UPSC 2020 Essay Analysis: More Abstract Topics Yet Relevant To Current Issues Are In Vogue; Here’s How To Prepare

In the last four parts of this series, we discussed the General Studies -1, General Studies - 2, General Studies - 3 and General Studies - 4 papers of the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam (CSE Main) 2020. In this part we shall discuss the Essay paper.

The total candidates allowed to appear for UPSC Main exam are around twelve to thirteen times the number of the vacancies. For UPSC 2020, the total number of vacancies was 796 so accordingly around 10 thousand candidates would have given the UPSC Mains 2020.

Essay paper analysis

The Section A of the paper gave four choices to the candidates who had to pick one of these topics to write an essay. The topics were:

1. Life is long journey between human being and being humane
2. Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self
3. Ships do not sink because of water around them , ships sink because of water that gets into them
4. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

As one can see, the topics are abstract. One has to be well read, and have the ability to think and connect things in such types of topics.

Some students may go for the ‘basics’ on these kind of topics, and hence feel that they can do well. Imagine an essay written by an average 10th grader. However, such an essay will not fetch good marks.

The recipe to get good marks in such essays is to expand the horizon of the given quote, include good examples from past and present, and both support and critique it. One can also use quotes of eminent personalities, books etc. to substantiate their point.

For example, in the third topic, one can give examples of fall of civilisations and Gandhi’s quote about how extreme materialism leads to the fall of civilisations. One can also include the example of Indian civilisation and the mechanisms it incorporates that make this ancient ship sturdy.

The first topic talks about ‘being human’ and ‘being humane’. In this topic, candidates can touch upon the nature vs nurture, evolutionary biology vs sociology debate. Is human nature inherently selfish? What is the source of morality? What conduct is humane and why?

Touching upon these topics will give the examiner an impression that a candidate is truly well read.

The second topic is about ‘mindfulness’ and a ‘tranquil self’. Candidates should first have a clear definitions of both, and then try to establish a connection. Candidates with interest in philosophy and spirituality will be able to write this essay very well. Quotes from Bhagvad Gita etc. can be used.

Candidates can touch upon the connection between a ‘tranquil self’ and whether it necessary leads to life negation. One can give example of

Apart from elaborating on the concept of ‘self’, ‘mind’ etc., candidates should also give examples of how such persons with ‘tranquil self’ are unmoved by adversities and keep making the world a better place. For example, the story of Saint Eknath and the man who spit on him a 100 times, the story of saint Ravidas and King Sikandar Lodi, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh etc.

Similarly in the fourth topic, the candidates can give good examples, elaborate on the Indian tradition. One can comment on the sartorial politics of Gandhi - his simplicity as a weapon on politics etc.

In Section B of the paper, following four options were given:

1. Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have
2. There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless
3. Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality
4. Technology as the silent factor in international relations

On these topics, factual knowledge of candidates can come in handy.

In the first topic, candidates can give factual details from Sindhu Saraswati civilisation to Mauryan to current times. In the second one, candidates can give facts regarding inequality, poverty, marginalization and marginalised groups.

In the third topic, candidates can give definition of patriarchy and different ways it operates in the society, for example, control of female sexuality, traditional gender roles in family, patrilocality, patrilineality, low female labour force participation, poor property rights etc.

Fourth topic is an interesting one. Candidates can list out the technologies that defined international relations in the modern era, starting with the Age of Discovery and Industrial Revolution. They can give example of British naval power and how it help built Pax Britannica.