philosophical essay example upsc

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• How to Prepare Philosophical Essays Topics for UPSC Mains

How to prepare for Philosophical essay topics for the UPSC Exam?

The UPSC Mains Exam consists of nine papers, one of which is an essay. The Essay Paper in the IAS Mains Exam is divided into two parts A and B, each containing four themes of 125 marks, for a total of 250 marks. Candidates must choose a topic from each area and write about it in 1,000 to 2,000 words in three hours. The essay paper is regarded as critical in deciding the ultimate outcome of a candidate’s selection and ranking.

Writing helps you to explore your own ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. What you put on paper will reveal to the reader how you argue, think, and defend your point of view. However, many candidates find essay writing to be a difficult task. Though one segment is relatively simple to tackle, with topics ranging from social, political, environmental, and economic aspects, writing an essay on philosophical topics is a huge challenge. In this article we will share some tips and tricks to approach a philosophical essay.

Selecting the topic for UPSC Essay

A good essay will undoubtedly have a variety of dimensions and components. There are certainly numerous fundamental guidelines for essay writing that should be followed when looking for these aspects and dimensions. The first and most important step is to choose a topic, particularly a philosophical one.

While choosing a topic, choose a topic on which you have sufficient knowledge and you can express yourself in 10-12 pages. If you are unfamiliar with a topic or do not have many dimensions to write upon, your ideas will be exhausted in 2-3 pages, and you will wind up repeating yourself. Unlike the GS topics or the current affair topics in the philosophical essay, marks will not be assigned purely based on the content of your essay but also, to its language, consistency, and organisation of your thoughts. Hence, select a topic on which you have sufficient information and on which you can express yourself really well. There are several concerns associated with how to address the philosophical topic in an effective and safe manner. This is what we are going to discuss in the next section.

Tips to write a Philosophical Essay for UPSC Exam

The idea of a philosophical essay for UPSC is not to use flowery language, use story-telling tactics, or surprise the examiner. The brilliance of a philosophical essay is found in your well-organised thoughts; the language you employ is just a powerful tool for communicating these ideas to the examiner. The subtle art lies in proving one’s points in a clear and concise manner.

Approaching the topic- the first thing after selecting the topic is deciphering or decoding the topic . Decoding the topic means drawing an outline of the essay before writing it. Outlining an essay entails determining what to say in the introduction/conclusion, which ideas come where, and even which quote to utilise for the essay, among other things. The knowledge of GS Paper-4 Ethics , can be used in writing this type of essay.

Defining essential concepts and connecting them will expand the scope of the essay. Furthermore, quotes, instances, reports, and stories greatly contribute to the attraction of philosophical works. Otherwise, simply writing philosophical thoughts becomes uninteresting in essays. For instance in the topic- “Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success”, one must have a firm grasp of the concepts of bravery, devotion, and achievement. And use these concepts to interlink with each other.

Adding dimensions to your essay- To make your essay comprehensive, it is important to cover more and more dimensions related to the subject. You can use the “ PESTLEE ” Approach (Political – Economic – Sociological – Technological – Legal – Environmental –Ethics Analysis). However, explaining each of these dimensions one should be extremely cautious about his/her ideological beliefs. The essay should not represent your viewpoint; instead, the topic should be written with a more rational approach. Keep the following points in mind when writing on the above dimensions-

• While writing an essay it is important to maintain the ideological balance that is required. When dealing with issues, one must also be democratic. When proposing remedies or analysing events or issues, the values of ‘freedom and equality’ should be the driving principles.
• Always adhere to and preserve Constitutional ideals throughout your essay. It is critical for a philosophical essay that the ideals contained in our Constitution are reflected in whatever topic, issue, or answer we explore. The viewpoint can be extra constitutional but not unconstitutional.
• Do not call into question the issue itself, which is to say, do not contradict yourself. Choose a stance (preferably, the middle approach) and stick to it throughout the essay.
• In general, one should avoid idealist or non compromising viewpoints. In reality, finding the middle ground is the greatest method to deal with difficult challenges. It is likewise important not to draw broad generalisations about any specific problem. Instead, while addressing or debating any specific issue, there should be suggestions of tolerance, fairness, and understanding.
• Never describe something as positive that is commonly perceived or used negatively, and vice versa.

Concluding your essay – For an effective conclusion, a ‘ cyclic return ‘ strategy is required. To put it another way, end concepts with the introducing ideas at the starting of your essay. It is critical to remember that a solid finish is just as vital as a strong start. Both are necessary for better scores, as is a fair amount of brainstorming.

Philosophical themes are more difficult to write about than others since they relate to so many complex concepts. This implies that, even if you address the core concept of the essay question in the UPSC exam, there may be essential components of it that you overlooked. Thus, using the PESTLEE approach will help you go over all the rewired dimensions, making your essay a comprehensive one.

Hopefully, the preceding article was informative, and it helps you to tackle the philosophical essays, ratio of which are increasing year by year in the UPSC exam. While essay writing takes time, with the above points reading the question attentively, analysing it, and writing it should be completed in a reasonable length of time.

Download UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Paper from the linked article.

Download UPSC Mains 2020 Essay Paper from the linked article.

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How to Write a Philosophical Essay for UPSC? Learn Some Pointers to Ace the Exam

Writing allows you to witness your own ideas, thoughts and beliefs. What you write on paper will reveal to the reader how you argue, think, and support your point of view. As a result, essay writing is required for the majority of academic entrance and competitive examinations.

Aspirants have a paper equivalent to the General Studies paper which also has a 250-point paper in the Civil Services Exam. Despite its importance, aspirants rarely give essay papers the attention they deserve.

First-timers believe they will write an excellent or outstanding essay on the final exam, whereas experienced candidates believe that because they have already studied extensively for GS, writing a good essay will be adequate. This is a fatal error in judgement. Let’s read some pointers in the article.

How to Write a Philosophical Essay for UPSC?

The essay differs from GS in that marks will be given solely on the basis of the content in GS. Examiners will pay close attention to not only the content, but also the language, coherence, and organisation of your essay.

As a result, you must take special care to organise your thoughts properly and avoid common spelling and grammatical errors.

UPSC Preparation for Essay

Nonfiction reading aids in the development of a mature thought process. They will allow you to come across good art of argumentation, figures of speech, powerful unique and rhetoric content, among other things, in addition to imparting knowledge.

You can refer to specific issues of EPW/Yojana/Economic Survey, etc. for specific topics. For example, if you’re writing an essay about tribal issues or public health, you can look through specific issues of these magazines to get the most up-to-date statistics (malnutrition levels, MMR, IMR, and so on) as well as information about the drawbacks and benefits of government programmes in those areas.

Also Read: Essay on ‘Secularism in India’ for UPSC: Present Your UPSC Essay Topics in the Best Way

Essay Tips for UPSC Exam Preparation

The language used in the writing should be simple and straightforward, with as little jargon as possible. If you want to use complex definitional terms like “Constitutionalism”, government policies, etc., define them in a sentence before using them.

The examiner will also be able to understand exactly what you’re trying to say. Writing clearly is the equivalent of thinking clearly. And that is exactly what a reader is looking for.

Keep your sentences succinct and to the point. It’s difficult to read and understand because of the long, winding sentences. When you use conjunctions to add one clause after another, you end up with a bad sentence sprawl.

It is not necessary to memorise complex words in order to write well. However, using a strong word or a clever phrase every now and then will give your article an edge.

Furthermore, believe that memorising a large number of words will not help them stick in your mind for very long. Reading English newspapers and nonfiction is the best way to expand your vocabulary.

If you come across a good turn of phrase or a word you don’t recognise while reading these, please jot it down in a book, look up its definition, and understand the context in which it was used. Long-term memory is aided by this. It also helps to have a dictionary or grammar app on your phone.

Avoid These Mistakes

Don’t put too much emphasis on a single point or dimension (such as the political or historical aspect) Your writing should be broad in scope and multi-dimensional in nature. We read a lot during the preparation process, so it’s understandable that we have strong feelings about certain topics. And, because writing allows you to write freely, it’s easy to get carried away with a topic like this.

But make sure you write what the question is, not what you think or feel. No, always stick to the topic’s main point. It’s a good suggestion to read the topic in the middle of your writing to make sure you’re not leaving track.

Also Read: Essay on ‘Poverty’ for UPSC: Improve UPSC Essay Topics Writing Skill with Ease

Avoid such questions if you are uncomfortable writing about abstract philosophical topics. Your topic selection has no bearing on your grades, so picking an unpopular topic just for the sake of it is a bad idea. Also, if the question contains a technical term, double-check that you understand it.

There will be no ranting. If there is a question about capitalism, do not rant or rail against it, even if you are a big fan of Karl Marx. You must present both the advantages and disadvantages of capitalism, and the writing must end on a balanced note.

Don’t spend an exaggerated amount of time on the initial writing and rush through the second. Both are worth the same quantity of points, so please dedicate the same amount of time to them.

How to Write a Good Introduction for an Essay?

The following is an example of an introduction:

a made-up story or event(in which you introduce a character or protagonist);

a quote; a true story; or a straightforward definition of the words in the question (not recommended in writing)

In GS, using a definitional approach to introduce your answers is a great way to get started. However, in writing, they are rather stale and devoid of any human element. We always believe that having a touch of warmth and humanity in your introduction is a good way to start your writing.

Introduction to Social Media Essay

In the same way, the introduction to the Social Media essay aimed to highlight the paradox of social media.

These anecdotes, true stories, and incidents can be found in abundance in our books and newspapers. So, as you come across them, jot them down and consider how you can incorporate them into your writing.

Also Read: Climate Change Essay: Step by Step Guide to Ace UPSC Writing Topic

How to Write the Body Content?

It’s like making a web out of a thread. Depending on the topic, you can select the best option from the list below.

Past, present, and future are all examples of temporal concepts.

Media, business, science and technology, politics, sports, religion, and administration, to name a few.

Family, Individual, Workplace, Community, Society, National, and Global Problem & Solution: Concept (historical evolution+status), Problems, Benefits, and Solutions

Social, administrative, political, economic, historical, environmental, scientific, security/defence, international, and legal standards are all applicable.

Each para in the main body must contain an argument or an idea, as well as reasoning to support that argument. You can back it up with a real-life example, a legitimate committee, a statistic, or organisational report, and so on.

Statistics, expert opinions, examples, and constitutional provisions are all important, and they lend authority to your arguments.

Concluding an Essay

The conclusion should end on a positive, futuristic note. You must summarise the entire essay in three to four sentences, after which you must write your future vision.

The speeches of Prime Minister Modi can provide you with some useful terms. Reform-Perform-Transform, Building A New India, Sabka saath saath vikas, and other phrases can be useful. To conclude your essay, use lofty expressions, rhetoric, Sanskrit slokas, constitutional ideals, and quotes.

However, if you mentioned a fictional character in your introduction, it’s always a good idea to end your article with a reference to that character. It gives the writing a sense of completion.

Also Read: Uniform Civil Code in India: Suggestions, Challenges and Essay for UPSC Notes

Think Before You Write

You shouldn’t start writing right away after you’ve chosen your topic. It’s a good idea to pause for a moment and collect your thoughts. Make a list of the points you want to make in pencil. This is critical because only then will you be able to write your points in the correct order.

For example, if you’re writing about India’s relations with its neighbours, you should start with historical facts and events. Assume you begin writing the essay and realise only near the end that you have forgotten to include a critical historical detail; it would be too late to add it due to a space constraint. As a result, it is beneficial to write down your rough points first.

Important Pointers

# Don’t use slurs or insults. In your essay, never get too personal.

# Don’t hold extreme opinions. The Buddha’s middle path can assist you in this situation!

# Don’t just make a list of problems. Also, provide possible reforms/solutions.

# Don’t be too harsh on the government or administration.

# Your essay should not be provocative, even if the topic is. Create a picture that is well-balanced. You are not obligated to agree with the topic.

# Write utopian solutions sparingly.

# Remember, you’re a future officer, not a reporter!

Essay writing is a part of our daily preparation at UPSC Pathshala . There is a ‘Question Sheet’ for every 3-4 days of study that contains extremely difficult 3-4 subjective questions to attempt. Your mentor evaluates these on a regular basis. This continues throughout the entire year! In a year, you write about 350 responses. By that time, presenting your ideas in a logical manner has become second nature to you.

Hopefully, the preceding article was instructive and you now understand how to structure your essay. While essay writing takes time, reading the question carefully, comprehending it, and then revising it should be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. These are some crucial steps that should be taken in the examination hall.

Also Read: Valuable Essay Writing Tips for UPSC that One Should Follow: Guide to Write a Perfect Essay

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Essay Paper UPSC 2021 (Mains): Question Paper and Analysis

Last updated on January 8, 2022 by Alex Andrews George

UPSC conducted the  Essay Paper , as part of the Civil Services Main Exam 2021 on 07-01-2022.

There were 8 Essay topics, out of which candidates were asked to write on two topics in 3 hours.

Candidates were supposed to answer about 1000 words for each essay (about 10-12 pages).

Table of Contents

Essay Paper UPSC 2021 Instructions

• Total Marks: 250 marks, Time duration: 3 hours.
• The essay must be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this question-cum-answer (QCA) booklet in the space provided.
• No marks will be given for answers written in the medium other than the authorized one.
• Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
• Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly.

Essay Question Paper – UPSC Civil Services Main Exam (Written) 2021

Write  two  essays, choosing  one  topic from each of the following Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each:

1. The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.

2. Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.

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3. Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.

4. The real is rational and the rational is real.

5. Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

6. What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!

7. History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.

8. There are better practices to “best practices”.

Most of the essays topics this year were philosophical and open to the interpretation of the candidates. However, considering the philosophical base of the questions, most candidates found the questions tricky. It was not easy to write 1000 words on each topic within the time constraints.

UPSC has ensured that the essay topics were much different from the GS questions.

A philosophical theme is clearly evident in most of the essay topics in Section A as well as Section B. This was the case in 2020 as well. However, this year it became much more prominent. It is a clue about what UPSC expects from the essay paper.

Rather than asking candidates to write on topics most aspirants are familiar or trained with, UPSC is now evaluating the essay writing skills of aspirants by providing them with abstract or philosophical topics.

The reason for such a shift in the pattern should be the change in the focus of the Commission.

All the 8 topics presented this year will test spontaneous thinking, comprehension, writing skills, and time-management of aspirants.

Repeated questions from previous years

The importance of the previous year UPSC questions cannot be stressed more.

Just like prelims, in mains too many questions came directly repeated from previous year question papers. Also, there were themes you often see in many essay books.

One such question was Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

Thinkers, Philosophers, and their Quotes

Let’s analyse the source of some of the question topics.

Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.

This essay topic was a quote going rounds on the internet. The quote is attributed to “Coach Bobbi” [Bobbi Chegwyn] on Facebook.

Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.

This essay topic was connected with J.K. Mehta’s Theory of Wantlessness!

This has also connections with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy.

The real is rational and the rational is real.

This is a quote by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel .

As per Hegel, something can be real, yet it may not exist. Also, something may not be real, it may still exist. For Hegel, reality does not mean existence.

Among philosophers, Hegel is one whose thought is extremely difficult to understand. Often to understand Hegel’s thoughts, we need to grasp his ideas, not in isolation but together with his dialogue with other philosophers, in particular, Aristotle and Kant.

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

“The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World” is a poem by William Ross Wallace that praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world. The poem was first published in 1865 under the title “ What Rules the World “.

What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!

This is a quote by Will Harvey . Will Harvey (born 1967) is an American software developer and Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.

It was Karl Marx who said that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.

First, it’s a tragedy because it shouldn’t have happened. Then it’s a farce (joke) because we didn’t learn from our mistakes the first time around. This is Marx’s version of dark humour.

What should aspirants preparing for next year do for an essay paper?

First of all, you should take the essay paper seriously.

Unless properly trained, it is not easy to write 10-12 pages on an abstract or philosophical topic.

You need to polish your comprehension and analytical skills.

Read different kinds of essays – particularly philosophical essays.

Give stress to the thoughts of philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Friedrich Niche, Karl Marx etc. Start writing essays on famous quotes.

Also, be prepared to write essays touching other areas like society, polity, economy, or technology. UPSC is known for surprises.

Remember that there is nothing like a constant trend with respect to UPSC questions.

What you get by analysing the previous year question papers are clues. And only those are what you need from UPSC questions!

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Reader Interactions

January 8, 2022 at 11:36 am

Upsc has chosen right path to evaluate person.one person read, listen ,rember and write in exam.He qualify exam.He is just like computer.worthy less people selected by upsc every year.They are not thinker.so our country is intellectually insolvent.civil services requires thinker to. progess country and welfare of common man.These types of question evaluate intellectual for the welfare of human being.

January 9, 2022 at 1:44 pm

You are putting the quality of a leader and a literate society in such a person who just has to follow his supremes.He/She must be a good analyst. That’s it!!!

June 13, 2022 at 12:41 pm

in the bureaucracy – there is no space for logical thinking.

once you clear the exams and get appointed – you have to follow the “protocol’ or “procedures” – its difficult to be analytical and innovative – bcos the system demands obedience and adherence to the protocol. If you follow the protocol – and even if lot of people are severely affected – you wont be taken to task. But if you are innovative – and even if ONE person gets affected – you will be punished.

January 8, 2022 at 4:02 pm

Yeah!I’ve passed upsc .

January 25, 2022 at 2:21 pm

I have written Essay on three topics..how may I share?

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Essay on Philosophical Topic by Manoj K. Jha

Category: Essay,

Test Date: 20 Aug 2021 09:00 AM

Evaluated: Yes

To participate in answer writing program, Register yourself for the test. Copies will be evaluated only for the registered students. Registration will be closed before the scheduled date.

6 Days Answer Improvement Cycle

• Day 1: Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at 11:00 AM.
• Day 2 and 3: You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on UPSC pattern. After writing the answer, Click a picture of the answer sheet (Use CamScanner and ensure good quality images) and upload (in JPEG format) in the comment section of the same question.
• Day 4 and 5: After evaluation, copies will be re-uploaded on the same thread on 5th day. Based on these answers and feedback, aspirants can ask their doubts in the comment box and our experts will guide. The model hint will be uploaded on the site on Day 4.
• Day 6: Discussion of the question and one to one answer improvement session of evaluated copies will be conducted through Google Meet with concerned faculty.

Instruction:

• Attempt  one essay
• The test carries 125 marks .
•  Write each essay in about 1000-1200 words .
• Any page left blank in the answer-book must be crossed out clearly.
• After Writing the Essay upload your copy in JPEG format in the comment box.
• Evaluated Copy will be re-uploaded on the same thread after 2 days of uploading the copy.
• Discussion of the question and one to one answer improvement session of evaluated copies will be conducted through Google Meet with concerned faculty. You will be informed via mail or SMS for the discussion.

Essay #1. Life is long journey between human being and being humane.

(Examiner will pay special attention to the candidate's grasp of his/her material, its relevance to the subject chosen, and to his/ her ability to think constructively and to present his/her ideas concisely, logically and effectively).

Model Answer

Essay # 1 Life is a long journey between human being and being humane.

Three words of the title of the essay attract our attention- ‘long journey’, ‘human beings’ and ‘being humane’. True, life is a journey for all the creatures, small or big and human beings and other creatures passing through a life cycle marked by birth, growing, maturing, ageing and death. in this sense life is long. Human being refers to nature’s creation called Homo sapiens or man. Man is a unique creature in features, traits, individual and group behavior etc. All other animals are also recognized by their uniqueness. Their nature, essence and behavior are encoded in their DNA. We are born as human beings and remain so throughout the journey of life. Other animals also live as they are made to live. Human beings connote a species of animals, a social animal and a thinking being. Human beings have both good and evil inside them.  A human being becomes humane when he is able to bring out goodness under him for her/his individual uplift and betterment as well as well being of others. “Being humane” means one who is kind and compassionate; one who has sympathy and empathy for others; and one who loves, cares and shares.  

For human beings, life cannot be seen only in terms of years lived, but it should also be seen in terms of experiences in the life processes. A variety of experiences, feelings, and memories become part of human existence. Life for human beings is a beautiful journey giving different experiences through possibilities and constraints, rocky roads and lush green vales, sun and shadows, triumphs and failures and hopes and disappointments. This journey is full of alternate phases of adversity and prosperity, tears and smiles and “giving” and “getting.”  Being human is more than being a biological creation or animal. Like all other animals, human beings also face the existentialist questions of food, shelter, security and play and accordingly their responses to life are shaped. They compete and fight with other animals and fellow human beings for space and shelter, food and sex etc. with their natural intelligence and cunning. It is all about “animal spirit”.

Human beings are thinking animals. They have more and higher level of cognitive abilities than other animals. Therefore Being human also means having the ability to communicate systematically using words, symbols, body gestures/posture, and facial expressions. It also means the ability to make   decisions and bear the consequences, to be individuals and to be free in our choices and action and also to be part of different groups articulated  through racial, cultural, religious, and political categories. Human beings are also social animals and so they maintain relationship and exchanges with other fellow human beings and even other domesticated animals like cow, horse, birds etc.

Being human is, however, not about s lower level of existence. True that human beings are primarily guided by animal instincts, but they have the ability and readiness for thinking, reflecting, pondering and introspecting. They aspire for being more civilized and refined. This is where human beings are different from other animals. Human beings stand on a higher level of food chain as they are more leveraged to meet these existentialist needs due to a more developed mind. They can think, they can feel, they can express and they can communicate better and in more visible way than other animals do. Human beings take the opportunity to be more than a biological creation and uplift and refine themselves to a higher level of existence and make life more livable, beautiful, peaceful and happy.

In terms of existential needs human beings are like other animals, largely responsible for their own survival and security, selfish interests regarding food and nutrition and other material requirements. They have all attributes of animal, particularly animal instincts like aggression, possessiveness, fear, insecurity etc.However, human beings are social and emotional animal as well. They are intelligent and emotional and communicating creatures. Although all animals have their own way of communication, but human beings are more explicit in this regard, probably because we understand their language and gestures more. Even if we grant this,   despite likeness of human beings with other animals with regard to basic existentialist needs including procreation, food, security and shelter, they have much more developed mind and sensibilities than other animals.

Even aspiration for growth with unbound and unrealistic aspirations and without a genuine and good purpose it becomes a disease. Satisfaction and contentment are sure recipes for peace and happiness.  Edward Abbey puts it like this, “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” We need to be grounded in our dreams and desires and remain humane as well. There is no end to desire. You can be the moon and still be jealous of the stars. John Dryden rightly says, “Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul.” Instead getting inspired by somebody’s achievements and good luck is a more positive approach. This fills our hearts with love for ourselves as well for others. There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy.

Inside human beings there is a psychological and social animal, an emotional being. In their biological features they are responsible only for their basic needs of survival. However, as psychological and social animal human beings also aspire to refine their sensibilities, emotions and actions so as to rise above the “animal instincts”.  Human beings, become humane in this process. Human beings do not just live their lives, but aim to make it better for all. They make efforts to bring out their goodness within and become humane from human beings. They make effort to be virtuous, ethical and moral and so to be just, fair and true. They care for all living and non-living beings as they consider them expression of the same source of existence, call it god or nature.

Human beings are noblest of all animals in their best and meanest of all animals in their worst. They have both good and evil inside them.  If they harness their goodness they become humane in the process.  At a higher plane being human is to be at the centre of our own universe, to experience life in all its colours and all its potential. This is what we want to celebrate with Being Human - the awe of being alive and the thrill of discovering what it means to be us, the greatest wonder in the world. Human beings have both good and evil inside them. When “human beings” are able to bring the “best virtues” inside them they “become humane”. That is how “being humane” is understood in general parlance.

Human beings have their aspirations and desire for material growth or success in career. Many of them are ready to give any price for growth including ignoring health and deviation from ethical behavior and virtues. Pursuit of growth is good if its purpose is excellence, but if it is winning for the sake of winning or satisfaction of ego, it will lead to loss of friends and well wishers; loss of self satisfaction and respect if it comes through unfair means; and finally disillusionment, frustration, anger and self hurt. Blind pursuit of self interest brings more stress than happiness and satisfaction, eventually leading to endless emptiness and pain. When our attitude towards life is acquisition and possessiveness and remaining ahead of others, we start living and dying in a comparative framework which leads to jealousy and envy. Trying to improve and successful is not bad, but madness for this is of no avail. Ultimately what counts is satisfaction and happiness. Socrates cautions thus: “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”

Human beings become humane by harnessing their good innate qualities like kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy and love towards fellow human beings and other creatures. In the process some human beings rise to a level that they see meaning, aesthetics and beauty even in inanimate objects around them and express this. The exchange and communication of human beings at a very high level may go beyond selfish limits and immediate surroundings. They may have a vision to see far and beyond the surrounding and living creatures in it. 

Human beings have infinite potential. Human beings can be noble at their best and the meanest at their worst. They can love and care. They can hate and kill. They are very strong and positive. They can explore their potential with enthusiasm, courage and endurance and surmount all obstacles. On the other hand they can be pessimists and have negative instincts like excessive possessiveness, anger, arrogance, contempt, jealousy, envy, and a weak, insecure and negative mindset. Their hearts are broken even when they face smallest of obstacles. Thus human beings have infinite potential. Some fall and falter amid crisis and some rise up. Some continue to hope and love no matter what and some always remain in an aggressive mode with anger, jealously and contempt.

There is nothing objectionable if human beings try to maximize their self interest. In a way protecting self interest is a moral obligation of every creature to nature, e.g., sustaining and securing the precious life. However, blind pursuit of self interest leads to cut throat competition leading to use of unfair means to realize our material goals. It may lead to greed and contempt. If we fail in realization of our unbridled self interest, this leads to stress, frustration, anger and contempt. And anger erodes us. It robs our wisdom and peace.  Raze blinds us. When revenge becomes the purpose of life, we become inhuman. We also lose peace. That is why Ralph Waldo Emerson says that for every minute we remain angry, we give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. Eventually blind pursuit of self interest not only hurts other’s interests, but also becomes an obstacle in being humane.

Once people are clear about the purpose and meaning of life, their journey to become humane begins. The first purpose is to be human and not a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu. The importance of this idea becomes clear in a quote of Santosh Kalwar: “My first world is humanity. My second world is humanism. And, I live in the third world being merely a human.” Humanity begins with empathy. Empathy is the ability to step outside of your own bubble and into the bubbles of other people. Empathy is the ability that allows us to be useful creatures on this planet; without empathy, we are a waste of oxygen in this world. Without empathy, we are lower than animals. Empathy is the ability that allows us the perception of things around us, outside of ourselves; so a person without empathy is a limited human being, someone who will only live half of a life.”

Being humane is journey towards self actualization and perfection. If human beings think, reflect and introspect they would be more aware about human weaknesses and then their journey to be humane begins. Al-Ghazzal  rightly points out, “Declare your jihad on thirteen enemies you cannot see -egoism, arrogance, conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, intolerance, anger, lying, cheating, gossiping and slandering. If you can master and destroy them, then you will be read to fight the enemy you can see.”

Being humane is like moving from power to love and it involves immense suffering. Being humane is possible only if we are filled with emotions and sensitivity. Emotional and sensitive people are often described as weak and outdated, but the fact is that emotions give life to life.Usually people who do not have courage and conviction do not hear the voice of their conscience and emotions; they are afraid of truth and suffering for it.  Emotions are an integral part of Being Humane. The strong characters are not afraid of their conscience, feelings and emotions. They choose to be humane even if it requires penance, suffering and sacrifice.Being humane is being the reason someone smiles. It means being the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.   It's enough to indulge and to be selfish but true happiness is really when you start giving back. For being humane it requires that we rise, above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness.

Life is indeed a long journey between human being and being humane. We cannot just afford to be primitive, selfish and just happy by meeting our existentialist needs. We need to love and getting loved. We need to feel the warmth of relationship and reciprocate it. We need to have a sense of contribution and giving back. We also want to excel and self actualize by being ethical and virtuous. We want to harness all goodness that god bestowed on us. True, life is a dilemma in so far as the exercising the option of remaining just a human being or allowing ourselves to become humane. There is choice and there are compulsions. The journey of life goes on with this dilemma. That is the complexity of life and that is its beauty. There is no better companion than wisdom and love in the journey of life.

Essay#2 Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society

The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.

James Baldwin

Individuals are generally driven by animal spirit and self-interest. They are also driven by a longing for freedom. Individuals try to realize their freedom goals by any means without paying much heed to consequences of their actions on society. Society on the other hand tries to set norms and conventions for saving the communities from disorder and anarchy. Society tends to develop conventions that guide and bind individuals in their day-to-day life to behave in a particular way. Such conventions, however, curtail freedom and free will. There is a perpetual conflict between individual interest and social interest and apparently it seems that what is best for individual is not the best for society.

Freedom is cherished by individuals as the most desirable goal, but state feels that freedom without reasonable restrictions leads to disorder and anarchy. In economic wisdom, saving and thrift is good for individuals, but at societal level if there is too much thrust on saving, it has an adverse effect on aggregate demand, which may lead to recession. In the theory of public finance, a difference is made between private finance and public finance Private finance aims at maximizing private benefits whereas public finance aims at maximizing social advantage. These examples show that what is best for individuals, may not always be the best for society.

With the advent of modernity and democracy and welfare state, a process of reconciliation between individual freedom and dignity and social obligation started. This reconciliation was made possible by adopting constitutional means and rule of law on one hand and civil right movements and civil societies’ intervention on the other hand. Some rights of the individuals were defined as non-negotiable fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and equality of opportunity. On the other hand, theory of social contract advocated giving up some individual rights for the benefit of social order.

Society is an agglomeration of individuals. The individuals, their values, their beliefs, their preferences and priorities, their actions, their culture, their mores and manners, etc. express the collective aspirations and collective will of a society. A society cannot be conceived without individuals. But the “collective” notion of society has come increasingly under pressure and in conflict with individual aspirations of freedom and personal well- being. The deviation between collective well-being and individual freedom became more prominent with evolution of individualism, capitalism and philosophies like existentialism and new concepts of justice, equality and welfare. There have been occasions, and more often than not, that individuals do not share the societal values and goals. They pursue their own self-interest rather than making sacrifices for the common good. Apparently, it seems agreeable that best for an individual may not be best for society.There are contexts in which collective action and well- being is important than individual thoughts and preferences.

Coming together should be considered something positive for people and communities. When thoughts come together, that can be more positive than an individual thought. Societies can do miracles together and if individuals and groups are divided, it saps the strength of a society for progress and change. Team India, for example is an oft used word to express the power of collective action. Collective actions make movements like “swadesi” or “Quit India Movement” during the freedom struggle, and “ChhotaParivar, SukhiParivaar” and “BetiBachao, BetiPadhao” in Independent India.

But the relationship is not so straight and simple. The society has an imprint on individuals and individuals have their bearing on society. The relationship, therefore, is both exclusive and mutual.In modern times, the dreams and aspirations of people may be believed to be articulated and expressed through democracy, but people even in democracy are not equally free and equipped to express and enjoy their freedoms as individuals. It is in fact, not the question of system, be it capitalism or socialism- but how responsive and responsible a system is towards aspirations of individuals for freedom, equality and justice that make a system good or bad. Capitalism is based on the principle of “laissez faire” and therefore, it is assumed that there is freedom of enterprise and choice, but these choices are limited by various forms of inequality. Socialism, on the other hand, is a collective or totalitarian system that does not permit creation of “billionaires” but aims at giving basic minimum needs to all the members of society through a system of government interventions, contrary to laissez faire. Thus, there are many who believe that in capitalism man exploits man while the reverse happens in socialism. No system is very conducive for freedom and dignity unless it decides to be so and remains committed to these ideals.

The above discussion leads us to some very pertinent questions. Are individuals’ interest and social interest mutually exclusively, contradictory and conflicting? Are individuals a product of a society or they influence and produce the society we have. Are individual and her/his aspirations are drawn from society or it is they who design it? These questions are not easy, nor are their answers! But there is a wide consensus among thinkers that society and individuals are bound by deep relations; individuals have their umbilical cord connected with society and society is made and unmade by its people- the values, shame and glory brought by individuals become that of society as a whole.

Individuals and societies are both- simultaneously mutually exclusive and inclusive. They are mutually exclusive with respect to freedom and creativity. Bruce Lee explains this idea succinctly thus: “Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system. They are mutually inclusive in terms of social obligation, collective responsibility and realization of shared dreams. Individuals, therefore, should be free to pursue their free will and self-interest but they should also not forget their social responsibilities and commitments. The society and state often pursue contradictory goals. What is conceived as individual’s natural or fundamental right, may be problematic for state. The former US President Thomas Jefferson recognized this conflict and said: “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”

It does not mean that individual acts are always guided by self-interest which is at loggerheads with social interest. People also stand up against social malaises and raise their voices of protests, lead movements for justice, change and progress which is in social interest in medium and long terms. But these people initially seem to be working against existing societal beliefs and interest. Notwithstanding their honest intentions, they are seen as villains in the beginning. These law breakers are eventually remembered as Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, BhimRaoAmbedkar, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, etc., because they rose against existing social norms for making the society better than they inherited.

All Individual voices for freedom, equality and justice, whether they are in consonance with society or not, are worth pursuing. People often break laws and social conventions to express their freedom or to ask for justice. About breaking the laws and conventions Martin Luther King Jr. said, “ I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.”

A society that nurtures individual freedom and creativity and creates good environment for individuals to realize their potential leads to wealth creation and empowerment of the poor, the weak and deprived. The most important institution which gives or robs freedom, equality, justice and dignity is society. The social values determine the state of human rights. State is making of society and a state is bound to act in accordance with social aspirations. A sensitive and responsible state is an expression of social values. Such a state empowers its people. The former Prime Minister of India AtalBihari Vajpayee rightly pointed out: “Empowering the individual means empowering the nation. And empowerment is best served through rapid economic growth with rapid social change.” All this is better possible through good governance and participatory democracy. The state may use various means like positive discrimination, subsidies, free education and health services, etc., to unleash the potential of vast majority and even minorities in the best interest of those individuals and nat positive ions.

Individuals can have initiative and drive for their personal growth and achievement, but they can also act as an agent of change, progress, equality and justice. An individual who is enhancing his capacity and bettering his performance is an asset for the country. A citizen who is paying taxes and complying with the rules and laws of the country is a good citizen. The capacity of an individual as positive agent of personal and social growth is immense. Producers are profit maximizers at individual levels, but they also need to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. Individual nations need to create wealth, but for the global society they need to fulfill their sustainable development commitments. Individual attitude and mindset are very important for change and progress. Malaises like corruption, slavery, civil wars, exploitation of the weaker sections can be eradicated if individuals change their attitude.

Individuals can act as agents of change and progress by being truthful, honest and courageous. This is very nicely brought out by Jack Canfie: “One individual can begin a movement that turns the tide of history. Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement, Mohandas Gandhi in India, Nelson Mandela in South Africa are examples of people standing up with courage and non-violence to bring about needed changes.” It is important what the men in a society think and do. A society becomes more livable and beautiful by the efforts of right intended and inspired men and women. Harry S Truman rightly pointed out: “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” Men thus work not only in their self interest, but also for social change and progress.

It is not possible to segregate individual from society and society from individual. They have a mutually reinforcing and complementary relationship- both regressive and positive. Crony capitalism is an example of regressive relationship between society, state and individual. Individual benevolence and an aware and law-abiding citizenry full of social commitment reflects a positive relationship. The relationship is two way - what individuals do matters to society and state and what society or state does matters to individuals. Good citizens make great nations and great nations care about freedom, equality and justice for people. Where states are responsive and sensitive and have constitutional remedies and complaint redressal system, individuals do not have discontent or grudge and they contribute in governance and efforts for growth and development. On the other hand, where citizens participate in politics, economy, and the society with democratic engagement and patriotism, the nation is bound to become strong and beautiful. To conclude we can remember Fredrick Douglas remarks: “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

Procedure of Answer Writing:

To participate in the answer writing program, Register yourself for the test. Copies will be evaluated only for the registered students. Registration will be closed after the scheduled date.

Answer Writing, Copy Evaluation, and Marks Improvement Cycle:

Step 1 (Theme, Details & Its Topics):

• Every round of Answer writing initiative will be around a theme related to the Subject/Topic.
• Please read the theme and its description, and try to cover the topics given within the theme before writing the answer along with the sources.

Step 2 (Answer Writing):

• Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at 7:00 AM.
• You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on the UPSC pattern.
• Mention your name, email id, location, and phone number on the 1st page in the top right corner and the page number on each page.
• After writing the answers, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload them in the upload section of the same question.
• Kindly submit your written answers before 7:00 PM. Only the first 100 copies will be considered for evaluation. No request for late submission or evaluation will be entertained once the 100 mark is reached.

Note: Answer sheets without the proper guidelines given above will not be accepted for evaluation.

Step 3 (Copy Evaluation): Copies will be evaluated in the next 72 hours of the test date. After evaluation, copies will be uploaded into your account. During the copy evaluation period, doubt clearing and discussion about the theme or topic of the test with respective mentors of the test will be done in the telegram group . 

Step 4 (Mentorship): Evaluated copies will be sent to you via mail and also uploaded into your account on the website. After that a mentorship session for the marks improvement with respective faculty will be conducted on the Google Meet, so that students can get a wider perspective of the topics. Here you can discuss your evaluated copies also with the faculty. Top 5 copies of every test will be shared in the telegram group for reference.

Note: Aspirants who have not written the test can also participate in the mentorship session.

For Updates and Mentorship of the session, you will be notified through SMS or Telegram Group .

Note: You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on UPSC pattern. Mention Your Name on 1st page and Page Number on each page. After writing the answer, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload in the Your Answer Copy section of the same question.

Verifying, please be patient.

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Philosophical Essay Writing by Mudit Jain, IRS is a comprehensive guide designed to help aspirants excel in the essay paper of the highly competitive UPSC Civil Services examination. With a focus on philosophy, Mudit Sir provides a step-by-step approach to crafting compelling essays, covering topics such as ethical dilemmas, social and political philosophy, metaphysics, and epistemology. Drawing upon his extensive experience and expertise, Jain offers practical tips, examples, and guidance on developing a strong thesis, structuring arguments, and connecting philosophical concepts to real-world scenarios. This book emphasizes critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication, equipping readers with the skills needed to articulate profound ideas and succeed in the civil services examination. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced candidate, "Philosophical Essay Writing" is an invaluable resource that will elevate your performance and boost your confidence in tackling the essay paper.

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HOW TO WRITE PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAY FOR UPSC?

In this article, we have covered strategy of Philosophical Essay for UPSC.

Essay writing itself is a daunting task for many aspirants. Though the one section is somewhat easy to handle, which has topics from social, political, environmental and economic aspects; but when it comes to philosophical topics, it is a herculean task to write an essay on this.

A philosophical essay for UPSC is not about flowery language, story-telling techniques, or surprising the examiner. The art of a philosophical essay is found in your orderly fashioned ideas; the language that you use is only a potent weapon for conveying these ideas to the examiner. The subtle art is in proving one’s views in a crystal clear manner.

There are various challenges which are attached to it, and how to handle the philosophical topic in ‘effective’ and ‘safely’ . We are going to discuss in our coming talks. I purposefully called ‘safely’ because the ground is so slippery, slight deviation or flow of emotion, may put you in great trouble.

Selection of topic

Any good essay will definitely have a plethora of elements and dimensions to it. For essay writing, there are obviously several basic rules that one should follow while searching for these elements and dimensions. First and foremost thing is selection of the topic , especially in philosophical one.

If you are not very well versed with a selected topic, ideas will be exhausted in 2-3 pages, and you will end in repetition of ideas. So choose that topic where you can express yourself in 10-12 pages.

Decoding the topic

Another important aspect is deciphering the topic i.e. decoding the topic . Ethics GS paper comes out as savior here helps you to outline basic points i.e. periphery of the essay and before writing the essay, it is best to outline it.

To outline an essay means to figure out what to say in the introduction/conclusion, which idea comes where, or even what quote to use for the essay etc. It is said that once we can figure out the conclusion to our essay, it becomes much easier to not only begin but finish it with confidence .

For example, in this 2019 essay topic, “ Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success ”. One must have a clear understanding of courage, dedication and success. Courage and dedication etc. are exhaustively explained in the Ethics papers, one need to use definition and attached features to it.

Defining the key terms and interlinking them with each other will open dimensions for essay. In addition to that, quotes , examples, reports and anecdotes immensely help to make philosophical essays interesting. Otherwise merely writing philosophical ideas makes essays boring.

PESTLEE dimensions Approach

Moreover various examples from the public sphere support your argument in the most effective manner. One should proceed with PESTLEE dimensions Approach (Political – Economic – Sociological – Technological – Legal – Environmental –Ethics Analysis).And one should be very-very cautions regarding his ideological leaning while discussing these dimensions. Your ideology should not be reflected in the essay, content should be written in a more rational manner.

Here, the first of such rules would be to follow and uphold Constitutional values throughout your essay . This is quite crucial for a philosophical essay that the values enshrined in our Constitution reflect in whatever idea, problem or solution we discuss in the essay. At no point should one try and support an idea that is unconstitutional, it can be extra constitutional but not unconstitutional.

Ideological leaning may do wonder if it matches with examiner ideology or thinking process, it can damage to a larger extent if it differs .So ideological balancing is indispensable. One must also be democratic while addressing issues . The concepts of ‘freedom and equality’ should be the guiding principles while suggesting solutions and while criticizing events or issues.

Generally, one should avoid taking absolutist/non-compromising positions . In fact, the best way to handle complex problems is to find the middle ground. One must also try not to make sweeping generalizations on any given issue. Instead, there should be hints of patience, justice and understanding in addressing or discussing any given topic.

Lastly, there are two more things that one needs to keep in mind while attempting the CSE essay. (A) Do not question the topic itself, which is to say, in other words, do not contradict yourself. Pick a position (ideally, the middle path) and stay true to this throughout the essay. (B) Never use positively, things that are universally considered or used in a negative sense, and vice-versa. For example , one must not say that ‘terrorism’ under certain conditions is equivalent to a freedom struggle, even though quotes like ‘one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ are quite common.

In a nutshell, it is suggested that ethics paper should be prepared comprehensively, which would help philosophical essays in terms of brainstorming. . And one must follow a ‘ cyclic return’ approach for strong introduction and conclusion .i.e. conclude ideas with introductory ideas . It is important to note that a strong finish is as important as a strong opening. Both are important for scoring better marks along with adequate amount of brainstorming .

How to Write Essay For UPSC Exam?

HOW TO WRITE ESSAY FOR UPSC ON CURRENT ISSUES?

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ESSAY STRATEGY By Anudeep Durishetty, UPSC Civil Services Exam Topper, All India Rank – 1 CSE-2017 – How to write a good Essay in UPSC Mains, Explained 

Essay strategy.

How to write a good Essay in UPSC Mains, Explained 

By Anudeep Durishetty

UPSC Civil Services Exam Topper, All India Rank – 1 CSE-2017

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. 

How and from where to prepare?  

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.  

Vocabulary   

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 Essay:    

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

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UPSC ESSAY TOPICS PHILOSOPHY ISSUES- DAY 5

Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words. (125 words)

1. The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.

अंत तब तक जरिये को औचित्य दे सकता है जब तक कि कुछ ऐसा होता है जो अंत को औचित्य देता है।

2. We suffer more in imagination than in reality.

हम वास्तविकता की तुलना में कल्पना में अधिक पीड़ित हैं।

3. If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favourable.

यदि कोई आदमी नहीं जानता कि वह कौन से बंदरगाह पर जाना चाहता है, तो कोई हवा अनुकूल नहीं है।

4. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

जब हम किसी स्थिति को बदलने में सक्षम नहीं होते हैं, तो हमें खुद को बदलने के लिए चुनौती दी जाती है।

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(Webinar) How to Tackle Philosophical and Abstract Essays in UPSC Main 2023-24? | Target 150+ score | Live with Zeeshan sir, Essay Program Head

28th June @ 7:00 pm | UPSC Philosophical and Abstract Essays made super easy by Zeeshan sir | Click below and register for the webinar

Essay writing is a crucial component of the UPSC Mains examination. This is a paper where the candidates’ expressive and analytical skills are put to the test. The topics provided in the essay paper can range from socio-economic issues to philosophical and abstract themes. Tackling such broad and diverse themes can be challenging, especially when it comes to philosophical and abstract topics.

A great UPSC essay starts with brainstormed random ideas, disjointed facts…chaos, formulated into a  ‘blueprint’.  That’s the first step before you actually start writing it.

We are delighted to announce that Zeeshan Sir, our esteemed Essay Program Head, will be conducting a comprehensive session on mastering the nuances of philosophical essays in UPSC Mains and aiming for a stellar score of 150+

Known for his profound expertise and effective teaching methods, Zeeshan Sir has been a guiding beacon for countless UPSC aspirants. His mentorship has proven instrumental in the success of over 56 UPSC 2022 rankers, who vouch for his insightful understanding of the subject matter and his ability to convey complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Why abstract and philosophical essays are a pain point for UPSC aspirants ?

• Abstract and philosophical essays are often seen as challenging due to their broad and interpretative nature.
• Unlike socio-economic topics, philosophical topics do not have a fixed set of facts or data that can be directly included in the essay.
• These essays require the candidates to demonstrate their critical thinking skills, ability to make abstract connections and articulate their thoughts coherently.

Who should attend the webinar by Zeeshan sir ?

• Aspirants preparing for the UPSC 2023-24 Mains.
• Individuals struggling with abstract and philosophical essays in the Mains.
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• Aspirants seeking guidance from an experienced and successful mentor.
• Candidates looking for effective strategies and tips to approach philosophical and abstract essays.
• Anyone who is aiming to break free from the feeling of unfulfillment and aimlessness in their preparation.
• Aspirants who are not able to decipher the pattern and ‘new ways of UPSC’.
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• In-depth understanding of how to tackle abstract and philosophical essays in the Mains.
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• Insightful tips and tactics to decode and address complex essay topics.
• Interactive Q&A session to address individual queries and concerns.
• Guidance on improving writing skills and presenting ideas effectively.
• Exposure to previous years’ essay topics and a critical analysis of the same.

Other than this Zeeshan sir will also share best practices to be followed:

• Regular writing practice: Choose diverse topics, including philosophical ones, for regular practice.
• Read widely: Broaden your understanding and perspective by reading widely, including philosophy, sociology, psychology, current affairs, etc.
• Brainstorming: For every topic, spend some time brainstorming different ideas, views, and arguments before starting to write.
• Outline your essay: Always create an outline to ensure your essay is structured and coherent.
• Choose your essay topic wisely: Your understanding of the topic and comfort level should determine your choice.
• Time management: Allocate sufficient time for understanding the topic, brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, writing the essay, and reviewing it.
• Maintain a balanced view: If the topic is debatable, present both sides of the argument before taking a stand.
• Use effective language: Avoid grammatical and spelling errors.
• Ensure flow and coherence: The essay should be logically structured, and each paragraph should flow

Details  

This session will be held in online mode.

Date:  28th June 2023 (Wednesday)

Time:  7 pm Onwards

Zoom Meeting Link will be sent via your registered email address.

Post-Webinar CivilsDaily’s UPSC Essay and Mentorship session

Post webinar we will share an Essay Framework PDF.

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The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 6th July 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Spiritual Orientation, Religious Practices and Courts

Why in news.

The article discusses a controversial Madras High Court ruling allowing the religious practice of angapradakshinam, highlighting debates on religious freedoms, judicial consistency, and constitutional principles in India’s legal landscape.

Subjective Nature of Religion :

• Chief Justice Lathman of Australia (1943) highlighted that what one person considers religion may be viewed as superstition by another, emphasizing the subjective nature of religious beliefs.

Religion's Central Role in Society :

• Religion has always been a crucial part of human societies.
• Currently, India is experiencing a notable rise in religiosity alongside a decline in spirituality.

Judicial Order on Angapradakshinam :

• Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court made a significant and controversial ruling in P. Navin Kumar (2024).
• The ruling allowed the religious practice of angapradakshinam, which involves devotees rolling over banana leaves used by followers of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendral in Tamil Nadu.
• This decision overturned a previous order from 2015 by Justice S. Manikumar.

Previous Legal Controversy :

• In 2015, objections were raised regarding caste discrimination, alleging that Dalits and non-Brahmins were rolling over leftover plantain leaves.
• Justice Manikumar's decision was influenced by a Supreme Court order that stayed a similar ritual in Karnataka, which primarily involved Dalits.

Revival of Debates on Religion and Essential Practices :

• Justice Swaminathan’s recent order has rekindled debates on defining religion, determining essential religious practices, and maintaining judicial consistency.
• He justified his decision by referencing Article 25 (freedom of religion), Article 21 (right to privacy), and Article 19(1)(d) (freedom of movement) of the Indian Constitution, asserting the petitioner’s rights.

Legal and Philosophical Considerations :

• The Indian Constitution places religious freedoms below other fundamental rights and permits state intervention for public order, health, and morality, emphasizing 'essential religious practices.'
• Only a small number of cases have successfully claimed protection under 'essential religious practices,' prompting critical evaluation of Justice Swaminathan’s ruling.

Criticism and Constitutional Challenges :

• Concerns were raised about the hygiene and health hazards of angapradakshinam, questioning its compatibility with the right to privacy in a public event.
• Justice Swaminathan defended privacy rights, comparing spiritual orientation to sexual and gender orientations, arguing for individual expression within legal boundaries.

Supreme Court Precedents and Religious Freedoms :

• The landmark case of Sri Shirur Mutt (1954) established that Article 25 protects outward acts of religious belief, using religious doctrines to define essential practices.
• Subsequent interpretations have varied, sometimes diverging from religious texts to judicial reasoning, as seen in The Durgah Committee, Ajmer (1961) and other cases.

Controversial Applications of the 'Essentiality Test' :

• Cases like Gramsabha of Village Battis Shirala (2014) and Mohammed Fasi (1985) show varied judicial approaches, using specific religious texts, empirical evidence, and community practices.
• In Gramsabha of Village Battis Shirala (2014), the court addressed a sect’s claim that capturing and worshipping a live cobra during Nagpanchami was an essential religious practice. The court ruled against it, citing the lack of specific mention in relevant religious texts.
• In Mohammed Fasi (1985), a Muslim policeman challenged a ban on growing a beard in Kerala. The court rejected the claim, citing the lack of a mandatory requirement in the Quran.
• The evolving nature of essential religious practices has led to inconsistencies, as illustrated in cases like Acharya Jagdishwarananda Avadhuta (2004) and M. Ismail Faruqui (1995).

Essentiality Test :

• The "essentiality test" is a judicial criterion used to determine whether a religious practice qualifies for legal protection under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
• It requires practices to be integral to the religion, as defined by its doctrines and beliefs, rather than being mere superstitious or cultural accretions.
• This test aims to balance religious freedoms with public order, health, and morality concerns, ensuring alignment with constitutional principles in India’s secular legal framework.

Constitutional Supremacy and Religious Governance :

• The Constitution of India is upheld as paramount, guiding the extent of religious freedoms granted, ensuring alignment with constitutional ethos and values.
• Judicial prudence necessitates cautious adjudication on theological matters, emphasizing constitutional principles over theological interpretations.

Conclusion :

• Balancing religious freedoms with societal interests and constitutional values remains a critical challenge for the Indian judiciary.
• The debate sparked by Justice Swaminathan’s ruling underscores the ongoing evolution and complexity in defining and protecting essential religious practices within a secular constitutional framework.

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