1. Instructions
  2. Section-A: 125 Marks
  3. Section-B: 125 Marks
  4. Analysis: Against past GS papers!
  5. Similarities: Against past Essay papers
  6. Essay-list: Topic wise last 24 years (1993-2016)

    1. 1) India: Democracy, administration, Society, culture
    2. 2) Economy, Development
    3. 3) Education
    4. 4) Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics
    5. 5) Women empowerment
    6. 6) International issues, Internal Security
    7. 7) Science-Technology

Instructions of Essay Paper-2016

  • On 3rd December 2016, 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. If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
    स्त्री- पुरुष के सामान सरोकारों को शामिल किये बिना विकास संकटग्रस्त है |
  2. Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed.
    आवश्कता लोभ की जननी है, तथा लोभ का आधिक्य नस्लें बर्बाद करता है |
  3. Water disputes between States in federal India.
    संघीय भारत में राज्यों के बीच जल-विवाद |
  4. Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare.
    नवप्रवर्तन आर्थिक संवृद्धि और सामाजिक कल्याण का अपरिहार्य निर्धारक है |

Section-B: 125 Marks

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

  1. Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality.
    सहकारी संघवाद : मिथक अथवा यथार्थ |
  2. Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run?
    साइबरस्पेस और इन्टरनेट : दीर्ध अवधि में मानव सभ्यता के लिए वरदान अथवा अभिशाप |
  3. Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
    भारत में लगभग रोजगारविहीन संवृद्धि : आर्थिक सुधार की विसंगति या परिणाम |
  4. Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality.
    डिजिटल अर्थवयवस्था : एक समताकारी या आर्थिक असमता का स्त्रोत |

Analysis: Against past GS papers!

Since Mains syllabus change in 2013, What UPSC asked in General studies papers, now they’ve asking similar in Essay paper-2016! Observe

Last 3 GS Mains Papers Essay Paper-2015
2015| GSM3: jobless growth in India due to capitalism? Jobless growth an outcome of economic reforms
2015| GSM2: concept of cooperative federalism. Cooperative federalism: myth or reality?
2013| GSM2: Constitutional mechanisms to resolve the inter-state water disputes have failed… Interstate water dispute.
 
2013| GSM4: Gandhi’s quote on “earth has sufficient resources to satisfy needs but not greed.” Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed.

Similarities: Against past Essay papers

2015 2016
Since 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
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*)?
 In section “B”- all four topics required the candidate to take stand. “either this OR that”.
Nothing directly from globalization. Same.

Dissimilarities against Paper Essay papers

UPSC Essay Paper 2016

2013 to 15 2016
2015: Section-A: Three essays on ethics/philosophy, and one on education. More diversity. One topic asked from Women-empowerment, ethics, polity, tech-economy each.
Both 2014, 15 they focused on value education. Nothing direct on education. But gradual shift to “innovation”
No essay on women empowerment since 2013, 14 and 15. Draught is over. Finally asked. Engenderment of Development.

Fear of capitalism- continues

Seems the UPSC examiner is too much worried capitalism vs. inclusive growth. observe

2015 2016
Themes on “capitalism / growth” vs “inclusiveness / development”.

  • Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
  • Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.
 Theme continues

  1. Near jobless growth: in India An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
  2. Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality.

Another interpretation

  • could be that in 2016- both World bank report (Digital Dividend) and WEF-summit (4th industrial revolution)- highlighted the common theme that ICT, App-based,
  • On-demand economy is creating unequal opportunities wherein 10 member team of whatsapp, facebook making billions whereas 100 worker strong mfg. factories don’t even make crores.

Third interpretation: ofcourse, Narasimha Rao and 25th anniversary of LPG reforms!

Fear of Technology- continues

Seems the UPSC examiner is too much worried about the terminator-3 “Rise of machine”

इतना डर तो विपक्ष को भी नोटबंधी से नही लगता है!
2015 2016
Technology cannot replace manpower. . So continues to ask questions on this theme

  • Cyberspace- blessing/Curse?
  • Digital economy creates  inequality?
2000: Essay on charms and challenges of cyberworld. Cyberspace- blessing/Curse?

Essay-list: Topic wise last 24 years (1993-2016)

Each year, along with essay paper, I also upload topicwise compilation of all essays asked since 1993. However, this time, I’ve further refined the internal classification of the topics. Here it goes:

1India: Democracy, administration, Society, culture

1.1) India Since Independence

  • Is the Colonial mentality hindering India's Success? -2013
  • In the context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter, explore, on an evolutionary scale, the terms ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’. Critically comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian democracy -2012
  • Dreams which should not let India sleep. -2015
  • Why should we be proud of being Indians? -2000
  • Whither Indian democracy? -1995
  • How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? -2003
  • What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. -1997
  • What have we gained from our democratic set-up? -2001
  • My vision of India in 2001 a.d. -1993

1.2) Federalism, Decentralization

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

1.3) Administration

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

1.4) Judiciary

  • Justice must reach the poor -2005
  • Judicial activism and Indian democracy. -2004
  • Judicial activism. -1997

1.5) Poverty, Social Justice

  • Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993
  • The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. -2009
  • Food security for sustainable national development -2005
  • Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999

1.6) Indian Culture and Values

  • Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? -2000
  • Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000
  • The composite culture of India. -1998
  • The Indian society at the crossroads. -1994
  • From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? -2010
  • New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion -1996

1.7) Media, TV & Cinema

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

2Economy, Development

2.1) Growth vs Development

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

2.2) Environment vs Development

  • Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993
  • Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
  • Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010
  • Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997
  • Urbanisation and its hazards -2008

2.3) MNCs

  • Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. -2006
  • Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs -1994
  • Special economic zone: boon or bane -2008
  • Is the criticism that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified ?-2012

2.4) Sectors of Economy

  • BPO boom in India.   -2007
  • Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India? -2014
  • Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? -2009

3Education

3.1) Values in Education

  • Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil-2015
  • Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood. -2007
  • Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014
  • Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001
  • Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? -2014
  • Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996
  • Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008
  • What is real education? -2005

3.2) Scheme implementation

  •  “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. -2006
  • Restructuring of Indian education system. -1995

3.3) Higher education

  • Privatization of higher education in India. -2002
  • Credit – based higher education system – status , opportunities and challenges -2011

4Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics

4.1) Character, honesty

  • Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed. -2016
  • Character of an institution is reflected in its leader. -2015
  • With greater power comes greater responsibility. -2014
  • Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. -2014
  • Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man.  -2007
  • He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires and fears is more than a king. -1993

4.2) Knowledge

  • There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. -2003
  • Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. -1995

4.3) Compassion

  • Compassion is the basic of all morality would -1993
  • Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. -2015
  • Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)-2013

4.4) Truth

  • Truth is lived, not taught -1996
  • When money speaks, the truth is silent. -1995
  • Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. -2002

4.5) Youth, Discipline

  • Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin -2008
  • Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret -1994
  • If youth knew, if age could. -2002
  • Youth culture today. -1999
  • Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? -2014

4.6) Towards excellence

  • Quick but steady wins the race. -2015
  • Useless life is an early death. -1994
  • Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. -1995
  • The paths of glory lead but to the grave. -2002
  • The pursuit of excellence. -2001

5Women empowerment

5.1) @National Politics

  • Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight. -1997
  • Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. -2006
  • The new emerging women power: the ground realities. -1995

5.2) @World / Quote type

  • If women ruled the world -2005
  • The hand that rocks the cradle -2005

5.3) Empowerment overall

  • If development is not engendered, it is endangered. -2016
  • Whither women’s emancipation? -2004
  • Empowerment alone cannot help our women. -2001
  • Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. -1999

5.4) Compared to men

  • Woman is god’s best creation. -1998
  • Men have failed: let women take over. -1993
  • Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal ?-2012

6International issues, Internal Security

6.1) Globalization

  • Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010
  • Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994
  • ‘ globalization’ vs. ‘ nationalism’ -2009
  • National identity and patriotism -2008
  • Globalizations and its impact on Indian culture. -2004
  • The masks of new imperialism. -2003
  • As civilization advances culture declines. -2003
  • The implications of globalization for India. -2000
  • My vision of an ideal world order. -2001
  • India’s contribution to world wisdom. -1998
  • The world of the twenty-first century. -1998
  • Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. -2010

6.2) International Org./ Bilateral

  • Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities -1996
  • The global order: political and economic -1993
  • India’s role in promoting ASEAN co-operation. -2004
  • Importance of Indo-US nuclear agreement -2006

6.3) Security

  • Good fences make good neighbours -2009
  • Terrorism and world peace -2005
  • True religion cannot be misused. -1997
  • In the Indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism -2011
  • Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007
  • Are we a ‘soft ’ state ? -2009

7Science-Technology

7.1) Science and Religion

  • Spirituality and scientific temper. -2003
  • Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ?-2012

7.2) Science and Education

  • Modern technological education and human values. -2002
  • Value-based science and education. -1999
  • The march of science and the erosion of human values. -2001

7.3) Computer and internet

  • Cyberspace and Internet : Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run -2016
  • Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006
  • The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. -2000
  • Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993

7.4) Sci-Tech: others

  1. Technology cannot replace manpower. -2015
  2. Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation-2013
  3. The modern doctor and his patients. -1997
  4. The lure of space. -2004

Want more mock essay papers for practice? visit Mrunal.org/DOWNLOAD

Want more past papers of UPSC? visit Mrunal.org/DOWNLOAD