Model Essay for UPSC | Tips and List of Essay Topics for UPSC Exam

Model Essay for UPSC: The UPSC exam is held every year. The essay paper consists of eight topics that are divided into two parts. Each part holds a total of 250 marks for the time duration of three hours. An essay is a short piece about a particular subject. It should be in prose format and mostly analytical, speculative, or interpretative. It helps the examiners to gauge the candidate’s argumentative skills.

The essays help to check the coherence in the writing of the candidate. It helps gauge the construction of ideas in their mind and the systematic way they write. The topics can range from contemporary socio-political issues to ethical and philosophical inquiries. We have prepared some of the crucial topics for the upcoming UPSC examination.

You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

List of Essay Topics for UPSC Exam

Below are some of the vital topics aspirants need to prepare for the upcoming UPSC examination:

  1. Judiciary, and it’s working.
  2. Water disputes between states
  3. Foreign policy in the Modi era
  4. National health protection scheme
  5. Modi’s agricultural schemes during rampant farmer suicide
  6. Importance of higher education
  7. A political education
  8. Developing skills in the youth of India
  9. Environment vs. Growth
  10. Universal basic income vs. Subsidy
  11. Why is the administration insensitive about the plight of slum dwellers?
  12. India’s role in changing the global world order
  13. Nationalism debate
  14. The Indian model of secularism
  15. Digitalization drive
  16. Feminization of agriculture
  17. Pollution crisis in urban areas
  18. Artificial intelligence
  19. Entrance exams versus qualifying exams- what is the relevance of entrance exams for admissions to UG and PG courses in India
  20. Scraping section 377- the latest addition to human rights protection
  21. Pro-poor policies of Modi Government
  22. Controversies surrounding present-day NDA government
  23. Decriminalization of the adultery laid under section 497 of IPC
  24. Indian’s standing in BRICS countries
  25. Cultural transformation in the 21st century
  26. Higher education vs. skill acquisition
  27. Worsening INR
  28. Impact of the increasing oil prices on the Indian economy
  29. Impact of new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India
  30. Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for the majority of farmers.
  31. The destiny of a nation is shaped in classrooms.
  32. Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
  33. Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
  34. The fulfillment of ‘new women’ in India is a myth.
  35. We might brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.
  36. The relevance of non-alignment movement (NAM)
  37. Need brings greed; if need increases, it spoils the breed.
  38. If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
  39. Innovation is the key determinant to economic growth and social welfare.
  40. Cyberspace and internet- blessing or curse in the long run

Tips for Preparation of Essay Papers in UPSC Mains

Certain subjects in UPSC overlap with most of the important essay topics. If you can prepare the general studies paper extremely well, you will get to know the information and write the essays. The general studies paper covers many of the important topics for the essay. Hence, aspirants should prepare for it well. This way, you will be able to prepare for a paper and build confidence in the essay topics simultaneously. You can save a lot of time while gaining the edge in the preparation this way.

  • Know your basics in grammar.
  • Familiarize yourself will the parts of speech.
  • Present arguments on both sides of the central theme if possible.
  • Be creative and add new points in sample essays to score more.
  • Work on your presentation of your essay.
  • Read a lot of fiction and non-fiction to gain confidence in your communication skills and increase your vocabulary.
  • Spend at least an hour every day to read something that helps to score more in the essay paper.
  • Always try to keep yourself up to date with current affairs.
  • Read the newspaper every day.
  • Improve your general awareness.
  • Read through critical opinions and comments.
  • Do not use redundant words over and over. Use unique words.

How to Write a UPSC Essay

Many dread the task of writing an essay. This section is to help candidates navigate their ideas better in their articles. Here are some things aspirants should keep in mind while writing an essay in the UPSC examinations.

1. Begin with an Introduction:

You can try to compose the introduction so that it grabs the attention of the examiner. You can begin by presenting a question with a rhetorical answer. The introduction should capture the body paragraphs’ essence and give the reader insight into the following portions.

2. Body Paragraph:

Here, you are supposed to write about the central theme in detail. It does not necessarily mean that you need to cite every piece of information you can remember the topic. There should be a balance between information and presenting your personal opinion.

Try to be creative with your writing and present all the sides to the theme. You can cite examples, sayings, governmental schemes that support your answer. Unlike the introduction, the body paragraphs can be more than one paragraph. But it is vital to stay with the word limit.

3. Conclusion:

A conclusion plays a significant role in every essay. No matter what your topic is, students need to write the conclusion properly to impact the examiner. You can brainstorm the significant points from the body paragraphs and then conclude with a final hook statement or question about the topic. Use transition sentences to make the conclusion spontaneous.

Final Words

Your essays are a portrayal of your ideas. They should be self-generating, self-reinforcing, and fulfilling. You refer to expert writers and learn from their style and technique.

Though essays are a formal piece of writing, they should be anything but boring. Try not to use big words, just for its sake, since it may have the opposite effect. Try to present your true opinion straightforwardly and smoothly.