All Mains papers

UPSC Mains 2023

Essay (Essay)

8 questions, 250 marks, 3 hours. Open a question for its Hindi text, a topper’s answer to it, and to write it and get it marked.

The question paper as a PDF, from UPSCWrite this paper and get it marked

Topics in this paper

Philosophy and the human condition · 4Art, literature and media · 2Leadership and characterWomen and genderSociety and cultureScience, technology and the futurePolity, democracy and governanceEconomy, development and workEthics and valuesEducation and youth
  1. Topic A1Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.125 marks · 1200 words
  2. Topic A2Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.125 marks · 1200 words
  3. Topic A3Not all who wander are lost.125 marks · 1200 words
  4. Topic A4Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.125 marks · 1200 words
  5. Topic B5Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands — two equally harmful disciplines.125 marks · 1200 words
  6. Topic B6Mathematics is the music of reason.125 marks · 1200 words
  7. Topic B7A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.125 marks · 1200 words
  8. Topic B8Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.125 marks · 1200 words

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023, Essay. The paper on upsc.gov.in.