[Download] UPSC Mains 2015: Essay Paper; Bonus: last 23 years’ papers topicwise & yearwise

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  1. Instructions
  2. Section-A: 125 Marks
  3. Section-B: 125 Marks
  4. Previous Papers vs. 2015
  5. Essay-list: Topic wise last 23 years (1993-2015)
    1. Economy, Development
    2. Education
    3. Indian Democracy, society, culture, mindset
    4. International issues
    5. Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics
    6. Polity, administration
    7. Science-Technology
    8. Women empowerment
  6. Essaylist: Yearwise Last 23 years (1993-2015)

Instructions

  • On 18th December 2015, UPSC conducted the Essay paper for the civil services mains examination.
  • 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 medium other than authorized one.
  • Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
  • Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly.

Section-A: 125 Marks

Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words.

  1. Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
  2. Quick but steady wins the race.
  3. Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
  4. Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil.

Section-B: 125 Marks

Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words.

  1. Technology cannot replace manpower.
  2. Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.
  3. Dreams which should not let India sleep.
  4. Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?

Previous Papers vs. 2015

UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2015

Earlier Papers 2015
2014- new trend started: Total 8 essay topics divided equally in two sections and you’ve to write one essay from each section System continued
2014: section “A” two essays on education Three essays on ethics/philosophy, and one on education.
2014: section “B” two essays on economy (1) Policy paralysis (2) tourism- next big thing for India Trend continued. Although some of the topics can be classified in two or more ways e.g. Indian crisis- moral or economy = both an essay on ethics as well as on economy.
2014: 6 out of 8 topics ended with “question-mark”, requiring the student to take a stand. Two topics required the student to take a stand

  1. Crisis faced in India: Moral *OR* Economic?
  2. Can capitalism bring inclusive growth (*YES or NO*)?
2014: Leadership / power related Essay: With greater power comes greater responsibility. Trend continues: Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
2001: The march of science and the erosion of human values. Technology cannot replace manpower.
2002: Modern technological education and human values. Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil
1993: My vision of India in 2001
  • Dreams which should not let India sleep. -2015
  • Perhaps based on the quote by late President Dr. APJ  Kalam who died on 2015, July: “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.”
Since last two years no essay on women (2013,2014) Trend continues for the third year in succession (2015), no essay on women.

Essay-list: Topic wise last 23 years (1993-2015)

Economy, Development

  1. Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. -2015
  2. Can capitalism bring inclusive growth? -2015
  3. Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country? -2014
  4. Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India? -2014
  5. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country-2013
  6. 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
  7. Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
  8. BPO boom in India.   -2007
  9. Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. -2006
  10. Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993
  11. Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993
  12. Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs -1994
  13. Special economic zone: boon or bane -2008
  14. Resource management in the Indian context. -1999
  15. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010
  16. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? -2009
  17. The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. -2009
  18. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997

Education

  1. Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil-2015
  2. Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? -2014
  3. Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014
  4. Modern technological education and human values. -2002
  5. Credit – based higher education system – status , opportunities and challenges -2011
  6. “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. -2006
  7. Privatization of higher education in India. -2002
  8. Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001
  9. Value-based science and education. -1999
  10. Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008
  11. Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood. -2007
  12. Restructuring of Indian education system. -1995
  13. Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996
  14. What is real education? -2005

Indian Democracy, society, culture, mindset

  1. Dreams which should not let India sleep. -2015
  2. Is sting operation an invasion on privacy? -2014
  3. Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? -2014
  4. Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s Success? -2013
  5. 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
  6. Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it? -2011
  7. Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? -2000
  8. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000
  9. Youth culture today. -1999
  10. Mass media and cultural invasion. -1999
  11. The composite culture of India. -1998
  12. The Indian society at the crossroads. -1994
  13. Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010
  14. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? -2010
  15. Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994
  16. New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion -1996
  17. How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets? -2007
  18. ‘ globalization’ vs. ‘ nationalism’ -2009
  19. National identity and patriotism -2008
  20. Responsibility of media in a democracy. -2002
  21. Why should we be proud of being Indians? -2000
  22. True religion cannot be misused. -1997
  23. Globalizations and its impact on Indian culture. -2004

International issues

  1. India’s role in promoting ASEAN co-operation. -2004
  2. The masks of new imperialism. -2003
  3. As civilization advances culture declines. -2003
  4. The implications of globalization for India. -2000
  5. My vision of an ideal world order. -2001
  6. India’s contribution to world wisdom. -1998
  7. The world of the twenty-first century. -1998
  8. Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. -2010
  9. The global order: political and economic -1993
  10. Importance of Indo-US nuclear agreement -2006
  11. Good fences make good neighbours -2009
  12. Terrorism and world peace -2005
  13. Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities -1996

Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics

  1. Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. -2015
  2. Quick but steady wins the race. -2015
  3. Character of an institution is reflected in its leader. -2015
  4. With greater power comes greater responsibility. -2014
  5. Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. -2014
  6. Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)-2013
  7. Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin -2008
  8. Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man.  -2007
  9. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. -2003
  10. Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. -2002
  11. Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. -1995
  12. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. -1995
  13. Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret -1994
  14. Useless life is an early death. -1994
  15. He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires and fears is more than a king. -1993
  16. Compassion is the basic of all morality would -1993
  17. If youth knew, if age could. -2002
  18. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. -2002
  19. The pursuit of excellence. -2001
  20. Truth is lived, not taught -1996

Polity, administration

  1. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative , economic and developmental implication -2011
  2. Evaluation of panchayati raj system in India from the point of view of eradication of power to people.  -2007
  3. Justice must reach the poor -2005
  4. Water resources should be under the control of the central government. -2004
  5. The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India. -1998
  6. The language problem in India: its past, present and prospects. -1998
  7. Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999
  8. When money speaks, the truth is silent. -1995
  9. How should a civil servant conduct himself? -2003
  10. Politics without ethics is a disaster. -1995
  11. Judicial activism. -1997
  12. The vip cult is a bane of Indian democracy -1996
  13. Need for transparency in public administration -1996
  14. Whither Indian democracy? -1995
  15. Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle. -1994
  16. How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? -2003
  17. What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. -1997
  18. My vision of India in 2001 a.d. -1993
  19. In the Indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism -2011
  20. Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007
  21. The country’s need for a better disaster management system. -2000
  22. Are we a ‘soft ’ state ? -2009
  23. Role of media in good governance -2008
  24. Judicial activism and Indian democracy. -2004
  25. What have we gained from our democratic set-up? -2001
  26. Urbanisation and its hazards -2008
  27. Food security for sustainable national development -2005

Science-Technology

  1. Technology cannot replace manpower. -2015
  2. Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation-2013
  3. Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ?-2012
  4. Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993
  5. The march of science and the erosion of human values. -2001
  6. The modern doctor and his patients. -1997
  7. Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006
  8. The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. -2000
  9. The lure of space. -2004
  10. Spirituality and scientific temper. -2003

Women empowerment

  1. Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal ?-2012
  2. Men have failed: let women take over. -1993
  3. Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. -2006
  4. The hand that rocks the cradle -2005
  5. If women ruled the world -2005
  6. Whither women’s emancipation? -2004
  7. Empowerment alone cannot help our women. -2001
  8. Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. -1999
  9. Woman is god’s best creation. -1998
  10. Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight. -1997
  11. The new emerging women power: the ground realities. -1995

Essaylist: Yearwise Last 23 years (1993-2015)

[accordion id=”essay-accordion”] [accordion_item title=”Click to expand and see last 23 years’ essays” parent_id=”essay-accordion”]

2015 write one essay from each section
Section-A

  1. Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
  2. Quick but steady wins the race.
  3. Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
  4. Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil.

Section-B

  1. Technology cannot replace manpower.
  2. Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.
  3. Dreams which should not let India sleep.
  4. Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
2014 write one essay from each section
Section-A

  1. With greater power comes greater responsibility. -2014
  2. Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? -2014
  3. Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014
  4. Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. -2014

Section-B

  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?
2013
  1. Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)
  2. Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s Success
  3. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country
  4. Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.
2012
  1. 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.
  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?
2011 1. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative , economic and developmental implication
2. Does Indian Cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it
3. Credit – based higher education system – status , opportunities and challenges
4. In the Indian context , Both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism
2010 1. Geography may remain the same; history need not.
2. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country?
3. Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role.
4. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift?
2009 1. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death?
2. Are we a ‘Soft ’ state ?
3. “The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society”.
4. “ Good Fences make good neighbors”
5. ‘ Globlisation’ vs. ‘ Nationalism’
2008 1. Role of Media in good governance
2. National Identity and Patritism
3. Special Economic Zone : Boon or Bane
4. Descipline means success , anarchy means ruin
5. Urbanisation and Its Hazards
6. Is an Egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ?
2007 1. Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood.
2. Evaluation of Panchayati Raj System in India from the point of view of eradication of power to people.
3. Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man.
4. Is Autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization?
5. How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets.
6. BPO boom in India.
2006 1. Women’s Reservation Bill Would Usher in Empowerment for Women in India.
2. Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential for Sustained Economic Development.
3. Importance of Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement
4. “Education for All” Campaign in India: Myth or Reality.
5. Globalization Would Finish Small-Scale Industries in India.
6. Increasing Computerization Would lead to the Creation of a Dehumanized Society.
2005 1. Justice must reach the poor
2. The hand that rocks the cradle
3. If women ruled the world
4. What is real education?
5. Terrorism and world peace
6. Food security for sustainable national development
2004 1. India’s Role in Promoting ASEAN Co-operation.
2. Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy.
3. Whither Women’s Emancipation?
4. Globalizations and Its Impact on Indian Culture.
5. The Lure of Space.
6. Water Resources Should Be Under the Control of the Central Government.
2003 1. The Masks of New Imperialism.
2. How far has democracy in India delivered the goods?
3. How should a civil servant conduct himself?
4. As civilization advances culture declines.
5. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.
6. Spirituality and Scientific temper.
2002 1. Modern technological education and human values.
2. Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem.
3. If youth knew, if age could.
4. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
5. Privatization of higher education in India.
6. Responsibility of media in a democracy.
2001 1. What have we gained from our democratic set-up?
2. My vision of an ideal world order.
3. The march of science and the erosion of human values.
4. Irrelevance of the classroom.
5. The pursuit of excellence.
6. Empowerment alone cannot help our women.
2000 1. Why should we be proud of being Indians?
2. The cyberworld: Its charms and challenges.
3. The country’s need for a better disaster management system.
4. Indian culture today: A myth or a reality?
5. The implications of globalization for India.
6. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values.
1999 1. Women empowerment: Challenges and prospects.
2. Youth culture today.
3. Mass media and cultural invasion.
4. Resource management in the Indian context.
5. Value-based science and education.
6. Reservation, politics and empowerment.
1998 1. The composite culture of India.
2. Woman is God’s best creation.
3.The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India.
4. India’s contribution to world wisdom.
5. The language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects.
6. The world of the twenty-first century.
1997 1. What we have not learnt during fifty years of Independence.
2. Judicial activism.
3. Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight.
4. True religion cannot be misused.
5. The modern doctor and his patients.
6. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise.
1996 1. Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education.
2. Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities
3. New cults and Godmen: a threat to traditional religion
4. The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy
5. Need for transparency in public administration
6. Truth is lived, not taught
1995 1. Politics without ethics is a disaster.
2. The new emerging women Power: the ground realities.
3. When money speaks, the truth is silent.
4. Whither Indian democracy?
5. Restructuring of Indian education system.
6. Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation.
7. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
1994 1. Youth is a blunder, Manhood a struggle, oldage a regret
2. The Indian society at the crossroads.
3. Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts.
4. Useless life is an early death.
5. Politics, bureaucracy and business – Fatal Triangle.
6. Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs
1993 1. My vision of India in 2001 A.D.
2. The global order: political and economic
3. He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires and fears is more than a king.
4. Compassion is the basic of all morality would
5. Men have failed: let women take over.
6. Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence.
7. Ecological considerations need not hamper development.
8. Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution.

[/accordion_item] [/accordion]
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73 Comments on “[Download] UPSC Mains 2015: Essay Paper; Bonus: last 23 years’ papers topicwise & yearwise”

  2. Reply

    Dear sir kindly provide guidelines for those beginner who want to appear in hindi medium as well.

  3. Reply

    Sir kya essay only english m hi likhna hota h. Maine mains k liye hindi subject chuna hai mera first attempt hai.

    1. Reply

      sir maine mains exam k liye Hindi language ko chuna hai to essay hindi main likhna hoga ya english main

  4. Reply

    Sir mai ne B. sc [math’s(h)] se kiya hai. Lekin optinal subject mai kuchh or lema chahta hu or midiam hindi lena hai kyo ki meri hindi. English se kafi better hai. Or sir. CSAT ke liye kaise pritretion kro bahot. Canfuse hu mai kya kru or kai se karu sir please help me plz plz

  5. Reply

    Sir i want to know that in upsc main exam hv any realtion to take english or Hindi mediam plz explain

  6. Reply

    Sir I am a central gov. Employee and I want to complete my graduation for upsc exams so sir please tell me subjects to take in graduation

  7. Reply

    SIR, MY NAME is karan i’m starter of upsc and now what i do , i mean which books will suitable for prepration and starter of upsc .
    please .. ans …

    some recmonned ncert .
    sir please upload essay,g.s,current affairs in hindi

  8. Reply

    Namste sir .. Mera optional sub. History h uske liye hindi medium ki to book or history ke important part,, or kitne sal me konse khand se kitne num, ke kitne person aaye or ho ske to sir pichle ten year ke chapter wise questions paper ,…..,

  14. Reply

    Everyone is directionless in the beginning. As for poor vocabulary and not being able to write more than 100 words. If you work on it,these things can improve.

  17. Reply

    sir i am new to prepare IAS exam but i have no idea how to study then how many time spend for the preparation please answer me sir

  18. Reply

    U can write an essay your own language so don’t worry about language. Clear IAS and mrunal.org is the best option for IAS guidance.u should go YouTube and type unacademy and download all Roaman saini IAS videos.i will give you all the information of UPSC exam related.hindi medium students should buy UPSC topper recommended valuable books. I will give all information where u should buy?.i am also hindi medium but I do smart study then hard study.IAS aspirants should will power,smart study, perseverance and determination. Nothing is impossible.believe in yourself. I am very happy to guiding you.I don’t know too much English language but I am giving my best. keep it up

    You can win

  19. Reply

    Hey guys..i am a 12 passout student aggressing towards graduation.. i am a student with PCM background…want to appear as UPSC CSE candidate in 2021 or 2022…wat is the correct approach for me as of now to prepare for the exam as I am aiming gor no coaching and cracking this exam in my first or second attemt only..I know all the syllabus required for the exam but dont know the approach…kindly guide anyone pls

  24. Reply

    sir I am a student of Assamese medium. my question sir can i give personal test in Assamese language .

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