essay themes upsc

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UPSC Essay Topics – Download UPSC Essay Previous Year Question Paper

Updated on: February 24th, 2023

UPSC Essay Topics have been a topic of discussion every year due to their uncertainty. The Essay Topics for UPSC range from diverse topics including economic growth, women empowerment, art & culture, media & society, etc. One should at least analyze the last 10 years’ Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC to get an idea about Important UPSC Essay Topics for 2023. Practicing the UPSC Essay Topics from the previous year helps during the UPSC Mains exam and the aspirant, through immense practice, can ace the essay paper.

The UPSC Essay exam plays a very decisive role in the UPSC Mains examination. The paper carries 250 marks and candidates are expected to write two essays in three hours, ranging between 1000 to 1200 words. Candidates should read newspapers daily, to get an idea about the UPSC Essay Topics.

Table of content

UPSC Essay Topics 2023

The UPSC Essay paper is one of the 9 papers of the UPSC Mains . The essay paper analysis the perspective of the candidates on social, economic, and political issues. UPSC generally picks up topics that are either Current Affairs oriented or are impacting the present society to a large extent. Some of the relevant UPSC Essay Topics which could be asked during the UPSC Exam may include:

• Social Media
• Privacy/Surveillance
• Urbanization
• Globalization
• Bureaucracy/Civil Service
• Constitution
• Water Security
• Poverty/Hunger/Food Security
• Human Resources- Employment
• Development
• Education/Higher Education/Foreign University in Higher Education

UPSC Essay Topics for 2022

Candidates should be aware of the recent trends of the UPSC exam. It means the types of questions asked, and the important UPSC Essay Topics recently. The Essay Topics for UPSC asked in the mains 2022 exam are also mentioned below.

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

Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC

One of the best sources to practice UPSC Essay is by referring to the UPSC Essay Previous Year Question Paper.

• Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC 2022 PDF
• UPSC Essay Topics for 2021
• Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC 2020
• Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC 2019
• UPSC Essay Topics for 2018
• Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC 2017
• UPSC Previous Year Essay Questions 2016

UPSC Essay Topics Previous Year’s

The essay paper is an important aspect of the Civil Services Exam . Having a regular reading habit and watching analysis of topics helps a lot during the UPSC Essay paper. Practicing UPSC Essay Topics from the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers would definitely help in the long run. Below is a list compiled of some of the topics that were asked in the UPSC Essay paper, and would be beneficial for candidates if they practice it.

• 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 the 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

Philosophical UPSC Essay Topics

Every year, UPSC tends to give two or more essay topics related to philosophical thoughts or quotes from famous lines by eminent personalities. To cover and know a basic background to write on philosophical topics, for reference students can refer to Philosophy Books for UPSC . The UPSC Essay Topics asked on Philosophical/ Quotes asked are-

• Be the change you want to see in others.
• Reality does not conform to the ideal but confirms it.
• The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
• Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
• If youth knew if age could.
• An Useless life is an early death.
• Search for truth can only be attained through spiritual means.
• Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
• Words are sharper than a two-edged sword.

Essay Topics for UPSC on Indian Culture & Society

The UPSC Essay Topics on Indian Culture and Society are always very diverse. Static content on this can be read from the basic books on Society referred to during the exam. The topics asked are-

• Are new cults and godmen threat to the traditional religion.
• Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values.
• Indian society is at a crossroads.
• The composite culture of Indian society
• Where the Youth culture of today heading towards
• As civilization progresses, culture declines.

UPSC Essay Topics on Education

Education is one of the favorite UPSC Essay Topics. Mostly, every year an essay topic related to education is asked in the paper. To cover this topic, one needs to be updated with Current Affairs to include major changes and developments related to the field. The topics asked are-

• Privatization of higher education in India.
• Does growth in literacy correspond to growth in education.
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil.
• Concept of Real Education
• Restructuring of the Indian education system with respect to the NEP
• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.
• “Education for all”: myth or reality.

Science and Technology UPSC Essay Topics

Science and Technology essay topics for UPSC can be generally covered from Current Affairs. Students can also refer to Science and Technology Book for UPSC to write a multidimensional essay. The UPSC Essay Topics may include:

• The modern doctor and his patients.
• The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.
• Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.
• Technology cannot replace manpower.
• Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
• Value-based science and education.
• Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run.
• The lure of space.
• Spirituality and scientific temper.
• The march of science and the erosion of human values.
• The cyberworld: Its charms and challenges.
• Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible?

UPSC Essay Topics on Women Empowerment

UPSC encourages gender equality in the workplace and hence, topics on women are always favorite. Through the essay, the main aim is to understand the candidate’s level of thinking and critical thinking ability. Stating data, references and day-to-day examples can be added while writing essays, which will fetch extra marks. Some of the UPSC Essay Topics related to women and women empowerment include:

• Challenges and prospects of Women empowerment
• Ground realities of the new emerging women power
• Fulfillment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth.
• Is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal- Managing work and home?
• Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
• What if all the developed countries had women as their heads.
• Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight.
• Whither women’s emancipation?

Essay Topics for UPSC on Polity & Administration

To cover Polity and Administration topics, one can gain basic knowledge from Polity Books for UPSC and Public Administration Books for UPSC . These books provide static knowledge about the relevant issues and their background, which can be used while writing the UPSC Essay Topics on Polity and Pub Ad. The essays on the topic include:

• Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization?
• Politics without ethics is a disaster.
• The language politics in India: its past, present, and future.
• Is a better disaster management system need of the hour?
• Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality.
• Judicial activism and Indian democracy.
• Need for transparency in public administration.
• The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy.

Essay PYQ UPSC on Economic Growth, Development Sectors

Essays on economic growth, development and MNC sectors are asked mostly every year in the UPSC Essay Paper. To write essays on these topics, one can refer to Economy Notes for UPSC to get a general overview of the topics. Once the basics are clear, one can add examples, data, and figures, to make the essay multidimensional. The UPSC Essay Topics from this section may include:

• Can tourism be the next big thing for India?
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) should be the right indices for judging the well-being of a country.
• Are the Multinational corporations, saviors, or saboteurs?
• Is the Digital economy a leveler or a source of economic inequality?
• Is it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
• Future of BPO Culture in India
• Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.
• Is the near jobless growth in India, an anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.

Notes on UPSC Essay Topics

While preparing for the UPSC Essay topics candidates must have adequate information on every topic to come up with a solid essay. Candidates can follow various UPSC Books, study materials, and notes for the preparation of Essay topics for UPSC. Below we have provided the direct link of the essay topics that candidates can refer to.

• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Indian Foreign Policy
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on e-Governance
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Constitution of India
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Judiciary
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Poverty
• UPSC Essay Topic Notes – Disaster Management
• Difference Between Communalism Secularism
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Swachh Bharat
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Federalism
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on United Nations
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Freedom of Speech
• UPSC Essay Topics Notes on Cyber Security

How to Score Marks on UPSC Essay Topics?

Writing is a window to your thought process. This is exactly what is accessed while the examiner goes through your answer script. An essay is basically a well-structured collection of ideas on any specific topic. Mastering the art to score maximum marks on the paper requires immense practice and perseverance. The essay is not merely a test of factual knowledge, but rather a test of creativity and spirit. To score good marks on the UPSC Essay Topics, follow these steps:

Select the Essay Topic Carefully

The UPSC Essay paper contains two sections, and candidates need to write one essay from each of the two given sections. Both essays are 125 marks each; 1000-1200 words. Before selecting, think over the topic, whether it is too controversial or do you have enough data to write on it, etc.

Ponder of the Topic

Once the topic is selected, think over the topic and write the main keywords that you will use during the essay. Try giving a multidimensional approach to the essay and adhere to a good structure of intro-body and conclusion.

Structure well

The introduction paragraph is the essence of the UPSC Essay Topics and should contain a concise idea about the topic. The basic theme should talk about your views on the topic. The main body of the essay should be divided into small paragraphs but should be well interlinked. The language of the essay should be convenient, lucid, and easy to understand. The essay evaluates your critical thinking ability rather than the usage of fancy jargon. If required, facts and data should be included. The usage of quotes and sayings adds weight to the UPSC Essay Topics. The conclusion paragraph should be self-explanatory. Candidates should try to have a neutral or balanced approach while writing the essay.

Follow the ABC of Essay Writing

The ABC of essay writing stands for Accuracy/appropriateness, Brevity, and Consistency of the essay. Following this rule helps a lot while writing on the UPSC Essay Topics.

UPSC Essay Topics FAQs

Do upsc essay topics get repeated.

Yes, UPSC Essay Topics do get repeated from the previous year’s papers, but only there is always a tweak in the language. Other than this, it has been observed that repetitive topics are asked from the areas of History, Economics and Indian Polity majorly.

What are the best UPSC Essay Topics?

Essay Writing for UPSC can be tricky, so any topic on which the candidate has enough knowledge and material is best to write upon. While writing UPSC Essay Topics, always write in paragraphs and avoid points. Adding Quotes for Essay UPSC , references, and data fetches the essay extra brownie points.

How Many Questions are asked in Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC?

On seeing the UPSC Exam Pattern, it is concluded that the UPSC Essay paper has two sections, comprising 4-5 essays each. A candidate needs to write on two UPSC Essay Topics, one from each section, comprising 1000 to 1200 words. The UPSC Essay Paper is 250 marks; each essay contributes 125 marks.

What is a good score in Essay Questions UPSC?

A score of 125 and above is considered a good mark in the Essay Questions UPSC, while a score between 100-120 is considered average. However, it is not easy to score marks on this paper if you haven’t prepared well enough.  So, make sure you prepare in the best possible way.

How do I start practising UPSC Essay Topics?

To start practicing with the UPSC Essay Topics, keep the following points in mind:

• Read newspapers daily
• Highlight important lines or quotes and write them separately
• Practice one UPSC Essay Topic from Previous Year at least once a week and get it to peer review.
• Use normal lucid language while writing. Usage of Queen’s English or jargon is not appreciated.
• Have an integrated thinking attitude
• Never take sides while writing essays, and have a balanced approach. Always have an optimistic outlook in your essays

How to download Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC?

Candidates can download the Essay Previous Year Question Paper UPSC from the official website of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). However, we have also provided direct links to download the previous year’s Essay question paper in the below-mentioned link.

• UPSC Previous Year Question Paper

What are the four types of UPSC Essay Topics?

UPSC Essay Topics can be divided into four categories: expository, argumentative, narrative, and descriptive essays. The essay should be written in such as way that it would provide meaningful information to the reader.

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WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGE

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

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 1 CSE 2017

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 25 CSE 2015

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 40 CSE 2015

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2023

• March 12, 2023 : Patience is a virture ; virtue is a grace
• March 5, 2023 : Before any fight, it is the fight of mind
• February 26, 2023 :  The Measure of a man is what he does with Power.
• February 19, 2023 : When you kill time, you kill life.
• February 12, 2023 : Delayed success mostly stays forever.
• February 05, 2023 : The wound is the place where the Light enters you.
• January 29, 2023 : Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.
• January 22, 2023 : I am what I am, so take me as I am
• January 15, 2023 : Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased
• January 08, 2023 : Time hurts but it also heals. It punishes but it rewards too- it is the greatest teacher ever for a human.
• January 01, 2023 : The Beginning is the End and the End is The Beginning.

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2022

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2021

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2020

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2019

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2018

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2017

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

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2016

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

WEEKLY ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2015

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

• Commerce & Accountancy
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Prelims
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Mains
• Environment & Ecology
• Science & Technology

• IAS Preparation
• UPSC Preparation Strategy
• Topic Wise Essay Questions From UPSC Mains 1994 2018

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

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

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

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UPSC Essay Topics

Administration.

• Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle. (1994)
• Politics without ethics is a disaster. (1995)
• The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy. (1996)
• Need for transparency in public administration. (1996)
• The country’s need for a better disaster management system. (2000)
• How should a civil servant conduct himself? (2003)

Democracy/India since independence

• Whither Indian democracy? (1995)
• What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. (1997)
• Why should we be proud of being Indians? (2000)
• What have we gained from our democratic set-up? (2001)
• How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? (2003)
• National identity and patriotism. (2008)
• In the context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter, explore, on an evolutionary scale, the terms ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’. Critically comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian democracy. (2012)
• Is the colonial mentality hindering India’s success? (2013)
• Dreams which should not let India sleep. (2015)
• Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task. (2018)

Economic growth and development

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

Federalism, Decentralisation

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

Indian Culture & Society

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

Social justice/Poverty

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

Media & Society

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

Environment/Urbanisation

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

Economic sectors/MNCs

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

Quotes-based/Philosophy

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

Globalisation

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

Science & Tech

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

Internet/IT

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

International organisations/relations

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

Miscellaneous

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

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

Also, read:

Frequently Asked Questions on UPSC Essay Topics for UPSC Mains

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

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GS SCORE: Blog

Important essay topics for upsc mains exam.

• Categories Mains
• Published 19th Aug, 2021

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

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

Social Topics

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

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

Click here for Full Copy

Political topics.

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

Economic Topics

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

International Topics

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

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

Click here for full copy

Philosophical/imaginative topics.

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

Other topics

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

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

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

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Total Questions : 161

Essay topics.

1. All education is a search for truth and a pursuit of social betterment.

2. Unless it’s people-centric and people-driven, any reform is bound to face resistance and failure.

1. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

2. Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

1. The true measure of a society's greatness is how it treats its weakest members.

2. The purpose of life is not to be happy, but to fulfill one's potential and contribute to the betterment of society.

1. The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.

2. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

1. Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.

2. Detachment isn’t about owning nothing, it’s about nothing owes you.

1. The mind is everything; what you think you become.

2. The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it.

1. Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions and thought.

2. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

1. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

2. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

1. The need for gender-sensitive policy-making in India and the challenges in achieving it.

2. The role of the Indian judiciary in protecting civil liberties and ensuring accountability of the state.

1. The future of transportation: electric vehicles and self-driving cars.

2. A prudent foreign policy requires both pragmatism and opportunism.

1. The role of civil society organizations in promoting sustainable development.

2. Life is an exam where the syllabus is unknown and question papers are not set.

1. Shackles of slavery can never be stronger than the quest of freedom.

2 .Scourge of Left Wing Extremism can be tackled only through the twin-pronged strategy of development and deterrence.

1. The endless wait for justice in India.

2. A fire cannot be extinguished with another fire. It is only water that can make a difference.

1. Terrorism is today an industry of evil.

2. Ultimately, education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment.

1. Winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit.

2. The future of India: Entrepreneurs, inventors and dreamers.

1. E-Governance: the most easy, effective and economical governance.

2. There are no “natural disasters”- only inadequately planned human settlements.

1. Trade money for time, not time for money. You’re going to run out of time first.

2. Without development of knowledge and reason, a civilization cannot advance.

1. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.

2. Peace cannot be kept by force but can be achieved only by mutual-understanding.

Essay Topics:

1. It is not wealth that creates road, but it is the roads that lead to the creation of wealth

2. Wisdom brings freedom

1. Men have failed; let women take over.

2. Nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

1. You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

2. The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.

1. India and China- the Epicenter's of Asian geopolitics.

2. He who struggles is better than he who never attempts.

1. What we are suffering doesn't exist.

2. The fulfilment of a ‘new woman’ in India is a myth.

1. Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.

2. War is a cowardly escape from the problems of Peace.

1. Calculation is not just arithmetic but life.

2. The truth of nature is inadmissible fanaticism.

1. History is dictated by the victor in the war and not by the vanquished.

2. Technological changes and increased household burden have turned private patriarchy into public patriarchy.

1. Climate Change and Lifestyle 2.The unexamined life is not worth living.

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Essay Topic

1. Environmental pollution violates the fundamental right to a dignified life. 2. Curiosity is the mother of knowledge.

1. One must win his internal battle to awaken his consciousness. 2.The primary goal of education policy should be to create liberal and tolerant individuals.

UPSC Civil Service Exams – 20 Important Essay Topics

UPSC through its essay paper, consisting of eight topics divided  in two parts with maximum marks  being 250, and time duration of 3 hours , checks the coherence in the writing of the candidate, the construct of ideas in his/her mind and the way one can systematically put them on paper. The topics range from contemporary social issues to ethical-philosophical enquiries. A list of some of the very important topics for essays for this year has been prepared for you guys:

Also See : UPSC Exams

20 Important Essay Topics for UPSC Civil Services Exam

1- judiciary  and its working.

New points to be added: The master of the roaster controversy , issue of selection of judges through collegium system, the difference  of opinions between the Chief Justice and the senior supreme court judges. Previously asked questions: Judicial activism and Indian democracy. -2004 We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. -2017

Also See Article: Art of Making Notes for Civil Service Exam – Part 1

2- Water disputes between States.

New points to be added: Cauvery Water Dispute and the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal case, Model/ Mandovi/Mahadayi river in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha with the provision the tribunal’s decision on a dispute within a period of three years. This period is extendable by a maximum of two years. Previously  asked questions: Cooperative federalism : Myth or reality. -2016 Water resources should be under the control of the central government. -2004

3- Modi’s agricultural schemes in the era of rampant farmer suicide

New points to be added: Increased MSP by 1.5 times, Loan waivers, fiscal affects of such schemes,if the farmers are really benefited  or not, Atal Bhujal Yojana scheme, groundwater will be conserved efficiently and it will provide adequate amount of water for the use of agricultural purpose. Previously asked questions: How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? -2003 Food security for sustainable national development -2005

4- Apolitical Education

New points to be added: Proximity of politics has degraded the education system, the alleged saffronisation of curriculum, autonomy of our educational institutions or have they become tools to disburse political patronage. Previously asked questions: Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996 Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses? -2008

5- The importance of higher education

New points to be added: Centres of higher education and their issues: universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, conservatories, institutes of technology. Significance of higher education available through certain college-level institutions, including vocational schools, trade schools, and other career colleges that award academic degrees or professional certifications. Previously asked questions: Privatization of higher education in India. -2002 Credit – based higher education system – status , opportunities and challenges -2011

6- Skilling the youth of India

New points to be added: Schemes: Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Skill India, StandUp India; acquire the market-relevant skills , Public-private partnerships in preparing the curriculum for training packages, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Skills Fund, National Policy on Skill Development. Previously asked questions: Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014 Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001

7- Environment  vs Growth

New points to be added: Weakening of the ancient symbiotic relationship between society and the environment on account of development and population growth, introducing greater scientific rigour in environment impact assessment of projects, lack of policy enthusiasm towards environment. Previously asked questions: Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993 Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006

8- Why is administration insensitive about the plight of slum dwellers

New points to be added: Third of India’s slum dwellers live in unrecognised slums, over representation of Scheduled Castes (SC) in slums, with 1 out of every five slums residents belonging to SC, compared to just over one out of 10 for urban India as a whole, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Bihar–had 51% of India’s slum households. Previously asked questions: Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993 The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. -2009

9- India’s role in changing global world order

New points to be added: Demographic dividend, technological  revolution, increased FDI, Ease of doing business, position as against China, New alignments eg. Quad, BIMSTEC etc. Previously asked questions: The implications of globalization for India. -2000 Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. -2010

10- Foreign Policy of Modi era

New points to be added: Act East policy, improving ties with India’s immediate neighbours in the neighbourhood first policy, development of a dedicated SAARC satellite, , Indian Ocean outreach, Project Mausam, Fast track diplomacy, Para diplomacy, Link West policy, Friendly- Israel policy. Previously asked questions: The global order: political and economic -1993 India’s role in promoting ASEAN cooperation. -2004

Also See Article: Study Tips for UPSC Civil Service Exam-part II GS paper 3,4

11- National  health  protection  scheme

New points to be added: Provisions, Universal Health, funding provisions, executional hierarchy, Populism or Welfare?. Previously asked questions: The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. -2009

12- Universal Basic Income vs Subsidy

New points to be added: Is it a simple antidote to poverty? , demolish complex welfare bureaucracies while meeting some social transfer obligations ,amount to about 5% of GDP, mobilising public opinion and activate social movements, UBI is funded by taxes and withheld current subsidies to the rich, The tax-GDP ratio in India. Previously asked questions: Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993

13- Nationalism debate

New points to be added: Effect of globalisation, possible substitutes such as global capitalism, socialist internationalism and UN multilateralism.The major challenges are coping with new problems arising within their territories and those which affect the very survival of mankind, sub-nationalisn, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, which significantly abridged the space for macroeconomic policymaking by nation states. Previously asked questions: Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. -2006 Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs -1994

14- Indian Model of Secularism

New points to be added: The lack of secularisation of society, groups gravitate to their own communities, politicisation  of religion, Triple Talaq, Universal Civil Code, personal laws etc. Previously asked questions: Spirituality and scientific temper. -2003 Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ?-2012

15- Feminisation of agriculture

New points to be added: Male out migration from rural areas, decreasing women’s opportunities in agricultural productivity, and lower rural pay due to skill exclusions, dangerous to food security, social subsidies on education and health were removed, women became responsible for supplementing the increased cost. Previously asked questions: If development is not engendered, it is endangered. -2016 Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India. -2017 Whither women’s emancipation? -2004

Also See Article: Civil Service Exam Optional Subjects – Science, not popular, but scoring

16- Digitalisation  Drive

New points to be added: the Digital India Land Record Modernisation Program (DILRMP),EShakti or Digitisation of SHGs, UPI, BHIM, AADHAR linkages, aim of connecting entire India digitally in the span of 4 years, Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity,  National Rural Internet Mission, E-kranti. Previously asked questions: Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006 Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993

17- India’s standing in BRICS countries.

New points to be added: Utility of the organization for India’s strategic and economic interests, membership yields greater opportunity than risk, BRICS Development Bank, “anti-Western” sentiment, struggles of other BRICS members, “China factor”.

18- Pollution Crisis in urban areas

New points to be added: Burning of farm residue, transportation scheme, better management of resources, loss to national income, international reputation, threat of diseases, WHO reports, Ranking of Indian cities. Previously asked questions: Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997 Urbanisation and its hazards -2008

19- Cultural Transformation in 21st century

New points to be added: Institutionalization of science in society, adaptive changes in religious values and beliefs, process of social restructuration, emergence of new classes, decline of traditional cultural institutions, social mobility, migration, occupational diversification. Previously asked questions: Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000 The composite culture of India. -1998 The Indian society at the crossroads. -1994 From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? -2010

Also See : UPSC Exam Dates

20- Artificial intelligence

New points to be added: Narrow and general artificial  intelligence, recursive self-improvement, triggering an intelligence explosion leaving human intellect far behind, risks associated,  legal and safety concerns, misaligned  goals. Previously asked questions: Technology cannot replace manpower. -2015 Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation-2013 These were some of the ‘hot topics’ that were in highlight  for some reason or the other throughout  the year. However exhaustive  this list may be, but UPSC has a tact of asking the same topic in a way that no one could imagine. Hence, candidates  are suggested to practice  as many mocks/tests as possible because with practice  comes precision.

Latest Essay topics for UPSC Civil Services Exam

1. Is CAA against the spirit of the Indian Constitution? What are the social and economic ramifications?

What is CAA

Latest amendment to CAA in 2019

Repercurtions of the said amendment

Opinion of the Supreme court

Stand taken by the Modi Government

Public outcry against CAA

2. New India @75

Give details of NITI Aayog’s ambitious scheme that defines the objectives for 2022-23

3. Mob Lynching

The problem, social outlook

Legal aspect

Suggestions of the Rajnath singh and Rajeev Gauba Committee

Proposal to curb it

4. Article 370 abrogation in Kashmir

Historical overview

Latest developments and the impact

5. Feminism

What is it, why is feminism propagated, the hype around feminism.

Is feminism worth the popularity that it has gained

More Essay Topics

6. Higher Education versus skill acquisition

7. Entrance exams versus Qualifying exams – what is the relevance of entrance exams for admissions to UG and PG courses in India?

8. scrapping of section 377 – the latest addition to Human rights protection

9. Pro poor policies of Modi Government

10. Controversies surrounding the Present day NDA government in India

11. Relevance of the Supreme court’s decision to decriminalize the crime of adultery laid under section 497 of IPC

12. Worsening INR

13. Impact of increasing oil prices on Indian economy

List of Previous Years UPSC Essays

1.Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India.

2.Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India

3.Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.

4.Joy is the simplest form of Gratitude

5.Fulfilment of ‘new women’ in India a myth.

6.We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.

7.’Social Media’ is inherently a selfish medium.

8.Relevance of Non-Alignment Movement (NAM)

9.If Development is not engendered, it is endangered

10.Need Brings Greed , if need increases it spoils breed

11.Water Dispute Between States in Federal India

12.Innovation is the key determinant to Economic Growth and Social welfare

13.Co-operative Federalism –Myth or Reality

14.Cyberspace and Internet – Blessing or curse to the Human Civilization in the long run

15.Digital Economy- A leveler or a source of Economic Inequality

Essays in English

Essay on Demonetization

Essay on Pollution

Essay on Water conservation

Essay on Global Warming

Essay on Diwali in English

Essay on Holi in English

Essay on Chandrayaan in English

Essay on Women Empowerment in English

Essay on Child labour in English

Essay on Swachh Bharat Mission

Contributions of DRDO in Indian Defence

Essay on Digital India in English

Essays in Hindi

Essay on My school in Hindi

Essay on Corruption in Hindi

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Essay in Hindi

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Essay in Hindi

Essay on Republic Day in Hindi

Essay on Independence day in Hindi

Essay on Diwali in Hindi

Essay on Holi in Hindi

Essay on Demonetization in Hindi

Essay Writing in Hindi

Happy preparation, guys!

Author: Anushka Mishra

(C) SuccessCDs.net

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• UPSC Mains 2022 General Studies Paper 1

UPSC Civil Services Mains 2022 Essay Paper

• Future Perspective For Non-Conventional Sources of Energy In India
• French Revolution - History, Timeline, Causes and Its Impact
• Role of Service Sector in Modern Economic Development of India
• Causes of Failure of the Revolt of 1857
• How Public Sector Contributes to the Economic Development of a Nation?
• Key Features of Federalism
• Legal Measures Taken by Government to Empower Consumers
• Relevance of Gandhian Principles in the 21st Century
• Human Values- Concept and Importance
• Pros and Cons of Globalization
• The Russian Revolution
• Issues Related to Urbanization in India
• Dayananda Saraswati: A Social Reformer of India
• Constitutional Provisions for the Protection of Environment
• Role of Caste in Indian Politics
• Conventional Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages
• Applications of Information Technology
• Normative Ethics with Examples
• Philosophy of the Indian Constitution
• Town Planning and Drainage System of Harappan Civilization
• Role of Mahatma Gandhi in National Movement
• Strategies to Improve Health Facility in India
• Powers and Functions of Lokpal and Lokayukta
• Role of Swami Vivekananda in Social Reform - Ramakrishna Mission
• E-Governance: Challenges and Advantages
• 4 Major Sectors of an Economy
• Important Topics of Geography for UPSC
• Last Updated : 19 Sep, 2022

UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2022: The Union Public Service Commission started the UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2022 on September 16, 2022. The UPSC mains exam started on September 16, 2022 , and will be held on 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2022, at various locations around the country. GeeksforGeeks have brought the UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2022 to make your exam preparation perfect. 

The highest score in the Mains Written level is crucial since 7 out of 9 papers are counted for merit ranking. Preliminary level marks, on the other hand, are not counted for merit ranking. As a result, the candidate’s attention should not only be on passing the exam but also on obtaining the best and highest possible grades. 

To gain a notion of Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2023 , one needs at least to look at the previous seven years of UPSC Essay Topics. Practicing the UPSC Essay Topics of Previous Years helps throughout the UPSC Mains exam, and the aspirant may ace the essay paper with enough preparation.

UPSC 2022 Mains Essay Question Paper:

The UPSC Essay paper is divided into two portions. Section A and Section B are the two. Each segment has four questions. Candidates must select one topic from each section, resulting in a total of two essay questions.

The word count for each question should be between 1000 and 1200 . Each question is worth 125 marks , thus the total number of marks is 250. The question paper will be evaluated on merit.

The Essay Topics asked in the UPSC Mains 2022 are given below:

1) Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.

2) Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.

3) History is a series of victorious won by the scientific man over the romantic man.

4) A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is for. 

1) The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. 

2) You cannot step twice in the same river. 

3) A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities. 

4) Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

Aspirants can evaluate and plan their approach for the Civil Services Examination’s Mains level based on the question paper of 2022. UPSC Mains 2022 Essay Paper UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 1 UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 2 UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 3 UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 4

UPSC Mains Essay Previous Year Question Paper:

• UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2021
• UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2020
• UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2019
• UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2018
• UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2017
• UPSC Mains Essay Paper  2016 

How to Score Marks on UPSC Mains Essay Topics?

Writing provides insight into your cognitive process. This is precisely what the examiner looks at when reading your answer script. An essay is essentially a well-organized collection of ideas on any given topic. Mastering the skill of getting the highest possible grade on a test involves a lot of effort and dedication. The UPSC Mains essay is more than just a test of factual knowledge; it is also a test of creativity and confidence. 

Follow these strategies to get high marks in the UPSC Mains Essay paper:

1. Choose your topic carefully

The UPSC Essay paper 2022 is divided into two portions, and applicants must write one essay from each area. Both essays are worth 125 points and are 1000-1200 words long. Before choosing a topic, consider if it is too contentious or whether you have enough facts to write about it.

2. Think about the subject

Once you’ve decided on a topic, think about it and jot down the essential keywords you’ll use in your essay. Try to take a multifaceted approach to the essay and stick to a decent format of introduction, body, and conclusion.

3. Structure the essay in a proper manner

The opening paragraph is the heart of the essay and should provide a clear overview of the issue. The main focus should be on your thoughts on the subject. The primary body of the essay should be broken into little paragraphs that are interconnected nicely. The essay’s wording should be simple, clear, and easy to grasp. 

The UPSC Mains essay assesses your critical thinking abilities rather than your use of fancy language. Facts and statistics should be supplied whenever necessary. The use of quotations and sayings strengthens the essays. The final paragraph should speak for itself. Candidates should aim to write the essay in an unbiased or balanced manner.

Economic Growth, women empowerment, art & culture, media & society, social justice or poverty, education, renowned quotes from notable individuals , and other themes are among the UPSC Essay Topics.

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UPSC Essay Topic wise Question Papers of last 30 years (1993-2022) for Civil Services IAS/IPS Exam Free Download

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

1.1 India Since Independence

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

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

2 Economy, Development

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

3 Education

• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms. -2017
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil-2015
• Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood. -2007
• Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014
• Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001
• Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? -2014
• Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996
• Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008
• What is real education? -2005
• “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. -2006
• Restructuring of Indian education system. -1995
• Privatization of higher education in India. -2002
• Credit – based higher education system – status, opportunities and challenges -2011

4 Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics

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

5 Women empowerment

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

6 International issues, Internal Security, History

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

7 Science-Technology

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

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

• History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man (इतिहास वैज्ञानिक मनुष्य के रूमानी मनुष्य पर विजय हासिल करने का एक सिलसिला है।) – 2022
• A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for (जहाज बन्दरगाह के भीतर सुरक्षित होता है, परन्तु इसके लिए तो वह होता नहीं है) & 2022
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right (केवल इसलिए कि आपके पास विकल्प हैं, इसका यह अर्थ कदापि नहीं है कि उनमें से किसी को भी ठीक होना ही होगा) – 2022
• Free Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwYR7WJw1-QWw2l-GA5DVW0EThFRkORf8
• Free Powerpoint: https://unacademy.com/content/upsc/mains-paper-analysis/

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