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WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGE

Following are the topics on which our followers have written (and writing essays) every Sunday to hone their essay writing skills. The topics are chosen based on UPSC previous year topics. Writing one essay on each Sunday will help you get better marks in this paper.

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 1 CSE 2017

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 25 CSE 2015

ESSAY STRATEGY by Topper – Rank 40 CSE 2015

• [VIDEO] How to Improve Marks in Essay and Ethics Papers?
• [VIDEO] How to Write Philosophical Essays

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2024

• 11 August, 2024 : The world is not magic and that is the most magical thing about it. 
• 4 August, 2024 : Art is I; Science is We. 
• 28 July, 2024 : History, in general, only informs us what bad government is
• 21 July, 2024 : Sarcasam : the last refuge of the chaste-souled individuals when their privacy is coarsely invaded.
• 14 July, 2024 : Wound is the place where light enters you
• 7 July, 2024 : What is Religion to One is Superstition To Another
• June 30, 2024 : Gender Is Spectrum
• June 23, 2024 : Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
• June 16, 2024 : Saint Has A Past. Sinner Has A Future
• June 9, 2024 : The worst disease in the world today is corruption and the cure for it is transparency.
• June 2, 2024 : Escape Competition Through Authenticity.
• May 26, 2024 : Creativity Is Allowing Yourself to Make Mistakes. Art Is Knowing Which Ones to Keep.
• May 19 2024 : In No Man’s Land, the only way to survive is to adapt.
• May 12, 2024 : Economics is concerned with what emerges, not what anyone intended.
• May 5, 2024 : A right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take from you.
• April 28, 2024 : We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility.
• April 21, 2024 : Well done is better than well said.
• April 14, 2024 : Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. 
• April 07, 2024 : Came from plant, use it; made in plant, don’t.
• March 30, 2024 : A Business That Makes Nothing More Than Money Is Poor Business
• March 24, 2024 : If Voting Really Made Difference, They Would Not Let Us Do It
• March 17, 2024 : Cinema Is Not A Slice Of Life, But A Piece Of Cake. 
• March 10, 2024 : Education Can give skill, but a liberal education can give dignity
• March 3, 2024 : Sometimes when you lose your way you find yourself
• February 25, 2024 : Who Looks Inside Awakes, Who Looks Outside Dream
• February 18, 2024 : Never Let School Interfere With Your Education
• February 11, 2024 : Whoever Controls the Media Controls the Mind
• February 04, 2024 : A certain darkness is needed to see the stars
• January 28, 2024 : Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
• January 21, 2024 : Subtle Is powerful
• January 14, 2024 : The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital. 
• January  07, 2024 : Give them Quality. That’s The Best Kind of Advertising

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2023

• December 31, 2023 : The only antidote to mental suffering is physical pain
• December 24, 2023 : All Great Changes Are Preceded By Chaos
• December 17, 2023 : We are drowning in information, but starved for Knowledge
• December 10, 2023 : Violence Is the last resort of the incompetent
• December 03, 2023 : Be a Voice, Not an Echo
• November 26, 2023 : A Society that has more justice is the society that needs less charity
• November 19, 2023 : Sell Your Cleverness and Buy Bewilderment
• November 12, 2023 : love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within
• November 5, 2023 : Clothes Make The Man
• October 29, 2023 : Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
• October 22, 2023 : Mathematics is the music of reason
• October 15, 2023 : Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines
• October 08, 2023 : Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.
• October 01, 2023 : Not All Who Wander Are Lost
• September 24, 2023 : Visionary Decision-Making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic
• September 17, 2023 : Thinking Is Like A game. It does not begin unless there is an opposition team.
• September 10, 2023 : Unless we have well-educated people, we are vulnerable on National Security
• September 03, 2023 : Harsh Laws are, at times, better than No laws
• August 27, 2023 : Nations Do Not Die From Invasion. They Die From Internal Rottenness
• August 20, 2023 : In Individuals, insanity is rare; In groups, parties and nations, it is the rule.
• August 13, 2023 : Economics Is Too Important To Leave To The Economists.
• August 06, 2023 : A self without a book-shelf is naked.
• July 30, 2023 : Wrong Choices Lead To Right Places
• July 23, 2023 : Credit where credit is due.
• July 16, 2023 : A right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take away from you.
• July 9, 2023 : The measure of intelligence is the ability to change
• July 2, 2023 : Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. 
• June 25, 2023 : In the long run , the sword will always be conquered by the spirit
• June 18, 2023 : The company you keep determines your Success
• June 11, 2023 : A disciplined mind brings happiness.
• June 4, 2023 : Our moral responsibility is not to stop the future but to shape it
• May 28, 2023 : Action breeds confidence and courage
• May 21, 2023 : A library is a hospital for the mind
• May 14, 2023 : Self-Education is Life-Long Curiosity
• May 7, 2023 : Silence is Spurious Golden
• April 30, 2023 : The price of greatness is responsibility
• April 23, 2023 : Progress is impossible without change
• April 16, 2023 : The Impact of Artificial Intelligence.
• April 9, 2023 : People would rather believe than know.
• April  2, 2023 : Prioritizing education technology for global growth
• March 26, 2023 : Technology is a weapon against poverty
• March 19, 2023 : Every choice you make makes you
• March 12, 2023 : Patience is a virture ; virtue is a grace
• March 5, 2023 : Before any fight, it is the fight of mind
• February 26, 2023 :  The Measure of a man is what he does with Power.
• February 19, 2023 : When you kill time, you kill life.
• February 12, 2023 : Delayed success mostly stays forever.
• February 05, 2023 : The wound is the place where the Light enters you.
• January 29, 2023 : Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.
• January 22, 2023 : I am what I am, so take me as I am
• January 15, 2023 : Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased
• January 08, 2023 : Time hurts but it also heals. It punishes but it rewards too- it is the greatest teacher ever for a human.
• January 01, 2023 : The Beginning is the End and the End is The Beginning.

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2022

• December 25, 2022 : To tolerate is purely an act of mind
• December 18, 2022 : The arc of moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice
• December 11, 2022 : Religion is a culture of faith; Science is a culture of doubt.
• December 04, 2022 : My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read
• November 27, 2022 : Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits
• November 20, 2022 : We are always blind as we want to be
• November 13, 2022  : By your stumbling, the world is perfected.
• November 6, 2022 : You cannot step twice in the same river
• October 30, 2022 : Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
• October 23, 2022 : A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities
• October 16, 2022 : The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining
• October 9, 2022 : A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for
• October 2, 2022 : History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man
• September 25, 2022 : Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world
• September 18, 2022 : Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence
• September 11, 2022 : Culture changes with economic development.
• September 4 2022 : We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
• August 28 2022 :  The obstacle is the path.
• August 21 2022 : What is to give light must endure burning.
• August 14 2022 : “He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” Aristotle.
• August 7 2022 : Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” Albert Einstein
• July 31, 2022 : A bad conscience is easier to cope with than a bad reputation. Friedrich Nietzsche.
• July 24, 2022 : Time is all we have and don’t
• July 17, 2022 : Life fritters away when distractions become your lifestyle
• July 10, 2022 : After every darkness comes the dawn July 10, 2022 : After every darkness comes the dawn
• July 3, 2022 : Mind – a beautiful servant? Or a dangerous master?
• June 26, 2022 : Education Breeds Peace
• June 19, 2022 : A great leader is never angry
• June 12, 2022 : That which hurts, instructs; That which instructs, creates; Creates Wonders!
• June 05, 2022 : Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do
• May 29, 2022 : The journey is a reward as well as destination
• May 22, 2022 : Imagination creates reality
• May 15, 2022 : The curious paradox is, only if we accept things as they are, things can change
• May 08, 2022:  The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are so certain of themselves, while wiser people are so full of doubts
• May 01, 2022:  Loyalty To Country Always. Loyalty To Government Only When It Deserves
• April 24, 2022: Successful Investing Is Anticipating The Anticipations of Others
• April 17, 2022: Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear
• April 10, 2022 : Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn
• April 03, 2022 : Forgiveness is the final form of love
• March 27, 2022 : The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless
• March 20, 2022 : Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form.
• March 13, 2022 : Everything we hear is an opinion; not a fact
• March 5, 2022 : There are better practices to “best practices”
• February 27, 2022 : History repeats itself first as a tragedy second as a farce.
• February 20, 2022 : What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!
• February 13, 2022 : Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
• February 6, 2022 : The real is rational and the rational is real.
• January 30, 2022 : Philosophy of Wantlessness Is Utopian, while the philosophy of materialism is chimera.
• January 23, 2022 : Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.
• January 16, 2022 : The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.
• January 09, 2022 : Knowing oneself is the beginning of all wisdom
• January 02, 2022 : Biased Media Is A Real Threat To Indian Democracy

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2021

• December 26, 2021 : What Gets Measured Gets Managed
• December 19, 2021 : The enemy of stability is complacency
• December 12, 2021 : A clear conscience fears no accusation
• December 05, 2021 : Power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas
• November 28, 2021 : The whole is more than a sum of its parts
• November 21, 2021 : Scientific and technological progress cannot be equated with the progress of humanity
• November 14, 2021 : The price of our vitality is the sum of all our fears
• November 7, 2021 : Lawlessness is the result of failure to cultivate a sense of self-evaluation
• October 30, 2021 : What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make
• October 24, 2021 : Science for the economic freedom of humanity
• October 17, 2021 : An interdependent world cannot be an inequitable world
• October 03, 2021 : Strength comes from an indomitable Will
• SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 : Ethnocracy and concentration of power can derail even an affluent nation
• SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 : Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.
• SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 : Culture of entitlement comes with unreasonable expectations and insecurities 
• SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 : Literacy is a vital skill that enhances dignity, improves health outcomes, empowers people to access their rights and bolsters opportunities
• AUGUST 29, 2021 : A parliamentary system of government rests on a functioning opposition as ‘no democracy can do without it’.
• AUGUST 22, 2021 : Development must lead to dismantle all kinds of human unfreedom
• AUGUST 15, 2021 : Sport is a reflection of larger social phenomena
• AUGUST 8, 2021 : Every social stratum has its own Common Sense and its own good sense
• AUGUST 1, 2021 : Capitalism without competition is not Capitalism. It is Exploitation.
• JULY 25, 2021 : We don’t have to sacrifice a Strong Economy for a Healthy Environment
• JULY 18,2021 : We Need not a social conscience, but a social consciousness.
• JULY 11, 2021 : The cure for evils of democracy is more democracy.
• JULY 04, 2021 : No Constitution by itself achieves perfect justice
• JUNE 27, 2021 : Our world has achieved brilliance without conscience.
• JUNE 20, 2021 : Our common humanity demands that we make the impossible possible.
• JUNE 13, 2021 : Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
• JUNE 06, 2021 : The political problem of mankind is to combine three things: economic efficiency, social justice and individual liberty.
• MAY 30, 2021 : Economics without ethics is a caricature & ethics without economics is a fairy tale.
• MAY 23 , 2021 : Indecisiveness is the rival of Progression
• MAY 16 , 2021 : Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change.
• May 09, 2021 : The possession of arbitrary power has always, the world over, tended irresistibly to destroy humane sensibility, magnanimity, and truth
• May 02, 2021 : The truth of character is expressed through choice of act ions
• April 25, 2021 : It is not our differences that divide us; It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.
• April 18, 2021 : Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
• April 11, 2021 : Solutions emerge if situations are not forced
• April 04, 2021 : Morality is subservient to materialistic values in present times
• March 28, 2021 : Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible
• March 21, 2021 : Our major social problems are not the cause of our decadence but are a reflection of it
• March 14, 2021 : The Future of Multilateralism : Towards a responsible Globalization
• March 07, 2021 : Subtlety may deceive you; Integrity never will
• February 28, 2021 :Technology as the silent factor in international relations
• February 21, 2021 :Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality
• February 14, 2021:There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless
• February 07, 2021: Culture is what we are civilization is what we have
• January 31, 2021: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
• January 24, 2021: Ships do not sink because of water around them , ships sink because of water that gets into them
• January 17, 2021: Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self
• January 10, 2021: Life is long journey between human being and being humane
• January 03, 2021: The Covid pandemic has revealed the urgent need for effective governance everywhere”
• December 27, 2020: Challenges of 21st Century – insurmountable?
• December 20, 2020: Too much Democracy is Detrimental to Development
• December 13, 2020: Happiness is not an ideal of reason, but of imagination.

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2020

• December 06, 2020 : As you Start to walk on the way, the Way appears
• November 29, 2020: Need of the Hour is to Maximise Possibilities of Agriculture in India
• November 22, 2020: The survival of democracy depends on its ability to lower social uncertainty
• November 15, 2020: There is no greatness where there is no simplicity
• November 08, 2020: Inequality can be Reduced by the Power of the Market rather than the Government
• November 01, 2020: Civil liberties are fundamental to the functioning of modern democracies
• October 25, 2020: Artificial Intelligence is Not All Evil – It can Promote Social Good Too
• October 18, 2020: Wherever law ends, tyranny begins
• October 11, 2020:Hyper-globalism is threat to human prosperity
• September 27, 2020: Our World is in a Surplus of Multilateral Challenges and a Deficit of Solutions
• September 20, 2020: In India Agriculture and the Farmer are both the Victims of Narrow Political Vision
• September 13, 2020: India Needs Aggressive and Pragmatic Neighbourhood Policy
• September 6, 2020: “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his  attitude .
• August 30, 2020: The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal
• August 23, 2020: Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.
• August 16, 2020: Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.
• August 09, 2020: Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value
• August 02, 2020: New Education Policy 2020: A Progressive Policy with Diverse Challenges
• July 26, 2020: In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate responsibility
• July 19, 2020: Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance
• July 12, 2020: The human spirit must prevail over technology
• July 05, 2020: When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
• June 28, 2020: Today India Needs ‘Harmony in Diversity’, Not Unity in Diversity.
• June 21, 2020: A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
• June 14, 2020: Post Independence, the Issue of Land is at the Core of India’s Non-Achievement of Its Development Aspirations
• June 7, 2020: Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste
• May 31, 2020: Despite Challenges, To be a Healthy and Successful Nation, India must Ensure Universal Health Coverage 
• May 24, 2020: Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
• May 17, 2020:The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little
• May 10, 2020: Urban Exclusion of Migrant Workers in India is a Reality and Needs Urgent Robust Policy Measures
• May 03, 2020: Uncertainty should ignite creativity, not depravity
• April 26, 2020: The fool doth think he is wise but the wise man knows himself to be a fool
• April 19, 2020: Social Harmony, not Social Distancing, is the final solution to all our problems
• April 12, 2020: It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities
• April 05, 2020: Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking
• March 29, 2020: “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them”
• March 22, 2020: In order to understand the world one has to turn away from it on occasion
• March 15, 2020: Pandemics such as COVID-19, though Catastrophic, are in the end Meant to Reset Humanity and its Priorities
• March 08, 2020: Those who have wisdom have all: Fools with all have nothing
• March 01, 2020: Indifferentism is the worst kind of disease that can affect people.
• [VIDEO] Perspectives on Essay Topic of Feb 23
• February 23, 2020: To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.
• February 16, 2020 : When civil services does its job, people will not need social service
• February 09, 2020 : The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
• February 02, 2020: Ability will get you success, Character will keep you successful.
• January 26, 2020: Media’s duty is to inform public, not manufacture opinion.
• January 19, 2020: Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes
• January 12, 2020 : Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition
• J anuary 5, 2020 : All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal
• December 29, 2019 : There cannot be daily democracy without daily citizenship
• December 22, 2019: War is the ultimate Price we pay for lasting Peace
• December 15, 2019 : Inclusivity and Plurality are the hallmarks of a peaceful society
• December 08, 2019: Justice Loses Character if it becomes Revenge
• December 01. 2019: Economic Growth and Development are Shaped by the Societies in which they Operate
• November 24, 2019: Social Media is the Fourth Pillar of Democracy
• November 17, 2019: Media is No More a Fourth Pillar of Democracy
• November 10, 2019: Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling
• November 03, 2019:Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy
• October 27, 2019: Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness
• October 20, 2019: South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities
• October 13, 2019: Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success
• October 06, 2019: Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society
• September 29, 2019: Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be
• September 22, 2019: Wisdom finds truth

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2019

• September 15, 2019: Kashmir Problem – Historical Injustice or Misguided Geopolitics?
• September 08, 2019: India’s Space Ambitions – Are they Welfarist?
• September 01, 2019: India – $5 Trillion Economy: Dream or Reality?
• August 25, 2019 Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
• August 18, 2019 The mind is everything. What you think you become.
• August 11, 2019: Virtue is Knowledge
• August 04, 2019: Inclusive governance begets Inclusive growth
• July 28, 2019: India’s headache: Unemployment or Underemployment?
• July 21, 2019: The road to science and spirituality are opposite, but we should tread both
• July 14, 2019: India is a leading power, rather than just a balancing power
• July 07, 2019: Should the world embrace democratic socialism or progressive capitalism?
• June 30, 2019: Impact of Digital Revolution on Human Wellbeing
• June 23, 20 19: Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty
• June 16, 2019: The definition of happiness is the full use of your powers, along the lines of excellence.
• June 09, 2019: Not Corruption, Communalism is the Greatest Threat India is facing Today
• May 19, 2019: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
• May 12, 2019: Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake
• May 05, 2019: Happiness equals reality minus expectations
• April 28, 2019: Political correctness is tyranny with manners
• April 21, 2019: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
• April 07, 2019: Dogma is the sacrifice of wisdom to consistency
• March 31, 2019: The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.
• March 24, 2019: Terrorism has No Religion
• March 17, 2019: Money and Religion – Great Unifiers of Humankind?
• March 10, 2019: Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay
• March 03, 2019: Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower
• February 24,2019: Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens
• February 17, 2019: Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by fighting back
• February 10, 2019: Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
• February 03, 2019: You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality
• January 27, 2019: Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
• January 20, 2019: All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
• January 12, 2019: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.
• January 06, 2019: National security is Irreversibly linked to good economic growth

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2018

• December 28, 2018: To plan for smart development, governments and business must recognize nature’s role in supporting economic activity
• December 23, 2018: Government Surveillance – Good or Bad?
• December 16, 2018: Trade Wars – Economic or Geopolitical?
• December 02, 2018: Immigration is Not a Threat, but Fundamentally it’s an Economic Issue
• November 25, 2018: A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both
• November 18, 2018: “The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values
• November 11, 2018: A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge
• November 04, 2018: Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task
• October 28, 2018: Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India
• October 21, 2018: Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere
• October 14, 2018: Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it
• October 07, 2018: Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life
• September 30, 2018: Commercialization of Space : Importance and the need for regulation
• September 23, 2018: E-commerce as a new form of trade and its challenges to India.
• September 16, 2018: Ability is nothing without opportunity
• September 09, 2018: Death Penalty eliminates Criminals, not Crime.
• September 02, 2018: Dissent is the foundation of democracy.
• August 26, 2018: Mars Mission and Mob lynchings are two obverse faces of India
• August 19, 2018: Strengthening Land Rights Strengthens Development
• August 12, 2018: Age of Big Data: Data is the New Oil, History is its oldest bank
• August 05, 2018: Strong Institutions and fair procedures, not personalities constitute the fundamentals of good governance
• July 29, 2018: Social reform is a myth if places of worship are open only to all castes and not to all genders.
• July 22, 2018: Section 377, not the carnal acts banned under it is ‘against the order of nature ‘
• July 15, 2018: Schooling Is Not Education
• July 08, 2018: Sometimes it takes a natural disaster to reveal a social disaster.
• July 01, 2018: Normal human activity is worse for nature than the greatest nuclear accident in history
• June 24, 2018: Gender Sensitive Indian Society is Prerequisite for Women and Child Empowerment
• June 17, 2018: Where Should India Invest More – Human Capital or Human Development?
• June 10, 2018: Has Democracy Taken Backseat Due to the Rise of Populists and Demagogues?
• June 03, 2018: We won’t have a society ,if we destroy the environment
• May 27, 2018: Can Development and Environment Protection Go Together?
• May 20, 2018: Governor is the Choke Point of Federal Circuit of India
• May 13, 2018: Anonymity is the Best and the Worst Feature of Urbanism
• May 06, 2018: A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes
• April 29, 2018: Guaranteeing Right to Vote may Establish a Democracy, But Ensuring it’s Right Use Only Will Bring a True Democracy
• April 22, 2018: Stereotyping is an Ideological Force Which Hinders and Endangers Consolidation of India
• April 15, 2018: Can Education and legislation Address Violence Against Women and Children in India?
• April 8, 2018: Banking Crisis in India – Failure of Governance and Regulation?
• April 1, 2018: Privacy is the fountainhead of all other rights
• March 25, 2018: Impact of Technology on Human Relations and Human Productivity
• March 18, 2018: India’s Focus should be on Ease of Living, not on Easy of Doing Business
• March 11, 2018: A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody
• March 04, 2018: Capitalism can not Bring Inclusive Growth
• February 25, 2018: The unprecedented advance of technologies facilitate individual empowerment but at the cost of Institutions and Democratic societies
• February 18, 2018: Threats being Faced by Liberal Democratic Systems are both Dangerous and Permanent
• February 11, 2018: For India, Stigmatised Capitalism is Better than Crony Socialism
• February 04, 2018: Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics.
• January 28, 2018: Politics of Identity is the Politics of the Weak
• January 21, 2018: Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime
• January 14, 2018: Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding
• January 07, 2018: The Root Cause of Agrarian Distress in India – Failure of Policies or Failure of Governance?

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2017

• December 31, 2017: Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India
• December 24, 2017: Fulfilment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth
• December 17, 2017: Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
• December 10, 2017: Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India
• December 03, 2017: Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms
• November 19, 2017: Has the Non- Alignment Movement(NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world
• November 12, 2017: Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
• November 04, 2017: We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws
• October 29, 2017: Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
• October 22, 2017: Harith Diwali, Swasth Diwali : What measures are needed to deal with Festivity and Air Pollution?
• October 15, 2017: Biggest Threat to Humanity – Moral Crisis or Climate Change?
• October 08, 2017: The monsoon is a defining aspect of India’s nationhood
• October 01, 2017: India’s Infrastructure Story – Why is India not able to Build like China?
• September 24, 2017: Impact of Digital Technologies on Globalisation
• September 17, 2017: Urbanisation and Solid Waste Management in India – Challenges and Opportunities
• September 10,2017: Gender Equality and Peace: Are They Connected?
• September 03, 2017: Recent Natural Disasters – What do they Reveal about Humanity?
• August 27, 2017: Godmen – A Threat to Indian Society and Culture
• August 20, 2017: Corruption in India: Neither Systemic Reforms nor Surgical Strikes would End it
• August 13,2017: Interrelationship between Gender Equality and Sustainable Development
• August 06, 2017: Utility and relevance of Parliament in our polity
• July 30, 2017: Caste System – Source of India’s Eternal Inequality?
• July 23, 2017: Indian Democracy, Media and Public Opinion – Does Public Opinion Matter in Policymaking?
• July 16, 2017: Poverty and Environment – Their Interrelationship is the Key to Sustainable World
• July 09, 2017: Soft Power is India’s Strength, not its Weakness
• July 02, 2017: Technology and Jobs – Is Technology a Curse?
• June 25, 2017: Democracy’s Relevance in the Face of New Global Threats
• June 18, 2017: Federalism in India – Competitive or Cooperative?
• June 11, 2017: Peace, Environment and Development: Are these Interrelated?
• June 04, 2017: Role of Technology in Development – Is Technology Helping or Hindering Development?
• May 28, 2017: Poverty is a State of Mind
• May 21, 2017: Does India Need Superpower Status?
• May 14, 2017: India’s Achilles Heel – Lack of Ambition or Lack of Leadership in Achieving Greatness?
• May 07, 2017: Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.
• April 29, 2017: The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation
• April 23, 2017: To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom
• April 16, 2017: One-Party-Dominant System – Is it Good for India?
• April 09, 2017: Should Youth in India Consider Politics as Career?
• April 02, 2017: Can World Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War?
• March 26, 2017: Low, stagnating female labour-force participation in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms?
• March 19, 2017: When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw
• March 12, 2017: The marks humans leave are too often scars
• March 05, 2017: Environmental Challenges and Geopolitics: How to save our Environment?
• February 27, 2017: Radical Solutions are Needed to Address Today’s Radical Problems
• February 19, 2017: India’s Importance in the Post-truth World
• February 12, 2017: The Role of Politics in Development
• February 05, 2017: Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored
• January 29, 2017: Building Walls and Banning Refugees – Does this Help Humanity?
• January 22, 2017: Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality
• January 15, 2017: Cyberspace and internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run
• January 08, 2017: Water disputes between states in federal India
• January 01, 2017: Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed

WEEKLY UPSC IAS ESSAY WRITING CHALLENGES – 2016

• (December 25, 2016) – Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality
• (December 18, 2016) – Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare
• (December 11, 2016) – Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms
• (December 04, 2016) – If development is not engendered, it is endangered
• (November 27, 2016) – Social media is better at breaking things than at making things
• (November 20, 2016) – Deglobalization is good for the world
• (November 12, 2016) – Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others
• (November 06, 2016) – It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence
• (October 30, 2016) – Reducing Poverty while also Conserving Nature is an Impossible Task
• (October 23, 2016) – Poverty can be eliminated by putting science at the heart of development
• (October 16, 2016) – People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people
• (October 09, 2016) – Better Access is Key to Inclusive Cities
• (October 02, 2016) – The weaker sections of Indian society – Are their Rights and Access to Justice Getting Better?
• (September 25, 2016) – Imagination is more important than intelligence
• (September 18, 2016) – Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life
• (September 11, 2016) – Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance
• (September 04, 2016) – It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it
• (August 28, 2016) – If one can Address Moral Crisis, many of World’s Problems can be Solved
• (August 21, 2016) – Overdependence on Technology will Advance Human Development
• (August 14, 2016) – Geography may remain the same ; history need not
• (August 07, 2016) – Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom
• (July 31, 2016) – To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all
• (July 24, 2016) – True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing
• (July 17, 2016) – We Can Not Fight Terrorism – We have to Live With it
• (July 10, 2016) – A house divided against itself cannot stand
• (July 02, 2016) – When the going gets tough, the tough get going
• (June 26, 2016) – India a Reluctant Participant in the New Global Order?
• (June 19, 2016) – Inclusiveness in India – Still a Dream?
• (June 12, 2016) – No one can make you feel inferior without your consent
• (June 05, 2016) – Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted
• (May 29, 2016) – It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere
• (May 22, 2016) – Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress
• (May 15, 2016) – Fire is a good servant but a bad master
• (May 08, 2016) – The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
• (May 01, 2016) – Labour Reforms in India and its Role in Economic Development
• (April 24, 2016) – It takes a whole village to raise a child
• (April 17, 2016) – Trust take years to Build, Seconds to Break
• (April 10, 2016) – Cleanliness is next to Godliness
• (April 03, 2016) – Honesty is the Best Policy
• (March 27, 2016) – Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes
• (March 20, 2016) – Caste System – India’s Enduring Curse
• (March 13, 2016) – Fortune favors the bold
• (March 06, 2016) – Quick but steady wins the race
• (February 28, 2016) – Dreams which should not let India sleep
• (February 21, 2016) – Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole
• (February 14, 2016) – Technology cannot replace manpower
• (February 7, 2016) – Character of an institution is reflected in its leader
• (January 31, 2016) – Can Capitalism bring Inclusive Growth?
• (January 24, 2016) – Crisis Faced in India – Moral or Economic?
• (January 17, 2016) – Too many cooks spoil the broth
• (January 10, 2016) – The Best Things in Life are Free
• (January 3, 2016) – Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

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

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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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NEXT IAS provides you the best Essay guidance to maximize your score in UPSC CSE Mains Examination. Essay Course is designed to provide comprehensive discussions of GS Mains Essay test papers, adequate practice, mentorship and guidance. It is conducted by Mrs. Ruchika Bhardwaj, a well-known faculty for Essay Guidance with over 15 years of experience in guiding and mentoring the Civil Services aspirants.

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Home » Mains Practice Questions » Essay

This exam necessitates a lot of serious study and devotion. Every applicant who understands the UPSC’s trends and expectations and works diligently toward achieving a rank under suitable supervision has a chance to succeed.

This year’s Mains – 2021 questions in GS, Essay, and even Optional papers need in-depth examination of trending topics as well as certain key static topics that may or may not be in the news.

Analytical skills can only be enhanced by regularly thinking and writing. Regular writing, in particular, is essential for improving your analytical abilities. Writing answers after reading other people’s answers or reading a synopsis will get you nowhere.

You must adhere to the standards outlined in the preceding article. You can get knowledge but not wisdom by consulting a summary.

Legacy IAS team will frame as many questions as feasible on each and every component of the GS syllabi as part of this initiative. This will allow you to take continuous notes and write answers until your  UPSC Mains Exam 2022-2023.

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UPSC Essay Topic wise Question Papers of last 31 years (1993-2023) for Civil Services IAS/IPS Exam Free Download

In the UPSC mains examination, essay paper is worth 250 marks and three hours. Here is the topic wise questions from the earlier years for the benefit of civil service IAS IPS aspirants.

1.1 India Since Independence

1.2 federalism, decentralization, 1.3 administration, 1.4 judiciary, 1.5 poverty, social justice, 1.6 indian society, culture and values, 1.7 media, tv & cinema, literature, 2.1 growth vs development, 2.2 environment vs development, 2.4 sectors of economy, 3.1 values in education, 3.2 scheme implementation, 3.3 higher education, 4.1 character, honesty, ethics, 4.2 knowledge, 4.3 compassion, 4.4 truth and reality, 4.5 youth, discipline, 4.6 towards excellence, 5.1 @national politics, 5.2 @world / quote type, 5.3 empowerment overall, 5.4 compared to men, 6.1 globalization, 6.2 international org./ bilateral, 6.3 security, 6.4 history, 7.1 science and religion, 7.2 science and education, 7.3 computer and internet, 7.4 sci-tech: others, appendix: linear paper of upsc essay 2023, appendix: linear paper of upsc essay 2022, appendix: model answer pe free lecture & powerpoint, appendix: syllabus of essay paper in upsc, 1 india: democracy, administration, society, culture.

• Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s Success? -2013
• In the context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter, explore, on an evolutionary scale, the terms ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’. Critically comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian democracy -2012
• Dreams which should not let India sleep. -2015
• Why should we be proud of being Indians? -2000
• Whither Indian democracy? -1995
• How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? -2003
• What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. -1997
• What have we gained from our democratic set-up? -2001
• My vision of India in 2001 a.d. -1993
• Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India. -2017
• Water disputes between States in federal India. -2016
• Cooperative federalism : Myth or reality. -2016
• Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmental implication -2011
• Evaluation of panchayati raj system in India from the point of view of eradication of power to people. -2007
• Water resources should be under the control of the central government. -2004
• The language problem in India: its past, present and prospects. -1998
• There are better practices to “best practices”. -2021
• How should a civil servant conduct himself? -2003
• Politics without ethics is a disaster. -1995
• The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy -1996
• Need for transparency in public administration -1996
• The country’s need for a better disaster management system. -2000
• Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle. -1994
• We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. -2017
• Justice must reach the poor -2005
• Judicial activism and Indian democracy. -2004
• Judicial activism. -1997
• A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity. (- जिस समाज में अधिक न्याय होता है उस समाज को दान की कम आवश्यकता होती है।) – 2023
• There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless (बिना आर्थिक समृद्धि के सामाजिक न्याय नहीं हो सकता, किन्तु बिना सामाजिक न्याय के आर्थिक समृद्धि निरर्थक है ) -2020
• Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness. -2019
• The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. -2009
• Food security for sustainable national development -2005
• Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999
• Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have (जो हम है, वह संस्कार; जो हमारे पास है, वह सभ्यता ) -2020
• Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? -2000
• Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000
• The composite culture of India. -1998
• The Indian society at the crossroads. -1994
• From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? -2010
• New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion -1996
• Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy. -2019
• Responsibility of media in a democracy. -2002
• Role of media in good governance -2008
• Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it? -2011
• How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets? -2007
• Is sting operation an invasion on privacy? -2014
• Mass media and cultural invasion. -1999
• The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India. -1998
• Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world (कवि संसार के अनधिकृत रूप से विधायक होते हैं) – 2022

2 Economy, Development

• Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. -2018
• Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality. -2016
• Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare. -2016
• Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms. -2016
• Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. -2015
• Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country? -2014
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country-2013
• Can capitalism bring inclusive growth? -2015
• Resource management in the Indian context. -1999
• Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993
• Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence (आर्थिक समृद्धि हासिल करने के मामले में वन सर्वोत्तम प्रतिमान होते हैं।) – 2022
• Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India. -2018
• Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010
• Urbanisation and its hazards -2008
• Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
• Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997
• Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993
• Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. -2006
• Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs -1994
• Special economic zone: boon or bane -2008
• Is the criticism that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified ?-2012
• Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India. -2017
• BPO boom in India. -2007
• Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India? -2014
• Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? -2009

3 Education

• Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in – school. (- शिक्षा वह है जो विद्यालय में विधालय में सीखी गई बातों को भूल जाने के बाद भी शेष रह जाती है।)
• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms. -2017
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil-2015
• Independent thinking should be encouraged right form the childhood. -2007
• Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? -2014
• Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001
• Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? -2014
• Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996
• Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008
• What is real education? -2005
• “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. -2006
• Restructuring of Indian education system. -1995
• Privatization of higher education in India. -2002
• Credit – based higher education system – status, opportunities and challenges -2011

4 Quote based, Philosophy, Ethics

• A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities (हर असमंजस के लिए मुस्कराहट ही चुनिन्दा साधन है) – 2022
• Philosophy of wantlessness is a Utopian, while materialism is a chimera. -2021
• Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me. -2021
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication (सरलता चरम परिष्करण है ) -2020
• Ships don’t sink because of water around them ships sink because of water that gets into them (जहाज अपने चारों तरफ के पानी के वजह से नहीं डूबा करते, जहाज पानी के अंदर समां जाने की वजह से डूबता हैं ) -2020
• Life is a long journey between being human and being humane.  (मनुष्य होने और मानव बनने के बीच का लम्बा सफर ही जीवन है)-2020
• Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be -2019
• Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society -2019
• Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success -2019
• Wisdom finds truth -2019
• A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both. -2018
• Customary morality cannot be a guide to modem file. -2018
• Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed. -2016
• Character of an institution is reflected in its leader. -2015
• With greater power comes greater responsibility. -2014
• Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. -2014
• Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man. -2007
• He would reigns within himself and folds his passions and desires and fears is more than a king. -1993
• Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team. (- सोच एक खेल की तरह है, यह तब तक शुरू नहीं होता है जब तक कि एक विपरीत टीम/पक्ष न हो।) – 2023
• Mathematics is the music of reason. (- गणित ज्ञान का संगीत है।) – 2023
• The real is rational and the rational is real. -2021
• Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self (विचारपरक संकल्प स्वयं के शांतचित्त रहने का उत्प्रेरक है )-2020
• ‘The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values. -2018
• A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. -2018
• There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. -2003
• Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. -1995
• Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. -2017
• Compassion is the basic of all morality of the world -1993
• Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. -2015
• Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)-2013
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right (केवल इसलिए कि आपके पास विकल्प हैं, इसका यह अर्थ कदापि नहीं है कि उनमें से किसी को भी ठीक होना ही होगा) – 2022
• Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it. -2018
• Truth is lived, not taught -1996
• When money speaks, the truth is silent. -1995
• Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. -2002
• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining (छप्पर मरम्मत करने का समय तभी होता है, जब धूप खिली हुई हो) – 2022
• You cannot step twice in the same river (आप उसी नदी में दोबारा नहीं उतर सकते) – 2022
• Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin -2008
• Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret -1994
• If youth knew, if age could. -2002
• Youth culture today. -1999
• Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? -2014
• Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (- दूरदर्शी निर्णय तभी लिए जाते है अंतर्ज्ञान और तर्क का परस्पर मेल होता है।) – 2023
• Not all who wander are lost. (- भटकने वाले सभी गुम नहीं हो जाते।) – 2023
• Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane (- रचनात्मकता की प्रेरणा अलौकिक ता में चमत्कार ढूंढने के प्रयास से उपजति है) – 2023
• A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for (जहाज बन्दरगाह के भीतर सुरक्षित होता है, परन्तु इसके लिए तो वह होता नहीं है) – 2022
• Quick but steady wins the race. -2015
• Useless life is an early death. -1994
• Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. -1995
• The paths of glory lead but to the grave. -2002
• The pursuit of excellence. -2001

5 Women empowerment

• Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight. -1997
• Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. -2006
• The new emerging women power: the ground realities. -1995
• Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. -2021
• If women ruled the world -2005
• The hand that rocks the cradle -2005
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality (पितृ-सत्ता की व्यवस्था नजर मैं बहुत काम आने के बावजूद सामाजिक विषमता की सबसे प्रभावी संरचना है) -2020
• Fulfilment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth. -2017
• If development is not engendered, it is endangered. -2016
• Whither women’s emancipation? -2004
• Empowerment alone cannot help our women. -2001
• Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. -1999
• Woman is god’s best creation. -1998
• Men have failed: let women take over. -1993
• Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal ?-2012

6 International issues, Internal Security, History

• South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities. -2019
• Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994
• ‘globalization’ vs. ‘nationalism’ -2009
• National identity and patriotism -2008
• Globalizations and its impact on Indian culture. -2004
• The masks of new imperialism. -2003
• As civilization advances culture declines. -2003
• The implications of globalization for India. -2000
• My vision of an ideal world order. -2001
• India’s contribution to world wisdom. -1998
• The world of the twenty-first century. -1998
• Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. -2010
• Technology as the silent factor in international relations (अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संबंधों मैं मौन करक के रूप मैं प्रौद्योगिकी) -2020
• Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world ? -2017
• Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities -1996
• The global order: political and economic -1993
• India’s role in promoting ASEAN co-operation. -2004
• Importance of Indo-US nuclear agreement -2006
• Management of Indian border dispute is a complex task. -2018
• In the Indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism -2011
• Are we a ‘soft’ state ? -2009
• Good fences make good neighbours -2009
• Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007
• Terrorism and world peace -2005
• True religion cannot be misused. -1997
• History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. -2021
• Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010

7 Science-Technology

• Spirituality and scientific temper. -2003
• Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ?-2012
• What is research, but a blind date with knowledge! -2021
• Modern technological education and human values. -2002
• Value-based science and education. -1999
• The march of science and the erosion of human values. -2001
• The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced. -2021
• Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling. -2019
• ‘Social media’ is inherently a selfish medium. -2017
• Cyberspace and Internet : Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run -2016
• Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006
• The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. -2000
• Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993
• Technology cannot replace manpower. -2015
• Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation-2013
• The modern doctor and his patients. -1997
• The lure of space. -2004

Section-A (write any one)

• Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team. (- सोच एक खेल की तरह है, यह तब तक शुरू नहीं होता है जब तक कि एक विपरीत टीम/पक्ष न हो।)
• Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (- दूरदर्शी निर्णय तभी लिए जाते है अंतर्ज्ञान और तर्क का परस्पर मेल होता है।)
• Not all who wander are lost. (- भटकने वाले सभी गुम नहीं हो जाते।)
• Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane (- रचनात्मकता की प्रेरणा अलौकिक ता में चमत्कार ढूंढने के प्रयास से उपजति है)

Section-B (write any one)

• Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines. (-लड़कियां बंदिशों के तथा लड़के अपेक्षा के बोझ तले दबे हुए होते हैं दोनों ही समान रूप से हानिकारक व्यवस्थाएं हैं।)
• Mathematics is the music of reason. (- गणित ज्ञान का संगीत है।)
• A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity. (- जिस समाज में अधिक न्याय होता है उस समाज को दान की कम आवश्यकता होती है।)

Answer one-one essay from each section in 1000-1200 words

• History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man (इतिहास वैज्ञानिक मनुष्य के रूमानी मनुष्य पर विजय हासिल करने का एक सिलसिला है।) – 2022
• A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for (जहाज बन्दरगाह के भीतर सुरक्षित होता है, परन्तु इसके लिए तो वह होता नहीं है) & 2022
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right (केवल इसलिए कि आपके पास विकल्प हैं, इसका यह अर्थ कदापि नहीं है कि उनमें से किसी को भी ठीक होना ही होगा) – 2022

Essay: 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 orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

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The UPSC essay paper is one of the nine papers for the IAS main exam. With this, the scores obtained in the UPSC essay topics will also be considered in the merit list. Hence, it is important to cover all the aspects of the UPSC essay syllabus .

In this paper, candidates need to write two essays, each with a word limit of 1000-1200 words. Moreover, they are required to choose one IAS essay topic out of the four options in each section i.e. A and B.

The UPSC essay paper is conducted for 250 marks with one essay UPSC paper for 125 marks. Therefore, aspirants should use the best books and strategies to excel in this section.

In this article, we have compiled all the details of the UPSC IAS essay for the candidates aspiring for the upcoming civil services exam.

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UPSC Essay Paper 2023 Structure

• As per the UPSC exam pattern , the essay paper is one of the nine subjects in the civil services main exam. In this paper, aspirants need to write essays on assigned UPSC essay topics .
• Candidates should practice writing essays on multiple topics in order to learn how to arrange their ideas and execute the same in the proper order.
• Furthermore, the UPSC essay paper will carry 250 marks with an exam duration of 3 hours.

UPSC Essay Previous Year Papers

The previous year’s UPSC essay paper is one of the finest resources to prepare well for this section. This will strengthen their vocabulary and writing skills and also provide them insights into the type of essay topics UPSC asked over the years.

Hence, we have compiled below the official UPSC essay previous paper PDF link for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018 for the reference of the candidates.

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Best Strategy for UPSC Essay Writing

UPSC essays must be well-formatted and presented in a manner that the readers can easily understand without any obstacles. Above all, it must include the ideas about the issue mentioned in the question.

Candidates must note that the general essay papers also play an important role in compensating for the less scores in general studies and optional papers. Hence, it is advisable to focus on improving the vocabulary and writing skills from the first leg of the preparation.

Let’s look at the best strategy to score high marks in the UPSC essay topics in the main exam.

• Go through the entire UPSC essay syllabus to cover all the aspects of the section.
• Build a habit of reading newspaper editorials and journals every day. Going by the trend analysis, it is found that many essay questions were asked directly from current affairs in the past few years.
• Next, note down relevant quotes from the books/magazines/journal and implement them whenever required in the essay writing.
• Focus on IAS essay topics related to democracy, environment/urbanization, judiciary, social justice/poverty, philosophies, media & society, education, economic sector, etc as questions can be asked from these topics.
• Pick the essay topic very carefully. Also, it is advised to take some time to think about the topic and collect ideas and thoughts.
• One should make sure that the essay comprises sections like introduction, main body, theme, and conclusion.
• Moreover, aspirants can also reach out to their mentors, experts, seniors, or teachers for feedback on their essay writing. This will allow them to recognize their mistakes and focus more on their weak points for effective preparation.

Read More: How to write an essay for UPSC here!

Best Books for UPSC Essay Writing

Along with the best UPSC essay strategy , aspirants should also choose the finest books that comprise multiple essay topics UPSC for the exam. Here, we have shared below the best books and resources to strengthen the preparation of the general essay section:

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How to score 150 in UPSC essay?

Ans. One can score 150 marks on the UPSC essay paper by managing time effectively throughout the exam and avoiding any kind of deviation from the topic.

Q2. What are the topics for UPSC essay?

Ans. Some of the important IAS essay topics include democracy, environment/urbanization, judiciary, social justice/poverty, philosophies, media & society, education, economic sector, etc

Q3. What is essay paper 1 in UPSC?

Ans. The UPSC essay paper 1 is one of the nine papers for the IAS main exam. In this paper, candidates need to write two essays, each with a word limit of 1000-1200 words. The maximum mark is 250 with a duration of 3 hours.

Q4. Is UPSC essay tough?

Ans. Yes, the UPSC essay paper is moderately tough as per the past year’s exam analysis. However, it also depends on the aspirant knowledge of the topic.

Q5. How many pages is 1,000 words in UPSC?

Ans. 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced is about 1000 words in UPSC.

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Essay Course for UPSC

By vajiram & ravi.

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The UPSC introduced the Essay paper in 1993, with the objective of testing a candidate’s proficiency in language, knowledge, and expression. The UPSC considers these skills so important that the Essay paper has always commanded the same marks as a GS or optional paper.

Since 2014, the Essay paper has been divided into 2 sections, of 4 topics each, with candidates having to choose one topic from each of the sections. This requires students to have an even wider knowledge base, without repetition or duplication of content.

In recent years, the emphasis has been on more abstract, quote-based essay topics. Candidates usually find these topics difficult to understand and struggle to find relevant content to write.

To do well in the Essay paper, a candidate must develop the skills necessary to interpret the topic correctly, generate diverse content, and write persuasively. These skills require practice and professional direction. Only an experienced and highly qualified educator can assist candidates in mastering the skills needed to write the UPSC Mains Essay Paper effectively.

Utility of the Essay Paper

Common problems that result in a low score in the essay paper, how to ensure a high score in the essay paper, features of upsc essay course.

Essay Script Assessment

The Vajiram & Ravi Essay Course by Brijendra Sir offers aspirants a comprehensive platform to master the intricacies of essay writing , guiding them through the demanding path of UPSC Civil Services Exam preparation .

Our meticulously designed Essay Course aims to:

• Enhance aspirants' competency across diverse essential themes.
• Strengthen understanding and effectiveness through provided handouts containing all pertinent information essential for crafting quality essays.
• Refine aspirants' writing proficiency, including language, grammar, and flow, through two specialized classes.
• Evaluate proficiency with a thorough test series.

This UPSC Essay Course assists students in structuring their essay preparation and cultivating a crucial set of skills to enhance their chances of securing high scores. Clear, concise, and well-structured essays are indispensable for aspiring civil servants. Mastery of essential elements of essay writing is paramount.

Through this course, students will:

• Clearly organize and articulate ideas.
• Analyze primary sources with critical insight.
• Apply critical thinking to evaluate information.
• Carries 250 marks, the same as a GS or Optional paper.
• High-scoring paper, which has frequently yielded scores above 150.
• Sets the tone for the Mains, as it is the first paper to be conducted.
• Requires systematic, but limited preparation.
• Game-changer in the final result – all toppers invariably have a high score in the Essay paper.
• Lack of focused preparation – Many candidates suffer the misconception that General Studies and Optional Paper knowledge is adequate to do well in the Essay paper also.
• Lack of content – Many candidates lack essay-specific content and repeat the same thoughts throughout their essays.
• Lack of writing practice - Inability to understand the difference between writing a GS answer and writing an essay.
• Lack of reliable evaluation , without which candidates are unable to understand their weaknesses and improve.
• Learn how to Interpret the topic correctly.
• Prepare exhaustive and diverse content, to address the demand of various topics that can be asked in the exam.
• Develop a writing style for essays, that is not a repetition of a GS answer.
• Practice essay writing on exam-worthy topics.
• Ensure a reliable evaluation of the essay.

This comprehensive essay writing course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the essay component of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The features of our Essay Module Course are:

• 11 classes that comprehensively cover the various themes that have been used for framing essay topics.
• Well-curated and concise Handouts on each theme, so that candidates have adequate exam-ready content.
• Special emphasis on philosophical, quote-based essays.
• Mini-assignments during the class, to help master the fine nuances of essay writing.
• 6 tests (2 half length and 4 full length), to simulate exam-like writing practice.
• Detailed and objective evaluation of essay scripts, to exhaustively explain a candidate’s performance (sample script essay link) .
• Hand-held guidance after the tests, so that candidates can clarify their individual doubts.
• Classes will be held on Wednesday’s and Sunday’s.

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A subreddit for UPSC aspirants to discuss and support each other. Keep posts strictly study/resources related. Any spam will get you banned permanently.

Some Useful UPSC resources

Compilation of Useful UPSC study material.

Disclaimer :I am just a beginner like most of you and preparing for 2024 UPSC and this is the first time I am preparing a post like this so pardon me for any mistakes and inform me for corrections, also I am not promoting any of this sites , channels etc.

You will need telegram app for opening most of the links and I will keep adding links .

Telegram channels:

NEWS PAPER:

https://t.me/epaper_hub

NCERT BOOKS :

https://t.me/government_exams_ncert_books_pdf

https://t.me/Ncert_books_pdfs_hub

https://t.me/upsc_ncert_books_gs_csat_pdf

Tests by various institutes :

https://t.me/Insights_ias_test_series_notes

https://t.me/IAS_baba_test_series8

https://t.me/Vision_ias_test_series_Hindi

https://t.me/test_series_GS_score

https://t.me/mrunal_upsc_handouts

https://t.me/Drishti_notes_pdf

https://t.me/vision_ias_notes_pdf

Lectures and videos :

https://t.me/English_medium_vision_video

https://t.me/Hindi_medium_vision_video

https://t.me/csat_lectures

https://t.me/Ncert_video_lectures

https://t.me/Ethics_video_lectures

https://t.me/Avadh_ojha_videos_notes

https://t.me/upsc_essay_video

Some subjects optional material :

https://t.me/impupscresources

Google drive link having books, notes , lectures etc

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B2rBz2I_ncambWd2TkZlTjhMOXM?ddrp=1B&resourcekey=0-bMRGwJpFaB9sPJLiEI915Q

Another Useful reddit post : https://www.reddit.com/r/UPSC/comments/meikc8/the_ultimate_resource_hacks_for_upsc_cse/

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Free UPSC Study Materials: Online Notes of ClearIAS for Prelims and Mains

1. indian history.

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Free IAS Study Materials – Latest Notes for UPSC Prelims and Mains

1. indian history notes – indian history and culture.

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7. Current Affairs Notes – National and international

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8. CSAT – Prelims General Studies Paper II

Free ias study materials – latest notes for additional areas in upsc mains, 1. world history – gs paper 1.

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2. Indian Society – GS paper 1

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3. Foreign Relations – GS paper 2

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4. International Affairs – GS paper 2

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5. Internal Security – GS paper 3

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6. Disaster Management – GS paper 3

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7. Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude – GS paper 4

Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude Notes

UPSC Mains Special – Paper-wise Previous Year Question Papers

1. gs paper 1, 2. gs paper 2, 3. gs paper 3, 4. gs paper 4, 5. essay paper.

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Classes + exams + notes + books + skills + guidance + student’s effort = success.

The prelims-cum-mains strategy should be a mix of classes , mock exams, and online study materials with offline study materials such as IAS textbooks  and NCERT .

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3 ClearIAS strategies for success in the UPSC Civil Services Exam

For best results, we strongly recommend aspirants follow the three methods developed by ClearIAS in their UPSC preparation.

• ClearIAS Prelims-cum-Main Integrated Approach : By this method, we intend for aspirants to prepare for Mains and Prelims in an integrated manner. Overlapping topics should be combined. Non-overlapping topics (subject only for Mains) should be identified and learned separately. By following this method, aspirants will be ready to face the Main exam much earlier than other aspirants who start solely from the Prelims syllabus.
• ClearIAS TTT approach :  We advise you to make ‘ T-T-T ‘ ie. ‘Text-books’, ‘Test-series’, and ‘Techniques’ as the core part of your UPSC preparation strategy.
• ClearIAS Test-based approach : Mock Exams are the fundamental basis of the ClearIAS learning program. Our method of training is such a way that aspirants learn by taking mock exams. ClearIAS Test-series – which integrates learning with test-taking – combines textbooks and techniques to make aspirants exam-ready at the earliest.

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Now, you can buy online the recommended books for UPSC Prelims and Mains .

In the UPSC Civil Services study material list of any serious aspirant, the following categories of materials are recommended.

• Standard IAS Books for Civil Services Exam – Eg: Laxmikanth for Indian Polity.
• School and Graduation Text Books – Eg: NCERT, NIOS, IGNOU etc.
• Newspapers and Magazines – Eg: The Hindu, Yojana, Kurukshetra etc.
• Online UPSC Study Materials – Eg: ClearIAS.com, Government websites like PIB etc.

Importance of  Test Series for UPSC CSE

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ClearIAS has developed various techniques to clear the IAS exam with ease. Some of them:

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IAS Preparation: Guidance and Strategies

You can go through the links below for specific guidance for each stage of UPSC CSE.

• UPSC Prelims Guidance .
• UPSC Mains Guidance .
• UPSC Interview Guidance .

You can read more about  UPSC Exam Guidance here . Also, please find the most popular posts highlighting guidance and strategies for IAS preparation.

• A Note Before You Begin IAS Preparation or Coaching .
• Prelims OR Mains – Which Stage (Topics) Should You Prepare First for the UPSC Civil Services Exam?
• Smart Work for IAS Preparation .
• Strategy and Books for Early Birds To Clear IAS Exam .
• Civil Service Prelims 6 Month Strategy – How Can You Clear UPSC Prelims in 6 Months?
• CSAT – What is the best strategy to prepare for the CSAT?
• 100-Day Action Plan to Clear IAS Prelims
• IAS Books for Civil Services Prelims and Mains Exam Preparation .
• Strategy and Study Plan for Clearing the IAS Mains Exam .
• How To Select IAS Mains Optional As Per The Latest UPSC Syllabus .
• How To Write A Good Essay In Civil Service Mains Exam?
• What to Study for Ethics Paper in IAS Mains GS?
• World History for UPSC Mains: Understanding The Basics .
• Security and Disaster Management for UPSC Mains Exam .
• Indian Society For UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam .
• How to clear the Civil Services prelims?
• How to clear the Civil Services mains?
• How to clear the Civil Services interview?

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Reader Interactions

February 1, 2013 at 12:02 pm

sir i will be appearing for ias after 4 years can i start my prepration now and what rank do i require

March 29, 2013 at 2:42 pm

Rank required depends upon the number of vacancies each year Girish…It also depends on your category. For last few years, around 1000 vacancies are reported for all the 24 Civil Services combined. Around half of the seats come under reservation. To get IAS, a general category candidate needs an All India Rank less than 80. The link ‘Till Which Rank Can An Aspirant Get Into IAS, IPS or IFS?‘ would be a good read.

May 16, 2016 at 1:45 pm

Sir, myself Minto OOmmen John. im 26 . Im preparing for IAS Exam next year… can you suggest some study materials (which includes books) which cover all the basic syllabus..

May 26, 2016 at 10:36 pm

dear Sir it’s not a good question .but it’s important for me because Sir I have no any idea about how to prepare IAS . after engineering . Sir I have completed my engineering in previous yr .but I have no idea to which subjects preferred for IAS exam .Sir I have completed my engineering with computer science . so kindly I request you to please help me or guide me . but I want to choose political science it’s happen or not

May 26, 2016 at 10:44 pm

You can take any subject of interest. If you like political science you may take that optional. The single page which may answer all your queries is www.clearias.com/faqs/

August 27, 2016 at 1:46 pm

Sir, Bca degree is enough for graduation .i am bca student integral university frm Lucknow.

October 2, 2018 at 9:41 am

Start ur preparation with NCERT especially from 6-12 th class

May 16, 2017 at 3:22 pm

Sir I’m Tusar . I’m preparing for ias from this yr .can u tell me about d cutoff mark for prelims

November 1, 2016 at 12:03 am

I want free study materials

February 4, 2017 at 3:51 am

Hi! thats a good info all together. i was also looking around the web for some upsc notes and end up here.

May 31, 2013 at 12:01 am

sir, i am preparing for civils now and i am going to appear the exam next year. i have decided to prepare my own notes through different sources i have, but how to start it? and how to prepare notes?should i frame my own questions ? or is it enough to prepare notes for previous questions ?pls suggest me sir.

May 31, 2013 at 10:01 am

When you prepare notes, prepare it point-wise for each topic and not question-answer mode. See an example for the topic ” Indus Valley Civilization” : https://www.clearias.com/indus-valley-civilization/.

Apart from this, you need to write and practice answers for different questions. Try you own questions as well as previous questions by UPSC. This writing practice will surely turnout highly useful for mains. All the best!

May 2, 2015 at 8:10 pm

Thanks a lot sir!

June 4, 2013 at 10:57 am

thanku sir.

June 8, 2013 at 10:06 am

SIR I WANT TO PREPARE FOR IAS WITH MATHS AS ONE OF MY OPTIONAL SUBJECT.MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND TEACHERS ARE DISCOURAGING THAT YOU ARE NEEDED TO GO TROUGH VAST AND DIFFICULT SYLLABUS.IS THIS SUBJECT PREPARATION EASY?? ELSE PLEASE SUGGEST A GOOD OPTIONAL SUBJECT WITH MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

June 10, 2013 at 10:45 pm

Dear Sudheer,

Every subject including Maths has its own plus and minus. The below mentioned link might give you better insights. After going through the link, refer UPSC syllabus and previous UPSC question papers. Take a decision based on your interest. All the best!

https://www.clearias.com/select-ias-mains-optional-latest-upsc-syllabus/

June 17, 2016 at 4:14 pm

namskaar sir.. mera naam anam h maine b.sc pcm se kiya h but sir meri fmly problm ki vjh se re aa gyi thi phle maine b.sc ko 5 year me comlete kiya h… kya m ias ka exam de skta hu sir…??? mtlb ias k exam k liye m elligible hu…???

August 16, 2013 at 10:42 pm

Sir, What should do the weak students for IAS pre and mains in accurate 1year? Please give your valuable advise now.

October 20, 2013 at 5:03 pm

You may go through the posts : https://www.clearias.com/strategy-and-books-for-early-birds-to-clear-ias-exam/ and https://www.clearias.com/smart-work-ias-preparation/.

April 23, 2018 at 5:12 pm

Hello sir mujh IAS ky liy kya krna chiy plzz

July 27, 2018 at 12:04 am

Actually we cant judge one year preparation is sufficient to crack IAS.. It depends on person to person.. One person will complete one topic in 3hrs, another person will complete that same topic in 6hrs.. The Main thing is hardwork.. Complete the syllabus as soon as possible…

March 11, 2014 at 11:34 am

very nice sir iam preparing for ias it will be useful if you attash some mock test for ias pt paper1

March 21, 2014 at 4:06 pm

sir i am now 29 years…i belong to st category……i have been trying for 6 years….but could not be serious…..several times i have changed my optional………now i determined to take anthropology………so pls help me

June 1, 2014 at 1:53 pm

Sir if I pass ias pre do I have to write ias main on tat year nly or I can take preparation and write next year. Kindly respond

November 18, 2014 at 12:32 pm

Ambika madam i think i clear IAS exam with in 6 month , so why you take most time . Everyone clear exam if they do smart work not hardwork , for another any question contact me on number 9041414194

July 19, 2016 at 4:26 pm

tell me bro how to prepare this exams

July 23, 2016 at 12:29 pm

hii .. i am bio technology 1st year student. i m average student.. i want to give ias exam after Completeng my bio technology course.. i am very passionate about it.. but i m very confused which subject i should talk for the mains exam.. plzz rply if any suggestions thank you..

June 22, 2014 at 7:56 pm

Sir m doin btech write nw hw cn I prepare myself for appaering in the civil services exam from now only I might appear for it after 6 yrs n I am from general category how do I get started..from now only

June 27, 2014 at 4:27 pm

sir please the name of books for hindi medium student for ias

June 28, 2014 at 6:30 pm

Please tell me the books prescribed for economics as optional

July 26, 2014 at 7:07 pm

Dear sir please give the study materials for public administration

July 30, 2014 at 5:41 am

Sir, plz suggest me for ias prelims cum mains book, in market a lots of book have for all papers

August 8, 2014 at 10:18 pm

I want to start my preparation for IAS now. I am 11std now. Sir please suggest me what I have to do .

August 14, 2014 at 7:47 pm

Sir I am going to appear the IAS mains exam after 3 Years. How do i start prepearing for the exam any suggestion……………..

August 18, 2014 at 10:46 am

Sir i am Arts section student

i stdd optnl eng politcl and history

for d IAS point f vw

wch i take 4 ias exam preparation kindly help me sir

August 23, 2014 at 12:33 pm

September 28, 2017 at 11:06 pm

simply go through news paper..the hindi…PIB…news at 9:00 o’clock…

September 1, 2014 at 5:19 pm

Dear sir please give the study materials for public administration in hindi both paper

September 8, 2014 at 11:13 pm

Respected Sir how can i download the environment portion of Dr. Anoob Razak in pdf format of all pages.. Early response is highly solicited in this matter… Really its worthy pdf for preparation of Environment section prepared in presentation by Dr.Razak sir….Please help in this regard.

September 15, 2014 at 12:57 pm

I am pratyush and i want to crack civil services with rank under 100 to get IAS post. I am student of b sc ii . Kindly give your valuable suggestion.

October 2, 2014 at 1:20 am

sir,i am shashi. i have completed b.tech from mechanical.plz give me a suggestion to prepare for IAS easily.

October 13, 2014 at 4:37 pm

sir mene apna optional subject physics chuna h IAS ki preparation k liye.please tell me the min. n best books sir.mere sare frnd mazak udate h ki tujhse to bilkul nhi hone vala kyunki tune physic selwct ki h optinal m please help me sir

November 13, 2014 at 10:47 pm

Sir am Akash Anand i like to do IAS after my degree course am going to do IAS can i start my preparation now which types of books i want to prepare

December 7, 2014 at 10:20 am

sir I want to prepare for IAS but problem is that i am from Hindi medium.. will you provide notes/books for Hindi medium student..???

December 25, 2014 at 8:37 am

Dear sir please give the study materials for public administration in hindi both paper plzz sir help me or mjh top 10 m aana h sir..plzz hlp me suggest me book

November 18, 2016 at 5:27 pm

I am disabled. If can I take botany optional subjects. It good for me ah

January 12, 2015 at 5:58 pm

Book on public administration by M.Laxmikath,the best book book.

January 29, 2015 at 11:29 pm

Hi sir I am 25years old and belongs to General categeory, could you please suggest me that is it the right time to prepare for civils

February 8, 2015 at 9:46 pm

Yes. Start preparation NOW!

December 28, 2016 at 1:54 pm

Hi sir i am 20 years old i want to prepare fo upsc without coaching in hindi meadium i belong to sc catagoery please suggest me right direction

February 4, 2015 at 12:24 am

sir, This is N.Ramana BaBu,completed Intermediate,aimed to complete CA&civils at a time.

is it correct goal………………………………………………………

WILL APPEAR ON

2018-CA (will be completed)

2019-CIVILS(will be completed)

DURATION OF TIME (3 YEARS) 12H / day-CIVILS 2H/ day-CA

I NEED YOUR SUGGESATION…………………………………………… mobile-no:7799296504

February 11, 2015 at 9:52 pm

respected sir, i am nikhil malik ,right now i am in prefinal year of my B.Tech. but i want to prepare for civil services can you please suggest me which subjects from which books i have to study first in order to get brief knowledge of civil services vast syllabus…..???/

February 27, 2015 at 1:11 pm

sir i m in 2nd year of my ug , n i wanna top ias exam in my 1st attempt with completion of my graduation ,,,plz tell me how can i start n what material should i study ….. my optional subject would be public administration

March 1, 2015 at 10:34 pm

Sir, I’m going to step in to my 2nd year UG in a couple of months….I want to start preparing now as I really need to become an IAS. Suggest me some materials, books and suggestions on what topic to start with,how to start preparing. Please help me ASAP.so that I can start early and pass out with flying colors…

March 2, 2015 at 12:36 am

hi, i m going to appear in the 2015 CSAT. please tell me yojana of which all month s should i follow.. i thought it might be from Aug 2014 up to aug 2015. please advice

March 14, 2015 at 7:35 pm

respected sir, iam ANIL NAIK studing btech from electronics and communications i want to start preparation for ias right now piz give me your suggestions and which books should i fallow and my categeory(phc&st)how much rank should i get.plz give your suggestions

June 16, 2016 at 10:33 am

beta balwadi chi kitab wact padega india thabhi yto badhega india

March 23, 2015 at 6:35 pm

I am an Engineer working in a IT company, my friends and family wants me to appear for IAS Examination,can I start my IAS preparation from today onward and secure chance in prelims 2015 i.e. this year 23rd august.

please respond coz its very necessary for me to get experts advice before starting.

March 23, 2015 at 7:40 pm

Yes, if you follow a good time table and get right guidance. The link Strategy for Beginners should be a good starting point.

April 1, 2015 at 7:53 pm

respected sir,this anudeep ,iam going to complete with in 1 year my graduation,.i have to prepare for ias,so can u suggest me that what i have to refer books

April 3, 2015 at 12:32 pm

sir,i have lot of doubts.so please clarify me. now iam studying eee 2nd year.i know ug is required for writing ias.my doubt is,what is preliminary exam and main exam.is there any posible to write exam in tamil that is my mother tongue.please reply me.

April 19, 2015 at 4:33 pm

HAI I WANT TO WRITE INDIAN FOREIGN SERVICE EXAM. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE?ALSO WHEN ARE THE EXAMS STARTING? Please Reply me. Thanks.

June 6, 2015 at 8:14 pm

Sir Muje aap hindi medium ki M.LAXMIKANT ki BHARAT KI RAJVIYVASTHA OR ECONOMIC KI RAMESH SINGH KI SOFT COPY UPLOAD KARE PLS

June 9, 2015 at 2:50 pm

sir i am a student of B.tech 4 year from electrical branch.so pls guide me about complete syllabus and preparation tips.

June 14, 2015 at 3:53 pm

Hello sir I am about to start preparing for ias but I have a doubt regarding subject_is anthropology is available to choose for prelims in objective questions answer paper?

June 18, 2015 at 10:49 am

Roshni sodi Hello sir i m from Maharashtra state completed m.sc (Botany). mein upsc exams dena chati hu. MInd Mein thopusand queries aati hai upsc study Sstart kaise aur kha se karna chaiye. My bigest problem is that i m from other medium English language ki bhaut problems hai thats is why i m going to give exams in hindi language. and meri grapssing power hindi language mein bhaut achi hai . English improvement ke liye mujko kya refer karna chaiye. English dictionary bhi kaise improve karni chaiye. plzzzzzzzz sir suggest me.

June 23, 2015 at 4:28 pm

Sir plz me suggest for making points to point notes About all the gs papers

June 29, 2015 at 9:53 am

Sir, I have completed my bsc and want to appear the IAS exam but I am confused that from what i will start please suggest.

July 1, 2015 at 11:14 pm

I have completed my BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering. I have applied for the IAS exam for the first time with MAthematics as my optional subject. So kindly help me by telling how to prepare for the exam.

July 3, 2015 at 10:13 am

Roshni sodi sir plzz tell me english improvmenbk liy kya karna chaiy

July 14, 2015 at 12:40 am

Sir i am sheikh waseem from kashmir

I am from general category how much difficult is this exam for mee… According to rank wt is the cutoff in general category….

July 17, 2015 at 3:51 am

Sir, I am osman rasheed…… Can u plz suggest me the study material for preparing preliminary this year. Thank u

August 1, 2015 at 8:51 am

Hello sir, I have read many of your blogs, the queries asked to u and the answers made by you. You have answered them all very sincerely, and in a way that a person can easily get you. I also have a question how to make up a timetable sir

August 1, 2015 at 10:54 am

Hi Niharika, Thanks a lot for the nice comment. Please find how much time is left to you before the exam. If you have more than 6 months, concentrate on mains topics first and then focus on prelims. If you are a beginner, NCERT texts can be a starting source. Daily time table is upto you, but we advise studying all subjects on a daily basis allocating 45-60 min/subject.

August 6, 2015 at 2:54 am

Sir my name is Vaibhav Rai and I am a student of NIT AGARTALA 4th year civil engineering. Sir will you advise to opt for core engineering subject instead of economics or history and of which institute I should join for correspondence course

August 6, 2015 at 11:21 am

Iam a student of nit I want to prepare for civil service exams iqm the beginner what subject should I prefer first

August 6, 2015 at 5:04 pm

Hello sir I am a bsc biotech 1st year student my dream is too become an I.a.s officer bt due too some financial condition I am unable too join classes so what should I do nd which books should I refer nd is 1 year sufficent for the preaparation so called self study eagerly waiting for your reply..

August 7, 2015 at 8:17 pm

Sir can u please provide me a link for some handwritten notes of UPSC Toppers in Anthropology..?

August 15, 2015 at 8:55 pm

R .,Sir… kindly send me the topics .

August 20, 2015 at 8:09 am

Hello clear ias… I pursued my MBA recently. Now preparing for ias 2016.. I wish to take management as optional, many say it has no scope of scoring subject in civil services exams.. I want to know your suggestions on this sir.. and one more thing, my math skils are not so good ,will that be a problem for prelims.. plz enrich me with the proper guidance sire….

August 21, 2015 at 1:15 pm

sir i want to take ohilosophy as optional so what are the books

August 23, 2015 at 3:02 pm

hllo sir, i am in b.tech final year and i want to clear ias 2016.what should be my strategy?i dont want to take any technical subject as optional instead i like theoretical subject with concepts. which subject should i opt for? also sir , if i want to practice sample questions then how can i get it checked by any faculty so that i can improve my answer writing skill?

August 28, 2015 at 11:05 pm

Sir Do you provide full paper wise study material for ias pre and mains in hard copy notes???as i m a service personnel so i can read only 4 to 5 hrs a day,sometimes may be less than that. therefore i want effective study in less time. So can you provide???if yes then pls reply with your contact number i will contact you

September 3, 2015 at 5:51 pm

Sir i am sanjay studing btech from mechanicali want to start preparation for ias right now piz give me your suggestions and which books should i fallow and my categeory(phc&st)how much rank should i get.plz give your suggestions

September 6, 2015 at 11:09 pm

thr r so many group but all lacks good admin .. so all are nothign but information overload with no filtering but this group I like this group best Indian Administrative Service (Raz Kr) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/abwf4india/

September 8, 2015 at 10:48 am

SIR, I am aishwarya doing 1st year BSc …I will be appearing for IAS 4 years later, is it necessary for me to go to any coaching class from now

October 9, 2015 at 8:23 am

Sr pls i want to become ias how to start preparation …pls suggest first step

October 17, 2015 at 8:40 am

Preparation now only started

October 18, 2015 at 1:28 pm

Which newspaper is good to read for ias exam and strategy. Times of india is good for this?

November 4, 2015 at 8:16 pm

sir how many years of preparation is required to become an IAS.

November 6, 2015 at 2:14 pm

Sir i am pushpraj singh and i want to become IAS officer plese tell me that how will i prepearing for prilime

November 7, 2015 at 8:27 am

sir..i m going to appear for upsc d very next year..please suggest me d strategy for its prepn.as well as d perfect study material so that i can achieve my final success in my first attempt itself..plz suggest me sir..

November 8, 2015 at 9:36 pm

Hello sir. I am Reding B.A Part 3 year so how to start IAS study

November 18, 2015 at 10:15 pm

Sir, I’m reading in B.A iii semester, so how to prepare become an IAS officer. Please give some suggestions for me

November 26, 2015 at 12:20 am

sir..am an engineering student doing my 3rd year…i wanted to knw how to prepare for ias exam n i want to get clear in first attempt ..plzzz help me out …n wana knw can i strt studying frm now itself ??? if so then which books to refer ????

May 14, 2018 at 1:31 pm

Yes, Reema are you clearing IAS exams in First Attempts But one think Remember it Hardwork and dedication is more important in your life……

December 4, 2015 at 5:15 pm

Sir, im studying inter1st year cec now can i start preperation for right now for the 2022 civil exams because it it easy to crack the exam .. And when the exam year is syllabus will be change … Or plz suggest me some ways to prepare the exam right now .

December 5, 2015 at 10:30 am

sir, i am studying 3rd year btech . i want to prepare ias and i want to clear it at the end of 2019. i am choosing physics as my optional subject. plz give me right pdf notes to prepare.plz give me right correct web site to prepare.

December 8, 2015 at 11:08 pm

Sir need to know :- 1) if a person graduated through correspondence will he be eligible for IAS. 2) if one has zero knowledge as of now and working in a company & can spend merely 4 hours for study, can he crack this exam in one go 3) please name the books one has to buy in the beginning since in your link so many books name are given which somewhere creates a mess.

December 21, 2015 at 4:49 pm

Sir I want to clear my civil service exam .I am confusing about the study materials so plz help me sir .

December 23, 2015 at 12:22 pm

I am doing job in IT company and this year i have completed my B.tech. But I want to go for civil services so kindly suggest me from where I need to start. Stating that I don’t know actually which subjects I need to take first.

December 28, 2015 at 3:57 pm

dear sir, i am student of ece from government engg colege cbsa,my name is avodh anil raj.iam a 2nd yr stud of b tech,do u sujjest me laxmikant is best for optional, ans the hindu megazine..

January 16, 2016 at 11:59 am

J.Soujanya Dear sir, I am the student of cse engg college I want to prepare for IAS exam so I want to go for civil service plse tell me from where I have to start for reading I dont no anything about the IAS exam but I want to prepare for exam help me by giving notes because i am a married women they will not send me any coaching But i want to become an IAS by following your guidelines

February 6, 2016 at 4:48 pm

Sir,i’m preparing for IAS since last one year,im also master of four subjects like as,Psychology,Chemstry,Law,and English Literature.suggest me which subject would be best as option for me in such Exam.

February 6, 2016 at 4:56 pm

@Majid: All the four subjects you mentioned are available as optional subjects. Refer previous year questions and take the subject you feel as most comfortable.

February 6, 2016 at 5:01 pm

Sir,How much securing is Law subject,in IAS exam?

February 13, 2016 at 10:40 am

Sir I want to crack ias in 2017 is this one year is enough to complete my preparation

February 13, 2016 at 11:04 am

@Sai Tulasi: Yes.

February 13, 2016 at 7:52 pm

Sir mai abi BA 1st part (eco. honrs) me hu. Kya mai optional subject me geography rakh skti hu jbki BA me yeh subject nhi h mera And abhi mujhe kaisi tyyari krni chahiye

May 6, 2016 at 11:59 pm

YES YOU CAN. YOU SHOULD BE SURE AND CONFIDENT. STARTS PREPARATION AND IT IS GOOD TIME TO DECIDE. AAP KO KOI AUR JANKARI CHAHIYE TO AAP MAIL KAR SAKTE HO.

February 15, 2016 at 5:01 pm

Hi , I have two boys, they are their secondary school, but I am aiming them to clear IAS in future as destination, would you please advise what all degree needs to clear before reaching IAS study?

March 10, 2016 at 12:56 pm

Hello Sir/Madam, Would u plz.tell me how much scoriing is Law Subject???

March 20, 2016 at 9:43 pm

Hi sir/ma’am, Where can I get hindi study material for (indian language compulsory) for upsc main exam .

April 7, 2016 at 12:01 am

Hello sir, I am Manoj just little bit confused about choosing IAS preparation or Doing Chartered accountant which is the best to do when it comes to result.

April 24, 2016 at 1:42 pm

Hello sir I am salman now iam finished 1 year b.sc cs and 2yrs more to complete my ug course ..then I want to prepare for civil service xam in what manner I will prepare

May 3, 2016 at 10:57 am

Namaskar!!!!! Sir, I would like to say u with my pleaset that thank u very much for give us various valuable informition of about ias.

May 3, 2016 at 11:06 am

hello sir/madam, thank you very much.Can i became an ias without coaching?

May 6, 2016 at 4:19 pm

sir,i want to preparation for IAS but problem is that i am from hindi medium ….will you provide notes/books /videos for hindi medium .

May 8, 2016 at 7:26 pm

i am ias aspirant so at present i completed my degree first year and wanted to start preparing for prelims my main core subjects in degree are biotechnology biochemistry chemistry how should i start my preparation for prelims what are books to be refered and topics to be prepared for prelims

May 10, 2016 at 12:02 pm

Sir, I want to appear for IAS exam but after 5 years. So plz suggest me that I should start my preparation from now onwards or later?

May 11, 2016 at 11:46 pm

AGR pta Chile to humey bta dena please

May 10, 2016 at 4:59 pm

Sir i am first time trying for ias exam by self study can i clear this exam by self study or this is not possible without coaching

May 24, 2018 at 2:24 am

agar dil me ias ki tsvir h to 101%

May 11, 2016 at 11:45 pm

Sir l am student of B.A from punjab and belong to S.C catagory. Please sir suggest me how can I practise for upsc. Which books are using for upsc practise. And what is the syllabus of upsc. Please help me how I can prepare upsc. After m.a history qualification….

May 12, 2016 at 10:23 am

sir how to study these.? do i have to learn the whole books entirely?

May 14, 2016 at 11:20 am

I belong to ST category n 30 years old due to some personal problem I could not prepare my self for civil service exam till. But now I have decided to do attempt pls help me how can I start my practice with best and even I would like to join some institute as well. Please reply me with your best opinion. How to proceed with best practices.

May 15, 2016 at 9:36 am

Sir,I am a btech student. I am waiting for start my 3 rd year studies. I was a Tamil medium student. When I was entered into the college the communication skills was very difficult for me.I am a middle class family. So give the guidelines for preparing for IAS exam.

May 15, 2016 at 11:17 am

Hi! I’m anil congrats for your success sir I live in village so guide me sir which bookes i’ll refer

May 15, 2016 at 10:32 pm

Hello sir…. I’m pursuing b.e(c.e) in second year…. I want to crack IAS exam… What should I do for good preparation for this exam… By which I could crack this exam…

May 24, 2016 at 11:32 am

Respected Sir, My name is Sravan.I just completed my b.tech 1st year.I have very much interest in civils.Can I start my preparation now or should I wait for some more time sir?

May 24, 2016 at 11:53 am

You may start now. Early the best. Start reading newspapers and NCERT books. Also closely follow clearias.com articles and study-materials.

May 24, 2016 at 5:21 pm

Sir i m 3rd year MBBS student,I want to prepare for IAS exam please suggest me the books I should start with.

May 24, 2016 at 6:43 pm

ClearIAS has been providing free online study materials for UPSC CSE. We hope our study-materials to give your right direction and will help you to understand difficult concepts faster. You need to supplement the same with UPSC exam preparation books, newspapers, NCERT books etc. In final year, to boost your marks for UPSC Prelims, we advise you all to enroll for ClearIAS Prelims test series, which offers high-quality questions and all-India mock-test-platform.

May 24, 2016 at 11:18 pm

Sir mere 10th me 45% or12th me 54% percent hai kya me upsc de ne ke kabil hu ya nhi

May 25, 2016 at 7:56 pm

I am 33 year old and i done my +2 in 2004 can i give the exm of iad

May 25, 2016 at 11:24 pm

Hello sir ,my name ìs sakshi..i am from haryana.sir i just want to know how can i prepare for IAS.plzz tell me about study meterial properly……plzzz sir i need your help

May 26, 2016 at 5:13 pm

AAP KIS MEDIUM SE IAS KI PREPARATION KARNA CHAHTE HAIN AUR KIS YEAR KE EXAM KE LIYE ?

POLITY ECONOMY & GEOGRAPHY SUBJECTS MEIN AAPKI BASIC KNOWLEDGE KYA HAI ?

IN DO BAATON KO JAANE BINA KOI AAPKI HELP KAISE KAR PAYEGA?

May 26, 2016 at 9:37 am

SIR, I am Vipan Sain from yamuna nagar haryana and i appeared in CS-2016. I have done MSc Industrial Chemistry. But the medium of my study is mixed. I have studied in hindi medium upto 10th and after that i have studied in english medium from 12th to MSC. I can learn only science and maths in english and the rest of the subjects like history, geography,public add, constituition of india etc can’t in english. So you are humblly requested, please guide me properly. I shall be thankful to you for this. Thanking you.

Regards: Vipan Sain MOB:9991102010 Email: [email protected]

May 29, 2016 at 11:11 am

Sir,i am ram prakash and belonging at rural area. For ias prelism how many ncert books useful from class 6th to 12th standard.please tells about ncert hindi medium books class wise by name…..thanks

May 29, 2016 at 12:19 pm

I am in bsc 3rd year and I have read all NCERT books, also I read newspaper daily. Please suggest me what would be my next step.?????

May 29, 2016 at 12:23 pm

Get the recommended IAS preparation books mentioned in this website, and follow our free online study materials. Then enroll for ClearIAS Prelims mock test series and check the archives of our main mock tests.

May 29, 2016 at 2:17 pm

hello, can you please suggest me for psychology books or notes. thank you !

May 30, 2016 at 10:32 pm

Nicely compiled. Thanks for making our preperation simple.

June 1, 2016 at 10:55 pm

sir …I m mbbs student 3rd year …and I like this ias exam then plz provide any likely suggestions and my optional subjects in my sub….which optional subj for ias exam ?

June 2, 2016 at 3:24 pm

Respected sir ……Greetings of the day. ……. I am Subodh kumar i have completed my MBA in 2010.I want to prepare for upsc preliminary exam and I fill the form for upsc preliminary 2016 also. So,please suggest me some books.

Graduation -History 2006 MBA -Mkt /HR 2010

Thanks &Regards

Subodh kumar

June 3, 2016 at 10:38 pm

sir , is there is any quantitative aptitude test like reasoning , maths , data interpretation etc in pre exams….??? please guide how to prepare that & which book we should buy?? thankuu…..

June 6, 2016 at 9:11 am

Sir,Iam from manipur Iam kh sahidur rahaman I have giving 6sem for bsc this year.I want to prepare for upsc prelim exam please suggest me how to prepare & guided me properly.

June 7, 2016 at 10:07 am

so without coaching any guidance can we crack the cse exam ? sir.

June 11, 2016 at 7:02 pm

hey clearias.com u have put great info …i have more 4 years left …so how can i start my preparation ..just give me a tip

June 16, 2016 at 7:40 pm

sir I have done engineering in computer science branch now I am not interested in doing mtech as a pg.. I am planning to do ma in geography…Will it anyway help in cracking any of the government exams??. if not .. what are other good options in which I can do PG which are actually beneficial ..

And if ma in geography is a good option what can I do after ma to get a good reputed job ?

June 17, 2016 at 7:53 pm

Hello sir I am a student of class 12 PCM I want to start preparing just after my exam i started reading newspaper and ncert too can you provide me the list of basic books which I may understand now without any help and prepare and also I want to take psychology as an optional is it scoring and easy enough thanks for help and you own a fabulous site it helps me a lot

June 18, 2016 at 12:35 pm

namskaar sir mera naam aman h… maine b.sc pcm se kiya h but sir meri fmly problm ki vjh se re aa gyi thi isliye maine 5 year me b.sc complete kiya h…. sir m ias k exam dene me elligible hu kya plzzzz reply me sir plzzzz…

June 18, 2016 at 12:41 pm

Please provide me all study Materials of IAS preparation to study myself, and also guidelines for my questions with whom I will be connected any time and can take any time help. As I don’t have enough money to join any institute or to pay for online preparation.

June 18, 2016 at 9:58 pm

SIR I HAVE COMPLETED MY SECOND PUC &I WANY BECOME A IAS OFFICER WHICH COURSE SHOUDEI PREFER

June 19, 2016 at 11:07 pm

Sir, Mai Indian Army Mai clerk Ki post par karyrat hui. Mujhe ICS (IAS) Preliminary ke notes our books Ki need hai. IAS optional subjects ke tor par Political Science and International Relationship books ke sath GS and ethics yani Complete books Ki need hai agar aap provide karwa sakte ho to Pl Apne Contact No reply Mai bheje aur provide karwane Ki kripa kare. I will be thankful to you sir. (Hindi Medium).

June 19, 2016 at 11:18 pm

Sir I am Mr Babooram belong to Jodhpur Rajasthan and presently serving in the Indian army on post of Clerk. My optional subject is political Science for ICS-16 and May I request to you to provide notes for ICS prelims and books for the prelims. I will be thankful to you.

Thanks 19 Jun 2016

Mr Babooram 9414297691

June 20, 2016 at 1:32 pm

Sir i have a tattoo on my hand.Is it is a problem for IAS?

July 5, 2016 at 1:13 pm

Hello sir my name is khemu and i m 19 years old, so how should i start preparation for IAS. Because i don’t know what to

Pls respond its very necessary Thank you.

July 8, 2016 at 11:16 am

Sir, i have completed my bsc this year What i should choose now for preparation of ias Kya msc chemistry is k liye theek rahegi….

July 16, 2016 at 9:17 am

Hello sir., My self Tanya Agrawal ,i have passed 12th from science in 2016. Now i have choosen B. A. In graduation for upsc civil service,, plz tell me did i take the right dicision…. And also guide me for my future study..

July 29, 2016 at 7:59 pm

Hello sir my self md muzaffar and i want to become a ias

July 29, 2016 at 9:30 pm

sir, actually I’ve started coaching for ias exam. But i can give 2019 exam because of age so please tell me that how to begin my study

July 30, 2016 at 12:03 am

Sir call me now plz my no- 8120662037

July 31, 2016 at 10:16 am

Please send me the information about all types of UPSC exam and mock test questions paper.

July 31, 2016 at 12:17 pm

sir,mene 12th pass kiya kya me 3sal me IAS ka syllabus complete kr sakta hu.. will you suggest me how to prepare for these exam??

August 4, 2016 at 3:21 pm

Respected sir, Sir i have completed my graduation this year. I have done bsc. in geography from calcutta university. Plz suggest me how to prepare for civil services examination by taking geography as a optional subject and also suggest some preparation tips for general studies mains. Plz suggest me valuable books and readings. Regards,

August 6, 2016 at 7:32 pm

Sir, i have cleared my s.y B.Sc. so i can start preparation for IAS s exam???

August 9, 2016 at 11:37 pm

I’m clg finally yr..I have to prepare in IAS ..so help me

August 14, 2016 at 12:18 pm

Is it a compulsive to join a class for getting prepared for UPSC exams…

August 18, 2016 at 2:03 pm

CLEAR IAS ki site ko Kya ham Hindi me nahi padh sakte Kya.Hindi medium ke liye

August 21, 2016 at 5:46 pm

Sir, I am studying B.E. 3rd year. I am interested o become an I.A.S. Will the time be sufficient? Is it possible without joining any coaching centre?

August 27, 2016 at 11:49 pm

Sir, I’m Usha persuing B.Tech second year.i want to be an I.A.S. So can u please suggest me wat shud i start with?please do reply sir

August 28, 2016 at 5:36 am

Sir I want to write ias exam in Tamil. It is possible..??

May 24, 2018 at 2:25 am

August 28, 2016 at 4:35 pm

Dear Sir, I have completed B Sc in 2010 and just completing B Sc I have gotten a job in Central Govt. But I would like to job in Civil Services can I do. Now I am old just 28 yr. Please tell me age limit and how to preparation to became an IAS officer

August 29, 2016 at 9:46 pm

Hi I am a 2nd zoology student. I want to be an IAS. I shall be grateful if you suggest me some study material , some basic tips & Information & what will better as optional subject. ………….Thanking you……. ph 8972095774

August 29, 2016 at 9:47 pm

Hi I am a 2nd zoology student. I want to be an IAS. I shall be grateful if you suggest me some study material , some basic tips & Information & what will better as optional subject. ………….Thanking you…….

September 12, 2016 at 1:05 am

plz suggests me how i prepare ias exam in hindi i want to give online hindi test for ias pre exam 2017

September 12, 2016 at 4:52 pm

Respected sir /mam can

Anybody crack the exam of IAS without maths as a subject

September 15, 2016 at 6:06 pm

sir i am vagdevi i completed inter now i am going to join verterniary course but now onwards can i start preparation to become an ias officer plz respond sir

September 26, 2016 at 8:55 am

i have ias preparation & gk group than anyone enterested than join my group my contect num is 8115021352 my name is SUSHIL sir

September 30, 2016 at 8:11 am

good morning, sir i need optional subjects notes. can you provide me the same my subjects are philosophy and public administration.

October 9, 2016 at 11:35 am

October 10, 2016 at 7:19 pm

Hello Sir,Sir mene apne IAS k prepration aaj hi start ki h and sir m abhi engineering kr rha hu(civil branch)and sir m apna optional subject civil engineering lena chahta hu bt sir mere friends bolte h ki 4 yr bad m engineering optional subject hat jayega kya y sahi h and abhi mujhe kuch samj nhi aa rha h mere optional subject ka What should i do

October 23, 2016 at 2:31 pm

Sir ..i want to know .how to kept so much things in mind ?because its a very vast syllabus.

November 1, 2016 at 11:19 pm

Sir plz sending me ips material

November 24, 2016 at 10:19 pm

sir,i am studied 3rd year civil engineering.if i will write upsc exam on my final year.that i confirmly to write the upsc exam on my final year which subject i can choose. that following civil engineering,history,geography,public administration.

November 30, 2016 at 3:04 am

Dear Sir/Maam , I really appreciate your hard work for us .The way you write Articles are awesome and i would request you to post some lectures (Articles)on Optional Subject like PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION that will be your most kindness ….

Thanks and Regards, Iftikhar With lots and tons of love

December 4, 2016 at 2:05 pm

sir i m doing a c class job in revenue dept. i m jst 19 years old how can i prepare for ias nd which books i must read???

April 30, 2017 at 3:08 pm

U r eligible only if u r graduate@Rohit

December 5, 2016 at 11:02 pm

how i can join online test prelim paper in hindi suggest me.

December 11, 2016 at 7:22 pm

I want to start preparation for IAS now I am b.sc first year now sir please suggest me what I have to do

December 22, 2016 at 9:39 pm

I have many dreams to become IAS but I have no way to start. I am studying b tech 1 year. How should I start my studies

January 16, 2017 at 9:51 am

Hi online advised team

I ask some questions about me I am only 19 year Present study B.sc To advise me what do this time for become an IAS

And how preparation

January 24, 2017 at 10:18 pm

Sir i am totally confused. I am not able to understand how to prepare for IAS pre and mains . Kindly suggest me notes(WRITERS) so i can start my perpration.

February 3, 2017 at 11:47 pm

Best book for psychology to clear ias preliminary examination

February 10, 2017 at 4:10 pm

Sir I want to give the I a s civil service exam you give me the full information about mains exam which subjects I choose please give all the subjects name thanks

February 21, 2017 at 11:27 pm

Sir my self deepak, i would like to say few things which is i m doing graduation final year from B.A(POL.SCI.) sir how should be require my preparation strategy.. N what is being a point to initial point..? Which books do u prefer me kindly tell me??

March 2, 2017 at 11:43 pm

I cmpltd my B. Com and currently working in ICICI Bank, How can I prepare N which books do I prefer to qualify in this prelims-17

March 23, 2017 at 12:57 am

Sir I’m passed BSc ( mscs )59% and intermediate 51.3% Im eligible for ias or not my life dream of ias please tell me right suggest and which books refer me

April 6, 2017 at 12:46 pm

[email protected]

April 9, 2017 at 7:21 pm

sir, i have jst done wid my class 10 boards exam! sir i hve strong will to became an ias officer… which field would you suggest me to take provided i hve least intrest in science! sir i would be grateful for your guidance !

April 28, 2017 at 10:26 pm

Sir. I am nursing student so i am eligible for IAS or not….

April 30, 2017 at 3:05 pm

Yes,u r eligible @Gayatri

May 20, 2017 at 2:24 am

Sir I am studing in 1st year mechanical engg . I have string will to IAS officer.so that which subject i can choose. Techanical or non techanical.and what difficult occurs when i choose a techanical subject

May 25, 2017 at 11:19 am

suggest books foe Management Optional

May 28, 2017 at 11:38 am

Hello sir My self divyjyoti Pandey. I want to start preparation for IAS.now I am B.A last year.sir please suggest me what I have to do.

June 2, 2017 at 10:46 am

Sir i am now in bsc 1st year I want to become an IAS please guide me……

June 7, 2017 at 9:39 pm

I don’t know proper strategy about IAS criterion .please inform me for my better awareness .

June 29, 2017 at 1:48 pm

Hello sir I have completed puc science I am looking for IAS preparation. I am not understanding optional subjects please help me to know what is the next step?

July 24, 2017 at 9:56 pm

Hai Sir, my self is ganeshkumar ,my wife she is passed BSc Computer Application ,Sir i am totally confused. I am not able to understand how to prepare for IAS pre and mains in my wife . Kindly suggest me notes(WRITERS) so she can start in her perpration.

August 16, 2017 at 10:27 pm

sir i m curently doing be final yr i wil strt upsc prepartion how to prepare and get a good score in upsc

September 6, 2017 at 5:52 pm

In clear IAS in this site the main exams Kannada materials provides

September 12, 2017 at 6:31 am

Sir i want to see the model answers with limited words which i can able to write in upsc mains plssssssss sir do this favour for me

October 19, 2017 at 4:52 pm

sir please suggest optional for upsc im electrical engineering graduate

October 21, 2017 at 5:21 pm

Sir please suggest me that I am a B.Sc student having Chemistry as my honours paper with 46.94% in my graduation. Am I eligible for civil service and can i choose any other subjects like History,Geography,Physics etc as my optional paper than Chemistry for civil service Mains?

November 4, 2017 at 10:51 am

I think there is no percentage criteria of graduation to appera UPSC exam.Just you have to become a graduate from a recognized university.So,nothing to worry about graduation’s percentage.Just focused on UPSC preparation. All the very best!

November 4, 2017 at 10:44 am

Sir,I am an ‘IAS’ aspirent.I have chosen ‘Political Science & International Relation’ as my optional in mains.So,Please can you give me some suggestions regarding my preseparation.Please send your suggestions through my whats app no-7636895255.

December 21, 2017 at 10:28 pm

Hi sir, I have already read your blogs, articles, free study material, test series, Those are very nice…… (Like every person can easily get it )

Now i want to revise my old testseries 2017……. It was very useful for me in the further exams too……. So,pls tell me how will i get the test series again in my account?

December 22, 2017 at 8:51 am

Appreciate your interest in ClearIAS Test Series, and thank you for writing to us.

Irrespective of the date of joining, subscription to ClearIAS Prelims Test Series 2017, has ended for all subscribers on the date of Preliminary Exam, ie 18-06-2017.

Now, as the platform is loaded with ClearIAS Prelims Test Series 2018, all previous test details are deleted.

To ensure quality and stay up-to-date with the latest requirements of UPSC, we provide a new/revised test series every year, once the Prelims is over for next year Prelims. There is nothing unusual in this process and this is how all major test series providers who provide access to students based on a season-based model work.

If you are looking for Prelims 2018, you can now join ClearIAS Prelims Test Series 2018 at a discounted rate. We will be adding lot many additional tests this year (including NCERTs and CSAT). This would give you a massive early advantage and almost 9 months until next year Prelims for the complete coverage of our most probable questions. User account details (username/password etc) of all users will remain the same for Prelims 2018 as well.

December 27, 2017 at 10:18 pm

Sure… I will join in 2018 test series..

Thank you so much for your response….

December 22, 2017 at 5:07 pm

very nice sir i am now in first year of the engineering i think i have to start with my basics now.

January 1, 2018 at 2:45 pm

I impressed by your sincere reply on behalf of the institution I know it is not possible to reply each and every comment but pls help me regarding for my query is that every one told that read newspaper like the Hindu but in that newspaper what to learn and what to leave plz help me????

January 1, 2018 at 7:25 pm

Hi, We have written an article already about how to read ‘The Hindu’. Please use the search option given on clearias.com to find the article. Or just google ClearIAS.com + The Hindu.

January 3, 2018 at 9:21 am

Thanks sir I got my answer

January 10, 2018 at 10:45 am

sir, will the clear ias notes will be enough for the preparation,and if not can you please suggest the books apart from the notes

January 10, 2018 at 12:26 pm

Please also refer recommended IAS books and take ClearIAS mock exams.

January 27, 2018 at 2:34 pm

Sir, I am 3rd year engineering student pursuing dual degree course from IIT Delhi. I will complete my degree both(B.Tech and M.Tech) in June of 2020. Though I could have access to my grade sheet on online portal onward June but I would have stamped certificate in my hand only at the end of November. Can you please tell me whether I am eligible for UPSC 2019 or not?

February 3, 2018 at 12:02 am

Hi sir i am in kuwait i want ias preparation book materials. So how i can purchege book online use full and effective materials please Help me

April 12, 2018 at 6:27 pm

Sir ,iam kasturi from vizag i’ve completed my degree 1st yr .i’ve selected bca group for these two months holidays i want to prepare for basics of civils exams .will u please tell me which kind of book will be correct for me at this time.actually i dont want to waste my holidays sir!so please send me rply

April 22, 2018 at 3:18 pm

Which subject is best for us a exam

April 28, 2018 at 10:54 am

Sir,i am kesavarthini. I want to know the basics and study materials for ias exams. Please reply me sir

May 6, 2018 at 3:22 am

Sir, I completed B,com ca and LLB, actually how many years to take complete IAS (without fail) As I am a female, I have to consider my future (marriage) life and on and on. What next I supposed to do. Please advice and guide me. I complete LLB this year, expecting result

May 14, 2018 at 1:42 pm

Sir Good afternoon…

Respected sir, I abinash Maharana complete B.sc computer science and my dream IAS officer but how to prepare IAS exams without coaching, because we’re poor family and I work night labor So help me how to cover all topics…… And recommend book’s

May 15, 2018 at 4:12 am

Sir, I have completed BSc in mathematics honours but there is a problem, I have completed in five years. Am I eligible for IAS exam preparation? Please guide me sir Thank you

June 14, 2018 at 7:44 am

Sir I am bsc bio student. I want to fight for this but I don’t have all knowledge about it can you provide my any link about its full info.

June 23, 2018 at 11:03 am

Sir main computer science se b. Teck karne ka bad ise optional subject bana sakta hu

July 18, 2018 at 2:13 pm

Sir good afternoon, I want free materials & notes ( UPSC & IAS)

July 19, 2018 at 1:32 am

Hye sir i want to good preparation of UPSC exam

August 25, 2018 at 3:39 pm

sir, there are free notes available chapter wise of NCERT for class 6 and 7 but then after it is not available….please sir kindly help with other standards also it is greatly helpful….thanks in advance.

September 6, 2018 at 9:20 am

Sir. Im a student of 2nd year B.Com.I wanna join your institude.

October 24, 2018 at 2:39 pm

Sir plz help me. I m on duty army job but….I wants to be future planning I. A. S. Officer Plz guide lines 8685868801

November 7, 2018 at 9:37 am

sir i belong to a poor family in a village area and i have no money to join a coaching sir i want to know that is there any fisality in your coaching to coach ourselves who are poor?

November 26, 2018 at 10:52 am

Sir i have only two attempts left for cse ..ie 2019 and 2020,and iam a begginer .so please guide me that is it possible to crack cse with only two attempts left ..currently iam working as an Assistant Teacher in UP ..i can study for 6-7 hours a day .. please sir ..

November 26, 2018 at 11:47 am

Yes, you can. Start from ClearIAS Beginners Guide . This should give you all the details. All the best!

December 15, 2018 at 4:25 pm

Thank you all for commenting. As we have released a new ebook to clarify most of your queries, we are closing this comment thread. It has been pretty long, isn’t it?

Download our ebook “UPSC Civil Services Exam – The Beginner’s Guide to Success” from the “Start” section in the Menu.

Don’t lose out without playing the right game!

Follow the ClearIAS Prelims cum Mains (PCM) Integrated Approach.

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By Julia Jacobs and Matt Stevens

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