 28 November 2015
• 21 November 2015
• 15 November 2015
• 08 November 2015
• 01 November 2015
• 25 October 2015
• 18 October 2015
• 11 October 2015
• 04 October 2015
• 27 September 2015
• 20 September 2015
• 13 September 2015
• 06 September 2015
• 31 August 2015
• 30 August 2015
• 23 August 2015
• 16 August 2015
• 09 August 2015
• 01 August 2015
• 26 July 2015
• 19 July 2015
• 12 July 2015
• 05 July 2015
• 28 June 2015
• 21 June 2015
• 14 June 2015
• 07 June 2015
• 31 May 2015
• 24 May 2015
• 17 May 2015
• 10 May 2015
• 03 May 2015
• 26 April 2015
• 19 April 2015
• 12 April 2015
• 05 April 2015
• 29 March 2015
• 22 March 2015
• 15 March 2015
• 01 March 2015
• 22 February 2015
• 15 February 2015
• 08 February 2015
• 01 February 2015
• 25 January 2015
• 18 January 2015
• 11 January 2015
• 04 January 2015

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2024's Essay Topics for UPSC: Themes and Approaches

• Mujtaba Hussain
• 03 Apr 2024

The UPSC essay paper is one of nine papers in the UPSC Mains examination. It allows candidates to express their views on social, economic, and political concerns. UPSC often selects themes that are relevant to current events or have a significant influence on society. The Upsc Essay Topics fluctuate each year, and candidates never know what they will be. They might be about the current status of economy, social issues, art and culture, or how the media influences our lives.

Furthermore, it is a good idea to understands previous years' essay papers to get a sense of what may be requested. This will help you for the UPSC 2024 essay writing practice and do well in the exam. With enough practice, you may improve your essay writing skills for the UPSC test. The IAS Essay portion is quite crucial in the UPSC exam. It carries 250 points, and you must complete two essay questions of 1000 to 1200 words each within three hours. Here are some important UPSC 2024 essay topics that you must know.

Environment

1.        Organic Farming in India

2.        Shifting of Earth's Geo-Magnetic field and its impact

3.        Money Laundering and Illegal Wildlife trade

4.        Hyper-globalism is threat to human prosperity

5.        Ban on plastic: Environment vs. Economy

6.        Seed Bombs: Solution to Man-Animal Conflict

7.        Biodiversity Conservation– Our Solutions are in Nature

8.        Merger of Project Tiger and Project Elephant: Pros and Cons

9.        Growing Pollution in Rivers

10.    Net Zero Carbon Emission

Social Issues

1.        Transparent Taxation- honoring the honest platform

2.        Urban exclusion of migrant workers in India is a reality and needs urgent robust policy measures.

3.        Economic Growth and Development are shaped by the societies in which they operate.

4.        The ‘Dunki’ route to illegal migration

5.        Social media is the fourth pillar of democracy

6.        Lack of civic sense among Indians is pushing the country backwards

7.        Legalizing Betting in India

8.        Caste Census: Equity or casteism?

9.        Feminism

10.    The Cry of Transgenders

11.    Media’s duty is to inform public, not manufacture opinion

12.    Sub-categorisation of castes in India

13.    How does a leader impact the destiny of his country?

14.    One Nation, One Ration Card

15.    Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition

16.    Elderly Population in India

Indian polity

1.        Atmanirbhar Bharat

2.        India and SDGs

3.        Falling parliamentary morals in India

4.        India needs aggressive and pragmatic neighborhood policy

5.        Is the era of coalitions over?

6.        India as the World’s fifth largest economy

7.        Controversies surrounding the Present-day NDA government in India

8.        Supreme Court Judgment on Demonetisation

9.        India’s Neighbourhood Policy

10.    Supreme Court Judgment on Jammu and Kashmir

11.    India China border issues – Where is it headed?

12.    New India @75

13.    Compatibility of the Contempt of Court with International Standards

14.    India’s Participation in Central Asian Region

15.    Presidential vs Parliamentary form of government: which one India should go for?

16.    Pro poor policies of Modi Government

17.    Too much Democracy is Detrimental to Development

18.    India’s deepening malnutrition

19.    One nation one election

20.    Today India Needs ‘Harmony in Diversity’, Not Unity in Diversity

1.        Non-Performing Assets and their impact on economy

2.        India becoming a leader in Renewable Energy

3.        Central Bank Digital Currency by RBI

4.        Fugitive Economic Offenders and the need to bring them back

5.        Global Recession and shapes of Economy

6.        Government’s Vision of Amrit Kaal

7.        RBI’s strategies to tackle inflation in Economy

8.        50 Crore Jan Dhan Accounts: Giant leap towards financial inclusion

9.        Privatization in Defence Manufacturing

10.    Crypto-currency and issues related to it

11.    Need of the Hour is to Maximize Possibilities of Agriculture in India

12.    How important is flow of money for the economy?

13.    Growing trends of Privatisation

14.    India to be the world’s third largest economy

15.    Is a 70-Hour Work Week Healthy?

International Relations

1.        Importance of regional trade blocs like NAFTA, RCEP etc.

2.        SCO and its evolution

3.        Russia-Ukraine War and its impact on geopolitics

4.        G20 New Delhi Summit

5.        Climate Diplomacy and COP 28

6.        Democracy in its neighbourhood is in India’s interest

7.        Rising Chinese hegemony in Indo-Pacific and implications for India

8.        10 years of One Belt One Road (OBOR) Policy and India's Counter

9.        Israel-Hamas Conflict and Operation Ajay

10.    India: From SAARC to BIMSTEC

11.    NASA’s Artemis Program

12.    Has UNSC become redundant?

13.    IMEEEC and its prospects

UPSC 2024 Essay Writing Practice Tips

1. Draft a rough version of the essay topic. An impressive essay must follow a set format. In what way will you begin? Which dimensions pertain to the subject matter? How are you going to proceed with your analysis to explain it? Which instances will you give for each dimension? In what way will you wrap up? Writing naturally would be simpler for you if you had previously written a draft. 2. Expand on the subject It's not necessary to convince the examiner of your argument with a single, well-written, and repeated explanation. Rather, the emphasis need to be on writing with depth. The essay must have connections. Let's start with a story. Can you imagine the examiner's reaction when you link the story from the beginning to the conclusion? 3. Use expressive and good language. While the examiner only considers content when assigning a grade for a General Studies paper, other factors such as "coherence," "language used," and "effective and exact expression" are also taken into account. Essay must be structured such that a reader who is unfamiliar with it won't feel that there is a break in the flow and may gradually understand the concept without feeling that it is unfinished due to glaring language and spelling errors. 4. Compose a Strong Summary The beginning must include background information or a fact by using the latest context. Naturally, use some creativity when writing relevant information and avoid doing so for the purpose of creativity alone. Use instances, tales from real life, and anecdotes that you come across in novels, books, and newspapers can serve as excellent starting points for discussing the subject. 5 . Join the dots In order to keep the essay flowing, connections are crucial. A paragraph should not be ended carelessly without providing a succinct conclusion to the idea. Similar to this, you may make the point and connection flow more easily by using connectors while switching between ideas. The extent to which you can discuss certain dimensions depends on how well you grasp the subject. 6. Compose a strong conclusion When writing the UPSC 2024 essay topics, you must demonstrate to the examiner why, as an administrator, you remain upbeat and positive about the future despite all of the issues you address in your essay. The summary should be succinct enough to wrap up the whole point that you made in the paragraphs. Make sure the ending has some substance in addition to being somewhat lovely. Additionally, as a finishing touch, be sure to constantly make a connection between the Introduction and the Conclusion so the examiner knows you weren't just writing an essay but also that you can effectively explain and communicate yourself.

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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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Important Topics for UPSC Prelims 2024

by Vajiram & Ravi

Important Days in August 2023

Daily Newspaper Analysis for UPSC

Daily Prelims Pointers

Daily Mains Current Affairs

Important Topics for UPSC: Crucial subjects and themes for the UPSC examination pertain to the subjects and areas of significance within the Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC. The curriculum encompasses an extensive array of subjects, and being aware of those that are pivotal can substantially influence a candidate's prospects of success. Here, the important topics for Prelims 2024 are categorised paperwise and subjectwise, which would provide ease to the aspirants while going through them. Along with the Static topics, a list of the most important current affairs topics is also provided to interrelate them.

Important Topics for UPSC Prelims

Though there are several important topics for UPSC Prelims and Mains that overlap, but here is the list of topics which are more significant from the UPSC Prelims perspective. The important topics for UPSC Prelims are given below:

Places on Map in News

Top Current Affairs Topics for UPSC Prelims 2024

The Current affairs occupy a very significant place in both UPSC Prelims as well as Mains. Following is the list of most important current affairs topics relevant to the UPSC Prelims 2024 examination:

History and Culture:

• Guru Tegh Bahadur
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale
• Rani Durgavati

Social Issues:

• Practice of Polygamy In India
• Manual Scavenging in India
• Child Trafficking In India
• Freedom of Religion
• Same-Sex Marriage

International Relations:

• First Global Buddhist Summit
• Centre Looking To Design Human Development Index for PVTGs
• Assam-Arunachal Border Dispute
• Indus Water Treaty
• NATO Summit
• BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ meet
• Quad Summit 2023
• Official Visit of Prime Minister of Nepal to India
• Sudan Crisis
• Mizoram, Assam New Active Sectors For Infiltration: BSF
• UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF)

Economics and Trade:

• Foreign Trade Policy 2023
• Falling Long-Term Growth Prospects
• Falling Bond Yields
• Changes In GST
• Volatility In Edible Oil Prices

Science and Technology:

• Chandrayaan - 3
• CoWIN Data Breach
• Electronic Interlocking System in Railways
• Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves
• LIGO-India Project
• Human Genome Project
• Seed Bank At Asola Bhatti Sanctuary
• Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START)
• Foucault Pendulum
• Dark Patterns

Governance and Policy:

• Mission Vatsalya Scheme
• Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023
• National Medical Commission
• Model Prisons Act
• National Medical Devices Policy 2023
• Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
• Foreign Exchange Management Act
• Universal Basic Income (UBI)
• India Rethinking Its Anaemia Policy
• The PoSH Act
• Violence in Manipur
• Article 370

Finance and Trade:

• India’s Remittance Inflows Growth Could Slow to Just 0.2% in 2023
• India’s Gold Reserves

Important Topics for UPSC Mains 2024

The IAS syllabus is extensive and might overwhelm many candidates. Developing a lucid comprehension of the important topics for UPSC aids them in refining their preparation approach and prevents wastage of effort on less pivotal areas.

General Studies I

Indian Heritage and Culture; and History and Geography of the World and Society:

General Studies II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations:

General Studies III

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management:

General Studies IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude:

FAQs on Important Topics for UPSC

Which topics are important for upsc prelims 2024.

The vital topics for UPSC Prelims include Indian National Movement, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, Geography, General Science, Environment, Current Affairs , Art and Culture, History of India, World History, Technology, Indian Society, and Logical Reasoning. A thorough understanding and coverage of these subjects are essential for success in the examination.

What should I study for UPSC Mains 2024?

Study the syllabus comprehensively, focusing on important topics for UPSC from subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, and Current Affairs. Solve previous year's papers to get an idea about the pattern in which questions are framed.

Which Current Affairs Topics Are Important for UPSC Mains 2024?

The significant current affairs topics for UPSC Mains 2024 encompass Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves, LIGO-India Project, Human Genome Project, Model Prisons Act, National Medical Devices Policy, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and other evolving international relations.

© 2024 Vajiram & Ravi. All rights reserved

Essay Topics and Previous papers for UPSC Civil service exam

List of essay topics.

• Cookie Cutter Templates Ep1: Arrogance, History Repeats for Essay / Ethics UPSC Mains 15+ Examples
• [Essay] No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. — HERACLITUS
• [Mock] Essay Paper for UPSC Mains-2016: Identity Groups vs Democracy, Chakra vs Charkha, Wisdom vs Force, UBI vs Skill Development
• [Mock] Essay Paper for UPSC Mains-2016: Role of Educator, Taste for Literature, Cost of Liberty, Success in Dictionary
• [Essays] February Week2: Equidistant diplomacy, Strategic Autonomy without Military Alliance, Censorship & Moral responsibility
• [Essays] February Week1: Censorship of Ideas, Acts of Kindness, Childhood to Adulthood, consciously secular society
• [Essays] January Week4: Socialist Preamble, Democracy without participation, women-the deities of household fire
• [Essays] January Week3: Ideological Colonization, Dovish vs Hawkish Foreign Policy, limits of free speech
• [Essays] January Week2: competitive vs. cooperative federalism, God above all gods, Suicide- a social shame
• [Essays] January 2015 Week1: Religion-A form of Enslavement, Market Oriented Education, Constructive Criticism
• [Essays] December Week4: Apoplectic Secularism, Syncretism, Spiritual Alzheimer, Pragmatic Diplomacy
• [Essays] December Week1: Social suffocation, true Sovereignty, Arc of revanchist states
• [Essays] November Week4: Classical Arts, Security Trilemma, Think in India, Soullessness of men
• [Essays] November Week3: Garrison Governance, Dignity of Labour, Rationalist Thinking, Age of Knowledge
• [Essays] November Week2: Nehru legacy, knowledge society, age of discontinuity (only Topiclists)
• [Essays] November Week1: New Urbanism, Regional Chauvinism, Majoritarian Populism
• [Essays] October Week4: End of American Century, Activism vs Restrain, Censorship vs Lynching
• [Essays] October Week3: Militant Atheism, Rational Consumption, Ecocide, Prosperity without Morality
• [Essays] October Week2: Corruption, Child Labour, Probity, Good Governance, Injustice, Optimism
• [Essays] October Week1: Colonization, Gandhiism, Volunteerism, Personification, Social Transformation
• [Essays] September Week4: De-bureaucratizing the executive, Hidden Euthanasia, Gender equality
• [Essays] September Week3: India-China, Zero Sum Game, Parliamentary minority, Daughter aversion
• [Essays] September Week2: 21 Topics for UPSC Mains: Fanaticism, Colonizing Culture, Age of Loneliness, piecemeal WW-III
• [Essays] September Week1: 16 Topics for UPSC Mains- Expansionism, Buried Justice, India-the Model international citizen
• [Download] Essay 2013 Question Paper of UPSC Civil Service Mains
• [Essay Tip for Newcomers] What to write & What not to write in Mains IAS exam?

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Important Topics for UPSC Mains 2024

Also Read in detail -

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.iasgyan.in/upsc-cse/mains-strategy&ved=2ahUKEwjsiNe8g82HAxXXa_UHHTbaFvcQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw27GTqGj8s_SBc2nbYQ9lcV

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. The Mains examination, which follows the Preliminary stage, assesses a candidate's in-depth knowledge of various subjects and their ability to articulate their thoughts clearly and effectively. With the vast syllabus and the complexity of topics, understanding the important subjects for UPSC Mains 2024 can significantly enhance an aspirant's preparation strategy.

Overview of UPSC Mains Examination

The UPSC Mains examination consists of nine papers, including two language papers, an essay paper, four General Studies (GS) papers , and two optional subject papers. Each paper tests different aspects of a candidate's knowledge and analytical abilities. Understanding the important topics within these papers is essential for effective preparation.

• Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language (Qualifying)
• Paper B: English (Qualifying)
• Paper 1: Essay
• Paper 2: General Studies 1 (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)
• Paper 3: General Studies 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations)
• Paper 4: General Studies 3 (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)
• Paper 5: General Studies 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
• Paper 6: Optional Subject Paper 1
• Paper 7: Optional Subject Paper 2

General Studies Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography

The GS Paper I focuses on Indian heritage, culture, history, and geography.

Ancient and Modern Indian History:

• Important events, personalities, and movements in Indian history.
• Key topics: Rowlatt Act, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, and the Revolt of 1857.

Cultural Developments:

• Art, architecture, literature, and socio-religious reforms.
• Important figures: Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma, and the role of the Bhakti and Sufi movements.

Geographical Features:

• Understanding of India's physical geography, climate, and natural resources.
• Key topics: Population dynamics, urbanization, and environmental issues.

World History:

• Significant revolutions, world wars, and their impact on global politics.
• Important events: The Cold War, the rise of nationalism, and decolonization.

General Studies Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, and International Relations

The GS Paper II covers governance, the Indian Constitution, and international relations. Important topics include:.

Indian Constitution:

• Fundamental rights, duties, and the structure of the government.
• Key topics: Constitutional amendments, the role of the judiciary, and federalism.

Governance and Public Policy:

• Government policies, welfare schemes, and their impact on society.
• Important areas: Health, education, and poverty alleviation.

International Relations:

• Bilateral and multilateral relations, global institutions, and current international issues.
• Key topics: India's foreign policy, relations with neighboring countries, and participation in international organizations like the UN.

Pressure Groups and Political Parties:

• Role of pressure groups, political parties, and civil society in governance.
• Important organizations: NGOs, SHGs, and their contributions to social justice.

General Studies Paper III: Technology, Economic Development, and Environmental Issues

The GS Paper III encompasses technology, economic development, and environmental conservation. Key topics include:

Indian Economy:

• Economic planning, resource mobilization, and employment generation.
• Important areas: Growth and development, inclusive growth, and government budgeting.

Agricultural Development:

• Major crops, cropping patterns, and food security.
• Key topics: Farm subsidies, irrigation methods, and the impact of climate change on agriculture.

Science and Technology:

• Recent developments in science and technology and their applications.
• Important areas: IT, biotechnology, and space technology.

Environmental Issues:

• Conservation, pollution, and sustainable development.
• Key topics: Environmental impact assessment, biodiversity, and disaster management.

General Studies Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude :

The GS Paper IV focuses on ethics, integrity, and aptitude in public service. Important topics include:

Ethical Theories and Governance:

• Understanding ethical theories and their application in governance.
• Key concepts: Accountability, transparency, and probity in public administration.

Public Service Values::

• Values essential for civil servants, including integrity, empathy, and dedication.
• Important areas: Ethical dilemmas, challenges in governance, and case studies.

Emotional Intelligence::

• The role of emotional intelligence in decision-making and leadership.
• Key topics: Conflict resolution, team dynamics, and communication skills.

Moral Thinkers:

• Contributions of moral thinkers from India and worldwide.
• Important figures: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and their philosophies.

Current Affairs: National and International Issues

Current affairs play a crucial role in the UPSC Mains examination. Candidates should stay updated on significant national and international events . Important areas to focus on include:

National Issues:

• Current government policies, social movements, and economic challenges.
• Key topics : Health crises, education reforms, and infrastructure development.

International Issues:

• Global events, international treaties, and geopolitical developments.
• Important areas: Climate change negotiations, trade agreements, and security concerns.
• Recent advancements in technology and their implications for society.
• Key topics: Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and space exploration

Defense and Security :

• National security challenges and defense policies.
• Important areas: Counter-terrorism, border security, and defense cooperation.

Essay Paper: Important Topics:

The essay paper requires candidates to write on various topics, reflecting their understanding and analytical abilities.

Social Issues:

• Gender equality, poverty alleviation, and education for all.

Environmental Concerns:

• Climate change, sustainable development, and conservation efforts.

Technological Advancements:

• The impact of technology on society, privacy concerns, and digital divide.
• Society and Culture : Issues like caste and community, gender equality, family values, and the impact of globalization.
• Economics: Economic development, poverty, unemployment, rural development, and industrialization.
• Politics and Governance: Democracy, corruption, transparency, and accountability.
• Environment: Sustainable development, climate change, and biodiversity conservation.
• Science and Technology: Innovations, space technology, biotechnology, and ethical concerns.
• Philosophy and Ethics: Moral values, human rights, and global peace.

Preparation Strategies

Comprehensive Study Plan:

• Create a detailed study plan that covers all important topics and allows for regular revisions.

Regular Practice:

• Practice writing answers for GS papers and essays to improve articulation and time management.

Current Affairs Updates:

• Stay updated with current affairs through newspapers, magazines, and online resources.

Mock Tests:

• Participate in mock tests to assess preparation levels and identify areas for improvement.

Group Discussions:

• Engage in group discussions to enhance understanding and gain different perspectives on various topics.

Final Touches and Strategy Revision:

As the exam approaches, it’s essential to refine your strategy and focus on the essentials.

• Last-Minute Revisions: In the final week, focus on quick revisions of key topics and important concepts. Avoid learning new material to prevent confusion.
• Review Strategy: Revisit your exam strategy. Decide how you will approach each paper, including time allocation for each section.
• Preparation for the Day: Prepare for the exam day by organizing necessary documents, writing materials, and other essentials a day prior . This eliminates last-minute stress.

Optional Subjects

Choosing Your Optional Subject:

• Interest and Academic Background: Assess your interest and academic qualifications in the subject.
• Availability of Resources : Availability of study material and guidance.
• Overlap with General Studies : Some subjects like Public Administration, Geography, and Sociology have considerable overlap with General Studies.

Tips for Preparing for UPSC Mains 2024

• Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly understand the syllabus of each paper. The syllabus is your primary guide.
• Current Affairs: Stay updated with current events, and their relevance to the syllabus. Reading newspapers like The Hindu and magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra is crucial.
• Practice Answer Writing: Regular answer writing practice is essential for Mains. Join a test series if possible.
• Revise Regularly: Regular revision is crucial for retaining information. Make concise notes for quick revision.
• Time Management: Proper time management is key. Allocate time for each subject according to your strengths and weaknesses.

The UPSC Mains examination is a challenging yet rewarding journey for aspiring civil servants. Understanding the important topics for UPSC Mains 2024 is crucial for effective preparation and success. By focusing on the key subjects outlined in this blog and adopting strategic study methods, candidates can enhance their chances of achieving their goals. Remember, dedication, perseverance, and a well-structured preparation plan are the keys to success in the UPSC Mains examination.

By staying informed, practicing regularly, and maintaining a positive attitude, you can navigate the complexities of the UPSC Mains and emerge victorious in your pursuit of a career in civil services.

Best of luck to all aspirants as you approach this pivotal moment in your UPSC journey!

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75 Most Important Topics for UPSC Mains and Interview – Download Current Issues E-Book (3rd Edition)

Last updated on September 26, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

Table of Contents

Peculiarities of the book – Current Issues – What’s hot today? – 75 Important Issues for UPSC Mains and Interview

• Issue-based study (with views and counterviews) is highly helpful for the UPSC Civil Services Exam Mains (written test) as well as the Interview (personality test).
• You would get quick coverage of a lot of issues – with positives and negatives – which enable you to take a stand.
• You can save a lot of time (and avoid spending energy on multiple sources on these issues).
• You will get an idea of the background/history of important issues.
• Reference links to related discussions – text and video – from important websites like Rajya Sabha TV, PIB, PRS India, AIR etc are provided.

Buy and download online Rs.199. Link – Current Issues – What’s hot today? – 75 Important Issues for UPSC Mains

About the 3rd Edition

• The new edition includes about 75 current issues which need your attention (yes, a lot more new issues than our 1 st and 2 nd editions!)
• Also, many of the earlier topics still relevant today are updated with the latest current affairs .
• Some topics that are not applicable for this year are omitted as well.

75 Most Important Topics for UPSC Mains and Interview – Table of Contents

• Aadhaar and Privacy issues
• The ban on cow slaughter/ Beef Ban
• Cashless Economy
• Economic growth Vs Environmental conservation
• Election Funding
• Free Speech: Rights & Limits
• Frequent promulgation of Ordinance
• Full statehood to Delhi: Should it be granted or not?
• Interstate water disputes: Focus on Cauvery Water Dispute
• Judicial activism and judicial Overreach
• Judicial appointment: Collegium Vs NJAC
• Kashmir Unrest
• Media freedom and Responsible reporting
• Muslim Personal law: Polygamy/ Triple talaq
• Nationalism vs Regionalism
• NGOs and Development/ Crackdown on NGOs
• Dalit assertion and Politics of reservation
• Restriction on the entry of women in places of worship
• Should India spend more on science or Social welfare?
• Supreme Court judgement on Caste, Religion in Polls
• Parliamentary disruptions
• Uniform civil code
• Privatization of certain Healthcare Services
• Agrarian crisis: Issues in farmer economy
• Issues related to Social Media
• Criminalisation of politics
• Stubble burning in the neighbourhood of Delhi
• Marital rape
• ‘Living wills’/ Euthanasia
• Separate State Flag in Karnataka
• Net neutrality
• The merger of PSU banks
• Privatization of Air India
• Capital Punishment/death sentence
• Politics and Economics of farm loan waiver
• Laws to ban certain social practices
• Entry of foreign universities in India
• Respecting national anthem
• The special court for trying politicians
• National Medical Commission Bill
• Barring MPs from practising law
• Controversy over changing the Constitution
• Lateral entry: Professionalizing Governance or Committed Bureaucracy?
• Section 377: Constitutionality Vs Morality
• Institutions of Eminence: Can the tag help to create world-class universities?
• Higher Education Commission of India
• Bad bank: Is it a good idea?
• Data protection: Privacy Vs Innovation
• Ayushman Bharat: Can it make India healthier?
• SC/ST Act judgment: Protecting the innocent or diluting the Protection?
• Crisis in the sugar sector
• Khap Panchayats and honour killing
• National Policy on Biofuels
• Should the SC proceedings be live streamed?
• Doubling the Farmer’s income
• Is AI a danger to humanity?
• What prevents women from working in India?
• Special category status
• National Register of Citizens
• Price Deficiency Payment mechanism
• Death penalty for raping minor
• Mob lynching: Is it becoming a new normal?
• RTI amendments
• India in SCO: Benefits and challenges
• Minimum Support Price
• Reservation in promotion for SC/ST employees
• No detention under RTE
• Interlinking of rivers
• Compensatory Afforestation
• Non Performing Assets
• Amendments to the prevention of Corruption Act
• Issues related to the appointment of Lokpal
• Does RBI need more power to monitor Banks?
• Office of the Speaker: Powers and Issues

Details of the ebook “Current Issues – What’s Hot Today?”

• Edition – 3.0
• Pages – 405
• Format – PDF
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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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Important UPSC Essay Topics from Previous Years: Download PDF

Annesha Deb ,

Mar 4, 2024 | UPSC CSAT

Share it on:

The judiciary, economics, society, government policies, geography, science and technology, and federalism are some areas for UPSC essay topics. Students have to answer 1 essay topic from Sections A and B.

The UPSC Essay Topics 2023 are segmented into two sections - Section A and B with 4 topics each. The topics are "Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team", "Visionary decision-making at the intersection of intuition and logic", "Not all who wander are lost".

UPSC essay topics are from various areas: Administration, Democracy/India since Independence, Judiciary, Economics, Federalism, Decentralisation, Indian culture and Society, Environment, Socialisation, and Science & Technology. The essay questions are part of civil services mains exams. Each essay topic must be written within 1000 to 1200 words. 

Table of Contents

• UPSC Essay Topics from Previous Years PDFs: Download Link

UPSC Essay Topics from Previous Years

How to prepare for upsc essay topics, upsc essay topics from previous years pdfs.

In the table below are the UPSC essay topics from the previous years. These are the official PDFs. Students can download the PDFs by clicking on the links. 

UPSC essay topics are divided into two sections: Sections A and B. Students have to choose their desired topic. There are 4 topics in each section. Here are the UPSC essay topics from 2023 to 2014. 

UPSC Essay Topics 2023

Upsc essay topics 2022, upsc essay topics 2021, upsc essay topics 2020, upsc essay topics 2019, upsc essay topics 2018, upsc essay topics 2017, upsc essay topics 2016, upsc essay topics 2015, upsc essay topics 2014.

• Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team 
• Visionary decision-making at the intersection of intuition and logic
• Not all who wander are lost
• Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane
• Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands - two equally harmful disciplines
• Mathematics is the music of reason
• A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity
• Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school
• 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 harbor is safe, but that is not what ship is for.
• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
• You cannot step twice in the same river.
• 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.

Also Check : UPSC Toppers Answer Sheet: Download PDF

• The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced. 
• Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me. 
• Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.
• The real is rational and the rational is real.
• Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
• What is research, but a blind date with knowledge! 
• History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.
• There are better practices to "best practices".

Also Check : How to Crack UPSC?

• Life is long journey between human being and being humane.
• Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self.
• Ships do not 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 as the silent factor in international relations.

Also Check : Easiest Optional Subjects for UPSC

• 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 improve are two keys to success.
• South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities.
• Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness.
• Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy.
• Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.
• Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.
• A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
• Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.
• Management of Indian border disputes-a complex task.
• The past' is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values.
• A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both.
• Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it.
• 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.
• Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world? 
• Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
• Fulfilment of 'new woman' in India is a myth.
• We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.
• Social media' is inherently a selfish medium. 
• If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
• Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed.
• Water disputes between States in federal India.
• Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare. 
• Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality.
• Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run.
• Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
• Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality.
• Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
• Quick but steady wins the race. 
• Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
•  Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever  devil. 
• Technology cannot replace manpower. 
• Crisis faced in India - moral or economic.
• Dreams which should not let India sleep.
• Can capitalism bring inclusive growth ?
• With greater power comes greater responsibility.
• Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?
• Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? 
• Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.
• Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
• Is sting operation an invasion on privacy? 
• Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?
• Tourism Can this be the next big thing for India?

Preparation for UPSC essay topics is important. One hundred twenty-five marks are allotted to each topic, and the total marks for the paper are 250. 

Therefore, here are some of the preparation tips:

• Research for Topics: Students are advised to review the popular essay topics. Do a thorough research on the topic and support the essay with facts. 
• List Down the Topics: Once the topics are gathered, students must divide them into judiciary, polity, administration, society, economics, etc. This process helps in collecting supporting information quickly. 
• Know the Latest Events: UPSC essay topics are usually from the latest events. The knowledge of events is tested; students must watch the news or read Pratiyogita Darpan to know the latest events. 
• Practice Writing: The writing has to be fast and precise. Students must choose a topic, start writing on it, and time themselves. 
• Proofread: Students must also proofread their essay topics if there are mistakes that will cost them a deduction of marks.

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UPSC Main Paper 1 2024: Important essay topics, previous year’s question paper and more

UPSC Mains 2024 Essay paper: Exam pattern

UPSC Mains 2023 question paper for Essay

Upsc mains essay paper: important topics.

• Justice and mercy balance precariously on the edge of circumstances.
• The quest for knowledge is an ever-expanding journey toward the boundaries of understanding.
• True greatness in life is found not in never stumbling, but in the resilience to rise each time we fall.
• Clarity and comprehension emerge beyond the fog of doubt.
• A nation’s strength is reflected in the safety and empowerment of its women.
• Poverty extends beyond financial deprivation, encompassing the denial of opportunities and choices.
• Progress should not compromise democracy and individual freedoms.
• The mind holds the power to transform its own reality, creating heaven or hell within.
• Compassion, empathy, and forgiveness are noble qualities that enhance the human experience.
• In the face of change, some erect barriers while others harness the power of the winds to propel forward.
• The greatest punishment for avoiding leadership is to be ruled by someone less capable.
• The strongest minds often belong to those who speak the least.
• Some rules are more respected when broken than when followed.
• The strong do what they must, and the weak accept what they must.
• True glory lies not in never falling, but in rising each time we do.
• Power doesn’t corrupt; rather, people corrupt power.

Tips to prepare for UPSC Mains Essay paper

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Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2021: Take a Look at Essay Sample Answer

Important essay topics for upsc 2021: take a look at essay sample answer.

Writing is a window to the thinking process. Like Bill wheeler says “Good writing is clear thinking made visible”.  What you write on paper will tell the reader how you perceive, how you justify, and how you explain your point of view. That is why, for most competitive exams and academic entrance tests like UPSC, essays are mandatory.

Essay writing is the most neglected and lightly taken paper in civil service preparation. For the aspirants to do well in essay paper, they need to be aware of essay writing topics, and only then can they practice writing on important essay topics for UPSC 2021.

What is UPSC looking for in an Essay?

Applicants may be asked to write essays on various topics. They are required to keep their essay close to the subject, to organize their ideas in an orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be provided for an efficient and accurate speech.

The  UPSC essay paper differs itself from general studies in the sense that in GS, marks would be awarded solely on the basis of content. In the essay, however, examiners will pay particular attention not only to the text, but also to the grammar, the coherence, and the manner in which you structure your writing. So you must take proper care to organize your thoughts correctly and not commit any basic spelling or grammatical errors.

IAS Essay Topics with Answers

Here is the list of the most common and important topics that UPSC brings each year. Take a look:

• Economic sector
• Media & Society
• Environment/urbanization
• Social justice/poverty
• Indian Culture & Society
• Administration
• Philosophies

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

Now we will pick a relevant topic and you will be provided with a sample answer which will give you an idea on attempting the essay question.

Topic: New Education Policy 2020: A Progressive Policy with Diverse Challenges”

Start your essay by introducing this policy and why it is created. You can also mention other education policies created earlier. You can frame your intro like this:

The Union Cabinet recently approved the new National Education Policy  2020 with the goal of implementing a range of reforms to the Indian education system, starting from school to college.

NEP 2020 aims to make “India a global knowledge powerhouse”

The Cabinet also supported the renaming of the Ministry of Human Resources Development to the Ministry of Education.

The Cabinet-approved NEP is only the third major revision of the education system in India since freedom.

Structuring Your  Main Body Paragraph

You can talk about key points like:

Education at school:

Universalization of pre-school to secondary education with a 100 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of school education by 2030.

Bringing 2 crores out of school kids back to mainstream with an open school system.

The existing 10+2 system is to be substituted by a new 5+3+3+4 curricular system referring to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18.  

It will put the unidentified age group of 3-6 years under the school curriculum, which has been recognized internationally as a key stage in the growth of a child’s mental abilities.

Class 10 and 12 board exams are to be made easier, to test skillsets instead of memorizing facts, with all students required to take the exam twice.

Concluding Your Essay

You can make a positive way forward in the following manner:

The New Education Policy seeks to promote an integrated, collaborative, and holistic approach that takes into account field experiences, academic studies, input from citizens, as well as lessons learned from international standards.

It is a gradual change towards a more practical approach to education. The recommended structure would help to account for the child’s capacity – the stage of cognitive growth as well as social and physical awareness. If enforced in its true vision, the new framework will put India into line with the world’s leading countries.

What you read now does not satisfy the UPSC’s essay world limit of 1000-1200 but gives you an idea about how you can approach essay topics for UPSC. You will need to add more content from your own in order to meet the word limit.

How to make Transition through One Para to Another

It can be achieved in three ways.

1.) By means of a connection sentence at the end of the paragraph:

Here at the end of the para, you’re writing a sentence that signals to the examiner what’s coming next.

2.) By means of a question:

Instead of a link sentence, you can also add a question at the end of the para, so that the attention of the examiner is carried to the next.

3.) Signaling the change at the beginning of the next paragraph:

Here you can just add a word or two at the starting of a para that indicates a change in your subtopic

Also Read: 8 Valuable Essay Writing Tips For UPSC That You Should Follow

What Can You Read for Your Essay Writing

You need to read some strong essays to see how seamlessly people are putting up their arguments. Your essay does not have to be diverse in nature but requires depth. So reading some good essays will teach you how to start an essay, write arguments, and end. The most important thing is how to build an essay structure.

Reading in your daily newspaper, if you find any good lines or excerpts, keep track of them, particularly from editorials.

Take on some common/relevant topics such as women, education, health care, the internet, science (refer to last 10 years’ essay) and prepare some forage. Including excerpts, relevant case studies, illustrations, accurate facts, government initiatives, etc.

Have a successful opening and closing paragraph. You’re going to find out by reading journals, strong essays from others, etc.

Now that you are familiar with the UPSC essay topics, you should aim at writing 5-6 exams. Try to apply the above points as you write. And the most important thing is to have your essays reviewed by some professors, chosen candidates, or friends. This will let you know which you’re lacking. All the best!

Also Read: Best Essay Books for UPSC: Perfect the Art of IAS Essay Writing

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Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024

Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024 are provided here for candidates appearing for UPSC Mains along with Essay Mains PYQs and answers.

Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024: Preparing for the Essay paper in the UPSC Mains 2024 exam requires an understanding of key themes and the ability to articulate your thoughts effectively. To excel, aspirants must focus on Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024, analyze previous years’ questions, and practice writing on a variety of topics. Here, we provide insights into Essays Mains PYQs and Essays topics for Mains 2024 to help you prepare comprehensively.

List of Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024

The Essay paper in UPSC Mains is crucial as it tests your ability to present ideas coherently and logically. Writing an impactful essay requires a deep understanding of the subject, clear articulation of thoughts, and effective structuring. Check out the Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024 and strategies to tackle them:

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Aalyzing Essays Mains PYQs

Analyzing Essays Mains PYQs helps in understanding the examiner’s expectations and identifying common themes. Some frequently asked topics in previous years include:

Suggested Essays Topics for Mains 2024

For Essays topics for Mains 2024 , consider focusing on current events and emerging issues. Here are some suggestions:

• Impact of Digital Revolution on Society
• Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Governance
• Climate Change and Its Implications for Future Generations
• The Intersection of Technology and Ethics
• Sustainable Development Goals: Progress and Challenges

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By focusing on these Important Topics for Essay for UPSC Mains 2024 and implementing the suggested strategies, you can enhance your essay writing skills and perform well in the exam. 

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Writing a good Essay in UPSC Mains, Explained by Anudeep Durishetty

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Novelist Stephen King put it beautifully when he said, “I write to find out what I think.”

Writing is a window to your thought process. What you write on paper will tell the reader how you think, how you argue and the way you substantiate your viewpoint. This is why for most competitive examinations and academic entrance tests, essay is mandatory.

In the Civil Services Exam too, we have a paper worth 250 marks, equivalent to a General Studies paper. Despite its importance, essay paper often does not get the attention it deserves from aspirants. First timers think they will write an excellent essay in the final exam itself, whereas experienced aspirants believe that since they had already studied a ton for GS, it will alone be enough to write a good essay. This is a fatal miscalculation.

I was one of those who made these errors in the past, and it is not a coincidence that I scored only 100 in CSE 2015. But in 2017, I devoted adequate time to this paper. I collected useful quotes, prepared notes and even made rough essay drafts for frequently asked topics. All this effort in essay paper helped me score 155.

What follows is an elaborate post on how you should tackle the Essay paper. I’ve organised the content as follows:

What UPSC says about the essay paper

How and from where to prepare?

Improving language and expression

• On subheadings and rough drafts
• What you must avoid
• How to write a powerful introduction?
• Developing the content of an Essay

Substantiating your arguments

• How to conclude an Essay
• My notes, quote collection and sample essays

“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 an orderly fashion, and to write concisely . Credit will be given for  effective and exact expression .”

Essay distinguishes itself from GS in the sense that in GS, marks will be awarded purely for content. But in essay, examiners will pay special attention to not just the content, but also the language, coherence and the way you organise your write-up.

So you must take adequate care to arrange your ideas properly and not commit any fundamental spelling or grammatical errors.

Most of the content you write in Essay will come from your GS preparation. Apart from this, the following sources will help:

• Reading non-fiction  helps you develop a matured thought process. Apart from imparting knowledge, they will also let you come across good figures of speech, art of argumentation, powerful rhetoric and unique content etc. For example, in an essay on Artificial Intelligence, I took arguments from Yuval Harari’s  Homo Deus  to argue that AI is an imminent threat to humanity. Or if you read  Why Nations Fail,  a book replete with examples, you will understand the importance of innovation, political and economic freedoms in propelling a nation forward. So my suggestion is, apart from UPSC related material, develop the hobby of reading non-fiction books. I do not mean to suggest that you should start reading one  non-fiction book per topic to get good scores in Essay, but reading them occasionally in your free time will benefit you in the long run.
• Referring to specific magazines:  For certain topics, you can refer to specific issues of Yojana/EPW/Economic Survey etc. Example: for an essay on tribal issues or public health, you can go through specific issues of these magazines for getting the latest statistics (IMR, MMR, malnutrition levels etc) and also about the positives and criticisms of govt schemes in that sector.
• Collecting good stories/anecdotes and quotes: Anecdotes, quotes and real life stories you see in newspapers and books which can be used in essay should be noted down. In most of my essays, I used to start with a relevant story or an anecdote that has the essay topic as its underlying theme. Apart from these, I also used a couple of quotes of eminent persons.

         List of quotes, anecdotes I collected are available in the link at the end of this article.

Language in essay must be simple and clear with as little jargon as possible. If you want to use complex definitional terms such as, say, ‘Constitutionalism’ or ‘Sanskritisation’ please define it in sentence just before you use it. Examiner will also understand clearly what you want to convey. Clear writing is clear thinking. And that is what any reader looks for.

Keep your sentences short and powerful. Long, winding sentences makes it difficult to read and understand. If you tack on one clause after another through conjunctions, what you get is a bad sentence sprawl.

Example of a bad sentence sprawl:

At the end of World War 2, on the one hand, while capitalism was successfully championed by the nations in North America and Europe, on the other hand, it was USSR that put Communism at the forefront due to which there was an ideological clash between the the two superpowers which had led to proxy wars in various parts of the globe, a nuclear arms race and a rapid deterioration of the security of the world.

(By the time readers finish reading it, they will lose their breath and the point of the sentence)

So I had a simple rule: If you run out of your breath while  reading a sentence, then probably you will have to break it into two.

Rewriting the aforementioned example after breaking it into two (which makes it much easier to read and comprehend):

After World War 2, while the North American and European nations championed capitalism, USSR put communism at the forefront. This ideological clash between the superpowers led to several proxy wars, a nuclear arms race and a rapid deterioration of world security.

There is no need to memorise complex words for writing a good essay. But an occasional use of a powerful word, or a good phrase definitely gives your write-up an edge.

Also, I believe that learning numerous words by rote will not make them stick in your brain for long. The best way to build your vocabulary is by reading non-fiction and English newspapers. While reading these, if you come across a good turn of phrase, or a word that you don’t recognise, please note it down in a book, find its meaning and understand the context in which the word was used. This helps in long term memory. Having a dictionary app on your phone also helps.

Building vocabulary is a slow process, but with consistency, anyone can become better at using an expansive set of words.

Subheadings & Rough Drafts

We can be a little innovative in our subheadings. Instead of bland subheadings such as ‘ Benefits of Nuclear Energy’  we can use “ Nuclear Energy: Promise or Peril?’  Similarly, for the essay on Social Media, instead of writing ‘ Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media ’, I wrote  “Social Media: A Double Edged Sword”

You can find my collection of a few such subheadings in the link to my notes, given at the end of the article.

I also prepared a rough draft for a few essay topics (link given at the end). You may need to modify the structure as per the demand of the question.

What you must avoid in Essay

• Do not focus excessively only on one point, or one dimension (such as the historical or political aspect) Your essay needs to be expansive and multi-dimensional.
• During preparation, we read a lot and it’s understandable that we feel strongly about certain topics. And since essay offers freedom to write, it’s very easy to get carried away with such a topic. But make sure that you write what is asked, not what you know or feel like. No  mann ki baat . Always stick to the subject of the topic. It helps to read the question in the midst of your essay to ensure that you are not steering away from the topic.
• If you are not comfortable writing about abstract philosophical topics (I am terrible at writing them), avoid such questions. Your choice of topic has no bearing on the marks and that is why, selecting an unpopular topic just for the sake of it is unwise. Also, if there’s a technical term in the question, be doubly sure that you understand it correctly. For instance, in 2014, there was a question on ‘standard tests’, which is a technical term. I misunderstood it and wrote a generic essay. I got 112.
• When you take a final stand on an issue, it’s best to avoid extreme or highly unpopular opinions. We are free to have any opinion in the privacy of our minds, but in UPSC essay why take that risk? For instance, in an essay on Capital Punishment, in the main body content, you should present a case for both abolition and retention. But when you take a stance, it’s best to be an abolitionist.
• No ranting. You might be a great fan of Karl Marx, but if there’s a question on Capitalism, do not rant or rail against it ? You must present both the positives and negatives of Capitalism and end the essay on a balanced note.
• Do not dedicate disproportionate amount of time for the first essay and scamper through the second. Both carry equal marks, so please invest equal time.

How to transition smoothly from one para to the next

This can be done in three ways.

Through a link sentence at the end of a para:

Here, at the end of a para, you write a sentence that signals to the examiner what’s coming next. For example, let’s say you have just written a para about the threat posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to jobs. At the end of that para you can write a link sentence—   “Further, we must be mindful of the fact that Artificial Intelligence poses a major challenge not just economically, but also ethically.”  And in the next para, you can write about the ethical issues concerning AI.

Through a question:

Instead of a link sentence, you can also add a question at the end of a para so that examiner’s attention is helplessly carried to the next. To take the similar example as above, the question can be something like—   “Thus we have examined the threat posed by AI to our economy, but what about the challenges brought by AI to our ethics and morals?”  And in the next para, you can write about the ethical issues concerning AI.

Signalling the shift at the start of next paragraph:

Here you can simply add a word or two at the beginning of a para that signals a shift in your subtopic. For example in an essay on  Globalisation , let’s say you have just written a para about its historical evolution and impact. You can start the next para with something like—  “Politically too, globalisation has had a tremendous impact……” This way examiner immediately knows what to expect.

These steps will ensure that the transition between paragraphs is not abrupt.

How to write a good Introduction to your Essay?

Essay introduction can be:

a fictitious incident or story (where you introduce a character); a real life anecdote; a quote; or a simple definition of the words in the question (not recommended in Essay)

In GS, definitional approach is a great way to introduce your answers. But in essay, they are rather stale, lacking in any human element. I always believe that a good way to start your essay is to have that touch of humanity and warmth in your introduction.

In my Mains exam, this was my introduction to the essay ‘Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classroom’

“The year was 1945. Towards the end of a gruesome world war, the world powers decided to carve up the Korean peninsula along the 38th parallel.

“Before partition, North and South Korea might have been homogeneous in every respect, but after the division, they steered onto different paths. While schools in the North chose to ‘educate’ their children in the worship of a cult leader, ideological indoctrination and servility, its southern counterpart focused on liberal education, innovation and economic growth.

“Today, almost seven decades later, the difference in the fates of these people and the trajectories of both these nations cannot be more stark. One is known for gross violation of human rights, while the other a champion of liberal democracy. One is known for gut-wrenching poverty, while the other unbridled prosperity.

“This only proves the age old adage that the destiny of a nation is indeed shaped in its classrooms.”

Similarly, for the Social Media essay, my introduction sought to bring to the fore the paradox of Social Media. I wrote on how social media was leveraged to crowdsource help and rescue during Chennai floods in 2015. At the same time, I mentioned how it was used nefariously in 2012 to cause mass exodus of northeast people from Bangalore. And taking cue from this introduction, in the main body, I discussed about the inherent selfishness and altruism associated with social media.

These real life stories, anecdotes and incidents are everywhere in our books and newspapers. So when you come across them, note down and ponder as to how you can use them in your essay.

Developing the Main Content from the Topic

This is like spinning the web from a thread. Depending on the topic, you can choose among the following options that fits best.

• Temporal: Past, present and future
• Sectoral: Media, Science & Tech, Business, Sports, Religion, Politics, Administration etc
• Walks of Life : Individual, Family, Professional workplace, Society, Community, National, Global
• Problem & Solution:  Concept (historical evolution+status), benefits, problems, solutions
• Standard : Social, Political, Economical, Administrative, International, Environmental, Historical, Scientific, Security/Defence, Legal

Example: for a topic like  “Has Globalisation delivered on its promise?”  I find the problem & solution method an apt way to develop your narrative. So choose as per the question.

In the main body of the essay, each para must have an argument or an idea and a reasoning to back that argument. You can substantiate it through a real life example, a statistic, an authentic committee or organisational report etc.

For example, if you are arguing that Capital punishment is an expensive form of justice, you should be able to given an example or a statistic or Law Commission’s opinion as to how the subjects of death penalty are overwhelmingly from poor communities.

Statistics, examples, expert opinions and constitutional provisions are crucial and they make your arguments authoritative.

Concluding an Essay

Conclusion needs to be on  a futuristic, optimistic note. You need to summarise the complete essay in 3-4 sentences, after which you can write your vision for future.

You can source some useful terms from the speeches of PM Modi. Phrases like  Sabka saath sabka vikas ,  Reform-Perform-Transform, Building A New India  etc can come handy.  Rhetoric, lofty expressions, constitutional ideals, sanskrit slokas and quotes are a good way to conclude your essay.

But suppose in your introduction, if you had written about a fictitious character, then it’s always advisable to end your write-up with a reference to that character. It gives a sense of completeness to the essay.

Readers should keep in mind that these notes are written rather haphazardly (I mean who makes notes thinking that in future, they might have to upload them publicly :D)

They are fragmented in certain pages, so you may not be able to comprehend them completely, but nevertheless I hope you take home something useful.

Link to handwritten notes:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jmVMGOzAk2d9B5Y0HQ9XpVF5Mh2IXGku

Quote collection:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jk71jLao60hHwJoTuGYaIDgJWccxa5Xn

List of Topics one needs to prepare:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1q0W0PeH-80EKt6ucJTFOVPUlmXvCIzd-

Sample Essays:  

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jqfUi1FXdG0icBdJpdQvwH1wlAizCMvo

Read More at: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/ 

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