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UPSC Essay Topics - Important Essay Topics for UPSC Mains 2023

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

UPSC Essay Paper

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

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

Weekly UPSC Essay Topics By Vajiram & Ravi

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

Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2023

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

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Art and Culture

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Education

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Polity and Governance

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Economy

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

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

UPSC Essay Topics on Social Issues

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

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

Previous Year UPSC Essay Topics

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

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

Tips to Excel in UPSC Essay Paper

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

FAQs on UPSC Essay Topics

What are the important UPSC Essay Topics?

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

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

How do I Prepare for the UPSC Essay?

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

Which is the best source to practise UPSC Essay Topics?

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

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Essay on Women Empowerment: UPSC Essay Paper Sample to Understand

IAS Essay writing is not an easy task for many. This article talks about essay topics for UPSC and how you can improve UPSC essay paper by going through the example of an essay on Women Empowerment for UPSC.

The first step in IAS essay writing should be to introduce the topic. In this case, it is Women empowerment essay for UPSC. So start with an introduction paragraph for the article.

Introduction Para

Women empowerment is defined as empowering women, meaning that women can get power in decision making whether it is at the domestic level or national level. The autonomy of women is very important in order to bring advancement in the political, social and economical aspects of society. Women have been deprived of basic rights for centuries now and it is time to create change in this generation. To be able to create any change, the participation of every woman and man of the nation is important.

The united force of both genders is the only possible way of eradicating the social evils of the past that prevailed in our nation. Women’s empowerment starts at home, men should start taking up responsibility and should relieve women of the household duties the society expects them to do. It is believed that men should not cook or clean, and it is solely the responsibility of the wife or mother to do these activities. The change in such ideology is very important to move towards sustainable development. Men do not need to do every job, even small help at home goes a long way. The need of the hour is to create a change, and every small step counts for that.

Second Para

Your second para for your UPSC essay paper will now move from introducing the topic and will lay focus on the causes of the issue (if any). This will help to talk about the topic as a whole and you will be able to cover all the bases required for IAS essay writing.

Continuation of Second Para

Women have been deprived of every basic right ever since the dawn of civilisation. Women could not vote, could not work, and they had no say in any family matters.  The society has been discriminating against women even though they are the ones who take care of everyone. They might be respected in religious texts, but the same amount of respect is not given in real life. Females are expected to cook for everyone in the family and they are not allowed to work outside their homes even in this generation.

The society sets a lot of restrictions on women. They are expected to walk a certain way, talk a certain way and behave in a certain way. This degrades the self-respect of women and this behaviour is carried down from generation to generation.

Continuation of Para

Now that you have introduced the topic and talked about the cause for women empowerment essay of UPSC, focus this para on the effects of the problems and the impact.

With women not being able to make decisions on their own, society has not been able to develop. The economic sector of the country is the most impacted. How? With women not being allowed education or being allowed to work, they sit at home and just keep doing household duties. This results in a wastage of human capital and resources that could be used for the betterment of society. In the past, women were not even allowed to vote, and this resulted in a false perception of majority voting.

The major issue that arises due to oppression is the toll on mental health. Everyone deserves the freedom and when women are deprived of it, the mental stress on them increases. Their goals are shattered and life changes drastically. A lot of sudden changes take place and it is a very common practice in India to marry a girl off if she asks to be educated after her grade 12th. These practices have led to an under-educated society, and the literacy ratio is the biggest proof. The literacy rate of women in India according to the 2011 census is 64.6% whereas the literacy rate of men is 80.9%.

Also Read: Best Answer Writing Practice Tips for UPSC Exams

The Conclusion Para

This is the final paragraph in IAS essay writing. Concentrate on suggesting solutions and concluding the topic.

Understanding the need for women empowerment is essential but what is more essential is the action taken to ensure this. As stated earlier, the first and foremost step is starting at households. If there is a change in the household then slowly society changes and with that, the government too will have to create stricter laws for the same. The government has already set laws for equality and reservation of women in many areas but it has to ensure that these laws are being followed appropriately.

Educating society on this topic is an important tool. When society has knowledge about right and wrong, decisions can be made to improve the life of not only women but every person in the society that has been a victim of societal expectations and standards. Each and every person should look to participate in the issue of women empowerment. When the country acts united, the purpose of the movement becomes stronger. Governments should not be afraid of interfering in religion if it deprives women of any constitutional right and the abolishment of triple talaq is just the first step towards it.

The ever-changing modern world may be a colourful place to live in but it is not the best! The issues of sexual discrimination continue to this day. To bring changes, women empowerment is needed. Women empowerment is the answer to many problems the society faces in current times. It definitely is time to create major changes!

Also Read: List of Exams Conducted by the UPSC

If you are trying to prepare for IAS essay writing then this article provides you with a sample essay.

This Women Empowerment essay for UPSC practice can help you understand how to write your UPSC essay paper and how you can score maximum marks. All the best to everyone!

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I was searching through the internet and this was the first search and this was very helpful and the essay is what i find the tough part, can you also some tips to boost your vocabulary?

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Sample UPSC Essay Written by IAS Topper

This was the only essay that I practiced during the entire preparation  period. It was a huge coincidence that a similar essay topic came in the UPSC Mains 2016 Essay Paper. I will reproduce the essay below.  I have scored 164 in Essay.

 Consumption, Consumerism & Environment

Little girl Sunita watches her richer counterpart shop bright new clothes for the upcoming festive season. She cravingly stares at them while breathing in the smokes off cars running by her shabby tent on the footpath. Sunita is a victim of consumerism.

Our modern economic systems hinge on mass-consumption. The measure of a country’s ‘growth’ is defined by the amount of consumption. The industry, capitalists and governments push for higher growth by driving consumption. In such situation, we ignore the limit of our needs, breeding the culture of consumerism. And as Gandhiji pointed out much before Rio ’92 conference, there is not enough for everyone’s greed.

In our blind chase for consumerism-driven economic growth, we have failed to factor in the environmental cost. It is a capital that is not accounted for. The result is that we are exceeding earth’s carrying capacity even as millions go hungry. The externalities are affecting the world’s poor disproportionately by vitiating the environment.

Vandan Shiva in ‘Stolen Harvest’ has exposed the precarious environmental situation created by fast food chains like KFC. Water guzzling animal breeding farms are run on cleared Amazon forest land to feed the consumerism. At the same time the world is staring at water wars and global warming.

This unsustainable lifestyle promoted by consumerism has created glaring inequalities. For example, the Times Square, NY consumes as much electricity in one night as the entire Zimbabwe in one year. Such massive inequality further forces the poor to adopt unsustainable methods like log burning to meet their energy needs. Thus, the cycle of environmental degradation continues.

Closer home, we have seen the negative effects of unsustainable methods of agriculture in Punjab. In our focus on meeting consumption demands, the environmental costs were ignored. The result is salinated soil, depleted ground water and higher incidence of cancer.

Consumerism has promoted ‘Climate Injustice’. The colonial countries and developed nations consume disproportionately larger amount of resources. However, their demands are met by vitiating the environment in poorer nations. The 5th IPCC Report points out how the developed nations have exported their production factories and thus externalities to the developing nations.

Thus, while the cocoa farmer in Cameroon does not know what chocolate is, his farm could be hit most by the global warming. And while Sunita’s parents cannot afford a house or a car, they will take in the dirty air from others’ vehicles.

Consumption driven economy is also behind the food shortage and its fallout has been on the environment. About 70% of the cereals grown in the USA are fed to the animals in the meat industry. The extensive monoculture, mechanization, use of chemical fertilizers, extension of agriculture in forest areas and overuse of water have affected the environment. It has caused habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, global warming due to methane and food scarcity.

The biggest beneficiaries of consumerism, at least in the short run, are the corporates. A section of the big corporates have also promoted climate change denialism to keep accumulating wealth uninterrupted. Oil companies like Shell have allegedly funded a section of scientists and politicians to deny the effects of climate change so that there is no moderation in consumption levels. Such activities have further harmed the cause of environmentalism.

The global community, however, has built a consensus around the idea of sustainable living and development. Right from the Club of Rome to the UNFCCC summit in Paris, the efforts have been to contain climate change by promoting sustainability. Remarkable success of the Montreal Protocol and modest achievements of the Kyoto Protocol are testimonies to that effort. Unfortunately, the global community has skirted the question of consumerism even at this point.

The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of different nations talk about reducing emissions, increasing emission efficiency, peaking emission targets. However, moderation in consumerism, an essential component of sustainability, has been ignored. Similarly, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) have multiple targets to achieve equality, reduce poverty, etc. There has been a consensus on the minimum standards of living but no talk of the ceiling on the standards.

In India, the culture of consumerism entered with the opening of economy in 1991. While still at its infancy, the effect of unsustainable living are already showing. The Uttarakhand floods were largely driven by ‘developmental’ activities in the flood plains and fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Even the Chennai flood of 2015 was apparently caused by the greed of builders and promoters, driven by consumerism.

For a developing nation like India, the challenge is even greater. On the one hand she has to sustain the culture of frugal living amidst the onslaught of consumerism. On the other hand she has to ensure that there is social and economic justice through economic progress. This, however, is definitely achievable.

To contain the gluttony of consumerism without compromising the need for development, the world has to firstly define the upper limits of standard of living. While we have tools like Multidimensional Poverty Index, Poverty Line, Depth of Poverty, etc. there is no definition of a sustainable lifestyle. All the nations have to promote the acceptance of such a lifestyle to achieve environmental sustainability.

Additionally, a cultural shift is needed in the global community. The fashion of wealth display has to make way for the fashion of ecological consciousness. A society where green living is promoted will naturally avoid the clutches of consumerism.

The industry and big corporates have a big role to play. They are the ones who promote blatant consumerism through advertisements, rapid churning of new models and glorifying the culture of flaunting. In the longer run, they have to realize that the ever-expanding consumption is not sustainable. A responsible corporate community must tone down the promotion of consumerism.

A living example of how Capitalism can be blended with Socialism and create sustainable living with high standards comes from the Nordic countries. The Nordic Socialism, as it is called, has had higher taxes, cradle-to-grave welfare programs, environmentally sustainable energy programs etc. Denmark is a wind energy surplus country while Sweden imports garbage to run its waste-to-energy programs. Another example is Bhutan which ranks high on Gross National Happiness Index and is a carbon negative country. The global community can follow these models and protect itself from the dangers of rampant consumerism. This will ensure that the cocoa farmers of Cameroon tastes the fruit of his own labour and Sunita’s parents can afford a home and her education in a safe and healthy environment.

10 thoughts on “Sample UPSC Essay Written by IAS Topper”

Multidimensional essay with apt examples. But I feel the content wrt to India can be added more. Thank you.

Awesome essay sir,the flow and language kept me connected throughout ??

Sir,How much you have scored in essay

Great sir. Could you please share you essay strategy ?

Dear sir, in my first attempt i have scored 95 in essay. In my second attempt (2016) i have scored 130 in essay . Went till interview. Missed by 9 marks. I need some mentorship in essay writing from you sir. I will send one or two essay per month till mains. Could you please give me your views on it?.

My mail id: [email protected] .

Please send me your mail id or telegram id to this address sir. Thank you.

Sir I am more focused on ethics+essay+ optional…than GS…so I am doing right or wrong

Thanks for sharing! Your essay is well written and multidimensional. Can you provide details on how did you brainstorm and structure your essay? I was unable to find the structure, even though the flow is brilliant

Your Blog is very nice. Wish to see much more like this. Thanks for sharing your information.

For all the IAS aspirants, this blog is worth reading, hopefully expecting more information like this.

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Tag: sample essay of toppers ias

Sample essay – balaji d k ias rank – 36, cse-2014.

Tags: d k balaji essay , essay by d k balaji , sample essay of toppers ias , upsc essay

  Balaji (Read his story Here) got 70 marks in his Essay paper in his first Mains (first attempt). In his second attempt, after writing many essays before the exam, he has got 138 marks. He has doubled his marks through rigorous practice. Essay plays an important role in deciding one’s rank. Please practice essay regularly. …

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• Anecdotes in Essay for UPSC Exam

How to employ anecdotes in Essay for the UPSC Exam?

An anecdote is a brief, revealing account of an individual person or an incident: “a story with a point,” such as to communicate an abstract idea about a person, place. In essays these anecdotes will help in improving the essays that will be written in the UPSC Mains Exam

This article in particular will help in giving the strategy for employing anecdotes in an effective way.

The candidates can read more related information from the links provided below:

Brief about Essays in UPSC Exam

The Essays segment may seem a lengthy and arduous paper, but it is also one of the most rewarding papers in the mains exam. A UPSC candidate will wonder how he/she can write 1000-1200 words in 3 hours? How they can get the content and frame arguments in that time span.

But these issues can be solved by studying source materials of GS. The challenging aspect will be recalling what one has studied and framing comprehensive arguments in the process.

Then there is a constant practice of writing consistently where one can maintain quantity and quality. Once the structure is perfected a candidate can employ quotes and anecdotes which will further strengthen the essay.

Strategy for Employing Anecdotes in UPSC Mains

• I used to choose a topic which has lots of dimensions to it. Usually this was the topic on which most people were going to write a essay. While there are advocates of choosing a non mainstream topic, it has inherent risk of backfiring. So I would suggest stick to the popular topic.
• Then I use to list down the random keywords and ideas that use to come to my mind as i start thinking on the topic.
• After 5 minutes I will write the questions that I want to answer in my essay- 5/6 of them – this gives structure to your content
• Now for next 10 mins I use to connect my ideas with the questions. I would try to recall any quotes, data points, anecdotes, movies, books, authors, philosophers, leaders that I could relate with the topic
• In this time I also use to frame a coherent argument alongwith a decent Introduction and conclusion
• Hook – something catchy – a quote, data point, short story which catches attention
• thesis – Brief outline of your argument
• Background – you can give a historical perspective of the issue or define the topic
• Use of rhetorical questions – at times as they help in giving a structure to the essay.
• Use of headings – not more than 3 in an essay, Your essay should look like a editorial in the hindu
• Individual, Family, Community , Society, Nation, Humanity
• Suggestion, Reiterate your core argument, Positive, Reserve best for here
• I would try to use parallelism if i can. For Ex – Read MLK I have a dream speech

Few more tips

• Choose a topic where you can argue in a reasonable and balanced manner
• Find the spirit of the topic
• Argument should be coherent.
• Present opposite side
• Introductory Hook, Thesis, Background – should be positive unlike “the world is in chaos, or pollution will kill us”

Candidates can find UPSC Prelims Ancient Indian History Question papers in the given link

Frequently Asked Question about Anecdotes in UPSC Exam

How do you write an anecdote for upsc essay, do essays repeat in upsc.

To know more about other Government Exams , visit the linked article. For more preparation materials they can refer to the links given in the table below:

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