1. Instructions
  2. Section-A: 125 Marks
  3. Section-B: 125 Marks
  4. Analysis of Essay-2018 Paper
  5. Essay-list: Topic wise last 26 years (1993-2018)
    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

  • On 28th September 2018, UPSC conducted the Essay paper for the civil services mains examination. 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 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 (125 marks)

  1. Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India. ą¤œą¤²ą¤µą¤¾ą¤Æą„ ą¤Ŗą¤°ą¤æą¤µą¤°ą„ą¤¤ą¤Ø ą¤•ą„‡ ą¤Ŗą„ą¤°ą¤¤ą¤æ ą¤øą„ą¤Øą¤®ą„ą¤Æ भारत ą¤¹ą„‡ą¤¤ą„ ą¤µą„ˆą¤•ą¤²ą„ą¤Ŗą¤æą¤• ą¤¤ą¤•ą¤Øą„€ą¤•ą„‡.
  2. A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. ą¤ą¤• ą¤…ą¤šą„ą¤›ą¤¾ ą¤œą„€ą¤µą¤Ø ą¤Ŗą„ą¤°ą„‡ą¤® ą¤øą„‡ ą¤Ŗą„ą¤°ą„‡ą¤°ą¤æą¤¤ तऄा ą¤œą„ą¤žą¤¾ą¤Ø ą¤øą„‡ ą¤øą¤‚ą¤šą¤¾ą¤²ą¤æą¤¤ ą¤¹ą„‹ą¤¤ą¤¾ ą¤¹ą„ˆ.
  3. Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. ą¤•ą¤¹ą„€ पर ą¤—ą¤°ą„€ą¤¬ą„€, हर ą¤œą¤—ą¤¹ ą¤•ą„€ ą¤øą¤®ą„ƒą¤¦ą„ą¤§ą¤æ ą¤•ą„‡ ą¤²ą¤æą¤ खतरा ą¤¹ą„ˆ.
  4. Management of Indian border dispute is a complex task. भारत ą¤•ą„‡ ą¤øą„€ą¤®ą¤¾ ą¤µą¤æą¤µą¤¾ą¤¦ą„‹ą¤‚ का ą¤Ŗą„ą¤°ą¤¬ą¤‚ą¤§ą¤Ø – ą¤ą¤• जटिल ą¤•ą¤¾ą¤°ą„ą¤Æ.

Section-B: 125 Marks

Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words (125 marks)

  1. Customary morality cannot be a guide to modem file. ą¤°ą„‚ą¤¢ą¤æą¤—ą¤¤ ą¤Øą„ˆą¤¤ą¤æą¤•ą¤¤ą¤¾ ą¤†ą¤§ą„ą¤Øą¤æą¤• ą¤œą„€ą¤µą¤Ø का ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤°ą„ą¤—ą¤¦ą¤°ą„ą¤¶ą¤• ą¤Øą¤¹ą„€ą¤‚ ą¤¹ą„‹ ą¤øą¤•ą¤¤ą„€ ą¤¹ą„ˆ.
  2. ā€˜The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values. ā€˜ą¤…ą¤¤ą„€ą¤¤ā€™ ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤Øą¤µą„€ą¤Æ ą¤šą„‡ą¤¤ą¤Øą¤¾ तऄा ą¤®ą„‚ą¤²ą„ą¤Æą„‹ą¤‚ का ą¤ą¤• ą¤øą„ą¤„ą¤¾ą¤Æą„€ आयाम ą¤¹ą„ˆ.
  3. A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both ą¤œą„‹ समाज ą¤…ą¤Ŗą¤Øą„‡ ą¤øą¤æą¤¦ą„ą¤§ą¤¾ą¤‚ą¤¤ą„‹ ą¤•ą„‡ ऊपर ą¤…ą¤Ŗą¤Øą„‡ ą¤µą¤æą¤¶ą„‡ą¤¶ą¤¾ą¤§ą¤æą¤•ą¤¾ą¤°ą„‹ ą¤•ą„‹ ą¤®ą¤¹ą¤¤ą„ą¤¤ą„ą¤µ ą¤¦ą„‡ą¤¤ą¤¾ ą¤¹ą„ˆ, वह ą¤¦ą„‹ą¤Øą„‹ą¤‚ ą¤øą„‡ हाऄ ą¤§ą„‹ ą¤¬ą„‡ą¤ ą¤¤ą¤¾ ą¤¹ą„ˆ.
  4. Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it. ą¤Æą¤„ą¤¾ą¤°ą„ą¤„ ą¤†ą¤¦ą¤°ą„ą¤¶ ą¤•ą„‡ ą¤…ą¤Øą„ą¤°ą„‚ą¤Ŗ ą¤Øą¤¹ą„€ą¤‚ ą¤¹ą„‹ą¤¤ą¤¾ ą¤¹ą„ˆ, ą¤¬ą¤²ą„ą¤•ą¤æ ą¤‰ą¤øą¤•ą„€ ą¤Ŗą„ą¤·ą„ą¤Ÿą¤æ करता ą¤¹ą„ˆ.

Which essay did you attempt or would have attempted? Share your major keypoints in the comments section!

Analysis of Essay-2018 Paper

UPSC Mains-2018 ESSAY PAPER

Essay and GS In recent years Essay-2018
Since 2014: Total 8 essay topics divided equally in two sections and you’ve to write one essay from each section System continued
In 2014 & 2015 also, UPSC had devoted asked good number of quotations but they were of pedestrian / school-level quotes such as ā€œwith great power comes great responsibility, words sharper than sword, lending hands better than giving dole, education without valuesā€¦ā€ Section-B’s philosophical quotations are tough, unique and unprecedented compared to earlier years.
– 2016, 2017 continuously asked about federalism. Nothing.
– 2016, 2017 continuously asked about cyberspace and social media. Nothing.
Fear of technology – 2015: Technology cannot replace manpower. – 2016: 1) Cyberspace- blessing/Curse? 2) Digital economy creates inequality? – 2017: ā€œsocial media is a selfish mediumā€ Nothing
– 2016, 2017 continuously asked about gender issues. Nothing directly. However, you could connect the ā€œpeople that values its privileges above its principles loses bothā€ essay with the gender judgements on Triple Talaq and Adultery Decriminalization.
Fear of capitalism, need for inclusivity – 2015: (1) Can capitalism bring inclusive growth? (2) Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. – 2016: (1) Near jobless growth: in India An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms. (2) Digital economy: A leveler or a source of economic inequality. – 2017: Agriculture can’t provide subsistence to majority of the farmers. Fear continues: – Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. -2018

Do you see any other patterns or connections with current affairs? Do share in the comments section!

Essay-list: Topic wise last 26 years (1993-2018)

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:

1 India: 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 ā€˜Swadhinata’, ā€˜Swaraj’ and ā€˜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

  • Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India. -2017
  • 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

  • We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. -2017
  • Justice must reach the poor -2005
  • Judicial activism and Indian democracy. -2004
  • Judicial activism. -1997

1.5 Poverty, Social Justice

  • The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ā€˜haves’ of our society. -2009
  • Food security for sustainable national development -2005
  • Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999

1.6 Indian Society, Culture and Values

  • A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both. -2018
  • 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

2 Economy, Development

2.1 Growth vs Development

  • Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. -2018
  • 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
  • Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993

2.2 Environment vs Development

  • Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India. -2018
  • Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010
  • Urbanisation and its hazards -2008
  • Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
  • Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997
  • Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993

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 ā€˜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

  • Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India. -2017
  • 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

3 Education

3.1 Values in Education

  • Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms. -2017
  • 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

  • ā€œEducation for allā€ 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

4 Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics

4.1 Character, Honesty, Ethics

  • Customary morality cannot be a guide to modem file. -2018
  • We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. -2017
  • 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

  • ā€˜The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values. -2018
  • A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. -2018
  • 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

  • Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. -2017
  • Compassion is the basic of all morality of the world -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 and reality

  • Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it. -2018
  • 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

5 Women 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

  • Fulfilment of ā€˜new woman’ in India is a myth. -2017
  • 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

6 International issues, Internal Security

6.1 Globalization

  • Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010
  • Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994
  • ā€˜globalization’ vs. ā€˜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

  • Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world ? -2017
  • 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

  • Management of Indian border dispute is a complex task. -2018
  • In the Indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism -2011
  • Are we a ā€˜soft’ state ? -2009
  • Good fences make good neighbours -2009
  • Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007
  • Terrorism and world peace -2005
  • True religion cannot be misused. -1997

7 Science-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

  • ā€˜Social media’ is inherently a selfish medium. -2017
  • 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

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

visit Mrunal.org/download for more papers.