good essays for upsc

Writing a good Essay in UPSC Mains, Explained by Anudeep Durishetty

Novelist Stephen King put it beautifully when he said, “I write to find out what I think.”

Writing is a window to your thought process. What you write on paper will tell the reader how you think, how you argue and the way you substantiate your viewpoint. This is why for most competitive examinations and academic entrance tests, essay is mandatory.

In the Civil Services Exam too, we have a paper worth 250 marks, equivalent to a General Studies paper. Despite its importance, essay paper often does not get the attention it deserves from aspirants. First timers think they will write an excellent essay in the final exam itself, whereas experienced aspirants believe that since they had already studied a ton for GS, it will alone be enough to write a good essay. This is a fatal miscalculation.

I was one of those who made these errors in the past, and it is not a coincidence that I scored only 100 in CSE 2015. But in 2017, I devoted adequate time to this paper. I collected useful quotes, prepared notes and even made rough essay drafts for frequently asked topics. All this effort in essay paper helped me score 155.

What follows is an elaborate post on how you should tackle the Essay paper. I’ve organised the content as follows:

What UPSC says about the essay paper

How and from where to prepare?

Improving language and expression

• On subheadings and rough drafts
• What you must avoid
• How to write a powerful introduction?
• Developing the content of an Essay

Substantiating your arguments

• How to conclude an Essay
• My notes, quote collection and sample essays

“Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to  keep closely to the subject of the essay,   to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion, and to write concisely . Credit will be given for  effective and exact expression .”

Essay distinguishes itself from GS in the sense that in GS, marks will be awarded purely for content. But in essay, examiners will pay special attention to not just the content, but also the language, coherence and the way you organise your write-up.

So you must take adequate care to arrange your ideas properly and not commit any fundamental spelling or grammatical errors.

Most of the content you write in Essay will come from your GS preparation. Apart from this, the following sources will help:

• Reading non-fiction  helps you develop a matured thought process. Apart from imparting knowledge, they will also let you come across good figures of speech, art of argumentation, powerful rhetoric and unique content etc. For example, in an essay on Artificial Intelligence, I took arguments from Yuval Harari’s  Homo Deus  to argue that AI is an imminent threat to humanity. Or if you read  Why Nations Fail,  a book replete with examples, you will understand the importance of innovation, political and economic freedoms in propelling a nation forward. So my suggestion is, apart from UPSC related material, develop the hobby of reading non-fiction books. I do not mean to suggest that you should start reading one  non-fiction book per topic to get good scores in Essay, but reading them occasionally in your free time will benefit you in the long run.
• Referring to specific magazines:  For certain topics, you can refer to specific issues of Yojana/EPW/Economic Survey etc. Example: for an essay on tribal issues or public health, you can go through specific issues of these magazines for getting the latest statistics (IMR, MMR, malnutrition levels etc) and also about the positives and criticisms of govt schemes in that sector.
• Collecting good stories/anecdotes and quotes: Anecdotes, quotes and real life stories you see in newspapers and books which can be used in essay should be noted down. In most of my essays, I used to start with a relevant story or an anecdote that has the essay topic as its underlying theme. Apart from these, I also used a couple of quotes of eminent persons.

         List of quotes, anecdotes I collected are available in the link at the end of this article.

Language in essay must be simple and clear with as little jargon as possible. If you want to use complex definitional terms such as, say, ‘Constitutionalism’ or ‘Sanskritisation’ please define it in sentence just before you use it. Examiner will also understand clearly what you want to convey. Clear writing is clear thinking. And that is what any reader looks for.

Keep your sentences short and powerful. Long, winding sentences makes it difficult to read and understand. If you tack on one clause after another through conjunctions, what you get is a bad sentence sprawl.

Example of a bad sentence sprawl:

At the end of World War 2, on the one hand, while capitalism was successfully championed by the nations in North America and Europe, on the other hand, it was USSR that put Communism at the forefront due to which there was an ideological clash between the the two superpowers which had led to proxy wars in various parts of the globe, a nuclear arms race and a rapid deterioration of the security of the world.

(By the time readers finish reading it, they will lose their breath and the point of the sentence)

So I had a simple rule: If you run out of your breath while  reading a sentence, then probably you will have to break it into two.

Rewriting the aforementioned example after breaking it into two (which makes it much easier to read and comprehend):

After World War 2, while the North American and European nations championed capitalism, USSR put communism at the forefront. This ideological clash between the superpowers led to several proxy wars, a nuclear arms race and a rapid deterioration of world security.

There is no need to memorise complex words for writing a good essay. But an occasional use of a powerful word, or a good phrase definitely gives your write-up an edge.

Also, I believe that learning numerous words by rote will not make them stick in your brain for long. The best way to build your vocabulary is by reading non-fiction and English newspapers. While reading these, if you come across a good turn of phrase, or a word that you don’t recognise, please note it down in a book, find its meaning and understand the context in which the word was used. This helps in long term memory. Having a dictionary app on your phone also helps.

Building vocabulary is a slow process, but with consistency, anyone can become better at using an expansive set of words.

Subheadings & Rough Drafts

We can be a little innovative in our subheadings. Instead of bland subheadings such as ‘ Benefits of Nuclear Energy’  we can use “ Nuclear Energy: Promise or Peril?’  Similarly, for the essay on Social Media, instead of writing ‘ Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media ’, I wrote  “Social Media: A Double Edged Sword”

You can find my collection of a few such subheadings in the link to my notes, given at the end of the article.

I also prepared a rough draft for a few essay topics (link given at the end). You may need to modify the structure as per the demand of the question.

What you must avoid in Essay

• Do not focus excessively only on one point, or one dimension (such as the historical or political aspect) Your essay needs to be expansive and multi-dimensional.
• During preparation, we read a lot and it’s understandable that we feel strongly about certain topics. And since essay offers freedom to write, it’s very easy to get carried away with such a topic. But make sure that you write what is asked, not what you know or feel like. No  mann ki baat . Always stick to the subject of the topic. It helps to read the question in the midst of your essay to ensure that you are not steering away from the topic.
• If you are not comfortable writing about abstract philosophical topics (I am terrible at writing them), avoid such questions. Your choice of topic has no bearing on the marks and that is why, selecting an unpopular topic just for the sake of it is unwise. Also, if there’s a technical term in the question, be doubly sure that you understand it correctly. For instance, in 2014, there was a question on ‘standard tests’, which is a technical term. I misunderstood it and wrote a generic essay. I got 112.
• When you take a final stand on an issue, it’s best to avoid extreme or highly unpopular opinions. We are free to have any opinion in the privacy of our minds, but in UPSC essay why take that risk? For instance, in an essay on Capital Punishment, in the main body content, you should present a case for both abolition and retention. But when you take a stance, it’s best to be an abolitionist.
• No ranting. You might be a great fan of Karl Marx, but if there’s a question on Capitalism, do not rant or rail against it ? You must present both the positives and negatives of Capitalism and end the essay on a balanced note.
• Do not dedicate disproportionate amount of time for the first essay and scamper through the second. Both carry equal marks, so please invest equal time.

How to transition smoothly from one para to the next

This can be done in three ways.

Through a link sentence at the end of a para:

Here, at the end of a para, you write a sentence that signals to the examiner what’s coming next. For example, let’s say you have just written a para about the threat posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to jobs. At the end of that para you can write a link sentence—   “Further, we must be mindful of the fact that Artificial Intelligence poses a major challenge not just economically, but also ethically.”  And in the next para, you can write about the ethical issues concerning AI.

Through a question:

Instead of a link sentence, you can also add a question at the end of a para so that examiner’s attention is helplessly carried to the next. To take the similar example as above, the question can be something like—   “Thus we have examined the threat posed by AI to our economy, but what about the challenges brought by AI to our ethics and morals?”  And in the next para, you can write about the ethical issues concerning AI.

Signalling the shift at the start of next paragraph:

Here you can simply add a word or two at the beginning of a para that signals a shift in your subtopic. For example in an essay on  Globalisation , let’s say you have just written a para about its historical evolution and impact. You can start the next para with something like—  “Politically too, globalisation has had a tremendous impact……” This way examiner immediately knows what to expect.

These steps will ensure that the transition between paragraphs is not abrupt.

How to write a good Introduction to your Essay?

Essay introduction can be:

a fictitious incident or story (where you introduce a character); a real life anecdote; a quote; or a simple definition of the words in the question (not recommended in Essay)

In GS, definitional approach is a great way to introduce your answers. But in essay, they are rather stale, lacking in any human element. I always believe that a good way to start your essay is to have that touch of humanity and warmth in your introduction.

In my Mains exam, this was my introduction to the essay ‘Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classroom’

“The year was 1945. Towards the end of a gruesome world war, the world powers decided to carve up the Korean peninsula along the 38th parallel.

“Before partition, North and South Korea might have been homogeneous in every respect, but after the division, they steered onto different paths. While schools in the North chose to ‘educate’ their children in the worship of a cult leader, ideological indoctrination and servility, its southern counterpart focused on liberal education, innovation and economic growth.

“Today, almost seven decades later, the difference in the fates of these people and the trajectories of both these nations cannot be more stark. One is known for gross violation of human rights, while the other a champion of liberal democracy. One is known for gut-wrenching poverty, while the other unbridled prosperity.

“This only proves the age old adage that the destiny of a nation is indeed shaped in its classrooms.”

Similarly, for the Social Media essay, my introduction sought to bring to the fore the paradox of Social Media. I wrote on how social media was leveraged to crowdsource help and rescue during Chennai floods in 2015. At the same time, I mentioned how it was used nefariously in 2012 to cause mass exodus of northeast people from Bangalore. And taking cue from this introduction, in the main body, I discussed about the inherent selfishness and altruism associated with social media.

These real life stories, anecdotes and incidents are everywhere in our books and newspapers. So when you come across them, note down and ponder as to how you can use them in your essay.

Developing the Main Content from the Topic

This is like spinning the web from a thread. Depending on the topic, you can choose among the following options that fits best.

• Temporal: Past, present and future
• Sectoral: Media, Science & Tech, Business, Sports, Religion, Politics, Administration etc
• Walks of Life : Individual, Family, Professional workplace, Society, Community, National, Global
• Problem & Solution:  Concept (historical evolution+status), benefits, problems, solutions
• Standard : Social, Political, Economical, Administrative, International, Environmental, Historical, Scientific, Security/Defence, Legal

Example: for a topic like  “Has Globalisation delivered on its promise?”  I find the problem & solution method an apt way to develop your narrative. So choose as per the question.

In the main body of the essay, each para must have an argument or an idea and a reasoning to back that argument. You can substantiate it through a real life example, a statistic, an authentic committee or organisational report etc.

For example, if you are arguing that Capital punishment is an expensive form of justice, you should be able to given an example or a statistic or Law Commission’s opinion as to how the subjects of death penalty are overwhelmingly from poor communities.

Statistics, examples, expert opinions and constitutional provisions are crucial and they make your arguments authoritative.

Concluding an Essay

Conclusion needs to be on  a futuristic, optimistic note. You need to summarise the complete essay in 3-4 sentences, after which you can write your vision for future.

You can source some useful terms from the speeches of PM Modi. Phrases like  Sabka saath sabka vikas ,  Reform-Perform-Transform, Building A New India  etc can come handy.  Rhetoric, lofty expressions, constitutional ideals, sanskrit slokas and quotes are a good way to conclude your essay.

But suppose in your introduction, if you had written about a fictitious character, then it’s always advisable to end your write-up with a reference to that character. It gives a sense of completeness to the essay.

Readers should keep in mind that these notes are written rather haphazardly (I mean who makes notes thinking that in future, they might have to upload them publicly :D)

They are fragmented in certain pages, so you may not be able to comprehend them completely, but nevertheless I hope you take home something useful.

Link to handwritten notes:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jmVMGOzAk2d9B5Y0HQ9XpVF5Mh2IXGku

Quote collection:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jk71jLao60hHwJoTuGYaIDgJWccxa5Xn

List of Topics one needs to prepare:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1q0W0PeH-80EKt6ucJTFOVPUlmXvCIzd-

Sample Essays:  

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jqfUi1FXdG0icBdJpdQvwH1wlAizCMvo

Read More at: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/ 

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How to Write a Good Essay for UPSC? A Guide to Improve Your Writing Skills

An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative or interpretative that gives the author’s own argument. These are written composition about anything.

It takes discipline, foresight, research, strategy and if done right, ends in total victory. In terms of ‘writing’ you need to create a handful of original sentences for the entire content; a thesis, a theme, a mini-thesis that begins each paragraph and a concluding sentence that says all.

How to Write an Essay for UPSC?

Writing an essay often seems a dreaded task among students. The idea behind is to make it easier for the reader to navigate the ideas put forth in a content.

For all those who are confused about how to write an essay for UPSC, here is the detailed guide on what you must write in every essay:

Introduction is an Important Part of Essay Writing in UPSC

The introductory paragraph should have an attention-grabbing hook. It should describe your content topic/ question. One can also include good proverb related to the topic of the content. This should not be more than one paragraph.

Body paragraph supports your introductory paragraph and must include all supporting details. It is advisable to support your explanations on the topic with good examples/ facts/ Govt schemes/ data/ statistics/ proverbs. This can be more than one paragraph until you reach your word limit.

No matter on which UPSC essay writing topic you are working on, conclusion plays a significant role. The conclusion should rephrase the main topic and subtopics and should carry a call to action. A concluding proverb will always be a good way to end a content. It will be good to not conclude the writing by providing your personal opinion on the topic unless specified in the question. This should not be more than one paragraph.

Also Read: Pressure Groups in India: Everything you Need to Know

Tips to Score Better on UPSC Essay Writing Topics

With a little planning and a lot of hard work, you can write an essay for UPSC that’s good enough in a short time. Following pointers will help you to develop a writing framework:

Essay Question

Selecting a UPSC essay writing topic is the most important and critical task. Choose a topic for which you have knowledge of enough content, examples, facts, data and proverbs. Once the right topic is chosen your half work is accomplished.

Develop a Plan

Planning helps to figure out how long to spend on each part of the text and will keep you on task. Develop a thesis- the main idea of your essay. It should be precise and short.

Jotting Down Pointers

These can include examples for your topic, important facts that support your reasons, data/statistics, proverbs. These pointers will help you develop your content in a better way.

Write Outline

The outline will guide you through the writing process of the content. Structure it in the same form as your text. This helps in identifying the areas that need better development.

Revision of your outline is as important as a revision of your writing. The revision will help you to analyse any errors/ spelling mistakes etc thus ensuring a better essay writing for UPSC.

Tips to Make Your Writing Suitable as per UPSC Essay Syllabus

Read other essays.

Reading other people’s writings will help in building your own style for essay writing in the UPSC exam. Read contents on a wide range of subjects, different genres of fiction and nonfiction but try to keep the focus on the UPSC essay syllabus. The wider you read, more possible techniques will be available to pick up and use in essays of your own. Another good source is reading newspapers, specifically editorials!

Build Vocabulary and Use it Properly

This helps in expressing exactly what one means. A good vocabulary displays intelligence and allows being persuasive in your writing. Refer a dictionary, learn prefixes/ suffixes. Subscribe to a daily email that sends new words. Add variety to your knowledge of words, collect new words and find their meanings, also write their definitions and frame them in sentences. An economy with words is a characteristic of all good essays.

Having a good command of grammar is the most important thing for essay writing in UPSC. Building up a sentence which is grammatically correct and right use of words will create an overall good impact of your text. While composing the content, it is important to make yourself easy for readers to understand.

The sentence structure shows how intelligent you sound. The reader should not read a sentence more than once to understand it. Correct use of punctuation and tone of voice is a must. Do not use passive voice or I/ my words, try to be more general and readers will remain hooked on.

Also Read: A Complete Guide to Score Better in Geography for UPSC: UPSC Exam Strategy

UPSC Essay Writing Topics

The best students enjoy creating essays. For many students, each topic brings with it the challenge of making a little better than last one. When one writes regularly, chances are less to get stuck and repeating the same thing each time. So, pick a UPSC essay writing topic each day and prepare an outline of your ideas and then write your thesis and frame up your content.

Let’s Wrap Up:

Essays are self-generating, self-reinforcing and self-fulfilling. These should be balanced so that one can learn from the best of the writers and be able to pick up techniques to help in shaping up a balanced piece.

Essays constitute a formal, academic context, but that does not mean they should be boring. Don’t use big words in an essay writing in UPSC just for the sake of it; it may have the opposite effect. Ultimately, the goal should be that the writing is clear and easy to understand so that it is a pleasure to read.

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About the Author

Akshay palande.

Akshay Palande is a passionate teacher helping hundreds of students in their UPSC preparation. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering and double masters in Public Administration and Economics, he has experience of teaching UPSC aspirants for 5 years. His subject of expertise are Geography, Polity, Economics and Environment and Ecology.

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5 Essential Steps: How to Write an Essay in UPSC Mains

Writing an essay in the Union Public Service Commission ( UPSC ) Mains examination can be a daunting task for many aspiring civil servants.

The essay paper carries a weightage of 250 marks and requires a high level of language proficiency, analytical thinking and writing skills. The essay is also one of the few opportunities for candidates to showcase their knowledge and views on a wide range of topics and make a lasting impression on the examiners.

In this blog, we will provide you with steps and strategies on how to write an essay in UPSC Mains exam.

Whether you are a first-time aspirant or an experienced candidate, you will find useful insights to help you approach the essay paper with confidence and write an essay that stands out. So, let’s get started!

UPSC CSE Mains Essay Writing Exam Pattern

What is a good score in essay writing paper in upsc mains, structure of an essay in upsc mains, 5 essential steps: how to write a well-structured essay in upsc mains, 1. t- time limit, 2. i- introduction, 3. p- paragraphs and pointers, 4. c- conclusion, 5. r- revision, strategy for essay writing in upsc mains exam, 1. the central idea is the key, 2. brainstorming for a better idea, 3. making a blueprint, essential elements of essays in upsc mains, the super 3, the supportive 3, personal comments and opinions, reference books for essay writing in upsc mains, faqs on how to write an essay in upsc mains exam, what is the format of an essay in upsc mains, how to choose a topic for an essay in upsc mains, how to write the introduction of an essay in upsc mains, how to write the body of an essay in upsc mains, how to write the conclusion of an essay in upsc mains, what are some common mistakes to avoid when writing an essay in upsc mains.

• How to improve one's essay writing skills for UPSC Mains?
• The paper comes under the UPSC CSE Mains exam in which two essays must be written within 3 hours, each within a 1000-1200 word limit.
• Each carries 125 marks, so the total is 250 marks.
• The paper is divided into two sections, each carrying a choice of 4 essays. The aspirant has to choose only one from each section.
• UPSC CSE Syllabus clearly instructs aspirants to keep their thoughts close to the subject and arrange their ideas accordingly. It further states that credit will be given for effective essays and coherent expression’.

Also Read : How To Complete UPSC Mains Paper in 3 Hours? – A Clear-Cut Guide

The essay paper counts for up to 250 marks. A score above 50% could be considered good. 125 is the perfect example.

A score of around 110-125 is considered average.

For an exceptional essay, you might score a perfect mark in the range of 150-160.

How to structure an essay for the UPSC exam is the first and foremost thing that should be learnt while taking into consideration how to write an essay in UPSC Mains.

The traditional way of UPSC CSE Mains essay writing is to break it into paragraphs with pointers in simple language. This technique is still working in structuring an informative and well-written essay for UPSC Mains.

A body paragraph is of utmost importance besides the introduction and conclusion part. The body paragraph contains important facts, figures, data, and information along with several relevant quotes.

Here are some points regarding the structuring of an essay in the form of an introduction, body, and conclusion that will help you in writing a well-balanced essay.

• The introduction part is the most important of all. Your introduction creates a first impression on the examiner. Your essay should always have a good starting and a conclusion.
• Body paragraphs are equally important parts of the essay that can be supportive, critical, or narrative. However, it is advised to have a mature thought process in all forms and to not take any side or get emotional in writing a certain opinion.
• Essays, along with facts and language skill also demands your opinion that should be written in a well-balanced way. The narrative part should be written by starting with an argument along with different facts.
• Further, a supportive paragraph is necessary to contain positive facts/ideas. Talking of a critical paragraph, it is advised to place it in the last part with the exact expression. However, it depends on your will. You can also open with a critical part.
• The conclusion is also crucial as it can bring you additional marks if done properly. Your concluding statement reveals a lot about you, as balancing every statement after a lot of critical evaluation and facts is a form of art.

Related Reading: How To Start Answer Writing Practice For UPSC: 5 Effective Pointers

Remember the mnemonic provided here that will help you to keep the important pointers in mind on how to write an essay in UPSC Mains.

Stick to the  TIPCR  formulae always. If you write with this structure, along with filling in a good amount of content, you are definitely going to score well in this paper.

Time management  is very important for UPSC CSE Main essay writing. You get 3 hours to write two essays in the exam which means you have 1 hour and 30 minutes for each essay.

It is a fact that any aspirant needs 45 minutes to 1 hour to write one essay. Another 10 minutes is required for the revision of one essay.

Before all this, you need at least 20-30 minutes to brainstorm, jot down some points, and make an outline. Dividing the time and sticking to it is the only key to scoring good marks.

A good start of the introduction always arises the interest in the examiner. The examiner’s judgment and how they are going to take your whole piece depends on your starting.

If you start well, you must also end in an impressive manner. A good introduction can be a brief explanation of the given topic and you can make it effective by adding some quotes, a critical narrative, or your own narrative.

Paragraphs and pointers provide a smooth flow to your essay which not only looks like a structured essay but also feels like a more informative but less hectic to read a piece of writing.

Paragraphs in small chunks or pointers like short paragraphs provide an establishment that leads towards a conclusion.

Examiners are habitual of reading something in an ordered way, especially in Mains essay writing section.

Finishing on a good or smooth note is as important as starting on a good note. A smooth and positive conclusion with a clear explanation will help you in scoring good marks.

There should be a ‘Cyclic-return’ approach in your essay. The introduction should end with a question or discussion and in the conclusion, you can again come to that question to conclude it with a positive statement or anecdote.

To revise or read your whole piece in the entirety is as important as writing it. Keep a check on grammatical mistakes, and some missing points, or make sure your answer looks clean and tidy.

These things can be done only when you revise your answer. Add/omit some words as per your demands but should not be overdone.

You Might Also Like: How To Prepare For UPSC Prelims And Mains Together Like An Absolute Pro!

Just like the UPSC CSE your essay writing also needs planning. There are broadly three steps to writing a structured essay defining what the essay is going to talk about i.e. the central idea, brainstorming, and making a blueprint of it.

Mains essay writing demands a well-structured format from your side as it is one of the most prestigious and tough examinations in India .

“Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare” . 

This is basically a thesis statement of an essay question of UPSC CSE Mains 2016. In this statement, the central idea is ‘innovation’.

Here, the aspirant is supposed to bring out a dimension of innovation that directly or indirectly affects economic growth and social welfare. Aspirants are supposed to write that statement of facts only which supports the central idea or those statements that supplement the overall idea.

Brainstorming is one of the most powerful tools in the examination phase. Brainstorming leads to developing new ideas quickly or listing those ideas that align with your knowledge of the given topic.

There is no specific rule or technique for brainstorming, instead, you can jot down points on a paper that are necessary for your Mains essay writing.

Making a blueprint or outlining your essay means deciding what to write in the introduction, body, and conclusion parts. What ideas to represent in which section, which quotes are relevant to the given thesis, etc.

Before the actual writing, it is very important to see it in its entirety. It helps you to see the big picture. The blueprint also helps you in finding the right conclusion to wrap up your essay.

Check Out Our Blog On: Why is Self Assessment for UPSC CSE Necessary?

• Social element
• Political element
• Economical element

These three points should be considered while writing an essay. These three elements give a proper shape to an essay or any piece of the thesis.

Writing a formal one always demands dimensions and these three dimensions will always support your arguments concerning various areas of society. It enhances the effectiveness and creates a proper report-like structure along with your narratives to form well-balanced and good writing in your Mains essay writing.

• Constitutional
• Technological

These three additional dimensions also enhance the quality of your writing. You can use various technological perspectives, constitutional facts, remedies, laws, and legal terms to support the thesis in your Mains essay writing.

Your opinions matter a lot. UPSC CSE Mains essay writing demands a subjective approach to writing. It is very important to express your personal opinion on the issue or the given statement.

However, it should be kept in mind that your personal opinions should not be too biased in nature. Neutral and well-balanced writing is always appreciated by the UPSC.

Additional Reading: 3 Ways to Build a Revision Strategy for UPSC – A Must

You may seek help from books that will assist you with Essay Writing for UPSC Civil Services Exam. 

• Essays for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations by Pulkit Khare.
• Essay Paper For Civil Services Main Examination by Pavneet Singh and Sonali Bansal
• Selected Contemporary Essays by Saumitra Mohan (MHE)
• My Experiment With Truth by M.K. Gandhi
• J.L. Nehru Getting India Back on Track by Ratan Tata

In addition to the above-mebtioned books, you make take help of English newspapers such as The Hindu and the newspaper editorial section to expand your vocabulary.

Staying updated with the current affairs is also necessary. Take a look at the Best Current Affairs Magazine For UPSC to keep yourself informed about the latest events happening around the world.

Practice is the key to success. Focus on reading, the art of argumentation, and correct sequence to achieve good scores in essays. Remember there is no such thing as a perfect essay, just arrange the ideas in an orderly fashion and keep writing.

Essays in the UPSC Mains exam must be written with the help of facts and figures along with data, like statistics from a government report or any data from a major research paper that supports a writer’s perspective on a given topic.

Conversational form, the use of first-person references, and getting emotional with the audience are not allowed in a formal structure.

The points made by the candidate need to be neutral, supported by logical facts and not someone’s biased personal opinions. A certain degree of straightforwardness should be there while writing a formal exam, especially for an exam like UPSC CSE.

The tips mentioned above revolve around how to write an essay in UPSC Mains. These will help improve your writing skills and build a better essay structure.

Also Read: Powerful Tips on How to Stay Motivated for UPSC Preparation

The format of an essay in UPSC Mains is as follows: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. The introduction should state the main idea of the essay and the body should elaborate on it with examples and arguments. The conclusion should summarize the key points made in the essay. The word limit for an essay in UPSC Mains is usually around 250-300 words.

Choose a topic that you are well-versed in and have a strong opinion on. It is advisable to choose a topic that is relevant to current events and has social and political significance. This will help you present a well-researched and thought-out argument in your essay.

The introduction of an essay in UPSC Mains should be concise and clear. Start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, state the main idea of the essay, and provide a thesis statement. The thesis statement should provide a clear direction for the rest of the essay.

The body of an essay in UPSC Mains should elaborate on the main idea presented in the introduction. Divide the body into paragraphs and make sure each paragraph has a clear focus and supports the thesis statement. Use examples, facts, and statistics to make your arguments more persuasive.

The conclusion of an essay in UPSC Mains should summarize the key points made in the essay and restate the thesis statement. End with a final thought or a call to action that provides closure to the essay. Make sure the conclusion is not repetitive and adds value to the essay.

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing an essay in UPSC Mains include: poor structure, unclear arguments, repetitive information, grammatical errors, and using informal language. Make sure to proofread your essay before submitting to avoid these mistakes.

How to improve one’s essay writing skills for UPSC Mains?

To improve your essay writing skills for UPSC Mains, you can practice writing essays on a regular basis, read newspapers and articles to stay updated on current events, improve your vocabulary, and seek feedback from peers and teachers.

Additionally, reading sample essays and learning from the writing style of experienced writers can also help improve your skills.

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UPSC Essay Topics - Important Essay Topics for UPSC Mains 2023

By vajiram & ravi.

Essay Course for UPSC

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Understanding UPSC Essay Topics holds significant importance as it evaluates the candidate's ability to analyse, present arguments, and communicate effectively. In this article, we will explore the diverse range of UPSC essay topics, their significance, and essential tips to excel in this section. Get ready to enhance your writing and analytical skills and make a strong impression on the evaluators with well-crafted essays.

UPSC Essay Paper

The Essay paper in the UPSC Mains examination requires candidates to write multiple essays , each on a different topic, chosen from a given list of options. The essay topics for UPSC cover a wide range of issues, including social, economic, political, cultural, and philosophical aspects, both national and international.

The essay paper holds significant weightage in the UPSC Mains examination, contributing 250 marks out of the total 1750 marks . Scoring well in this section can have a considerable impact on the overall ranking and selection for the coveted civil services.

Weekly UPSC Essay Topics By Vajiram & Ravi

The UPSC Essay Paper is an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their proficiency in expressing ideas and analysing complex issues. Vajiram & Ravi Pensive-Weekly Essay Writing Programme provides you with two Essay Topics every Saturday based on the previous year's question papers and the changing trends analysis. You can submit your Essay for peer evaluation on vajiramandravi.com. This will help you nourish your writing skills, give you clarity of thought, and build the capacity to express opinions in a logical and coherent manner.

Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2023

The purpose of the essay paper is to assess the candidate's ability to critically analyse a topic, present well-structured arguments, and communicate their ideas effectively. It also evaluates their knowledge of various issues, their clarity of thought, and their capacity to express opinions in a logical and coherent manner.

Some of the Important Essay Topics to prepare for the UPSC Mains Examination 2023 are:

• Gender Equality
• Environment/Urbanization
• Economic Growth
• Federalism/Decentralization
• Agriculture
• Economics 

UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy

Every year, UPSC typically provides you with two or more essay topics centred around philosophical thoughts, Indian philosophical schools, or quotes from notable personalities. To effectively address these philosophical topics, you should refer to Philosophy Books to gain a foundational understanding. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy :

• Everything comes to him, who hustles while he waits.
• We are always blind as we want to be.
• You cannot step twice in the same river.
• A disciplined mind brings happiness.
• The price of Greatness is Responsibility.
• People would rather Believe than Know.
• Mind - A beautiful Servant? Or a dangerous Master?

UPSC Essay Topics on Art and Culture

The UPSC Essay Topics related to Indian society, art, and culture cover a wide range of subjects, offering great diversity. To gain knowledge about the static content on these topics, you should rely on fundamental books on society, as recommended for the exam. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Indian Art and Culture :

• Culture changes with economic development.
• Culture is what we are, Civilization is what we have.
• Social reform is a myth if places of worship are open only to all castes and not to all genders.
• Impact of Globalization on Indian Art and Culture.
• Caste System - India’s Enduring Curse.
• Godmen - A Threat to Indian Art and Culture?

UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology

UPSC essay topics on Science and Technology can largely be addressed through current affairs. You may also benefit from consulting a Science and Technology Book for UPSC to compose a comprehensive and well-rounded essay. Here are some UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology:

• Deglobalisation is good for the world.
• Science is organised Knowledge. Wisdom is Organised life.
• Technology is a Weapon against Poverty.
• Prioritising Education Technology for Global Growth.
• Technology is the silent factor in International Relations.
• Scientific and Technological Progress cannot be equated with Human Progress.

UPSC Essay Topics on Education

Education stands as one of the preferred UPSC Essay Topics, with an essay related to this subject often appearing in the paper each year. To tackle this topic effectively, you should stay abreast of Current Affairs , incorporating significant changes and advancements in the field. Let's explore some of the Essay topics for UPSC centred around education:

• Self Education is a lifelong curiosity.
• Education Breeds Peace.
• Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
• Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking.
• Schooling is not Education.

UPSC Essay Topics on Polity and Governance

To comprehensively address Polity and Governance topics, you should acquire fundamental knowledge from Polity Books for UPSC and Current Affairs. These resources offer static information about relevant issues and their historical context, which proves valuable while writing UPSC Essay Topics on Polity. Here are some Essay Topics on Polity and Governance:

• The Role of Politics in Development.
• Should Youth in India Consider Politics as a Career?
• Art, Freedom and Creativity will change society faster than politics.
• The politics of Identity is the Politics of the Weak.
• People should not be afraid of their Government. The Government should be afraid of its people.
• Government Surveillance - Good or Bad?

UPSC Essay Topics on Economy

Essays concerning economic growth are frequently included in the Essay Paper. To tackle these topics effectively, you should refer to Economy Notes for UPSC to gain a comprehensive understanding. Once the fundamentals are grasped, you can enhance their essays by incorporating examples, data, and statistics to create a multidimensional perspective. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Economy:

• We don't have to sacrifice a Strong Economy for a Healthy Environment.
• India, a $5 trillion Economy - Dream or Reality?
• Digital Economy: A leveller or a source of Economic Inequality?
• Innovation is the key determinant of social welfare and economic growth.
• Labour Reforms in India and its Role in Economic Growth.

UPSC Essay Topics on Social Issues

Social issues are a significant aspect of the UPSC essay paper, reflecting the candidates' understanding of societal challenges and their ability to propose viable solutions. These essays provide a platform for candidates to analyse, critique, and suggest measures for pressing social concerns. Topics related to social issues in the UPSC Essay paper may include:

• Inclusivity and Plurality are the hallmarks of a Peaceful Society.
• A Gender-sensitive Indian Society is a prerequisite for Women and Child Empowerment.
• The weaker sections of Indian Society - are their Rights and Access to Justice getting Better?

Previous Year UPSC Essay Topics

Practising previous year's essay topics will help you become familiar with the UPSC exam pattern , word limit, and the types of essay questions frequently asked in the Mains Examination. Analysing past essay topics will also allow you to identify recurring themes and trends, enabling you to prioritise their preparation accordingly. Regular practice with past essay topics will instil confidence in you, helping you feel more comfortable and prepared for the actual exam.

• Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
• Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
• History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
• A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.
• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
• A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

Tips to Excel in UPSC Essay Paper

• Understand the Topics: Thoroughly comprehend the essay topics, including the keywords and instructions. Choose a topic that aligns with your strengths and interests.
• Plan and Structure: Devote some time to plan your essay. Create an outline and organise your thoughts in a structured manner, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Be Objective: Present balanced arguments and avoid a biased or one-sided approach. Consider multiple perspectives and present a holistic view.
• Provide Examples and Evidence: Support your arguments with relevant examples, data, quotes and evidence to strengthen your essay.
• Maintain Clarity: Write in a clear and concise manner. Use simple language and avoid jargon or overly complex vocabulary.
• Practice Regularly: Regular practice is essential to improve Essay writing skills. Write essays on diverse topics to enhance your versatility.
• Time Management: Allocate appropriate time for planning, writing, and revising each essay to manage time effectively during the examination.
• Revise and Edit: Review your essays for coherence, grammar, and structure. Make necessary edits to refine your work.

FAQs on UPSC Essay Topics

What are the important UPSC Essay Topics?

Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics asked in Mains Examination previously:

• Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have.
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
• What is research but a blind date with knowledge?
• Best for an individual is not necessarily best for society.
• Wisdom finds truth.
• Ships don’t sink because of water around them, ships sink because of water that gets into them.
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality.
• Technology as the silent factor in international relations.

How do I Prepare for the UPSC Essay?

To prepare for the UPSC essay, focus on understanding the essay syllabus and past topics to identify recurring themes. Regularly practise writing essays on various topics to improve your writing skills and time management. Structure your essays with a clear introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Which is the best source to practise UPSC Essay Topics?

The best sources to prepare Essay for UPSC include official UPSC materials, newspapers, and magazines like The Hindu, Yojana , and Kurukshetra for current affairs, standard books on diverse subjects, government reports and publications, online platforms like PIB and PRS India, UPSC previous year papers for understanding the exam pattern, and regular practice of essay writing on various topics.

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How to Write an Essay for UPSC

Check the best approach to be followed in essay writing for civil services examination 2023 along with the highly recommended books on this page .

The UPSC Mains exam comprises a total of nine papers which includes essay writing for civil services examination as well. In broader terms, the essay paper in UPSC mains is divided into two sections i.e. section A & section B.

Each section also comprises four UPSC essay topics with a maximum mark of 125 each. Out of these, candidates need to choose one topic from each of the sections and write two UPSC essay papers in about 1000-1200 words each.

Thus, it is important for the aspirants to use the best strategy and practice essay writing for civil services examination thoroughly to maximize their score in the UPSC essay test .

In this blog, we have shared the useful steps to write the essay for the IAS exam including the books, past year IAS essay test topics, and everything that an aspirant must know about UPSC essay writing .

UPSC Essay Writing for Civil Services Examination 2023- Highlights

Some of the major highlights of the essay writing for the civil services exam 2023 are shared below:

• Number of UPSC essay topics : 2
• Maximum Marks: 250 marks (125 each).
• Exam Duration: 3 hours
• Word Limit: 1000-1200 words each

6 Easy Steps on Essay Writing for Civil Services Examination

IAS aspirants should formulate a strategy that aligns with the exam requirements in order to excel in the UPSC essay papers . Hence, we have shared the top six easy steps to be followed in the UPSC essay writing in order to excel in the upcoming IAS CSE 2023 exam .

Pick the UPSC Essay Topic Carefully

The first and foremost strategy of every aspirant is that they should finalize the topic only after reading all the topics carefully. This will also help them to collect sufficient points to write about the UPSC essay topics .

One should go through all the topics carefully in order to avoid switching topics in between as it would lead to a waste of time and unnecessary stress. Hence, it is advisable to read the topics 2-3 times and think about the IAS essay topics carefully.

Recall Important Points

After finalizing the topic, do not rush to write the essay immediately and think about the same for at least 30 minutes. Anyone who commences writing immediately without thinking twice may forget important pointers to be included in the UPSC essay papers .

Hence, it is advised to utilize the first 20-30 minutes to think carefully about the topic, correlate the topic with current events, talk about historical/past events, and jot down all the important points in the sheet.

Moreover, they must also arrange all the points in the proper sequence in order to excel in essay writing for civil services examination .

Formatting of the Essay

The next strategy of the aspirant is that they should follow a proper format in the UPSC essay writing papers. Once they have recalled and noted all the important pointers, the next step is to format it well as elaborated below:

• Introduction
• Background of Topic
• Main Theory
• Correlation with the latest event
• Positive and Negative Sides
• Recommend Changes

Use the Quotes Correctly

To excel in essay writing for civil services examination, candidates must jot down inspiring sentences, and quotations whenever they come across them.

However, it is advised to learn the quotes correctly with the name of the individual who has quoted them. Also, if they are unsure about the quote then they must skip it instead of writing the incorrect one.

Focus on the UPSC Essay Topics

Candidate should be clear with theessay topics for effective essay writing for civil services examination. This approach will allow them to stick around the topic and write relevant content in the essay UPSC test.

With this, they should ensure that they do not criticize any individual or government or mention anything in an offensive way in their UPSC essay writing which is not recommended.

Read More and More

Essay writing for civil services examination requires regular reading of a variety of topics and reference books recommended by mentors/friends/previous toppers.

Thus, the candidates must read the editorial section of the newspaper, and current affairs magazines every day. Moreover, they should watch discussions/debates, and solve previous question papers UPSC essay topics regularly.

Reading books and newspapers will enhance their vocabulary skills, and provide them with all the latest updates and a variety of ideas for using appropriate language in their IAS essay writing.

Best Books and Resources for UPSC Essay Writing

Along with the best preparation strategy, aspirants should also pick expert-recommended books to cover all types of essay topics for the exam. Here, we have compiled the best books and resources that would be helpful in practicing essay writing for civil services examination :

• Monthly Current Affairs Magazines by OnlyIAS
• Only IAS Kurukshetra Magazine
• Only IAS Yogana Magazine
• Only IAS Praarambh Post-Independence India
• Only IAS Praarmabh Indian Society
• The Hindu (editorial articles)

Previous Year Essay Topics for Civil Services Examination

Candidates should check the previous year’s essay topics for the UPSC exam to understand the UPSC IAS syllabus 2023 in a better manner. Hence, it is advisable to practice essay writing on the past year’s topics to determine the level of their preparation.

Thus, we have shared below the last five years’ IAS essay topics to smoothen the preparation of the aspirants.

Frequency Asked Questions (FAQ) 

Q1. How can I write a good essay for UPSC?

Ans. To write a good essay for UPSC, candidates must read the editorial section of the newspaper, and current affairs magazines on a daily basis. With this, they should watch discussions/debates, and solve previous question papers UPSC essay topics regularly.

Q2. What kind of essays are asked in UPSC?

Ans. Going by the trend analysis, most of the UPSC essay topics are related to Indian Democracy and Bureaucracy, Administration, Poverty, Economic Growth, Politics, Judiciary, Education, Indian Culture, Science & Tech, etc.

Q3. How to write introduction for UPSC essay?

Ans. You can start writing the introduction for the IAS essay with a powerful quote and then elaborate on the quote in the rest of the introduction by explaining its relation to the topic.

Q4. Who got highest marks in UPSC essay?

Ans. In 2014, Ira Singhal scored 160 marks on the UPSC essay papers.

Q5. Which is the toughest optional subject in UPSC?

Ans. Geography is considered one of the toughest optional subjects in the UPSC civil services examination.

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How to Write Good Essay: Do’s and Don’ts in UPSC CSE Mains

This article outlines the key things that aspirants should keep in mind while writing the essay..

The essay paper is a significant component of the UPSC civil services examinations. It is capable to make or break your outcome. Before writing an essay in the UPSC Mains Exam, there are a few things to consider. People frequently make silly mistakes when writing essays for the IAS Mains Exam. This article will help the aspirants with essay writing for the UPSC examination.

Before beginning any piece of work, we ensure that it has a basic framework in order to be effective and coherent. It is necessary to understand what should be included and what should be left out when writing for this purpose. The common do’s and don’ts of essay writing assist in writing in a comprehensive and structured manner. They serve as guidelines for improving the content’s relevance and impact. They aid in reducing the most common errors we make when writing essays.

This paper is divided into two portions. Each component contains four themes from which you must select one for each portion. Each essay is graded on a scale of 125 points, for a total of 250 points.

Writing allows you to see inside your mind. The reader will be able to tell how you think, debate, and support your point of view based on what you write on paper. As a result, essays are required for the majority of competitive exams and academic admission exams. Despite its importance, aspirants frequently fail to give essay papers the attention they deserve. First-timers believe they will write a brilliant essay in the final test, but experienced applicants believe that having prepared extensively for GS will be sufficient to create a strong essay on its own. This is a deadly error in judgment.

Candidates may be asked to produce essays on a variety of subjects. They will be expected to stick to the essay’s topic, organize their thoughts in a logical manner, and write concisely. Effective and precise expression will be rewarded. In GS, marks are only given on the basis of substance, whereas in essays, marks are only given on the basis of content. Examiners will pay close attention not only to the content of your essay, but also to the coherence, language, and organization of your writing. As a result, you must take extra care to organize your thoughts and avoid common spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Table of Contents

What should you do and where should you start?

Your GS preparation will provide the majority of the content for your Essay. Aside from that, the following resources will be beneficial:

Nonfiction reading promotes the maturation of the mental process. In addition to communicating knowledge, they will enable you to come across good figures of speech, the art of arguing, appealing rhetoric, and creative stuff, among other things. Develop the habit of reading non-fiction books in addition to UPSC-related material. It doesn’t mean you should start reading one nonfiction book on every topic to improve your Essay scores; rather, reading them in your spare time will help you in the long run.

Referencing individual magazines: For specific topics, you can refer to various issues of Yojana/EPW/Economic Survey, etc. If you’re writing an essay on tribal issues or public health, for example, you can look through specific issues of these magazines to find the most up-to-date statistics (IMR, MMR, malnutrition levels, and so on) as well as information on the benefits and drawbacks of government programs in those areas.

Gathering interesting stories, anecdotes, and quotes: Anecdotes, quotes, and true stories that you come across in newspapers and books and want to incorporate in your essay should be written down. Begin with a relevant anecdote or narrative with the essay topic as its underlying theme.

Language and expression improvement

The article should be written in simple, basic English with as little complexity as possible. If you’re going to use a complicated definitional concept like “Constitutionalism” or “Sanskritization,” define it first in a phrase. The examiner will also comprehend exactly what you’re trying to say. Clear writing equates to clear thinking. And it’s exactly what a reader is looking for.

Keep your sentences succinct and precise. Because of the long, twisted language, it’s difficult to read and understand. You get a bad sentence sprawl when you utilize conjunctions to add one clause after another.

To create a good essay, it is not required to memorize complex words. Using a strong term or a witty phrase every now and then, on the other hand, will offer your content a competitive edge. Reading nonfiction and English newspapers is the simplest approach to expanding your vocabulary. While reading them, if you come across a good turn of phrase or a word you don’t recognize, scribble it down in a book, look it up in a dictionary, and understand the context in which it was used. This helps with long-term memory. A dictionary app on your phone is also beneficial. It takes time to build a vast vocabulary, but with practice, anyone may enhance their ability to employ a wide range of words.

How to make a smooth transition from one paragraph to the next

1. Using a linking sentence at the conclusion of each paragraph:

You write a statement at the conclusion of each part to let the examiner know what’s coming next

2. Using a question:

Instead of a link sentence, you can add a question at the end of a paragraph to helplessly carry the examiner’s attention to the next.

3. Starting the next paragraph with a shift signal:

Simply insert a word or two at the beginning of each paragraph to indicate a change in your subtopic.

Creating Main Content from the Topic

This is analogous to spinning a web from a thread. Depending on the topic, you can select the best option from the list below.

• Temporal: the past, the present, and the future
• Sectors include media, science and technology, business, sports, religion, politics, and administration, among others.
• Individual, Family, Professional Workplace, Society, Community, National, and Global Problems and Solutions: Concept (historical evolution + status), benefits, problems, and solutions
• Social, political, economic, administrative, international, environmental, historical, scientific, security/defense, and legal standards.
• Original: An essay should be formed primarily by your understanding and perceptions, rather than entirely on borrowed opinions.
• Exploration of relevant dimensions with causation, points-counterpoints, logical evaluation, inferences, and so on.
• Effective communication: An essay should be distinguished by clarity and flow, with no “silt” of bulky information or difficult academic ideas. These factors disrupt the flow. Effective communication requires a simple style, small sentences, appropriate vocabulary, an emotional appeal, quotes, punch lines, and the right thrust at the right times, among other things.
• Structure: Because an essay is a structured piece of writing, it must have a distinct introduction, main body (description), and conclusion.
• Consistency and coherence- Consistency and coherence help to keep our arguments from becoming contradictory or conflicting.
• Signposting- A predetermined trajectory, path, or direction denoted by the orderly placement of point numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, etc. It does not imply that each aspect should be numbered, but rather that all aspects should be in a way that the examiner can see the direction and order in your writing.
• Focus and relevance: The writing in an essay should be concentrated and pertinent to the major issue and its aspects because it is thought in orbit.
• Organic Connection: An essay should be distinguished by links between ideas in each paragraph. To be more specific, an essay should develop organically through childhood, adolescence, youth, maturity, and old age. An essay does not consist of isolated points; they must be related to the context and perspectives of the given topic.
• Quote placement: Using the right quotes in the right places adds punch, thrust, and value.
• Critical Thinking: The hallmarks of an essay are critical thinking, insight, understanding, consistency, and coherence.

DON’T’S

• Stay away from political and ideological biases: Neutrality and the absence of prejudice and bias are important indicators of rationality. Only facts, real-life observations, and established wisdom should guide you to a logical evolution and conclusion; political or ideological affiliations should have no bearing on your writing.
• Avoid giving a long background; instead, get to the topic as soon as possible.
• Avoid grammatical errors: As much as possible, avoid grammatical and syntax errors.
• Keep your emotions in check. Control: Avoid being swayed by emotions; instead, try to stay anchored in logic, rationality, and wisdom.
• Avoid being unbalanced and biased: A balanced and rational approach is the best approach in an intellectual endeavor. Without a doubt, an essay should be analytical, draw inferences, and make value judgments, but it should also be emotionally balanced (anger, vengeance, retribution, abuse, naming, and shaming should be avoided) and politically neutral (obsession, fetish, bias, prejudice, contempt, outlandish views right or left should be avoided)
• Avoid using exclamatory words: Ornamental words may be appropriate in some situations, but the beauty of communication lies in its simplicity.
• Content and references that are irrelevant should be avoided: It is best to avoid dragging irrelevant ideas that aren’t related to the topic, major idea, or theme.
• Stick to the context: In the name of unconventional thought, avoid straying too far from the theme. Avoid arrogance and self-righteousness: in other words, respect ideas that are different from yours but nonetheless relevant. You can criticize a competitor’s idea, but you can’t put it down.
• Starting paragraphs with borrowed opinions or quotes is not a good idea: Avoid relying on quotations to build or ride each paragraph. It’s permissible to use a citation at the start of the introduction and at the end of the conclusion, or wherever you think it’ll be most effective. However, don’t overdo it. You can cite statements and quotes within a paragraph to support your argument if you create a hypothesis and assess it rationally, but you should avoid starting paragraphs with borrowed ideas or quotes.

To manage time while taking the Mains exam, you must understand how to dedicate the appropriate amount of time to each question so that you may complete all of the questions in the allotted period of three hours. In this instance, the three rules of thumb for time management are:

• go with the flow while writing and thinking; learn to trust yourself; and avoid self-doubt, such as being unable to decide whether or not to write something.
• do not become trapped with one question – temporarily abandon the question that you are unable to write at a given time and move on to the next question;
• come back to the tough question as and when you have the opportunity to do so. You should be able to master the time management aspects of the Mains examination with enough practice.
• Stick to the word limit; improve your writing speed; try to use as little personal time as possible – in the exam hall, drinking water, going to the bathroom, changing pens, imagining how others are doing, and so on all qualify as personal time; and finally, do not try to achieve ‘perfection’ with your answers – the Mains examination is not the right platform for such things – instead, try to consistently maintain above average quality in all of your answers. It’s important to be consistent than to write an outstanding answer and then follow it up with a poor response.

How to conclude an essay

The conclusion should be upbeat and optimistic. You must summarise the entire essay in 3-4 sentences before writing your future vision. You can find some useful terms in PM Modi’s speeches. Sabka saath sabka vikas, Reform-Perform-Transform, Building A New India, and other phrases can be useful. To conclude your essay, use rhetoric, lofty expressions, constitutional ideals, Sanskrit slokas, and quotes. However, if you mentioned a fictitious character in your introduction, it’s always a good idea to end your write-up with a reference to that character. It gives the essay a sense of completion.

If you make it a practice to read superb UPSC essays on a regular basis, you’ll be able to write excellent essays. As part of your UPSC civil service preparation, incorporate reading essays. It’s also worth noting that consulting prior year UPSC essay papers can be really beneficial. Practice makes perfect, as they say.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. faq: what are the key dos and don’ts when writing an essay for upsc cse mains.

• Do: Clearly understand the topic and analyze it comprehensively before you start writing.
• Do: Develop a well-structured essay with a logical flow of ideas and a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Do: Use relevant examples and case studies to support your arguments and showcase a deep understanding of the subject matter.
• Don’t: Deviate from the given topic. Stick to the prompt and avoid unnecessary information.
• Don’t: Use overly complex language. Keep your writing clear, concise, and focused.

2. FAQ: How important is time management when writing essays in UPSC CSE Mains?

• Do: Allocate sufficient time to understand the question, plan your essay, and revise it.
• Do: Prioritize your arguments and allocate time accordingly to ensure a balanced and well-developed essay.
• Don’t: Spend too much time on one section, leaving insufficient time for other crucial parts of your essay.
• Don’t: Rush through the writing process. Take the time to revise and refine your essay for coherence and clarity.

3. FAQ: Should I include my personal opinion in the essay for UPSC CSE Mains?

• Do: Present a balanced perspective by incorporating diverse viewpoints on the given topic.
• Do: Support your arguments with evidence and facts rather than personal opinions.
• Don’t: Express personal biases or sentiments. Maintain an objective and analytical tone throughout.
• Don’t: Assume that your personal views are universally applicable. Stick to a factual and well-supported analysis.

4. FAQ: How can I make my essay stand out and leave a lasting impression on the examiner?

• Do: Craft a compelling introduction that clearly outlines the scope and direction of your essay.
• Do: Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic by exploring both its broad and specific aspects.
• Do: Use vivid and relevant examples to illustrate your points, making your essay more engaging.
• Don’t: Use clichés or generic statements. Strive for originality and depth in your arguments.
• Don’t: Overlook the importance of a strong conclusion that summarizes key points and provides a thoughtful closing.

5. FAQ: How should I handle the word limit in UPSC CSE Mains essays?

• Do: Respect the prescribed word limit. Exceeding it may lead to penalties, while writing significantly less might result in a lack of depth.
• Do: Prioritize information to include based on its relevance to the topic. Trim unnecessary details to meet the word limit.
• Don’t: Sacrifice the quality of your essay to fit within the word limit. Focus on presenting a well-argued and coherent piece.
• Don’t: Ignore the importance of editing. Ensure your essay is concise and impactful while adhering to the specified word count.

In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.  

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Upsc gs 4 mains syllabus, 7 stories that will motivate you to never give up, medieval history – booklist for upsc, how to improve your writing skills for upsc mains, appsc group 1 syllabus, upsc indian polity notes, impact of operation muskan on missing children in uttar pradesh, ancient history – booklist for upsc, upsc mains 2019 – psychology optional previous year paper, leave a comment cancel reply.

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Essay Topics and Previous papers for UPSC Civil service exam

List of essay topics.

• [Essay] No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. — HERACLITUS
• [Mock] Essay Paper for UPSC Mains-2016: Identity Groups vs Democracy, Chakra vs Charkha, Wisdom vs Force, UBI vs Skill Development
• [Mock] Essay Paper for UPSC Mains-2016: Role of Educator, Taste for Literature, Cost of Liberty, Success in Dictionary
• [Essays] February Week2: Equidistant diplomacy, Strategic Autonomy without Military Alliance, Censorship & Moral responsibility
• [Essays] February Week1: Censorship of Ideas, Acts of Kindness, Childhood to Adulthood, consciously secular society
• [Essays] January Week4: Socialist Preamble, Democracy without participation, women-the deities of household fire
• [Essays] January Week3: Ideological Colonization, Dovish vs Hawkish Foreign Policy, limits of free speech
• [Essays] January Week2: competitive vs. cooperative federalism, God above all gods, Suicide- a social shame
• [Essays] January 2015 Week1: Religion-A form of Enslavement, Market Oriented Education, Constructive Criticism
• [Essays] December Week4: Apoplectic Secularism, Syncretism, Spiritual Alzheimer, Pragmatic Diplomacy
• [Essays] December Week1: Social suffocation, true Sovereignty, Arc of revanchist states
• [Essays] November Week4: Classical Arts, Security Trilemma, Think in India, Soullessness of men
• [Essays] November Week3: Garrison Governance, Dignity of Labour, Rationalist Thinking, Age of Knowledge
• [Essays] November Week2: Nehru legacy, knowledge society, age of discontinuity (only Topiclists)
• [Essays] November Week1: New Urbanism, Regional Chauvinism, Majoritarian Populism
• [Essays] October Week4: End of American Century, Activism vs Restrain, Censorship vs Lynching
• [Essays] October Week3: Militant Atheism, Rational Consumption, Ecocide, Prosperity without Morality
• [Essays] October Week2: Corruption, Child Labour, Probity, Good Governance, Injustice, Optimism
• [Essays] October Week1: Colonization, Gandhiism, Volunteerism, Personification, Social Transformation
• [Essays] September Week4: De-bureaucratizing the executive, Hidden Euthanasia, Gender equality
• [Essays] September Week3: India-China, Zero Sum Game, Parliamentary minority, Daughter aversion
• [Essays] September Week2: 21 Topics for UPSC Mains: Fanaticism, Colonizing Culture, Age of Loneliness, piecemeal WW-III
• [Essays] September Week1: 16 Topics for UPSC Mains- Expansionism, Buried Justice, India-the Model international citizen
• [Download] Essay 2013 Question Paper of UPSC Civil Service Mains
• [Essay Tip for Newcomers] What to write & What not to write in Mains IAS exam?

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• Essay In UPSC Exam

How to Write Essay in UPSC Exam

The Essay Paper is one of the nine papers in the UPSC civil services mains exam. In this paper, you will have to write two essays, each with a word count of 1000–1200. One topic can be selected from a choice of four topics. The Essay Paper is for a total of 250 marks, with one essay for 125 marks.

Download UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Paper from the linked article.

Download UPSC Mains 2020 Essay Paper  from the linked article.

You would have read many articles on our website on how to prepare for the essay paper in the IAS mains exam. This article tells you how to write an essay for the UPSC exam.

It is recommended that you follow certain steps while writing the essay paper.

How to Write the Essay for UPSC?

• Read the topics thoroughly

This is the most important step in the process. You should choose one of the four topics. While selecting your topic, make sure you know most about that topic out of the given topics. What not to pick:

• A sensitive or controversial topic.
• A topic about which you are too passionate or feel strongly about. In this case, you may tend to get excited and fail to write a balanced essay. This can work against you.
• Think for some time

Once you’ve selected your topic, you should not start writing straight away. It is prudent to think for some time and collect your thoughts. Write in pencil the points you want to write. This is important because only then can you write your points in the correct sequence. For instance, if you are writing about India’s relations with its neighbours, you need to write the historical facts and events in the beginning. Suppose you start writing the essay and realise only towards the end that you have forgotten to mention a crucial detail in the historical part, it would be too late to add it because of a space crunch. Therefore, it helps if you write your rough points in the beginning.

Once you have the rough points in hand, you can start writing the essay. While writing, you must adhere to a good structure. The structure of a good essay is as follows:

• Introduction
• Main issue/problem/subject
• Current scenario/current news related to the topic
• Positive and negative aspects
• Reforms/way forward

You can get brownie points if you also include:

• Relevant quotes/sayings by famous personalities (ensure to quote verbatim).
• Relevant government schemes and policies.
• Any figures or numbers (must be accurate otherwise, don’t include them).

Important pointers to note while you write:

• Don’t resort to name-calling. Never get personal in your essay.
• Don’t have extreme views. The Buddha’s middle path can help you here!
• Don’t just present problems. Give possible reforms/solutions also.
• Don’t criticise the administration excessively.
• Even if the topic is provocative, your essay shouldn’t be. Present a balanced picture. You don’t HAVE to agree to the topic.
• Avoid writing utopian solutions.
• Keep in mind you are a future officer, not a journalist!

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Guest Essay

Something Other Than Originalism Explains This Supreme Court

By Marc O. De Girolami

Mr. De Girolami is a law professor at the Catholic University of America. He is writing a book about traditionalism in constitutional law.

It is a sign of the polarizing nature of the current Supreme Court that even knowledgeable critics of its opinions make diametrically opposed arguments.

This week, for example, the former Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer, in a new book, “Reading the Constitution,” chides the current court’s approach to the law, which he says fixates on the text of the Constitution and attaches too much significance to the meanings of its provisions at the time they were ratified. If only, Justice Breyer urges, justices would soften this “originalist” approach and take into account how “our values as a society evolve over time” — including by respecting the “longstanding practice” of the court and other organs of government.

Justice Breyer’s criticism follows on the heels of that of another judge, Kevin Newsom of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. In a talk last month at Harvard Law School, Judge Newsom made the opposite argument: He criticized the Supreme Court, when considering matters such as handgun regulation and abortion rights, for being insufficiently faithful to originalism and overly attuned to social practices that occurred or continued after constitutional ratification. Such traditions, he warned, “have no demonstrable connection to the original, written text.”

The current Supreme Court is the object of considerable controversy and confusion. To understand its decisions properly, especially over the past three or four years, the key is to realize that each critic is half right. Justice Breyer is right that the Constitution should be interpreted, in part, in light of practices that persisted after its ratification, but wrong to think that the current court is not doing this. Judge Newsom is right that the current court is doing this, but wrong to think that it should not be.

This court is conventionally thought of as originalist. But it is often more usefully and accurately understood as what I call “ traditionalist ”: In areas of jurisprudence as various as abortion, gun rights, free speech, religious freedom and the right to confront witnesses at trial, the court — led in this respect by Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh — has indicated time and again that the meaning and law of the Constitution is often to be determined as much by enduring political and cultural practices as by the original meaning of its words.

The fact that the Supreme Court seems to be finding its way toward an open embrace of traditionalism should be broadly celebrated. To be sure, the court’s traditionalism has played a role in many decisions that have been popular with political conservatives, such as the Dobbs ruling in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade. But it is not a crudely partisan method. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, an Obama nominee, has used it in a decision for the court — and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump nominee, has expressed some skepticism about it.

Traditionalism may not be partisan, but it is political: It reflects a belief — one with no obvious party valence — that our government should strive to understand and foster the common life of most Americans. The Supreme Court has relied on traditionalism to good effect for many decades, though the justices have seldom explicitly acknowledged this. Traditionalism should be favored by all who believe that our legal system ought to be democratically responsive, concretely minded (rather than abstractly minded) and respectful of the shared values of Americans over time and throughout the country.

To get a better sense of what traditionalism is, it is useful to compare it with the two dominant approaches to constitutional interpretation in adjudication: originalism and what is often called “living constitutionalism.”

Sometimes the Constitution’s words are not clear and their application to a particular issue is also unclear. Consider the line “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” from the First Amendment. Judges face choices about how to determine what exactly Congress (and today, by extension, the states) is being forbidden from doing.

One option is to discern the meaning that those words would have had at the time of their adoption, using ratification-era dictionaries, contemporary documents by learned authorities, databases of usage, other linguistic and legal sources and perhaps activities closely confined to the founding period. That is originalism.

Another option is to understand those words by recourse to a high ideal or abstraction. For example, a judge might take that passage of the First Amendment to reflect a principle of separation of church and state and then apply that principle in light of the judge’s moral views or perceptions of contemporary moral standards in the case at hand. That is living constitutionalism.

Traditionalism offers a third option. Here, one would look at specific political and cultural practices — the activities of the organs of government and of individuals and groups across the country over long periods of time — to help determine constitutional meaning and law. For example, one might observe that the practice of legislative prayer (prayer that opens legislative assemblies) was pervasive long before and at the time of the First Amendment’s ratification, and that it continued for centuries afterward. For that reason, one would conclude that legislative prayer is unlikely to violate the prohibition against an “establishment of religion.”

The intuition is straightforward: It would be odd to think that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits legislative prayer if legislative prayer was widely practiced before, during and for centuries after ratification. Were we supposed to put a stop to a practice many showed no sign of wanting to stop, and indeed, that a great many people were eager to continue and did continue? Sometimes, yes, moral reflection or changed circumstance prompts a re-evaluation of our practices. But in general, we do what we mean and we mean what we do, and constitutional law takes its shape accordingly.

In its 2021-2022 term, traditionalism was the Supreme Court’s preferred method in a number of high-profile cases. Consider New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, a 2022 decision that concerned a New York law that strictly limited the carrying of guns outside the home. Justice Thomas, writing for the majority, held that New York’s requirement to demonstrate a “special need for self-protection” before the state would issue a handgun permit for self-defense outside the home violated the Second Amendment.

The “historical tradition” of handgun regulation, Justice Thomas argued, established the limits of the right to keep and bear arms. He noted that the practices of regulation “from before, during and even after the founding” of the United States indicated “no such tradition in the historical materials,” which suggested that a long, unbroken line of tradition, stretching from medieval England to early 20th century America, was at odds with New York’s law. The opinion granted the existence of scattered 19th-century regulations akin to New York’s, but argued that these were dwarfed by the dearth of analogous traditions of gun regulation over time and across state and local communities.

One can see a similar traditionalist approach in Dobbs, where Justice Alito, writing for the court, examined the government practices of abortion regulation before, during and after ratification of the 14th Amendment, concluding that there is no constitutional right to abortion in part because there is “an unbroken tradition of prohibiting abortion” that persisted “from the earliest days of the common law until 1973.”

Likewise, in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme Court decided in 2022 that a public school football coach who prayed on the field after games was not in violation of the Establishment Clause by holding, in an opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch, that this was not analogous to prayer practices long considered Establishment Clause violations. And in the unanimously decided case Houston Community College System v. Wilson, the court in 2022 held that “long settled and established practice” determined that elected bodies do not violate their members’ freedom of speech when they censure one of their members.

For some critics, the invocation of “tradition” sets off alarm bells. After all, our country looks very different today, demographically and otherwise, than it did hundreds of years ago, when political power was held by relatively few and denied to others for illegitimate reasons. These critics ask how well traditionalism deals with the contemporary realities of American democracy.

The answer to this legitimate question is: Compared to what? Consider again originalism and living constitutionalism. These approaches, different as they are from each other, are both suited to elite actors working at the nerve centers of legal and political power. Both depend on the preferences and findings of the legal professional class. Originalism privileges the centuries-old writings of illustrious figures of the founding or Reconstruction era as determined by today’s most brilliant legal historians and theorists. Living constitutionalism privileges the high ideals of today’s most prominent academics and judges.

Traditionalism, by contrast, looks to the ordinary practices of the American people across time and throughout the country. In democracies, people obey the law because they believe it is legitimate, and the law acquires legitimacy when the people believe they have had a hand, direct or indirect, in shaping it. True, the practices of “the people” may be repudiated or upended — no political tradition is perfect — but while they endure, their origin in popular sovereignty is a presumptive reason to preserve them.

Tradition, in the law and elsewhere, illuminates a basic fact of human life: We admire and want to unite ourselves with ways of being and of doing that have endured for centuries before we were born and that we hope will endure long after we are gone. At its core, this is what constitutional traditionalism is about: a desire for excellence, understood as human achievement over many generations and in many areas of life, that serves the common good of our society.

Not all traditions are worthy of preservation. Some are rightly jettisoned as the illegitimate vestiges of days gone by. But many, and perhaps most, deserve our solicitude and need a concerted defense.

Traditions can be fragile things. To the extent that a revitalized practice of constitutional interpretation is possible, it will depend on determining the content of the Constitution with an eye to their sustenance and restoration.

Marc O. De Girolami ( @MarcODeGirolami ) is a law professor at the Catholic University of America, where he is a co-director of the Center for Law and the Human Person.

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[ Admissions Open ] Insights IAS Agriculture Optional 2025 by Thorun Sir | Starts on 25th April 2024

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Starts on 25th April 2024 Fee: Rs. 35000/- Early Bird discount : 5% discount till 20th April 2024

In the current trend of UPSC optional is playing a major role in being in the selection list and missing marginally. Agriculture optional has been a good scoring optional. Those who prepare strategically will be getting at least 250+ assured. Being a technical subject the questions in the exam tends to repeat every year. With good guidance and thorough writing practice one can score above 300. The key here is good writing practice, reading material is no constraint for Agriculture optional. The following tables convey that compared to other optional agriculture has good role in getting into selection list.

Why to choose Agriculture optional?

For Agriculture graduates :

• Familiarity with subject. Being studied for at least 4 years gives confidence on the subject matter.
• Can cover more syllabus in less time compared to other optional.
• Less chances of panicking about unknown questions in the exam hall, as most of the questions will be known.
• Even when questions come out of ordinary, will have knowledge base to manage them in the exam hall.
• Can address the demand of questions with the practical knowledge gained in the field during graduation, especially for the questions on Agriculture extension. While writing answers from experience content feels genuine.
• Less to describe in words more to express in diagrams.
• Since Agriculture optional syllabus for IFS and Civil service is almost same and paper 2 of botany is as similar as Agriculture paper 2, it will be like preparing for both exams simultaneously.
• Rank 176 (2022), Rank 106 (2018, score 311), next could be you.

For non-Agriculture graduates:               

• People with science background, graduates in biotech, chemistry, botany etc. can opt for Agriculture optional. As it would be easy for completion of syllabus and there will be natural ease in writing answers.
• Even engineering graduates have cleared IFS by having Agriculture as optional like rank 63 (IFoS, 2019 ), graduates form science subjects like rank 95 (IAS, 2017 with score of 310+ ).
• One can cover overlapping topics of GS III in the optional like, Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security.
• There have been at least 4 questions on agriculture in UPSC GS 3 from last 4 years, so Agriculture optional helps to tackle at least 20% of questions in GS3. Over years at least 2 to 3 questions are coming from agriculture in UPSC GS paper 3. With the current focus agriculture getting in policy accepts, questions are only expected to increase.
• What is water-use efficiency ? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-use efficiency.
• What is allelopathy ? Discuss its role in major cropping systems of irrigated agriculture.
• Discuss the role of land reforms in agricultural development. Identify the factors that were responsible for the success of land reforms in India.
• Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• Easy availability of reading materials.

Trend of the questions being asked over years is such that to evaluate the aspirants understanding of basic concepts in the subject and ability to present good content in limited time and space. But of- late, few questions are appearing to test depth of the knowledge.

For example , question of gene pyramiding and introgression was asked in 2016 for 12.5 marks same was asked for 15 marks in 2020. Since two terms has less difference, it demands depth of knowledge to answer.

* A detailed analysis of the trend of questions will be provided later.

Agriculture optional success rate (as per UPSC annual report)

Insights IAS is pleased to announce classroom program for Agriculture Optional.

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More From Forbes

Keep a daily “wins journal” to increase stamina and motivation.

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starting a wins journal

When pursuing an important long-term goal, it’s helpful to notice and appreciate the small accomplishments along the way. Acknowledging little victories boosts energy and motivation, increasing stamina for the long haul. Of course, small successes may also bring benefits themselves. Meeting a quarterly sales goal not only makes you more likely to hit your annual sales objective but also increases customers and revenue now .

Good managers help teams track successes and acknowledge small wins, but not everyone has a good manager. Some people, such as freelancers and solopreneurs, have no manager at all. If you don’t have anyone tracking your daily or weekly accomplishments—or even if you do, but still find yourself focusing on what you haven’t done while brushing off what you have—it may be time to make a practice of noticing little victories yourself. Last week, the New York Times ran an article related to spring cleaning, not careers, but the title expresses the same theme- In Praise of Tiny Triumphs .

One good way to track triumphs: keep a “wins journal.”

Write Your Way Forward

We’ve all read by now about the power of writing a gratitude journal (and maybe even seen articles on how to start one, such as this post on the Greater Good Science Center ). As studies show, shifting our focus from what we lack to what we’re grateful for can increase happiness and decrease depression. A “wins journal” is similar to a gratitude diary in that it has a specific focus—but with a different goal: helping you notice and record your victories; no success is too small.

Expressive and reflective writing in general have been shown to help release anxiety and stress, increase clarity and focus, and even improve your sleep. A study of a six-week journaling intervention for people who had experienced upheaval concluded that the practice “increases resilience, and decreases depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and rumination.” All of these benefits make personal writing a good habit to develop when it comes to supporting your career success. As this recent article in Forbes notes, “Journaling has emerged as a potent instrument for enhancing productivity, self-awareness, and success in the professional realm.”

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

Recording wins can be a particularly powerful career-enhancement tool because it puts you in a progress mindset. As an article in Harvard Business Review puts it, “The more frequently people experience a feeling of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run. Whether they are trying to solve a major scientific mystery or simply produce a high-quality product or service, everyday progress—even a small win—can make all the difference in how they feel and perform.”

Helping Employees Harness the Power of Journaling

If you’re a manager, you can help employees track wins by giving them a journal expressly for this purpose—such as this Wins Journal by Jacqueline Kademian, or one from this selection of wins journals in different colors and patterns. Or, you could work writing into their weekly routine. Laura Hume, an Austin-based HR and human capital consultant, previously at Ernst and Young and IBM, instituted a weekly journaling practice for her direct reports at IBM. She instructed them to record three “big rocks” from each week by end-of-day Friday. (An idea borrowed from Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , a “big rock” is anything someone considers important, including wins). She then referred to each person’s journal in weekly one-on-ones.

Hume initially wasn’t focused on tracking small wins to motivate employees, but rather to make meetings more efficient. “On the other hand”, she noted, “I would say that the documenting helps. We were looking at it as a team and we were having the accountability of a leader looking at it too.” The journal created a record of effort. “Looking back over it, I think I noticed - and they noticed - what we hadn’t done. That motivated us.”

Hume has been journaling since she was 11. “I love journals. I have all kinds of journal books.” Her employees didn’t share her love of writing, at least, not at first. But, “A couple of them came back afterward, during their annual reviews, and said it was incredibly helpful.”

Put Perfectionism In Its Place

Tracking small victories provides a daily boost of positive reinforcement, even from projects not yet finished or goals partially met. Acknowledging incremental progress can be a particularly helpful habit for people who hold themselves to extremely, or excessively, high standards. “We can get into a rut where we focus on what we want and don’t see what we have ,” says Ruth Klein, an author and executive coach who specializes in communications, productivity and mindset. “We don’t see the wins unless it’s like a million dollars. To achieve at a high degree is excellent, but to focus on perfection is being hard on oneself and not nurturing,”

Klein began encouraging clients to record small wins after trying it herself. “I’m a recovering perfectionist. There was a time when I felt that everything could be better. I’d get accolades, and it just wasn’t enough.” Klein started recording small victories, even bringing a notebook with her when she went out. “I began to see wins all over the place.”

Klein now uses wins journaling in “momentum groups” she leads, six-month-long accountability groups focusing on a range of topics from time management to courageousness. She has seen the practice pay off in increased confidence, momentum, and drive. “The way to be productive is to look for our wins, not dismiss them.” Making more calls? Getting one product feature right? Finding a coding bug? Resolving client issues? Each one is a win. “Catching the wins is in the center of everything.”

Notice How Work Victories Enhance Your Non-Career Life

While a wins journal can be helpful at work, it also can enhance your appreciation for successes outside of your career. Making a point to stop and record the roses—the small, pleasurable successes—can enhance your overall sense of contentment and joy. A personal small win might be a connection you made for someone else, a daily fitness goal achieved, or even an organizational task begun.

Or, in the case of a freelance writer in LA, tracking daily wins highlighted new ways in which her career contributed to her non-work life. “I used my writing and interviewing skills to help a dying family member start a legacy journal about her life, and then I shared some of her words at a memorial service, which turned out to be a powerful way to bring her spirit there. In another case, I tapped my professional network to get a top-notch editor for a musician friend working on a book. She said no one had ever done anything quite so supportive for her before. When writing down these wins, I realized how the years I’ve devoted to my career let me support others outside the competitive world of writing. It really gave me a new appreciation for the value of work, outside of work.”

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