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How to Write an Essay for UPSC

Check the best approach to be followed in essay writing for civil services examination 2023 along with the highly recommended books on this page .

The UPSC Mains exam comprises a total of nine papers which includes essay writing for civil services examination as well. In broader terms, the essay paper in UPSC mains is divided into two sections i.e. section A & section B.

Each section also comprises four UPSC essay topics with a maximum mark of 125 each. Out of these, candidates need to choose one topic from each of the sections and write two UPSC essay papers in about 1000-1200 words each.

Thus, it is important for the aspirants to use the best strategy and practice essay writing for civil services examination thoroughly to maximize their score in the UPSC essay test .

In this blog, we have shared the useful steps to write the essay for the IAS exam including the books, past year IAS essay test topics, and everything that an aspirant must know about UPSC essay writing .

UPSC Essay Writing for Civil Services Examination 2023- Highlights

Some of the major highlights of the essay writing for the civil services exam 2023 are shared below:

  • Number of UPSC essay topics : 2
  • Maximum Marks: 250 marks (125 each).
  • Exam Duration: 3 hours
  • Word Limit: 1000-1200 words each

6 Easy Steps on Essay Writing for Civil Services Examination

IAS aspirants should formulate a strategy that aligns with the exam requirements in order to excel in the UPSC essay papers . Hence, we have shared the top six easy steps to be followed in the UPSC essay writing in order to excel in the upcoming IAS CSE 2023 exam .

Pick the UPSC Essay Topic Carefully

The first and foremost strategy of every aspirant is that they should finalize the topic only after reading all the topics carefully. This will also help them to collect sufficient points to write about the UPSC essay topics .

One should go through all the topics carefully in order to avoid switching topics in between as it would lead to a waste of time and unnecessary stress. Hence, it is advisable to read the topics 2-3 times and think about the IAS essay topics carefully.

Recall Important Points

After finalizing the topic, do not rush to write the essay immediately and think about the same for at least 30 minutes. Anyone who commences writing immediately without thinking twice may forget important pointers to be included in the UPSC essay papers .

Hence, it is advised to utilize the first 20-30 minutes to think carefully about the topic, correlate the topic with current events, talk about historical/past events, and jot down all the important points in the sheet.

Moreover, they must also arrange all the points in the proper sequence in order to excel in essay writing for civil services examination .

Formatting of the Essay

The next strategy of the aspirant is that they should follow a proper format in the UPSC essay writing papers. Once they have recalled and noted all the important pointers, the next step is to format it well as elaborated below:

  • Introduction
  • Background of Topic
  • Main Theory
  • Correlation with the latest event
  • Positive and Negative Sides
  • Recommend Changes

Use the Quotes Correctly

To excel in essay writing for civil services examination, candidates must jot down inspiring sentences, and quotations whenever they come across them.

However, it is advised to learn the quotes correctly with the name of the individual who has quoted them. Also, if they are unsure about the quote then they must skip it instead of writing the incorrect one.

Focus on the UPSC Essay Topics

Candidate should be clear with theessay topics for effective essay writing for civil services examination. This approach will allow them to stick around the topic and write relevant content in the essay UPSC test.

With this, they should ensure that they do not criticize any individual or government or mention anything in an offensive way in their UPSC essay writing which is not recommended.

Read More and More

Essay writing for civil services examination requires regular reading of a variety of topics and reference books recommended by mentors/friends/previous toppers.

Thus, the candidates must read the editorial section of the newspaper, and current affairs magazines every day. Moreover, they should watch discussions/debates, and solve previous question papers UPSC essay topics regularly.

Reading books and newspapers will enhance their vocabulary skills, and provide them with all the latest updates and a variety of ideas for using appropriate language in their IAS essay writing.

Best Books and Resources for UPSC Essay Writing

Along with the best preparation strategy, aspirants should also pick expert-recommended books to cover all types of essay topics for the exam. Here, we have compiled the best books and resources that would be helpful in practicing essay writing for civil services examination :

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

Previous Year Essay Topics for Civil Services Examination

Candidates should check the previous year’s essay topics for the UPSC exam to understand the UPSC IAS syllabus 2023 in a better manner. Hence, it is advisable to practice essay writing on the past year’s topics to determine the level of their preparation.

Thus, we have shared below the last five years’ IAS essay topics to smoothen the preparation of the aspirants.

Frequency Asked Questions (FAQ) 

Q1. How can I write a good essay for UPSC?

Ans. To write a good essay for UPSC, candidates must read the editorial section of the newspaper, and current affairs magazines on a daily basis. With this, they should watch discussions/debates, and solve previous question papers UPSC essay topics regularly.

Q2. What kind of essays are asked in UPSC?

Ans. Going by the trend analysis, most of the UPSC essay topics are related to Indian Democracy and Bureaucracy, Administration, Poverty, Economic Growth, Politics, Judiciary, Education, Indian Culture, Science & Tech, etc.

Q3. How to write introduction for UPSC essay?

Ans. You can start writing the introduction for the IAS essay with a powerful quote and then elaborate on the quote in the rest of the introduction by explaining its relation to the topic.

Q4. Who got highest marks in UPSC essay?

Ans. In 2014, Ira Singhal scored 160 marks on the UPSC essay papers.

Q5. Which is the toughest optional subject in UPSC?

Ans. Geography is considered one of the toughest optional subjects in the UPSC civil services examination.

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UPSC essay paper

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

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

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

Do not worry, we have you covered!

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

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

Right Knowledge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avoid Unnecessary Jargon

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

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

Keep up the Good Vocabulary

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

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

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

Create Intelligent and Worldly-Wise Subheadings

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

Keep your Paragraphs Coherent to Each Other

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Introduction Should Ideally be a Relatable Quote or an Event

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

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

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

Let’s Take the Same topic as above

  • Starting with a definition

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

  • Starting with an interesting fictional event/ story

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

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

Create Your Essay’s Content as per the Topic

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

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

Back-up Your Arguments with Substantial Reasons

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

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

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

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

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

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

Write a Powerful Conclusion

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

Important Topics for UPSC CSE Essay Syllabus

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion:

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

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Very nicely guided

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

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

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UPSC Essay Topics - Important Essay Topics for UPSC Mains 2023

By vajiram & ravi.

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

UPSC Essay Paper

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

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

Weekly UPSC Essay Topics By Vajiram & Ravi

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

Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2023

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

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Art and Culture

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Education

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Polity and Governance

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Economy

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Social Issues

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

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

Previous Year UPSC Essay Topics

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

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

Tips to Excel in UPSC Essay Paper

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

FAQs on UPSC Essay Topics

What are the important UPSC Essay Topics?

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

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

How do I Prepare for the UPSC Essay?

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

Which is the best source to practise UPSC Essay Topics?

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

© 2024 Vajiram & Ravi. All rights reserved

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Best Essay Classes for UPSC

Essay classes 2023 in delhi, under the guidance of mridul purohit.

Once online seats full – admission link will be deactivated automatically 

  • Starts from - 9th Oct ( Recorded Course + Mridul Sir's Mentorship )

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  • 2 - 3 classes
  • Time Commitment
  • 5-6 hours per week
  • Recorded Videos
  • Android App only
  • Total Lectures
  • No. of Tests
  • Practice Tests
  • Thematic Coverage of Important Essay Topics
  • Essay Booklet with Previous Years Model Essays

Some of Sir’s students like Bhuvnesh Devidas Patil (IAS, Rank 59) ; Shrenik Lodha (IPS, Rank 133); Arvind Sukumar (IPS, Rank 185); H.S Bhavna (IRTS); Prayas Kaushik (IIS); Amit Sunal (IRS); Mridul Singh (IAS); B. Rahul (IAS); Mayank Sharma (HAS, Rank 2) have made it to the Service and are doing great work in their respective field as an Ethical Civil Servant.

What you'll learn

1. Discussion on art and nuances of Essay writing. Essay paper is a low-hanging fruit as you just have to package the content you have in a presentable manner. But this entails a creativity quotient and skills to write an above-average essay.

2. Understanding the basics of the Essay writing without which it becomes difficult to score good marks in essay paper. How to connect one paragraph to another , what should be the flow in the essay , how many dimensions to discuss to score good marks. All this will be discussed in classes.

3. Learning of various approaches to Essay writing in general and Introduction and Conclusion in particular. It is well known that many times students can write content for MAIN BODY of the essay , but when it comes to Introduction and Conclusion of Essay they can’t do justice with it.

4. Essay writing is an art and so by the very definition can be learnt by practicing it correctly. During classes there would be brainstorming sessions on the previous years topics of UPSC Essay paper. This would help you learn how to unfold an essay topic.

5. Most importantly, stress to be given to PHILOSOPHICAL topics which are becoming the darling of UPSC in recent times. It is here that normal candidates are lacking to express themselves. After the classes you must be able to deal with philosophical topics confidently.

3. Learning of various approaches to Essay writing in general and INtroduction and Conclusion in particular. It is well known that many times students can write content for MAIN BODY of the essay , but when it comes to Introduction and Conclusion of Essay they can’t do justice with it.

4. Essay writing is an art and so by the very definition can be learnt by practicing it correctly. During classes there would be brainstorming sessions on the previous years topics of UPSC Essay paper.vThis would help you learn how to unfold an essay topic. 5. Most importantly, stress to be given to PHILOSOPHICAL topics which are becoming the darling of UPSC in recent times. It is here that normal candidates are lacking to express themselves. After the classes you must be able to deal with philosophical topics confidently.

Best Faculty for Essay 2023

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Mridul Purohit

Mridul Sir is one of the best UPSC CSE faculty, guiding Civil Services aspirants since 2016 and have laid the foundation of Chrome IAS to make the journey of Civil Service Aspirants a successful endeavour.

Enroll now.

Any queries we will call you, important elements of an essay.

Essay writing is an art and so by the very definition can be learnt by practicing it correctly.

Truth be told, there is not a single and specific way to write an essay and for that matter GS answers too, what is more, important is to have an approach and keeping oneself open to ideas and creativity.

We strictly ask you not to have any mental block about Essay’s; do not mug up anything, as said by  Edgar Rice Burroughs: “I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly”.

The final and often unstated rule of good writing is Practice, practice and practice. Practicing one’s craft is how one internalizes and perfects it. So it would suffice to end with relevant thought: “Hard Work beats the Talent when Talent doesn’t Work Hard”.

Centripetal

Frequently Asked Question

Writing essays enquires 4 things:

  • Content knowledge and writing to the demands of the topic
  • Presentation skills-Organizing and structuring
  • Introducing rich and novel
  • A good analytical component where a candidate demonstrates good understating and appreciation of issues involved.

You will be taught how to manage on all the above aspects. Essays writing requires ability of divergent and convergent thinking. You will be taught to understand topics and develop your essays by appreciating the scope of the topic.

You will be shown how you may write using different techniques to elaborate an develop your content.

The sessions are designed to be very interactive and engaging and you will be encouraged to ask your doubts in the live sessions.

All live classes in Essay module will be handled by Mridul Sir. There will be certain recorded session that may be delivered by other teachers.

Though most of the doubts would be addressed during the classes itself, if at all there are valid queries we would try to connect you with mentors, if required.

This course consist of 12– 13 sessions which includes 25+hrs. You all will be expected to attend the live lectures by Mridul sir and then recording would be provided to you via App ( generally takes 24-48 hours because of lockdown may take little longer).

Once the admissions closes, we would be updating instruction to access the videos. Students are advised to check below link for the course related updates:  https://chromeias.com/essay-classes-by-mridul-sir/   

You will be suitably notified with e-mails, SMSs and announcements as and when necessary.

Yes, for live classes you will have to download an App – we would let you know in a day or two – as we are considering different dimensions for smooth streaming, interface, user experience and other operational issues.

Yes, you can view the recorded lectures but there is a limitation. The videos can be viewed for 2-3 times only. This is in addition to the Live Lecture. Watching one video 3-4 times would be sufficient to understand the nuances and the content.

As per current trend – abstract and philosophical topics are appearing in the  Essay paper – so Sir would be taking up these as well. There is specific technique in writing and organizing such essays and you will be guided on applying those.

yes all the live sessions will be made available in recorded form within one or two days of the live session. So if you miss something then you can always depend for a recorded lecture. But I personally encourage you to view the live sessions and be part of the live interactive discussions too for your own benefit.

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Ethics and Essay Strategy- Saumya Sharma Rank 9, 111 in Ethics and 160 in Essay

Ethics and essay strategy.

Saumya Sharma Rank 9

Marks -111 in Ethics and 160 in Essay

Hello everyone! This post is going to cover my strategy for the ethics and essay papers. I have secured 160 marks in the essay, and 111 marks in ethics. I hope this post helps you.

The ethics and essay papers should be given equal respect as the other general studies papers. Putting in a little extra effort towards these papers has the potential of doing wonders to your overall result. These two papers are where you are given considerable leeway in expressing yourself. If prepared well, they can definitely become an important factor in securing a good rank.

saumya sharma IAS rank 9, law optional strategy

GS4 Ethics preparation:

  • 2 nd ARC Report on Ethics in Governance- This report should be read thoroughly as it helps considerably with GS2 as well.
  • Vaji Ram’s yellow book on Ethics- It covers the syllabus sufficiently.
  • I followed DK Balaji Sir’s strategy given on insightsonindia. Accordingly, I made my own 1-2 page long notes on every keyword given in the syllabus. I wrote about the meaning of that particular value as I understood it. I also added examples from the news, from history and from my own life to enrich my understanding of the values.
  • Youtube videos- many channels such as The School of Life have short, informative videos on thinkers. If you are unable to fully grasp any concept of ethics, I would highly recommend watching videos to understand the topic.
  • The Difficulty of Being Good by Gurcharan Das- it can be read if you have sufficient time with you. It explains certain concepts in a way that will remain with you long after you have read the book and answered your GS4 exam.

Preparation:

I first finished the syllabus by referring to the above sources. Then, I joined a test series specifically for ethics.  The reason for joining a separate ethics test series was that I considered ethics to be one of my strong points and I wanted to make it stronger. Joining a test series also ensured that I covered the entire syllabus in a thorough manner.

In addition to the feedback received from the test series, I used to discuss current events involving ethical behavior (or the lack of it) with my mother, and sometimes with one of my close friends. Those discussions helped immensely, as I was able to formulate a more balanced viewpoint on various issues. I would recommend candidates to discuss and debate issues on which you are unable to take a stand with your peers. It will help you appreciate opposing or varying viewpoints and come to a more rounded conclusion.

Writing answers :

  • It is advisable to attempt the case studies first in the GS4 paper. Better solutions can be thought of with a fresh mind. For attempting the paper, time yourself. I had divided my time as follows: 1 hour 45 minutes for the case studies, and 1 hour 15 minutes for the other questions.
  • Your solutions to the case studies should be something that you as a future bureaucrat can actually execute and implement. Their practicality is as important as their being ethically correct. In addition to being ethically correct, your solutions should be legally correct. They should be in accordance with the ethos of our constitution.
  • Your answer should reflect clarity of thought. It makes it easier for even the examiner to read a solution that is logical and clear. While giving solutions, try giving innovative solutions suited to the case scenario. Multiple courses of action should be given where asked. Give reasoning to support the course of action you finally choose to take. You can also eliminate certain course of actions by providing reasons for the elimination.
  • Do not begin your answer by giving a drastic solution to the problem. If you must take some extreme measures, they should be given as a matter of last resort, and never in the first instance. A course of action that gradually gets stricter is better than something that is sudden and drastic.
  • Further, your solutions to the case study must reflect that you have actually understood the root cause of the problem. For example, suppose there is failure in the PDS machinery of a district. People are protesting, and have disrupted railway lines, road traffic and are burning buses. Other citizens are suffering terribly because of this, and it is upon you to control the chaos.

In answering this, you should tackle the situation by taking care of the citizens suffering due to the protests. But, you must not forget that the reason the protests are happening is the failure of the PDS machinery. Any solution that does not address the issue of the faulty PDS will be a superficial solution.  Don’t get so overwhelmed with the tragic outcomes (in this case, the violent protests) that you fail to address the root cause itself.

  • In writing your ethics answers, a certain conviction must be palpable. If you believe in what you are writing, it will be evident. It also makes it easier to answer ethics questions when you truly believe in something. However, make sure that your beliefs are suited for an upright civil servant of independent India, in accordance with our constitutional values of equality, liberty and fraternity.
  • You may make diagrams/ flow charts in your answers. However, I did not. I did not make any flow charts or diagrams even in my GS3 final exam (courtesy my sickness which prevented me from revising), and yet managed to score decent marks. I therefore believe that making diagrams or flow charts is not an important requirement for scoring good marks as long as your content is there.

That’s all for ethics. Hope it helps. Now, coming to the essay preparation.

Essay strategy:

Essay paper was the one paper I was most excited to write. I must admit- I was initially taking the essay paper quite lightly. I wrote my first essay at home, and asked my mother to read it.  My essay was not received well at all. This much needed wake-up call shocked me out of my complacency. The mistake I had made was that I had written my essay in a manner that was extremely straightforward and quite imbalanced. It also was quite heavy on the legal points, which made it not so pleasant for a non-lawyer to read.

To channel my preparation better, I joined a test series for essay preparation. Practicing essay writing helped a lot and I could see the improvement myself. Here are the things that I learned:

  • Essay is the one paper where you can truly demonstrate your values, beliefs and thoughts to the examiner. So use that opportunity wisely. Your essay should have some emotion in it. It helps immensely if you are able to make the reader connect with your essay. This can be achieved by writing a couple of relatable sentences, or giving simple examples that most can relate to.

Further, having a well-informed opinion on issues helps a lot. Just like in ethics, if you strongly believe in something it will be evident in your writing. In both my essays that I wrote (on agriculture and women), I wrote with a strong conviction in my views.

  • Choose a topic that you are most comfortable with. Do not avoid writing on a topic simply because you think everyone else would be writing on that topic too.

Before you start writing, spend a minimum of 10 minutes per essay for brainstorming ideas. Think of all possible dimensions to the topic, and jot down the points in the rough space. Make a rough structure before you start writing. The structure you make must be kept flexible to accommodate any fresh points that come to your mind while writing the essay. Don’t make a very detailed structure in the rough space, as that will just end up taking a lot of precious time. Rather, spend time in expanding your points in the actual essay.

  • Format : It can be the SPECLIH format (as suggested by Chandramohan Garg Sir ) or past-present-future format. It can be any other format of your liking too. Pick a format that suits the topic and helps you write a cogent essay.
  • Introduction: The introduction of the essay should be something which builds the interest of the reader. You can start with a quote, an anecdote, or an ironical statement. Anything that captures the essence of what you’re going to write ahead can be written.

However, do not write a quote just because it will make your essay look good. Quotes should be written only when they have some rational connection with the content. Quotes can also be inserted in the middle of the essay, to further strengthen an argument. Also, if you have started the first essay with a quote, then it is better to start the second essay with something other than a quote. The idea is to not make your two essays seem monotonous in style.

  • Content: The content should have a flow to it. The content for the essay will come naturally to you from GS prep. Reading editorials also helps, as you will learn how to make convincing arguments.

Always give both sides of the argument, as it makes your essay balanced. It is better to write about the positives first and then talk about the criticisms. But once you have given both sides of the argument, do take a stand. Do not give the impression that you don’t have your own informed opinion on the issue. Back your opinion with facts, reports etc.

  • Optional bias : Most of us will be better placed to write points relating to our optional subject in the essay. But do not let your optional subject knowledge overpower your essay. Use that knowledge judiciously.

A special advice for law background students- do get your essay checked by a non-lawyer, as they will be able to tell you better if your essay is too technical/straightforward.

  • Language – Use simple language. Avoid flowery sentences. Your essay should be easy to read in an uninterrupted flow. Do not make it hard for the examiner by writing complicated sentences.  
  • Conclusion – After you have written your points in the essay, conclude in a forward looking and positive way. The conclusion should be optimistic. The conclusion must also logically flow from the main content. It should not seem that the conclusion is something that you can copy-paste in any essay.

That’s all. There is a lot of scope to maximize your overall mains marks on the basis of essay and ethics paper. Seize this opportunity well. Good luck to all of you!

Here is a link to a photo essay on my UPSC journey (hope this motivates) https://saumya711.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/the-upsc-journey-a-photo-essay/

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Importance of Solving Previous Years Question Papers for IAS Exam Preparation

If you do not have the correct idea about the battlefield, you cannot win the battle. Similarly, for cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination, you need to know the pattern of questions asked in the examination. Thus, you need to solve previous years’ question papers. The Civil services examination is considered to be one of the toughest examinations in the country to crack. So, to succeed in such an exam, both are needed – a sound strategy and its implementation.

Thus all those who want to make their dreams come true must practise previous years’ questions. This gives a better idea of the pattern of the exam. Remember your aim to crack the exam and not just gaining knowledge. So, you have to be good at solving questions to have good scores in the IAS Exam .

Why solve Previous Year UPSC Question papers?

The most authentic source of information for the pattern of questions asked in prelims and mains exam are the previous years’ question papers. When you solve these papers, you get the idea about what kind of question are asked from different topics, which areas are more important, whether questions are more from static part or dynamic part, etc.

You can get started with solving UPSC Previous Year’s Question Paper by clicking on the link given.

The best reliable source of practice for UPSC exam

You must have heard-” Practice makes a man perfect”. But you need to practise in a proper way too. The Civil services examination Previous Year Question Papers are also important from the practical viewpoint. You get to know the speed you need to keep in prelims as well as mains exam. You learn time management techniques and come up with the best techniques for yourself. By solving these papers, you also realize that there are many questions which are common in sample papers. So, you understand what not to ignore.

Apart from all these benefits, solving papers also helps you in revising the topics. When you are done with your preparation, you can solve these questions. You can evaluate your own performance and work on your shortcomings. Many of the questions- moulded or rephrased- repeatedly asked in the exams. Just try to read the questions carefully in your exam and you will see how helpful it has been.

Self-evaluation is a very important part of the preparation and you should gauge your understanding of the concepts you are studying for the examination. So, go ahead and solve sample papers and Civil Service Examination – both prelims and main- previous year question papers if you really want to crack the   Civil Service Exam .

Trends in UPSC Exam papers

If you observe the pattern of question papers, you will realize that the level of difficulty varies from year to year in the exam. You get the overall idea about the difficulty level and you can prepare accordingly. For General Studies papers, this is very important as the questions are based on general knowledge and current affairs of national and international importance. Based on the topics that are common in the previous few year question papers, candidates are able to predict the trending topics which will be covered within the IAS examination, particularly in the  UPSC Mains General Studies Paper- I .

Solving previous years’ question papers gives you the idea of your level of preparation. Self-assessment is a vital part of UPSC preparation. When you do mistakes, you learn from them. This helps you in determining what strategy you should follow in continuing the preparation and identifying strengths and weaknesses.

To know what topics will be asked for the Prelims and the Mains, visit the UPSC Syllabus page . You can find more topics and other UPSC-related preparation materials with the links given in the table below:

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How to conquer GS in UPSC Mains, Explained

Note: My book,  Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is now available both in paperback and e-book versions. It’s a comprehensive guide that helps you write better Essays and Answers in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here .

In this article, I elaborate on my preparation strategy for UPSC Civil Services Exam (Mains) exam, particularly General Studies (GS).

With 1000 marks spanning across four papers in Mains, GS feels like one giant, insurmountable mountain. The point of this article is to convince you that those fears are unfounded.

I’ve written this post assuming someone who had already read the foundational books for GS Prelims. If you haven’t read them as yet, you should first read my post on GS Prelims . At the end of this article, I embedded download links to my complete GS notes and answer copies. There I had marked two particular answer booklets that accurately represent my writing style in Mains. I hope aspirants who are struggling with answer writing find them useful. I had also written previously about the  Essay preparation and Essay writing.

essay upsc quora

As you start reading the books I mention here for GS mains, please keep the following points in mind:

  • Along with these books, get a printout of the syllabus and read it carefully. Your final aim must be: for each topic mentioned in the syllabus, you should have enough content to write a 250-word answer.
  • Go through the past five years’ question papers to understand the breadth and depth of questions UPSC usually asks. It’ll give you a good perspective of what’s important and what’s not.
  • Use the internet extensively, especially for topics like Science and Tech. Your target must be to gain knowledge, be it through books or through the internet.
  • For all subjects, you have to superimpose current affairs over it, especially for GS-2 and GS-3. For both these papers, current affairs form the nucleus. You will inevitably do a lot of reading on the internet, so use Evernote   to organise and highlight content like this .
  • Give adequate time for revision. Without it, you will not be able to recollect whatever you may have read. So please dedicate enough time to it, whether you are giving a mock test or the actual exam.
  • Many aspirants commit one fundamental mistake: they read and revise, over and over, but never practise. Remember that the examiner checking your copy will have no idea about the number of books you’ve read or the number of hours you’ve slogged. Your answers are all that he has to judge you. So it makes sense to learn it, practise it and perfect it.
  • Mains exam demands not only our memory and intelligence but also endurance. If you lack prior practice, writing relentlessly for 6 hours a day and do this for 5 days will cause both mental and physical fatigue. The only way to overcome it is to practice enough before the final exam.
  • General Studies demands only a peripheral understanding of an expansive set of topics. So it’s important that you try to gain minimum sufficient knowledge over a diverse set of subjects rather than obsessively focussing on one topic. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to read World History for three months at the expense of all other subjects. Always maintain that fine balance between all the topics and don’t get imprisoned in one.
  • In GS, there will be very few questions where you will have absolutely no clue. Even if you only have a vague idea, write those generic points. For instance, in last year’s GS-1 paper, for the question on Malay peninsula, I knew no specific fact except a vague idea that Singapore had a partition story similar to India. So I just wrote a generic answer comprising of problems such as ethnic strife, insurgency, and economic collapse. The examiner checking my copy might have given 2-3 marks for it, which I am sure any aspirant would gladly take.
  • You must develop the skill to speed read a committee or an organisation’s report on your computer (reading online saves you a lot of time) and highlight important lines as you read along. In the second reading, this highlighted portion is what you need to revise. It should look something like this .
  • In GS papers, map of India is your most effective tool for illustration. For example, I drew India maps and labelled relevant parts for questions on river linkage (GS-3), North-East insurgency (GS-3), Inland navigation (GS-1), India’s 18th-century fragmented polity (GS-1) etc. Practise it enough so that you are able to draw and label it under 60 seconds.
  • If you are taking a test series, please give those tests with all the seriousness of the final UPSC exam. In the mock test, if you take 10-15 additional minutes to finish the paper, you are cheating no one except yourself. Observe strict time limits.
  • You will never feel content with your Mains preparation and there is always a nagging tendency to just keep reading and procrastinate writing answers or skip an upcoming test. You have to overcome this reluctance through conscious effort. Suppose before a mock test if you were unable to finish the syllabus, you can postpone your test by a day or two, but don’t skip it altogether.
  • Perfectionism is your enemy. If you keep referring to countless sources to make that “perfect notes”, if you keep postponing your mock tests in order to write “perfect tests”, this mentality will bring you to ruin. Getting a good score in Mains is about attempting all questions to which some answers are excellent, some good and many above average. So instead of waiting for that elusive perfection, start imperfect and then keep improving.
  • When you are buying coaching material, always ask yourself: “what new is this material adding to my preparation?” If you can’t answer that question convincingly, then the material probably isn’t really useful.
  • Just because I am AIR-1, it does not mean that my notes are the best or that this book list is the last word. If you have been studying some other material, that’s fine, too. To succeed in this exam, the source of material is not important. What’s important is you to understand the concepts, memorise the facts well and have a firm grip over the entire syllabus.

essay upsc quora

Stiffer the climb, better the view.

The list of books for GS Mains:

Indian Art and Culture

  • An Introduction to Indian Art – Class XI NCERT
  • Chapters related to culture in Ancient and Medieval India NCERTs
  • Centre for Cultural Resource and Training (CCRT) material
  • Heritage Crafts: Living Craft Traditions of India -NCERT
  • For someone who is starting just now, this topic can overwhelm them. So I suggest beginners read this section after they get acquainted with other GS topics.
  • In Art and Culture, questions asked by UPSC in recent years are more analytical— which requires both the factual content and good analysis to answer the why and how. You can answer such questions well only when you understand the historical background in which such art was produced. This is why it’s important that you read NCERT XI Ancient India for it gives you that historical context.
  • For instance, don’t just memorise features of say, Sangam literature or Chola architecture, but understand the social, political, religious and economic context in which such grand art was produced. They will form the analysis part and will help you write great answers.
  • Make good use of the internet to watch both visual and performing arts to understand how they actually look in real life. You will be able to recollect such visuals more easily. They will help you write a decent answer for questions which you only have a vague idea about.
  • Wherever relevant, draw diagrams to illustrate your answers. For instance, you can draw a rough sketch to show the features of a Stupa, Dravida, and Nagara style architecture, Paleolithic art, Folk arts such as Warli, Harappan pottery etc. You don’t need to be a Michelangelo for this, but you must ensure that the fundamentals are correct. For example, in Warli art, human bodies are represented by triangles, heads by circles and hands by simple lines. Just get these basics right. Link to download diagrams is given at the end of the article.
  • Art and Culture requires a ton of memorisation and there’s really no shortcut to mastering it except through multiple revisions.

Modern Indian History

  • A Brief History of Modern India- Spectrum Publications
  • India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra (Read selectively for topics not covered in the Spectrum book)
  • Questions on Indian history are something that every serious aspirant will answer well, so you really cannot afford to let go of these questions. If you had done your prelims preparation for this topic well, that is good enough. You just need to practise answer writing.

India’s Post Independence History

  • India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra
  • For certain topics, I made notes from this book. Download link is given at the end.

World History

  • I prepared entirely for this topic from this outstanding book called World History: Patterns of Interaction by McDougal Littell. For UPSC, read from Chapter 22 to Chapter 36: You can download the book from this link: Download
  • Since revising this big book before the exam was difficult, I prepared concise notes from it. I also practised maps to demonstrate major world historical events.
  • Link to download my notes and maps is given at the end of the article.
  • The study plan is the same as for prelims, which I’ve explained here.
  • Indian Society
  • This is a generic, nebulous topic with no style or structure. Questions are sometimes vague, philosophical and the challenge we face is not so much in lack of content as in presenting it concisely in 200 odd words. To understand the basics, read NCERT Sociology Std XI and XII. Make concise notes on each topic that includes: a crisp definition, latest statistics, govt schemes, criticism of these schemes; causes of issues such as communalism and regionalism, historical and current examples, their impact on our society, and your suggestions as the way ahead. (you can get these suggestions from the internet or ARC 2 or some committee report). In case if you find good coaching material for these topics, that’ll do as well.
  • For this topic, a generic answer with proper structure and subheadings that cover multiple dimensions is good enough to fetch you marks. You can find my notes at the end of the article.

Polity, Governance and Social Justice

Static Portion:

  • Polity Notes (this will provide analytical content. Download link is given at the end of the article)
  • ARC 2 (One of the best reports ever written for the government. It’s been more than ten years since the reports were published, but the content is still priceless. Read complete reports, memorise only recommendations)

Current Affairs:

  • The Big Picture on RSTV
  • CivilsDaily current affairs material
  • I also referred to Insights/ForumIAS current affairs material for topics not covered well by CivilsDaily
  • PRS India for latest legislation
  • All India Radio – Spotlight (used to listen during my commute to the office)
  • Open your answers with Constitutional articles. Question on Governor? Art 153 must be there in the first line. Question on Civil Services? Art 312 is where you begin. If there’s a technical term like ‘Parliamentary Sovereignty’, ‘Political democracy’ or ‘Social Audit’ — define them in your introduction telling the examiner what you understand by those terms.
  • Supreme Court judgements are very important. Make a list of important judgements (both historical and current) and quote them to substantiate your answer. For example, when you are answering a question on Free speech, quoting SC judgement in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India case will add tremendous value to your answers.
  • For a debatable topic, always write both sides of the issue even if not explicitly asked in the question. Example: A question might ask:  Do you agree that Civil Services is in need of drastic reforms? For this, explain under a subheading why drastic reforms are needed. And in the next paragraph, counter by saying why drastic reforms are harmful. In the end, you can add the view of ARC 2/Hota/Surendranath committee to convey your view and end on a balanced note.
  • For miscellaneous topics like the comparison of Constitutions, RPA Act, SHG, e-Governance etc refer to any good coaching material to have 200-word worth content. Source latest examples and issues from newspapers and quote them in your answers.
  • Prepare thoroughly on Govt policies and bills. PRS India is an excellent resource for all the latest legislation in the offing and The Hindu for policy criticism. But the newspaper is patently leftist and they publish articles incessantly and nauseatingly ranting on policies they don’t like (Eg: Aadhar). But as someone aspiring to be a civil servant, you need to be more dispassionate. This is why you must actively pursue articles with a contrarian and balanced opinions like this and this .
  • Cram latest statistics pertaining to health, employment, women, education, poverty etc. Also apart from committees, you may quote authentic reports from reputed organisations such as Lancet, Transparency International, UNICEF, FAO etc to substantiate your point. I made notes on important statistics that can be used for all papers of GS and essay. Download link is given at the end of the article.
  • Conclusion: Wherever possible, end with a committee/ commission recommendation or observation. For instance, a question on Centre-State relations should invariably end with Punchhi Commission, a question on death penalty with Law Commission and a question on Indian Constitution with NCRWC. Referring to Sustainable Development Goals, Preamble, DPSP is also another good way to end your answers.

International Relations

  • Any good book that adequately covers the historical aspect of India’s bilateral relations.
  • Current affairs: The Hindu, India’s World on RSTV, CivilsDaily or Insights or ForumIAS depending upon the topic.
  • Questions on IR will be almost, always be about the current happenings in the world. But before you run after the Hindu or some other latest magazine for this section, it’s important that you understand the historical background of India’s relationship with other countries. This is indispensable because every bilateral issue that you see in the news can be traced back to history. Once you understand this historical context, this topic becomes uncomplicated.
  • For example, let’s take India China relations. Don’t merely focus on Doklam crisis and troop positioning, but understand the larger context of our border dispute with China, the agreements we had signed starting with the Simla Accord of 1914. For India-Sri Lanka, don’t just concentrate that India voted for or against Sri Lanka at the UN, but understand how India always championed peace between the Tamils and the Sinhalese, the 1987 accord, its fallout, Sri Lankan civil war and what India did during these times. When you have that bigger picture in mind, each part of the puzzle becomes easier to fit in.
  • For miscellaneous topics like diaspora and international institutions, refer to any good coaching material.
  • Draw map wherever relevant. Example: for India-Iran relations, you can draw a rough map to show how the Chabahar port helps us to bypass Pakistan and reach Afghanistan. Act East policy can be demonstrated with arrows pointing from India and showing our specific relationship with Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and ASEAN, MGC, BIMSTEC etc.,
  • Each bilateral relationship or a global grouping is multi-faceted. To make your answers comprehensive, always write a multidimensional perspective that includes: the strategic dimension, defence co-operation, technology, education, culture, diaspora, trade and investment, co-operation in global fora etc.

Static part:

  • Standard resources I already mentioned in my prelims post
  • Budget (any coaching material compilation)
  • Economic Survey (gist)
  • Niti 3-year Action Plan report (a good resource for policy recommendations that come in handy while you write conclusion)
  • CivilsDaily
  • I referred to Insights/ForumIAS current affairs material for topics not covered well by CivilsDaily

Indian Agriculture, Land reforms, PDS, Food Processing, LPG, Infrastructure

  • The Hindu and CivilsDaily for current affairs
  • You need to remember that for GS-3, questions revolve around current affairs and there is no dearth of material. It may sound counter-intuitive, but the trick is to restrict yourself to material that’s good enough for you to write a 250-word answer for all topics. It’s very important that you don’t get sunk under the heap of current affairs and coaching material.
  • So for each topic mentioned in the syllabus, make concise notes from the resources mentioned above. I also found Niti Aayog’s 3-year Action Plan report really helpful for this paper. And just as I had mentioned for GS-2, statistics and committee reports are very important.
  • Vajiram and Vision IAS material
  • Prepare crisp and clear definitions of technical terms such as cybersecurity, terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, left-wing extremism etc.
  • For questions on border security, draw India map to illustrate.

Disaster Management

  • Fundamental reading: CBSE book
  • Prepare concise notes on NDMA (structure, functions, rules etc), international agreements such as Sendai Framework, latest current affairs from newspapers, internet and coaching material.
  • Draw diagrams to illustrate concepts like river embankment, land zoning, watershed management etc.

Environment and Ecology

  • Shankar IAS book
  • My handwritten notes (Download link given at the end)

Science & Tech

  • Vision IAS Mains 365
  • This topic terrifies many aspirants, and for good reason. There’s no single book or resource to help one navigate this section and it all feels like one big haze. But there’s good news: the questions asked in S&T are mostly from current affairs and you are expected to have only a general understanding of the topics.
  • During my preparation, I used to note down in my book whatever scientific term or technology that’s frequently talked about in news. For instance, these days we repeatedly encounter terms such as Artificial General Intelligence, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Cryptocurrency, CRISPR-CAS9 in news and on the internet.
  • Note down all such scientific concepts that are in news and then scour the internet (especially Youtube) to understand them. There are many explainer videos on Youtube that explain the concept so well that even a school student can understand it. For instance, take this excellent video on blockchain technology. Once you see it, it’s impossible for you to miss a question on blockchain and its practical applications.
  • Apart from the above, you need to learn fundamental terms and technologies used in Space (PSLV, GSLV, Cryo Engine etc), Nanotech, Nuclear Research (Fast breeder reactor, Uranium enrichment, Nuclear fission and fusion etc.), Defence (Cruise missile, Ballistic missile, Stealth Bomber etc), Biotech (Gene editing, Stem Cells, GM food etc), Communication (LIDAR, RADAR, LiFi, 5G etc). Any comprehensive material of a coaching institute will be sufficient for this (I referred to Vajiram printed notes).
  • Whatever S&T topic you are learning, always focus on the concept, why is it in news, practical applications, potential threats, benefits far into the future etc. Just do this and you will easily handle this topic in the final exam.
  • 2nd ARC reports: Ethics in Governance, Promoting E-gov, RTI, Citizen-centric Administration, Personnel Administration. Read all ARC reports completely, memorise only recommendations.
  • For moral thinkers, Google them to read about their major contributions and for misc topics such as corporate governance, I referred to Vajiram printed material. I also prepared some notes for certain topics (download link at the end of the article)
  • I went through the syllabus and tried to define each term in clear words and simple sentences. I found this exercise very useful because these definitions inevitably formed the introduction to most of my answers. For all of ethics paper, the essence can be distilled as just this: a clear and simple definition of the term and a real-life example to illustrate the concept. You can draw flowcharts and schematics wherever apt.
  • It’s important to understand that each question is an opportunity to display your ethics. This will be best demonstrated by the actions you did or some other personalised/ real-life examples you quote. Reflect on your childhood, school life, college time, professional career etc and glean examples that are simple, unpretentious and at the same time bring out your ethical values clearly. For some questions, you can also quote historical examples from the lives of great leaders.
  • For case studies, my aim was not so much in writing ingenious, extraordinary solutions, but to write something that’s realistic and practicable and finish the paper no matter what.
  • I always started with Q1 and not with case studies because I could not see how one mark in Section B (case studies) is superior to one mark in Section A. I gave equal importance and dedicated equal time to both the sections.
  • Rest of the GS papers have 20 questions each, Ethics has only 14. But don’t let that number 14 fool you. I’ve always found GS-4 to be the lengthiest paper of all. Every question in Section A has many subparts that drain an inordinate amount of your time. In fact, if we go by the absolute numbers, we write more words in GS-4 than in other papers. So to manage your time well: Abide by the rule that you must complete at least 80 marks worth of questions in each hour, irrespective of whether you start with Section A or Section B.
  • Just before GS-4, you would have had written three stressful GS papers that would put your body condition under severe mental and physical strain. But it’s important to stay mentally tough during this crucial period and push your endurance limits so as to survive another 3 hours of relentless writing. Remember that it’s all in the mind— it can be your biggest enemy or your greatest strength.
  • World History Textbook
  • World History Notes
  • World History Maps
  • Art and Culture Diagrams
  • India Since Independence
  • Geography – Resource Distribution
  • Constitutional Articles you need to memorise
  • Environment
  • Important Statistics for GS
  • ARC 2 Notes
  • Quote collection
  • List of important topics

My GS Answer Copies

  • Answer Booklet 1
  • Answer Booklet 2 (accurately represents my writing style in the final exam)

I hope this article on UPSC Mains preparation and tips for GS answer writing helped you.

GS may look insurmountable at first, but remember that it’s always the small steps towards the summit that count. Through effective planning and adequate practice, anyone can conquer it.

Best wishes, Anudeep.

Note: My book,  Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is now available. It’s a comprehensive guide that helps you write better Essays and Answers in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here .

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597 thoughts on “ How to conquer GS in UPSC Mains, Explained ”

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i will break in 2022

Sir can you tell us, about your csat strategi, books and any suggestions for us

I dont know how i stumbled upon your blogs while searching for wether to join a coaching, thing is i was preparing on my own but suddenly after the demise of my father this month my focus broke i was having a hard time coping up with the reality and couldnt concentrate on studies and felt enrolling into a coaching institute might solve my problem but glad that i found your website and it reinforced the idea that attending classes wouldnt be great for me, hope i can gather courage and face the exam in 2025. If i do manage to get into my desired post which is forest services i would surely drop by to thank you.

Sir could you please tell us the sources for key natural resouces distribution and location of industries that you referred while preparing your notes and how one should manage this very topic

Sir how many time we have revise or syllabus before apperaing in exam

Sir, all words really helpful.

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Sir, Which institutes GS Test series is the best for practice?

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Sir should we have to read ncert for science

Thanks for your advise.

Thanks sir . This is very helpful

Thank you so much Sir . Does conceptual understanding improve retention.

Sir in your gs 3 mock tests you have written solutions and challenges in one or two sentences without much explaining them. So sir we can also do this or need to explain each and every point which we write. Sir please tell.

sir pls tell which book is better for international relation to develop basics

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Thanks a lot For Sharing this information

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Sir, what is the CBSE book you mentioned for disaster management? The link seems to be broken. I’m new to UPSC preparation. Awaiting you reply sir, please help…

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Thanks for providing such information.

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Sir, Which is the selective chapters in the art and culture? Please help me sir.

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Thanks 🙏🏻 sir , you combined all my queries’ answers. Kindly give some tips on how to CONQUER THE PRELIMS. Hope you will. 🙏🏻

P shruth Sir please tell me best books for csat for math’s and optioninal subject of anthrupalogy

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Thank you so much for the wonderful information

Hi ,Anudeep,can you suggest me which online test series would be the best for prelims and mains

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    In broader terms, the essay paper in UPSC mains is divided into two sections i.e. section A & section B. Each section also comprises four UPSC essay topics with a maximum mark of 125 each. Out of these, candidates need to choose one topic from each of the sections and write two UPSC essay papers in about 1000-1200 words each. Thus, it is ...

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    ABC of UPSC Essay Writing. A - Accuracy, appropriateness, attentiveness to your reader, avoidance of ambiguity. B - Brevity or conciseness, brightness or buoyancy. C - Correctness ( of usage and grammar), clarity, consistency, concreteness. In the course of UPSC preparation, you become a master of longitude of information.

  5. Essay Paper UPSC 2022 (Mains): Question Paper and Analysis

    Please find the questions in the Essay Paper of the UPSC 2022 Civil Services Mains Examination (written). UPSC conducted the Essay Paper, as part of the Civil Services Main Exam 2022 on 16-09-2022. The question paper was not as shocking as last year. There were 8 Essay topics, out of which candidates were asked to write on two topics in 3 hours.

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    Tips to Score Better on UPSC Essay Writing Topics. With a little planning and a lot of hard work, you can write an essay for UPSC that's good enough in a short time. Following pointers will help you to develop a writing framework: Essay Question. Selecting a UPSC essay writing topic is the most important and critical task. Choose a topic for ...

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    Ethics and Essay Strategy Saumya Sharma Rank 9 Marks -111 in Ethics and 160 in Essay Hello everyone! This post is going to cover my strategy for the ethics and essay papers. I have secured 160 marks in the essay, and 111 marks in ethics. I hope this post helps you. The … Continue reading "Ethics and Essay Strategy- Saumya Sharma Rank 9, 111 in Ethics and 160 in Essay"

  14. Importance of solving previous year question papers for UPSC IAS

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  15. How to conquer GS in UPSC Mains, Explained

    Use the internet extensively, especially for topics like Science and Tech. Your target must be to gain knowledge, be it through books or through the internet. For all subjects, you have to superimpose current affairs over it, especially for GS-2 and GS-3. For both these papers, current affairs form the nucleus.

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  17. Hi, I cleared UPSC CSE 2018. Ask Me Anything : r/india

    From UPSC perspective - page 1 result of "current affairs" are all good. For general knowledge, follow newspapers such as The Hindu, Mint, Indian Express (not all). I used to have plans for 9-10 hours, and end up with 7-8. Always schedule 20% extra time than what is needed. To waste time is human, to be 100% productive is divine.

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