[Analysis] Essay topic trends in last 19 years (1993-2011) for UPSC civil service IAS exam

Trouble viewing the charts and tables?

Download the pdf file by clicking me
Im classifying all the essays asked in last 19 years, into 8 broad topics.
Topic [bracket shows # of questions asked so far]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Economy (India vs Bharat theme) [12]

Education [11]
Culture [18]
International issues [13]
Philosophy [15]
Polity & Administration [27]
Technology [6]
Women empowerment [10]

The Occurrence Table of Essay Topics

Now doing the interpretation based on the year-wise occurrence of these essays. See this table

Chart: The occurance table of Essay topics for 1993-2011(if trouble viewing the photo, then download the pdf file)

The Observations & Speculations

1.

Since last 5 years continuously, no essay on technology or women empowerment. (see the continuity of those black dots in the table) As we saw in the mains
analysis, the Women empowerment topic seems to be shifted from Essay papers to GS Paper 1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

In the early 90s you were given 6-8 essays and you had to pickup one, theyve gradually reduced the options to barely 4 essays!
Economy is under dry spell after a long time (2011), otherwise since 2006, there has been 1-2 essays each year.
Education topic had atmost 2 continuous dry years during the entire 19 years period, otherwise theyve been asking from it at a regular interval.
Indian culture is second most important topic after polity (total 18 essays)
Just like Education, culture too hasnt seen lengthy dry years, same is true for Global/international issues.
Philosophical essays were hot in the initial years: 1993 to 1996, two essays per year and then abruptly stopped for four years. I guess the paper-setter retired or
perhaps UPSC changed their trend in those years for some reason.

8.
9.

Polity /Administration has seen dry year only thrice.

Seems UPSC has some personal grudge against science professors, when It comes to framing the essay paper, Only 6 essays so far from S&T in last 19 years!
Or perhaps, to balance the advantage enjoyed by Science graduates in GS paper-II and to provide level playing field to non-science graduates, theyve stopped
asking S&T essays since last 5 years.

10.

1993-2006, Women empowerment used to be a recurring essay topic, almost every year.

Now what can be the speculations for 2012??

1.
2.
3.

There will be 4 essays. (or 3?!)

UPSC continues its love for culture, one essay will be asked (since Art n Culture as a topic is not given as much importance in GS paper1)?
UPSC continues to ignore S&T and Women empowerment topic. (as theyre well covered in GS papers)?

3.
4.

UPSC continues to ignore S&T and Women empowerment topic. (as theyre well covered in GS papers)?
You can share your own speculations in the comments below!

The Bar and Pie chart breakups

Bar and Pie chart breakups for Essay topics in last 19 years

Appendix- I (The topicwise Essay list of last 19 years (1993-2011)

Economy (india vs bharat theme)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
Bpo boom in india. -2007
Globalization would finish small-scale industries in india. -2006
Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993
Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993
Multinational corporations saviours or saboteurs -1994
Special economic zone : boon or bane -2008
Resource management in the indian context. -1999

9. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010
10. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? -2009
11. The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the haves of our society. -2009

12.

Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997

Education

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Modern technological education and human values. -2002

Credit based higher education system status , opportunities and challenges -2011
Education for all campaign in india: myth or reality. -2006
Privatization of higher education in india. -2002
Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001
Value-based science and education. -1999
Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008
Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood. -2007
Restructuring of indian education system. -1995
Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996
What is real education? -2005
Indian culture

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? -2000

Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000
Youth culture today. -1999
Mass media and cultural invasion. -1999
The composite culture of india. -1998
The indian society at the crossroads. -1994
Does indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it -2011
Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010
From traditional indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? -2010
Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994
New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion -1996
How has satellite television brought about cultural change in indian mindsets. -2007
globlisation vs. nationalism -2009
National identity and patriotism -2008
Responsibility of media in a democracy. -2002
Why should we be proud of being indians? -2000
True religion cannot be misused. -1997
Globalizations and its impact on indian culture. -2004
International issues

1.

Indias role in promoting asean co-operation. -2004

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

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
Indias contribution to world wisdom. -1998
The world of the twenty-first century. -1998
Preparedness of our society for indias global leadership role. -2010
The global order: political and economic -1993
Importance of indo-u.s. nuclear agreement -2006
Good fences make good neighbors -2009
Terrorism and world peace -2005
Restructuring of uno reflect present realities -1996
Philosophy

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Discipline means success , anarchy means ruin -2008

Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man. -2007
There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. -2003
Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. -2002
Spirituality and scientific temper. -2003
Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. -1995
Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. -1995
Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, oldage a regret -1994
Useless life is an early death. -1994
He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires and fears is more than a king. -1993
Compassion is the basic of all morality would -1993
If youth knew, if age could. -2002

12.
13.
14.
15.

If youth knew, if age could. -2002

The paths of glory lead but to the grave. -2002
The pursuit of excellence. -2001
Truth is lived, not taught -1996
Polity, administration

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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
Justice must reach the poor -2005
Water resources should be under the control of the central government. -2004
The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in india. -1998
The language problem in india: its past, present and prospects. -1998
Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999
When money speaks, the truth is silent. -1995
How should a civil servant conduct himself? -2003
Politics without ethics is a disaster. -1995

11. Judicial activism. -1997

12. The vip cult is a bane of indian democracy -1996
13. Need for transparency in public administration -1996
14. Whither indian democracy? -1995
15. Politics, bureaucracy and business fatal triangle. -1994
16. How far has democracy in india delivered the goods? -2003
17. What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. -1997
18. My vision of india in 2001 a.d. -1993
19. In the indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism
-2011
20. Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007
21. The countrys need for a better disaster management system. -2000
22. Are we a soft state ? -2009
23. Role of media in good governance -2008
24. Judicial activism and indian democracy. -2004
25. What have we gained from our democratic set-up? -2001
26. Urbanisation and its hazards -2008
27. Food security for sustainable national development -2005
Technology
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993

The march of science and the erosion of human values. -2001
The modern doctor and his patients. -1997
Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006
The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. -2000
The lure of space. -2004
Women empowerment

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Men have failed: let women take over. -1993

Womens reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in india. -2006
The hand that rocks the cradle -2005
If women ruled the world -2005
Whither womens emancipation? -2004
Empowerment alone cannot help our women. -2001
Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. -1999
Woman is gods best creation. -1998
Greater political power alone will not improve womens plight. -1997
The new emerging women power: the ground realities. -1995

Appendix II (Yearwise Essay Papers for UPSC mains 1993-2011)

1. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative ,
economic and developmental implication
2. Does Indian Cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it
2011

3. Credit based higher education system status , opportunities and

3. Credit based higher education system status , opportunities and

challenges
4. In the Indian context , Both human intelligence and technical
intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism
1. Geography may remain the same ; history need not.
2. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas
of the country?
2010
3. Preparedness of our society for Indias global leadership role.
4. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffet model-a
natural progression or a paradigm shift?
1. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death?
2. Are we a Soft state ?
2009

3. The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the

haves of our society.
4. Good Fences make good neighbors
5. Globlisation vs. Nationalism
1. Role of Media in good governance
2. National Identity and Patritism
3. Special Economic Zone : Boon or Bane

2008
4. Descipline means success , anarchy means ruin
5. Urbanisation and Its Hazards
6. Is an Egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ?
1. Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the
childhood.
2. Evaluation of Panchayati Raj System in India from the point of view
of eradication of power to people.
2007

3. Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man.

4. Is Autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization?
5. How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian
mindsets.
6. BPO boom in India.
1. Womens Reservation Bill Would Usher in Empowerment for
Women in India.
2. Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential for Sustained
Economic Development.

2006

3. Importance of Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement

4. Education for All Campaign in India: Myth or Reality.
5. Globalization Would Finish Small-Scale Industries in India.
6. Increasing Computerization Would lead to the Creation of a
Dehumanized Society.
1. Justice must reach the poor

1. Justice must reach the poor

2. The hand that rocks the cradle
3. If women ruled the world
2005
4. What is real education?
5. Terrorism and world peace
6. Food security for sustainable national development
1. Indias Role in Promoting ASEAN Co-operation.
2. Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy.
3. Whither Womens Emancipation?
2004
4. Globalizations and Its Impact on Indian Culture.
5. The Lure of Space.
6. Water Resources Should Be Under the Control of the Central
Government.
1. The Masks of New Imperialism.
2. How far has democracy in India delivered the goods?
3. How should a civil servant conduct himself?
2003
4. As civilization advances culture declines.
5. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.
6. Spirituality and Scientific temper.
1. Modern technological education and human values.
2. Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem.
3. If youth knew, if age could.
2002
4. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
5. Privatization of higher education in India.
6. Responsibility of media in a democracy.
1. What have we gained from our democratic set-up?
2. My vision of an ideal world order.
3. The march of science and the erosion of human values.
2001
4. Irrelevance of the classroom.
5. The pursuit of excellence.
6. Empowerment alone cannot help our women.
1. Why should we be proud of being Indians?
2. The cyberworld: Its charms and challenges.
3. The countrys need for a better disaster management system.
2000
4. Indian culture today: A myth or a reality?

5. The implications of globalization for India.

6. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values.
1. Women empowerment: Challenges and prospects.
2. Youth culture today.
3. Mass media and cultural invasion.
1999
4. Resource management in the Indian context.
5. Value-based science and education.
6. Reservation, politics and empowerment.
1. The composite culture of India.
2. Woman is Gods best creation.
3.The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India.
1998
4. Indias contribution to world wisdom.
5. The language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects.
6. The world of the twenty-first century.
1. What we have not learnt during fifty years of Independence.
2. Judicial activism.
3. Greater political power alone will not improve womens plight.
1997
4. True religion cannot be misused.
5. The modern doctor and his patients.
6. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise.
1. Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in
education.
2. Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities
1996

3. New cults and Godmen: a threat to traditional religion

4. The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy
5. Need for transparency in public administration
6. Truth is lived, not taught
1. Politics without ethics is a disaster.
2. The new emerging women Power: the ground realities.
3. When money speaks, the truth is silent.

1995

4. Whither Indian democracy?

5. Restructuring of Indian education system.
6. Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation.
7. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
1. Youth is a blunder, Manhood a struggle, oldage a regret

2. The Indian society at the crossroads.

3. Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts.
1994
4. Useless life is an early death.
5. Politics, bureaucracy and business Fatal Triangle.
6. Multinational corporations saviours or saboteurs
1. My vision of India in 2001 A.D.
2. The global order: political and economic
3. He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires
and fears is more than a king.
1993

4. Compassion is the basic of all morality would

5. Men have failed: let women take over.
6. Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed
violence.
7. Ecological considerations need not hamper development.
8. Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution.
Previous Posts

1. [Answerkey] History, Polity Questions of UPSC CPF/CAPF 2012, Analysis and Cut offs
2. [Analysis] General Studies (Mains) 2012 Paper 1 & 2: Topicwise Analysis, future approach for UPSC IAS IPS exam
3. [APFC] Answerkey for APFC 2012, with Explanation, sources and analysis for All 4 series A,B,C,D Booklets
4. [Analysis] General Studies Preliminary Exam 2010 Paper
5. [Topicwise-Analysis] General Studies paper-1 (Mains) 2010
6. [Analysis] CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012
7. [Topicwise Analysis] Aptitude paper II of CSAT 2011
8. [Topicwise Analysis] General Studies (GS) 2011 CSAT Prelims paper
9. How to tackle CSAT? Is coaching inevitable? by Alok Singh

Print || PDF (Need Chrome)

December 13th, 2011 | Category: analysis

31 comments to [Analysis] Essay topic trends in last 19 years (1993-2011) for UPSC civil service IAS exam

Grenouille13
December 14, 2011 at 12:45 AM Reply
Ihanks, Mrunal!

russellatif speaks
December 19, 2011 at 3:36 AM Reply
sir,
is it possible to give essays in mother tongue n other papers in english?

Mrunal
July 20, 2012 at 7:19 PM Reply
No. UPSC rules donot allow that.

nick
April 1, 2012 at 12:17 PM Reply
OMG sir. fab work !

ASHEESH KUMAR
May 23, 2012 at 7:57 AM Reply
so good

ASHEESH KUMAR
May 23, 2012 at 7:58 AM Reply
so good..

ASHEESH KUMAR
May 23, 2012 at 7:58 AM Reply
so good

SANNU KUMAR SINGH

July 23, 2012 at 7:43 AM Reply
I FEEL REALLY PRIVILEGED ENOUGH BY USING YOUR WONDERFUL SITEWAT A JOB U ARE DOING IN MOTIVATING
ENERGETIC YOUNGSTER TO COME UP WITH FLYING COLOURS..REALLY HAPPY THAT THERE ARE SOME PERSON IN THE
WORLD JUST LIKE UBOLE TO SARE COACHING CENTERS ETC AAPKE SITE KE SAMNE PANI MANGTE REH
JAYEINGE..HAHAHHA THANKS A LOT

ARV

ARV
July 27, 2012 at 6:55 PM Reply
good job sir

sindhu
July 30, 2012 at 12:50 PM Reply
How to prepare for essay?Best strategy?

misha
August 3, 2012 at 11:17 AM Reply
i prepared well. n done well in pre exam 2012.
but not able to focus again. as i wan not able to clear pre exam.

chirag patel
August 6, 2012 at 10:09 AM Reply
hello sir,
I hv given enterance exam of spipa 2012.when they will declare the result of prelim exam ?

vivek patil
August 14, 2012 at 4:06 PM Reply
very useful.. thank you!! :)

tanu
August 20, 2012 at 5:20 PM Reply
great work mrunaldefinitely got m thinking..u always make m want 2 work harderthanx a ton

Sahil
August 22, 2012 at 10:48 PM Reply
great work man.. m short of words.. u r doing a wonderful job. whenever i need something .. ur documents or posts are always there to
help me out..
thnq so much :)

sathish
August 25, 2012 at 2:32 PM Reply
great work am rely happy to see some good humans living in this world thanks a lot

Sonali Mohanty
August 29, 2012 at 3:18 PM Reply
I love the way you analyse each and every topic. Im not appearing for the exam. But yes, I view your site regularly.

Mukul
August 30, 2012 at 11:04 PM Reply
seriously thanks!

MAHESHWAR REDDY.B.V
October 11, 2012 at 7:09 PM Reply
THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR, THE WAY YOU SORT OUT THINGS AND EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE IS REALLY FANTASTIC:)

sammy
October 16, 2012 at 9:32 PM Reply
hello sir, its my dream to be a IPS officer and i am surfing a lot of sites but couldnt find any information useful to mecan you please
help me out??i dont know which subjects to take in optional selection,i am really confused..!i am doing my engineering in E.C.E
stream!

Mrunal
October 17, 2012 at 2:45 PM Reply
If you want to become an IPS, Youll have to give the same UPSC Civil Service Exam.

If you want to become an IPS, Youll have to give the same UPSC Civil Service Exam.

selva
October 23, 2012 at 8:55 AM Reply
thank you so much Mr. Mrunal, Your work is definitely going to be a major part of my success in UPSC civil services exam,

MAYANK
November 28, 2012 at 10:40 PM Reply
THANK U SO MUCH SIR, AS I AM A NEW COMER IN UPSC PREPRATIONS, YOUR ANALYSIS IS A GREAT HELP TO ME

shaif tazir
December 8, 2012 at 3:14 PM Reply
Dear Sir ,
some IAS qualifiers wrote that they never studied specially for Essay , some poeple like Prince Dhawan of 2011 said they did . People
like Safirulla who was working along with preparation didnt used special prep . i am also preparing along with job , i am not able to think
of how without giving extra time for essay they are able to write more than 1000 words without writing junk in it . Logic seems that they
have been reading wide spectrum of materials , but as safi says he used only Hindu and one magzine , Can you please tell us few
precautions we can take (for those in jobs ) so that atleast we might approach essay without writing junk .
Also sir , seeing the last years paper , seems pib.nic.in more indispensable source for reading , can u please tell us how to filter not
needed stuff in it .
Thanks shaif

Mrunal
December 8, 2012 at 5:07 PM Reply
Read this five part article series:
http://mrunal.org/2012/11/strategy-upsc-civil-service-exam-ias-ips-csat-general-studies-part1.html

nitish kumar
December 21, 2012 at 9:52 PM Reply
dear sir
I have completed my 10th in 2004 and 12th in 2011 this time doing graduation. I am afraid for this big gap in my education

Mahtab
December 22, 2012 at 2:55 AM Reply
Hi Mrunal sir
U r doing praiseworthy work in order to make ias our dream true. your analysis and information are really logical and pratical for ias
aspirant. a boquet of thanks to u

sg
December 23, 2012 at 5:57 PM Reply
Dear Mrunal,
I am a working professional preparing for UPSC depending on Self-study and your site (which as I found, is of immense help). I have
gone through all of your articles on ESSAY but I couldnt find any suggestion for a standard ESSAY BOOK by name(hope I havent
missed any). Please suggest a book or else, just write the link in case I have missed any.

Ritesh ranjan
January 1, 2013 at 6:46 PM Reply
Sir pls provide me link to download last 33 years queston papers of phy and chem of IAS mains exam with solutionsir..pls provide
me

Abhishek
January 1, 2013 at 6:58 PM Reply
Ritesh -Only Brilliant tutorials provide solutions of Phy and Che. So either you can purchase the materials from Brilliant or if u live
in Delhi then you can get the xerox of materials in Ber Sarai(Jawahar Book Depot).

[Analysis] CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012 Mrunal

May 30, 2012 at 12:07 AM Reply
[...] analysis CSAT'12 P1 Essays (1993-2011) GS Mains'11 CSAT'11 P1 GS CSAT '11 P2 Apt. Pub Ad M'10 GS M'10 GS [...]

[...] analysis CSAT'12 P1 Essays (1993-2011) GS Mains'11 CSAT'11 P1 GS CSAT '11 P2 Apt. Pub Ad M'10 GS M'10 GS [...]

[Current Affairs] Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) plus interview

Questions for UPSC

[Economy] Foreign direct investment limits in various sectors of

India (FDI caps)