List of Essays Asked in Civil Services Mains

Essay Topics

Here's complete list of essay topics asked in UPSC Civil Services Main Exam from 1993 to 2013.

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2013

  • 1. Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)
  • 2. Is the Colonial mentality hindering India's Success
  • 3. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country
  • 4. Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.

2012

  • 1. 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.
  • 2. 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?
  • 3. Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible?
  • 4. Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal?

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
  • 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

2010

  • 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?
  • 3. Preparedness of our society for India's global leadership role.
  • 4. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift?

2009

  • 1. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death?
  • 2. Are we a 'Soft' state?
  • 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'

2008

  • 1. Role of Media in good governance
  • 2. National Identity and Patritism
  • 3. Special Economic Zone : Boon or Bane
  • 4. Descipline means success , anarchy means ruin
  • 5. Urbanisation and Its Hazards
  • 6. Is an Egalitarian society possible by educating the masses?

2007

  • 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.
  • 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.

2006

  • 1. Women's Reservation Bill Would Usher in Empowerment for Women in India.
  • 2. Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential for Sustained Economic Development.
  • 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.

2005

  • 1. Justice must reach the poor
  • 2. The hand that rocks the cradle
  • 3. If women ruled the world
  • 4. What is real education?
  • 5. Terrorism and world peace
  • 6. Food security for sustainable national development

2004

  • 1. India's Role in Promoting ASEAN Co-operation.
  • 2. Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy.
  • 3. Whither Women's Emancipation?
  • 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.

2003

  • 1. The Masks of New Imperialism.
  • 2. How far has democracy in India delivered the goods?
  • 3. How should a civil servant conduct himself?
  • 4. As civilization advances culture declines.
  • 5. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.
  • 6. Spirituality and Scientific temper.

2002

  • 1. Modern technological education and human values.
  • 2. Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem.
  • 3. If youth knew, if age could.
  • 4. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
  • 5. Privatization of higher education in India.
  • 6. Responsibility of media in a democracy.

2001

  • 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.
  • 4. Irrelevance of the classroom.
  • 5. The pursuit of excellence.
  • 6. Empowerment alone cannot help our women.

2000

  • 1. Why should we be proud of being Indians?
  • 2. The cyberworld: Its charms and challenges.
  • 3. The country's need for a better disaster management system.
  • 4. Indian culture today: A myth or a reality?
  • 5. The implications of globalization for India.
  • 6. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values.

1999

  • 1. Women empowerment: Challenges and prospects.
  • 2. Youth culture today.
  • 3. Mass media and cultural invasion.
  • 4. Resource management in the Indian context.
  • 5. Value-based science and education.
  • 6. Reservation, politics and empowerment.

1998

  • 1. The composite culture of India.
  • 2. Woman is God's best creation.
  • 3.The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India.
  • 4. India's contribution to world wisdom.
  • 5. The language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects.
  • 6. The world of the twenty-first century.

1997

  • 1. What we have not learnt during fifty years of Independence.
  • 2. Judicial activism.
  • 3. Greater political power alone will not improve women's plight.
  • 4. True religion cannot be misused.
  • 5. The modern doctor and his patients.
  • 6. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise.

1996

  • 1. Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education.
  • 2. Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities
  • 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

1995

  • 1. Politics without ethics is a disaster.
  • 2. The new emerging women Power: the ground realities.
  • 3. When money speaks, the truth is silent.
  • 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.

1994

  • 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.
  • 4. Useless life is an early death.
  • 5. Politics, bureaucracy and business - Fatal Triangle.
  • 6. Multinational corporations - saviours or saboteurs

1993

  • 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.
  • 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.