UPSC Essay Questions: Categorisation UPSC Essay Questions based on their Themes, Patterns, Tones and also IMPLIED ACTION as per the demand & Underlying Motive of the UPSC essay question prompt
UPSC Essay – 2024
- The Empires of the future will be the empires of the mind.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Provocative
- Implied Action: Argue for the shift of power towards intellectual dominion
- There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative
- Tone of Essay Question: Paradoxical, Philosophical
- Implied Action: Reflect on the nature of happiness or argue for its intrinsic nature
- Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Cynical
- Implied Action: Explore how power tests one’s character more than adversity does
- All ideas having large consequences are always simple.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Counterintuitive, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the simplicity of ideas that have major impacts
- The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Pragmatic, Assertive
- Implied Action: Argue for the value of action despite the risk of error.
- Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’ amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Concerned, Analytical
- Implied Action: Analyse social media’s role in mental health issues
- Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them.
- Primary Theme: Environmental Issues and Sustainability
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Expository
- Tone of Essay Question: Cautionary, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the link between ecological health and societal development or explain the relationship
- The doubter is a true man of Science.
- Primary Theme: Science, Technology and Innovation
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Provocative, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue that doubt is crucial to scientific progress
UPSC Essay – 2023
- Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Insightful
- Implied Action: Explore the role of opposing perspectives in thinking
- Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Expository
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Insightful
- Implied Action: Argue for the need for both intuition and logic for visionary thinking
- Not all who wander are lost.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Poetic
- Implied Action: Explore the idea of direction and purpose beyond societal norms
- Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Inspirational, Insightful
- Implied Action: Argue for or reflect on the importance of mundane observation in creativity
- Mathematics is the music of reason.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Expository
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the beauty and structure inherent in mathematics or explain mathematics’ connection to logic
- Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands — two equally harmful disciplines.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Idealistic
- Implied Action: Argue that societal gender expectations are harmful
- A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Idealistic
- Implied Action: Argue that justice is superior to charity in its societal implications
- Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
- Primary Theme: Education and Knowledge
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Provocative, Philosophical
- Implied Action: Reflect upon the true and lasting impact of education
UPSC Essay – 2022
- Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
- Primary Theme: Environment and Sustainability
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Argue that forests offer lessons in economic principles.
- Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
- Primary Theme: Historical and Cultural Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Provocative, Philosophical
- Implied Action: Argue for the influence of poets on society
- History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
- Primary Theme: Historical and Cultural Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Potentially Controversial
- Implied Action: Argue for the dominance of scientific thought in history
- A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Motivational
- Implied Action: Reflect on risk taking and purpose, or argue for the importance of engaging with risk.
- The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Proverbial, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Argue for the importance of preparedness
- You cannot step twice in the same river.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Paradoxical
- Implied Action: Explore the implications of constant change
- A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Insightful
- Implied Action: Explore or reflect on the multi-layered nature of communication
- Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Philosophical
- Implied Action: Explore the complexities of decision-making and the nature of “right choices”
UPSC Essay – 2021
- Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Insightful, Psychological
- Implied Action: Reflect or argue on the nature of interpersonal perception and self-awareness
- Philosophy of want lessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Critical
- Implied Action: Argue for the impracticality of want-less philosophy, or the delusion of materialism
- The real is rational and the rational is real.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Explore or argue for the interrelation between reality and reason
- What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!
- Primary Theme: Education and Knowledge
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Expository
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Playful
- Implied Action: Explore the nature and process of research.
- There are better practices to “best practices”.
- Primary Theme: Education and Knowledge
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Provocative, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the need to go beyond established methods.
- The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.
- Primary Theme: Science, Technology and Innovation
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Concerned, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue that tech is taking away from self-discovery
- Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Provocative, Assertive
- Implied Action: Argue for influence of women in society.
- History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.
- Primary Theme: Historical and Cultural Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Cynical, Insightful
- Implied Action: Explore cyclical patterns in history.
UPSC Essay – 2020
- Life is a long journey between human being and being humane.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Insightful
- Implied Action: Reflect on the process of becoming more humane.
- Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Introspective
- Implied Action: Explore the significance of mindfulness.
- Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Insightful
- Implied Action: Argue for the beauty or virtue of simplicity.
- Ships do not sink because of water around them, ships sink because of water that gets into them.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Cautionary
- Implied Action: Reflect on personal responsibility in overcoming challenges.
- Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Provocative
- Implied Action: Explore the distinction between culture and civilisation
- Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Critical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Argue for the pervasive and understated nature of patriarchy
- There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Economic and Developmental Challenges + Social and Societal Issues)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Idealistic
- Implied Action: Argue for the interdependence of social justice and economic prosperity.
- Technology as the silent factor in international relations.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Science, Technology & Innovation + Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Provocative
- Implied Action: Argue that technology plays a powerful role in international relations
UPSC Essay – 2019
- Wisdom finds truth.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Reflect on the path of wisdom in seeking truth
- Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Insightful
- Implied Action: Reflect or argue on the aspiration and future nature of human values
- Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Explore the potential conflict between personal and societal needs
- Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Motivational, Insightful
- Implied Action: Argue for or reflect on the importance of courage and dedication for success
- South-Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Argue for the primary role of culture in defining South Asian societies.
- Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Concerned, Critical
- Implied Action: Argue for the dangers of media bias.
- Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.
- Primary Theme: Science, Technology and Innovation
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Concerned
- Implied Action: Explore or argue for the potential impacts of AI on employment
- Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness.
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Critical
- Implied Action: Argue that health and education are the reasons for India’s backwardness
UPSC Essay – 2018
- Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.
- Primary Theme: Science, Technology and Innovation
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Expository
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Argue for, or explain the role of, alternative tech in climate change.
- A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Insightful
- Implied Action: Reflect on or argue for the components of a good life.
- Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Provocative, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the inadequacy of tradition in current society.
- “The past” is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Explore the role of history in shaping perception and values.
- A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Moralistic, Cautionary
- Implied Action: Argue that principles outweigh privileges
- Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Paradoxical
- Implied Action: Explore the relationship between the ideal and real.
- Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Concerned, Global
- Implied Action: Argue for the interconnectedness of global economies and responsibility.
- Management of Indian border disputes — a complex task.
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Neutral, Analytical
- Implied Action: Explain the difficulties and complexities of handling border disputes.
UPSC Essay – 2017
- Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for the majority of farmers in India.
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Concerned, Analytical
- Implied Action: Analyse or argue for the changes in farming in India
- Impact of new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India.
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Neutral
- Implied Action: Explain the effects of fiscal policies in India
- Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.
- Primary Theme: Education and Knowledge
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Idealistic
- Implied Action: Argue for importance of classrooms in shaping a nation
- Has the Non-Alignment Movement lost its relevance in a multi-polar world?
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the current value of non-alignment.
- Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Insightful, Idealistic
- Implied Action: Reflect or argue for the simplicity of joy and its relation to gratitude.
- We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Philosophical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Reflect on the limitations of human laws in relation to natural principles.
- Fulfilment of the new woman in India is a myth.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Critical, Assertive
- Implied Action: Argue that the new Indian woman is not yet fulfilling her potential
- Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Critical, Concerned
- Implied Action: Argue that social media is essentially self-serving
UPSC Essay – 2016
- Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils bread.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Cautionary, Proverbial
- Implied Action: Reflect on or argue for the ethical impacts of need and greed.
- Water disputes between states in federal India.
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Neutral
- Implied Action: Explain the complexities and details of Indian state water disputes
- Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality.
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Critical
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for reality of cooperative federalism in India
- If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Concerned
- Implied Action: Argue for including gender in development planning.
- Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Science, Technology and Innovation + Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Critical
- Implied Action: Argue for the vital role of innovation in economical and societal success.
- Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Critical
- Implied Action: Analyse economic policies leading to jobless growth.
- Digital Economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality.
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Questioning
- Implied Action: Argue for social impact of digital economy.
- Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to human civilization in the long run.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Scient Technology & Innovation + Society and Societal Issues – Economic and Development Challenges + Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Concerned
- Implied Action: Argue for the positives or negatives of internet on society.
UPSC Essay – 2015
- Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Moral
- Implied Action: Argue for the ethics of lending hand vs dole
- Quick but steady wins the race.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Proverbial, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Argue for combining speed and consistency in achieving success.
- Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the impact of leadership on an institution
- Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man a more clever devil.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Cautionary, Moral
- Implied Action: Argue for the importance of values in education.
- Technology cannot replace manpower.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Science, Technology and Innovation + Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Argue for value of human labour over technology
- Crisis faced in India — moral or economic.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Critical, Analytical
- Implied Action: Analyse the underlying nature of the crises in India
- Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the ability of capitalism to create an inclusive economy.
- Dreams which should not let India sleep.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Science, Technology and Innovation + Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Motivational
- Implied Action: Discuss a vision for India’s future and how to achieve it.
UPSC Essay – 2014
- With greater power comes greater responsibility.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Moralistic, Assertive
- Implied Action: Reflect or argue for responsibility to accompany power
- Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Reflective
- Tone of Essay Question: Figurative, Insightful
- Implied Action: Explore the power and impact of language.
- Are standardized tests a good measure of academic ability or progress?
- Primary Theme: Education and Knowledge
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Evaluate the suitability of standardised tests.
- Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Critical
- Implied Action: Explore the reasons for slowed Indian development.
- Is sting operation an invasion of privacy?
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Ethical
- Implied Action: Explore the ethical implications of sting operations
- Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Explore the impact of competition on young people.
- Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India?
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the value and importance of tourism for India.
- Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges + Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues + Science, Technology and Innovation)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Explore the practicalities and possibilities for India achieving more success in Olympics
UPSC Essay – 2013
- Be the change you want to see in others – Gandhi Ji.
- Primary Theme: Philosophical and Life; Ethical Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Motivational, Ethical
- Implied Action: Reflect on or argue for personal responsibility in creating societal change.
- Is Colonial mentality hindering India’s success?
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Critical
- Implied Action: Argue that colonial mindset is hindering progress.
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the well-being of a country.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges + Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Idealistic, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the need to consider happiness as well as economics.
- Science and Technology are the panaceas for the growth and security of the nation.
- Primary Theme: Science, Technology and Innovation
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the essential role of Science and Technology
UPSC Essay – 2012
- Indian women in international sports.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Neutral, Informative
- Implied Action: Explain the details or analyse the state of Indian women in sports
- Cultivation of organic foods.
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Informative, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Explain the role of organic farming, or argue for its importance
- Foreign Direct Investment in retail — boon or bane?
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for whether FDI in retail is beneficial or harmful
- How effective are our systems and institutions in dealing with disasters?
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Critical
- Implied Action: Argue for the effectiveness of disaster response systems.
- Food security — legislation and implementation.
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Informative, Analytical
- Implied Action: Explain the legislative process and implementation of food security measures
UPSC Essay – 2011
- Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic, and developmental implications.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Cause and Effect
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Neutral
- Implied Action: Explain the causes and impacts of creation of smaller states
- In the Indian context, both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism.
- Primary Theme: Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Assertive, Analytical
- Implied Action: Argue for the need of both tech and human intelligence for counter terrorism
- Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it?
- Primary Theme: Social and Societal Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Questioning
- Implied Action: Explore the nature of Indian cinema’s relationship with culture
- Credit-based higher education system — status, opportunities, and challenges.
- Primary Theme: Education and Knowledge
- Type of Essay Question: Expository or Analytical
- Tone of Essay Question: Neutral, Analytical
- Implied Action: Explain the details, opportunities and challenges of credit based education
UPSC Essay – 2010
- Geography may remain the same; history need not.
- Primary Theme: Historical and Cultural Issues
- Type of Essay Question: Reflective or Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Insightful, Philosophical
- Implied Action: Reflect on the nature of history and its fluidness.
- Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country?
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues + Social and Societal Issues + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Questioning, Ethical
- Implied Action: Argue for or against a ban on mining in tribal areas.
- Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role.
- Primary Theme: Multi Thematic (Intersection of Governance and Polity; International Relations and Global Issues + Science, Technology and Innovation + Economic and Developmental Challenges)
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive or Expository
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Pragmatic
- Implied Action: Assess how ready India is for global leadership.
- From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffett model — a natural progression or a paradigm shift?
- Primary Theme: Economic and Developmental Challenges
- Type of Essay Question: Argumentative/Persuasive
- Tone of Essay Question: Analytical, Questioning
- Implied Action: Argue for the nature of changes in philanthropy.