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Essay Edge Course 2023

Course details, description.

The essay is a crucial component of the UPSC Civil Service Main Examination. It holds significant weightage and can greatly enhance your overall mains score, in conjunction with your optional subject. Several individuals have achieved commendable ranks solely by obtaining a high score in the essay paper, along with decent scores in other subjects.

As you are all aware, the nature and scoring of the Essay paper have changed since the 2021 mains examination. The topics now are primarily philosophical in nature, making essay writing more challenging, and consequently, overall scores have dipped. In previous years, with sufficient efforts, scores of 140 and above, even reaching 150+, could be attained. However, in the past two years, surpassing the 130+ mark has become a formidable task.

Staying true to its motto of Simplifying UPSC preparation , InsightsIAS is delighted to announce the launch of the Essay Edge Course by its expert faculty, Mr. Farees Rahman. This course is designed to help you conquer the challenges in essay writing and master the art of crafting exceptional essays.

Features of the course:

• 4 classes- Skill enhancement sessions with effective exercises in-class: These sessions will focus on teaching basic skills in-class through exercises, allowing students to master them.
• 3 classes - Expertise enhancement sessions: With sufficient grip on the basics, advanced techniques will be taught at the halfway point to add value to your essay writing skills.
• 4 classes - Essay Discussion & Capability strengthening sessions : These sessions will cover essay questions, previous year's topics, and provide opportunities for minor and major improvements in a staggered manner.
• The course will include a total of 9 tests , comprising of 1 baseline test and 8 mock tests. The tests will be evaluated in detail as per UPSC standards . To ensure comprehensive guidance and support, One-on-one feedback will be provided by Farees sir himself.
• The course is designed based on the proven "S.W.O.T analysis template." This template will be generated midway through the course, taking into account your performance in the tests. It will assist students in identifying their strengths and enhancing them further, as well as recognizing their weaknesses and working on transforming them into strengths.
• A uniquely designed Coursebook will be issued on 15th June, which will serve as a comprehensive resource for the students. It will include designated spaces for taking notes, brainstorming, and writing essays. Additionally, it will feature sections for evaluation and the S.W.O.T analysis template. This arrangement allows all essays to be compiled in one place, facilitating integrated feedback and tracking of individual growth throughout the course.
• Unique value-added materials will be provided to the students during the course, aiming to enrich their essay writing content. These materials are specifically designed to provide additional knowledge and resources that can enhance the quality and depth of their essays.
• The course is available in both online and offline modes , catering to the preferences of students. Online students will receive a PDF version of the coursebook and the value-added materials. They will also have the opportunity to receive one-on-one feedback through platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet, ensuring personalized guidance and support.
• Course will begin with an open session on 08-06-2023 which is open for all and will be live-streamed on YouTube. This session aims to provide an overview of the course, its objectives, and key highlights, allowing a broader audience to gain insights into the course content and approach.
• The course will cover both technical and philosophical essay topics (with more emphasis on the latter), providing guidance and strategies for effectively approaching and writing essays on these diverse subjects. Students will receive comprehensive instruction on how to tackle technical topics with clarity and precision, as well as how to delve into philosophical themes with depth and critical analysis. The course aims to equip students with the necessary skills and strategies to excel in both types of essay topics.
• The course is specifically designed to maximize benefits while minimizing time investment , recognizing the need for candidates preparing for the mains examination to allocate their time and efforts across multiple areas such as the optional subject and GS papers. The course structure and content are tailored to provide focused and efficient guidance , ensuring that students can effectively balance their preparation while still obtaining substantial benefits in essay writing.
• The course offers affordable prices while providing features that are not available elsewhere. The aim is to make quality essay writing guidance accessible to a wide range of students, ensuring that they receive exceptional value for their investment. The combination of affordability and unique features sets this course apart from others in the market.
• Students will have continued access to guidance and feedback from Farees Sir even after the completion of the Essay Edge Course. Post-course support is offered to ensure ongoing assistance and support to students in their essay writing journey. They are encouraged to avail this support and can rely on Farees Sir for guidance even beyond the course duration.
• Special guidance is also available for students who are preparing for the Indian Forest Service Main Examination (IFoS Mains) and require assistance with their English essays specific to the demands of that exam.

Course Fees:

Rs 10000-/ (Inclusive of all taxes)

Early bird offer till 7 th June: 10% discount

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10000/- (Inclusive of Taxes)

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• Concept DevDrishti
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GENERAL STUDIES

Test series, sucess mantra, free course, test series, success mantra.

• CURRENT AFFAIRS

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE PROGRAMME

The aim of this programme is to improve the Writing Skills of the students and to help them in writing Quality Enriched Answers  within the specified time.

This exercise will equip the students with necessary expertise to score  more than 450 marks very easily .

To achieve this objective 12 Self-Assessment Tests (SATs) will be conducted . 

• The first 8 Tests will cover specific topics from each paper as mentioned in detailed plan and the last 4 Tests are comprehensive tests covering full syllabus. 

All the test papers will be strictly in accordance with the new pattern of IAS Mains Examination.

Preparations of question papers and the video discussion will be conducted ONLY by Expert Faculties of each subject .

Not just the Model Answers but the holistic coverage of the issue will be discussed and relevant study material will be provided to the students.

Evaluated Answer Sheets will be provided before the discussion ( maximum of 7 days ) of the test for better learning.

Personal Attention with Mentorship support will be provided for upgradation of learning and continuous improvement in the answer writing skills.

Students will have  flexibility to write the tests as per their convenience on any day of the week.

INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, INDIAN AND WORLD HISTORY

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

CONSTITUTION, POLITY, AND GOVERNANCE

• Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs disputes redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization, and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD

• Salient features of the world's physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone, etc.
• Geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

BIO DIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT

• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND APTITUDE - I

This paper will include questions to test the candidates' attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
• Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; the role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
• Emotional intelligence - concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
• Case Studies on the above issues

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution
• System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
• Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
• Investment models.

ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND APTITUDE - II

• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on the above issues.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure, mandate.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND APTITUDE

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Insights into Editorial: Dealing with India’s two-front challenge

Context: Indian strategic thinking on a two-front war

Till recently, any mention of a two-front war evoked two contrasting opinions. India’s military was firmly of the view that a collusive China-Pakistan military threat was a real possibility , and we must develop capabilities to counter this challenge.

On the other hand, the political class in general and the mainstay of the country’s strategic community felt that a two-front threat was being over-hyped by the military to press for additional resources and funds.

They argued that historically, China has never intervened militarily in any India-Pakistan conflict and that the economic, diplomatic, and political ties between India and China rule out any armed conflict between the two countries.

As a result, Indian strategic thinking was overwhelmingly focused on Pakistan and the security considerations emanating from there.

Urgent need for India-specific doctrine, suggests a policy paper

China’s premeditated aggression and intrusions on the Indian side of the L ine of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, is a manifestation of its geopolitical intent to constrain, intimidate and dominate India.

China has employed force levels unmatched since 1962 against India, which it regards as a future strategic rival.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) transgressions in Ladakh has also brought about greater physical proximity between and increased prospects of strategic and operational collusion between the militaries of China and Pakistan.

Such developments should leave no doubt in the minds of Indian strategic planners and defence policymakers that India faces a two-front challenge. And it requires a major doctrinal and capability rethink.

Case of contingency: If both neighbours conflicted at same time:

• In a two-front scenario, the larger challenge for India’s military would come if the hostilities break out along the northern border with China.
• In such a contingency, there is a likelihood that Pakistan would attempt to take advantage of India’s military preoccupation by limited military actions in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and attempt to raise the level of militancy in Kashmir.
• It is unlikely that Pakistan would initiate a large-scale conflict to capture significant chunks of territory as that would lead to a full-blown war between three nuclear armed states.
• In such a contingency, the damage to Pakistan’s economy and military far outweighs the advantages of capturing some pieces of ground. Pakistan would prefer the low-risk option of pursuing a hybrid conflict that remains below the threshold of war.
• Even if the current India-China crisis on the border is resolved peacefully , China’s military challenge will occupy greater attention of Indian military planners in the months and years to come.
• This comes at a time when the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan has been steadily deteriorating.
• Between 2017 and 2019, there has been a four-fold increase in ceasefire violations . Some media reports had indicated that Pakistan had moved 20,000 troops into Gilgit-Baltistan, matching the Chinese deployments in Eastern Ladakh.

China-Pakistan military links

For sure, the Sino-Pakistan relationship is nothing new, but it has far serious implications today than perhaps ever before. China has always looked at Pakistan as a counter to India’s influence in South Asia.

Over the years, the ties between the two countries have strengthened and there is a great deal of alignment in their strategic thinking .

Military cooperation is growing, with China accounting for 73% of the total arms imports of Pakistan between 2015-2019.

The joint exercise between Pakistan and China will improve combat capacity of both air forces substantially and also enhance interoperability between them with greater strength and harmony.

It would, therefore, be prudent for India to be ready for a two-front threat. In preparing for this, the Indian military needs to realistically analyse how this threat could manifest itself and the type of capabilities that should be built up to counter it.

Dilemmas for India in situation of serious two-front threat:

A two-front conflict presents the Indian military with two dilemmas — of resources and strategy.

In an article, it estimates that about 60 combat squadrons are needed to deal with a serious two-front threat.

This is double the number of squadrons currently with the Indian Air Force (IAF). Obviously, it is neither practical nor feasible to build a level of capability that enables independent war fighting on both fronts.

Capability building also requires a serious debate , particularly in view of the fact that the country’s economic situation will not permit any significant increase in the defence Budget for the foreseeable future.

There is too much focus on major platforms such as aircraft, ships, and tanks, and not enough on future technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, etc.

The right balance will have to be struck based on a detailed assessment of China and Pakistan’s war-fighting strategies.

Diplomacy has a crucial role to play in meeting the two-front challenge:

To begin with, India would do well to improve relations with its neighbours so as not to be caught in an unfriendly neighbourhood given how Beijing and Islamabad will attempt to contain and constrain India in the region.

The government’s current engagement of the key powers in West Asia , including Iran, should be further strengthened in order to ensure energy security , increase maritime cooperation and enhance goodwill in the extended neighbourhood .

India must also ensure that its relationship with Russia is not sacrificed in favour of India-United States relations given that Russia could play a key role in defusing the severity of a regional gang up against India.

Even as the Quad, or the quadrilateral security dialogue (India, Australia, Japan and the U.S) and the Indo-Pacific seem to form the mainstay of India’s new grand strategy , there is only so much that a maritime strategy can help ease the Sino-Pakistan pressure in the continental sphere.

Outreach to Kashmir:

Politically, the stark military reality of a two-front challenge :

one that is likely to grow stronger over the years, must serve as a wake-up call for the political leadership in New Delhi, and encourage it to look for ways to ease the pressure from either front.

Easing pressure on the western front requires political will more than anything else. From a long-view perspective, therefore, a well-choreographed political outreach to Kashmir aimed at pacifying the aggrieved citizens there would go a long way towards that end .

This could also lead to a potential rapprochement with Pakistan provided, of course, Pakistan can be persuaded to put an end to terrorist infiltration into Kashmir.

Conclusion:

It is important to remember that Chin a, a rising and aggressive, superpower next door , is the bigger strategic threat for India, with Pakistan being a second-order accessory to Beijing’s ‘contain India strategy’. India would, therefore, do well to do what it can politically to reduce the effect of a collusive Sino-Pakistan containment strategy aimed at India.

In conclusion, a research paper states that in a two-front threat scenario , the military asymmetry with China has widened while the gap in conventional asymmetry with Pakistan is narrowing.

For countering the combined threat , the Indian Armed Forces need to develop an India-specific doctrine.

This will help in fighting a full spectrum trench to space war across multiple domains and deploying technology as well as “boots on the ground” along the LOC and the LAC.

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Home » Mains Practice Questions » Essay

This exam necessitates a lot of serious study and devotion. Every applicant who understands the UPSC’s trends and expectations and works diligently toward achieving a rank under suitable supervision has a chance to succeed.

This year’s Mains – 2021 questions in GS, Essay, and even Optional papers need in-depth examination of trending topics as well as certain key static topics that may or may not be in the news.

Analytical skills can only be enhanced by regularly thinking and writing. Regular writing, in particular, is essential for improving your analytical abilities. Writing answers after reading other people’s answers or reading a synopsis will get you nowhere.

You must adhere to the standards outlined in the preceding article. You can get knowledge but not wisdom by consulting a summary.

Legacy IAS team will frame as many questions as feasible on each and every component of the GS syllabi as part of this initiative. This will allow you to take continuous notes and write answers until your  UPSC Mains Exam 2022-2023.

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Essay Paper UPSC 2023 (Mains) Question Paper and Analysis

Last updated on September 27, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

UPSC conducted the Civil Service Mains exam for essay paper on 15 September 2023.

The CSE mains essay paper comprises two sections. Each section contains 4 essay topics. Out of which 2 topics of choice from each section need to be picked.

Candidates were supposed to answer about 1000-1200 words for each essay.

Table of Contents

UPSC CSE Essay Paper 2023 Instructions

General instructions mentioned on the essay paper, that need to be followed by every aspirant are provided here.

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

Essay Question Paper: UPSC Civil Services Main Exam (Written) 2023

The question paper of the UPSC CSE mains essay paper is provided here.

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

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1: Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.

2: Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.

3: Not all who wander are lost.

4: Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.

5: Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands- two equally harmful disciplines.

6: Mathematics is the music of reasons.

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7: A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.

8: Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2023: Exam Analysis

The essay topics for the UPSC Civil Services Main Exam in 2023 were intellectually demanding and philosophical in nature.

They required candidates to engage in deep critical thinking and present their thoughts logically.

All the questions in this year’s paper aimed at assessing the candidates’ ability to handle abstract concepts and express their ideas effectively in a structured manner.

This year’s essay topics look like that UPSC has taken inspiration from a wide range of sources, including philosophical and literary works.

Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team

This topic seems to revolve around the idea that critical thinking often emerges in response to opposing viewpoints or challenges.

Candidates may have been asked to explore how the clash of ideas leads to innovation and progress.

Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.

This famous saying belongs to Paul O’Brien.

This statement likely prompted candidates to discuss the balance between intuition and rationality in making important decisions.

It encourages a reflection on the role of both factors in effective leadership and problem-solving

Not all who wander are lost

This saying belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien,  The Fellowship of the Ring.

The topic expected from candidates to think about how exploring and being spontaneous in life’s journey can be really good.

It’s a deep topic that can be understood in many different ways.

Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane

This essay topic appears to emphasize the idea that creativity is not limited to rare moments of inspiration but can be found in everyday experiences.

It probably asked people to think about where creativity comes from and how we can express it in our daily lives.

Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands- two equally harmful disciplines

This is the saying of Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir was a prominent French existentialist philosopher and feminist thinker. She made significant contributions to feminist philosophy through her work, including “The Second Sex,” where she discussed the concept of “The Other” and examined the role of societal expectations in shaping women’s lives.

The quote by Simone de Beauvoir presented the idea that both girls and boys or individuals of different genders, often face distinct but equally harmful forms of societal pressures and constraints.

It suggests that expectations placed on girls (referred to as “restrictions”) and boys (referred to as “demands”) can be damaging and limit their potential.

Mathematics is the music of reasons

The complete saying of James Joseph Sylvester is that mathematics is the music of reason. May not music be described as the mathematics of the sense, mathematics as music of the reason? The musician feels mathematics, the mathematician thinks music: music the dream, mathematics the working life.”

This statement suggests a poetic connection between mathematics and music. Candidates likely had to discuss the beauty and logic inherent in mathematics and its role in shaping our understanding of the world.

A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity

This topic seems to touch upon the ideas of social justice and charity, which have been discussed by philosophers like John Rawls and the concept of the “veil of ignorance.”

Candidates may have been asked to explore the relationship between justice, equality, and philanthropy in society.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school –  Albert Einstein .

This essay topic likely demands from candidates to reflect on the value of education beyond rote memorization.

It may have expect discussion on the practical application of knowledge and lifelong learning.

What Should Aspirants Preparing for UPSC CSE for Next Year do for an essay paper?

Taking the essay paper in the UPSC exam seriously is important. This paper requires you to write 10-12 pages about abstract or philosophical topics, which can be challenging if you’re not well-prepared.

To succeed in this exam and perform well in the essay paper, you should work on improving your comprehension and analytical skills. To get additional guidance you can join the ClearIAS essay writing program as well.

One helpful way to prepare is by reading various types of essays, especially philosophical ones. Pay special attention to the ideas of famous philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx, and others.

Practice writing essays based on famous quotes, as this is a common format in UPSC exams.

Additionally, be ready to write essays on a wide range of topics, including society, politics, the economy, and technology. UPSC asks such types of questions too.

Keep in mind that there isn’t a fixed pattern for UPSC questions. Analyze previous year’s question papers to get valuable insight. So, focus on understanding the way UPSC frames questions rather than expecting a consistent trend.

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