UPSC Mains - Compulsory Essay Questions

UPSC Mains 2020 Question Paper: Essay Compulsory

Marks : 250 (125x2)    Duration: 3 hours

Write Two Essays, choosing One from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.

Section-A (125 marks) - Choose any one Essay

Section-A 

Q-1.Life is long journey between human being and being humane

Q-2.Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self

Q-3.Ships do not sink because of water around them ,  ships sink because of water that gets into them

Q-4.Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication 

Section-B

Section-B (125 marks)- Choose any one Essay

Q-1.Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have

Q-2.There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless

Q-3.Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality

Q-4.Technology as the silent factor in international relations

UPSC Mains 2019 

Essay Compulsory

Marks : 250 (125x2)                                                                                    Duration: 3 hours

 

Write Two Essays, choosing One from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.

Section-A (125 marks) - Choose any one Essay

Section-A 

1. Wisdom finds truth.

2. Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be.

3. Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society.

4. Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success.

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Section-B

Section-B (125 marks)- Choose any one Essay

1. South Asian Societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities.

2. Neglect of primary healthcare and education in India are reasons for its backwardness.

3. Biased media is a real threat to Indian Democracy

4. Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.

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UPSC Mains 2018 

Essay Compulsory

Marks : 250 (125x2)                                                                                    Duration: 3 hours

Write Two Essays, choosing One from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.

Section-A (125 marks) - Choose any one Essay

   1.    Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.

   2.    A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.

   3.    Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.

   4.    Management of Indian border disputes - a complex task.

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Section-B (125 marks)- Choose any one Essay

   1.    Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life.

   2.    “The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values.

   3.    A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both.

   4.    Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it.

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UPSC Mains 2017 
Essay Compulsory

Marks : 250 (125x2)                                                                                    Duration: 3 hours

Write Two Essays, choosing One from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.

Section-A (125 marks) - Choose any one Essay

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

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

  3.    Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms

  4.    Has the non alignment movement lost its relevance in a multipolar world?

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Section-B (125 marks)- Choose any one Essay

  1.    Joy is simplest form of gratitude

  2.    Fulfilment of new woman in India is a myth.

  3.    We may brave human laws but can not resist natural laws

  4.    Social media is inherently a selfish medium

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UPSC Mains 2016

Question Paper

Marks : 250 (125x2)                                                                                    Duration: 3 hours

Write Two Essays, choosing One from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.

Section-A (125 marks) - Choose any one Essay

  1.    If development is not engendered, it is engendered.

  2.    Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils bread.

  3.    Water disputes between State in federal India.

  4.    Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare.

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Section-B (125 marks)- Choose any one Essay

  1.    Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality.

  2.    Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run.

  3.    Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.

  4.    Digital Economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality.

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UPSC Mains 2015

Essay Compulsory 

7.  Marks : 250 (125x2)                                                                                  Duration: 3 hours

9. Instructions: Write two essays, choosing one from each of the following Section A & B, in about 1000-1200 words.

             Section - A

   Q1. Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.

   Q2. Quick but steady wins the race

   Q3. Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.

   Q4. Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil.

             Section - B

    Q1. Technology cannot replace manpower.

    Q2. Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.

    Q3. Dreams which should not let India sleep.

    Q4. Can capitalims bring inclusive growth?

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 UPSC Mains 2014

Essay Compulsory 

Marks : 250 (125x2)                                                                                    Duration: 3 hours

Write Two Essays, choosing One from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.

Section-A (125 marks) - Choose any one Essay

Write any one of the following essay in 1000 to1200 words.

·  1. With greater power comes greater responsibility.

·  2. Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?

·  3.  Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress?

·  4.  Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.

Section-B (125 marks)- Choose any one Essay

Write any one of the following essay in 1000 to1200 words.

·   1.  Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?

·   2.  Is sting operation an invasion on privacy?

·   3.  Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?

·   4. Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India?

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UPSC Mains 2013 

Essay Compulsory 

Write an essay on any one of the following topics, in not more than 2500 words. (250 marks)

Q1. Be the change you want to see in others-Gandhi ji.

Q2. Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s success?

Q3. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDP (Gross Domestic Product) would to be righty indices for  judging the well-being of a country.

Q4. Science and Technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.

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UPSC Mains 2012

Essay Compulsory 

 Write an essay on any one of the topics

1. In the contest 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.

2.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?

3. Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible?

4. Managing work and home - is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal?