Essay Resources

Previous Year Essay Topics 2012-2019

Find year-wise UPSC essay topics from 2012 to 2019, arranged section-wise for easy reading and preparation.

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

2019

UPSC Essay Paper – 2019

Write two essays, choosing one topic each of the following Sections A and B in about 1000-1200 words each.

SECTION-A

Wisdom finds truth.
Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be.
Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society.
Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success.

SECTION-B

South Asian Societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities.
Neglect of primary healthcare and education in India are reasons for its backwardness.
Biased media is a real threat to Indian Democracy.
Rise of Artificial Intelligence : the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.

2018

UPSC Essay Paper – 2018

Write two essays, choosing one topic each of the following Sections A and B in about 1000-1200 words each.

SECTION-A

Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.
A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.
Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task.

SECTION-B

Customary Morality cannot be a guide to modern life.
The past is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values.
A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both.
Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it.

2017

UPSC Essay Paper – 2017

Write Two Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 word each : 125×2 = 250 marks.

SECTION-A

Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India.
Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India.
Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.
Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world?

SECTION-B

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
Fulfilment of ‘new women’ in India a myth.
We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.
‘Social Media’ is inherently a selfish medium.

2016

UPSC Essay Paper – 2016

Write TWO Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each : 125×2 = Total 250 marks.

SECTION-A

If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed.
Water disputes between states in federal India.
Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare.

SECTION-B

Cooperative federalism : Myth or reality.
Cyberspace and internet : Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run.
Near jobless growth in India : An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
Digital economy : A leveler or a source of economic inequality.

2015

UPSC Essay Paper – 2015

Write TWO Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each : 125×2 = Total 250 marks.

SECTION-A

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

SECTION-B

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

2014

UPSC Essay Paper – 2014

Write TWO Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each : 125×2 = 250.

SECTION-A

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

SECTION-B

Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
Is sting operation an invasion on privacy?
Fifty Golds in Olympics : Can this be a reality for India?
Tourism : Can this be the next big thing for India?

2013

UPSC Essay Paper – 2013

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

ESSAY TOPICS

Be the change you want to see in others - Gandhi ji.
Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s success?
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDP (Gross Domestic Product) would to be righty indices for judging the well-being of a country.
Science and Technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.

2012

UPSC Essay Paper – 2012

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

ESSAY TOPICS

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.
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?
Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible?
Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal?

FAQ

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A civil servant also referred to as a public servant, is an individual who is employed by a government department or agency in the public sector. They serve the government, not a political party, and can be found working for both central and state governments.

In India, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commission (SPSC) (or GPSC in Gujarat) oversee the selection and appointment process for Civil Services. The civil services at the central level are divided into All India Services, such as IAS and IPS, as well as Central Civil Services Group-A and Group-B.

Civil servants in India are responsible for implementing policies, managing public services, and administering government programs. This is the reason the selection procedure is extremely strict, and to become a civil servant, you are required to have a wealth of knowledge regarding the political conditions, socioeconomic conditions and other pressing matters in the country.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination every year to choose the most qualified candidates for the Central Civil Services, including IAS and IPS, which are classified as All India Services. The exam pattern for all civil services, including IAS and IPS, is the same, and candidates must pass all three stages of the exam: Prelims, Mains, and Interview to be appointed as civil servants.

For IAS or IPS, a candidate must attain a higher rank among all passing candidates to obtain the preferred service. UPSC selects candidates for IAS or IPS based on the merit achieved in the UPSC-CSE. In addition, IPS candidates must meet certain physical criteria to qualify for the service.

To clear your UPSC exam on the first or next attempt, you can take help from mentors at UPSC institute in Surat, like DICS, who has experts in every subject.

While it is not compulsory for you to join a UPSC/IAS coaching centre, if you want to pass your exam with flying colours, a coaching centre helps you steer your studies in the right direction. It goes without saying that to clear the UPSC exam; you would need to follow a studying structure that might be too complex for you to crack.

The UPSC coaching in Surat teaches not only to solve the questions but follow a structured study pattern that will help you maintain a disciplined routine.

Once the Civil Services Examination results are announced, the role of the UPSC comes to an end. The responsibility of training IAS or IPS probationers then falls under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). To fulfil this purpose, the selected candidates are invited to participate in foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) located in Mussoorie. Following the foundation training, those selected for IPS receive training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Academy of Administration (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad.

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