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Home / IAS Preparation / UPSC Essay Topics

UPSC Essay Topics: Previous Year Questions & Important IAS Essay Topics for 2025

Last Updated on Jun 24, 2025
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Preparing for the UPSC Essay paper requires more than just writing skills—it demands deep understanding, clarity of thought, and structured expression. Aspirants often look for UPSC Essay Topics that have been asked in previous years to get a better grasp of the pattern and expectations. A solid collection of IAS essay topics with answers helps in practicing diverse themes such as governance, society, science, and philosophy. Essay writing for UPSC is not about memorization but about presenting balanced arguments, real-life examples, and critical thinking. This article presents a categorized list of past topics to streamline your preparation and guide your writing approach.

This guide on upsc essay topics in English is made especially for students who are preparing for the UPSC Mains examination. It will help you understand the UPSC Essay Paper 2025, which is a key part of General Studies Paper 1 (Essay) in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

Download Free UPSC Study Materials for IAS Preparation!

UPSC Essay Paper 2025

The Essay paper in the UPSC Mains exam asks students to write a few long essays. You get to choose your topics from a list that is given to you on the exam day. The upsc essay topics pyq (Previous Year Questions) and the ones expected for UPSC Essay Paper 2025 cover a very wide range of subjects. These topics can be about many different parts of life and the world, such as:

  • Social Life: Ideas about how people live together, how society works, and what problems people face in their daily lives.
  • Money and Economy: How a country earns money, how businesses work, how jobs are created, and how wealth is shared.
  • Government and Rules (Polity): How the country is run, how laws are made, and what roles different parts of the government play.
  • Culture and Traditions: Our unique ways of life, our art, music, festivals, and old customs that have been passed down.
  • Deep Thoughts (Philosophy): Big questions about life, right and wrong, human nature, and our place in the world.
  • National and World Issues: Important events or ongoing problems happening inside India and in other countries around the globe.

This essay paper has a lot of weight in the UPSC Mains examination. It contributes 250 marks to your total score, which is out of 1750 marks for all the written Mains papers combined. Getting good marks in this section can really boost your overall rank and help you get selected for the special civil services jobs that many students dream of. It's a chance to show your clear thinking and good writing skills.

Know the List of Best Essay Books for UPSC!

Also, Know How to Use Anecdotes Effectively in UPSC Exam Essays!

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UPSC Essay Topics Previous Year Questions

Practicing upsc essay topics PYQs will greatly help you get used to the UPSC exam style, understand the word limits, and see the types of essay questions that are often asked in the Mains Examination. Looking at past essay topics also lets you find themes and trends that appear again and again, helping you decide which topics to study first. Regular practice with these upsc essay topics previous years will make you feel more confident and ready for the actual exam day.

To help you get a clearer picture, here are some previous year essay topics, grouped into different common themes:

Category

Essay Topics

Administration

"Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle." (1994)

"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)

"How should a civil servant conduct himself?" (2003)

Democracy / India since Independence

"Whither Indian democracy?" (1995)

"What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence." (1997)

"Why should we be proud of being Indians?" (2000)

"What have we gained from our democratic set-up?" (2001)

"How far has democracy in India delivered the goods?" (2003)

"National identity and patriotism." (2008)

"Explore Gandhiji's views on ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’." (2012)

"Is the colonial mentality hindering India’s success?" (2013)

"Dreams which should not let India sleep." (2015)

"Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task." (2018)

Economic Growth and Development

"Resource management in the Indian context." (1999)

"GDP along with GDH as wellbeing indicators." (2013)

"Policy paralysis or implementation paralysis?" (2014)

"Crisis in India – moral or economic." (2015)

"Near jobless growth in India." (2016)

"Digital economy: leveller or inequality source?" (2016)

"Innovation and economic/social welfare." (2016)

"New economic measures and fiscal ties." (2017)

Federalism, Decentralisation

"Language problem in India." (1998)

"Water resources under central control." (2004)

"Panchayati raj and power to people." (2007)

"Is autonomy a cure to balkanization?" (2007)

"Creation of smaller states: implications." (2011)

"Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality." (2016)

"Water disputes in federal India." (2016)

Indian Culture & Society

"Indian society at the crossroads." (1994)

"New cults and godmen." (1996)

"Composite culture of India." (1998)

"Youth culture today." (1999)

"Modernism vs traditional values." (2000)

"Indian culture: myth or reality?" (2000)

"As civilization advances, culture declines." (2003)

"From Indian philanthropy to Gates-Buffet model." (2010)

Judiciary

"Judicial activism." (1997)

"Judicial activism and democracy." (2004)

"Justice must reach the poor." (2005)

Social Justice / Poverty

"Reservation, politics and empowerment." (1999)

"Food security and national development." (2005)

"Healthcare skewed to the rich." (2009)

"Farming no longer subsistence for many." (2017)

"Poverty anywhere threatens prosperity everywhere." (2018)

Media & Society

"Misuse of freedom in India." (1998)

"Mass media and cultural invasion." (1999)

"Responsibility of media in democracy." (2002)

"Satellite TV and cultural change." (2007)

"Media's role in good governance." (2008)

"Cinema: shape or reflect culture?" (2011)

"Is sting operation invasion of privacy?" (2014)

Environment / Urbanisation

"Urbanization: blessing in disguise." (1997)

"Ecology protection for economic growth." (2006)

"Urbanisation and its hazards." (2008)

"Moratorium on tribal area mining?" (2010)

"Human laws vs natural laws." (2017)

Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them. (2024)

Economic Sectors / MNCs

"MNCs: saviours or saboteurs." (1994)

"Globalization and small-scale industries." (2006)

"BPO boom in India." (2007)

"SEZs: boon or bane?" (2008)

"Are traditional handicrafts doomed?" (2009)

"PPP model: bane or boon?" (2012)

"Tourism as India’s next big thing." (2014)

Education

"Restructuring Indian education system." (1995)

"Literacy vs real education." (1996)

"Irrelevance of the classroom." (2001)

"Privatisation of higher education." (2002)

"Technology education and values." (2002)

"What is real education?" (2005)

"Education for all: myth or reality." (2006)

"Independent thinking in childhood." (2007)

"Egalitarian society via mass education?" (2008)

"Credit-based education system." (2011)

"Competition: good for youth?" (2014)

"Standardized tests and academic progress." (2014)

"Education without values." (2015)

"Classrooms shape national destiny." (2017)

Women

"Emerging women power." (1995)

"Political power won't solve women's issues." (1997)

"Woman is God’s best creation." (1998)

"Women empowerment: challenges." (1999)

"Empowerment alone not enough." (2001)

"Women’s emancipation?" (2004)

"If women ruled the world." (2005)

"The hand that rocks the cradle." (2005)

"Women’s reservation bill and empowerment." (2006)

"Work-home balance for Indian women." (2012)

"Development must include women." (2016)

"New woman in India: myth?" (2017)

Quotes-based / Philosophical Essay Topics  

"Youth is a blunder..." (1994)

"Useless life is an early death." (1994)

"Disinterested curiosity and civilisation." (1995)

"Money silences truth." (1995)

"Deeds determine us." (1995)

"Truth is lived, not taught." (1996)

"True religion cannot be misused." (1997)

"Search for truth is spiritual." (2002)

"Paths of glory lead to grave." (2002)

"If youth knew, if age could." (2002)

"Thinking defines good or bad." (2003)

"Be the change..." (2013)

"Power and responsibility." (2014)

"Words are sharper than swords." (2014)

"Lending hands vs giving dole." (2015)

"Past shapes consciousness." (2018)

"Reality confirms the ideal." (2018)

"Customary morality isn't modern guide." (2018)

There is no path to happiness, Happiness is the path. (2024)

All ideas having large consequences are always simple. (2024)

The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing. (2024)

The empires of the futures will be the empires of the mind. (2024)

Character

"Attitude makes character." (2007)

"Discipline means success." (2008)

"Leaders reflect institutional character." (2015)

"Need brings greed..." (2016)

"Joy as gratitude." (2017)

"A good life..." (2018)

"Privileges vs principles." (2018)

"Customary morality isn't modern guide." (2018)

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power. (2024)

Globalisation

"Modernisation vs westernisation." (1994)

"21st-century world." (1998)

"Globalization and India." (2000)

"Ideal world order." (2001)

"New imperialism masks." (2003)

"Globalization and Indian culture." (2004)

"Globalization vs nationalism." (2009)

"India's global leadership role." (2010)

Science & Tech

"Modern doctor and patients." (1997)

"Value-based science and education." (1999)

"Science erodes human values." (2001)

"Spirituality vs scientific temper." (2003)

"Lure of space." (2004)

"Science and mysticism." (2012)

"Science & tech: panacea for growth." (2013)

"Technology can't replace manpower." (2015)

"Alt-tech for climate resilience." (2018)

The doubter is a true man of science. (2024)

Internet / IT

"Cyberworld: charms and challenges." (2000)

"Computerization and dehumanization." (2006)

"Cyberspace: blessing or curse?" (2016)

"Social media is selfish medium." (2017)

Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’. (2024)

International Organisations / Relations

Security

"Restructuring UNO." (1996)

"India and ASEAN cooperation." (2004)

"Indo-US nuclear deal." (2006)

"NAM's relevance today." (2017)

"Terrorism and world peace." (2005)

"Are we a soft state?" (2009)

"Good fences make good neighbours." (2009)

"Intelligence in counterterrorism." (2011)

Miscellaneous

"India’s world wisdom contribution." (1998)

"Pursuit of excellence." (2001)

"Geography same, history need not." (2010)

"Fifty Olympic golds: Can India do it?" (2014)

"Quick but steady wins." (2015)

By going through these Essay previous year questions, you can see the wide range of topics UPSC covers and start building your knowledge and writing practice in these important areas.

Tips to Excel in UPSC Essay Paper

To do very well in essay writing for upsc, here are some important tips:

  • Understand the Topics Well: First, make sure you fully understand what the essay topic is asking you to write about. Look closely at the main words and any special instructions. Always choose a topic that you know well and are interested in.
  • Plan and Organize: Spend a good amount of time planning your essay before you start writing. Create a simple outline to organize your thoughts clearly. Your essay should always have a strong introduction, main paragraphs that explain your points well (the body), and a clear ending (conclusion).
  • Be Fair and Balanced: When you write, try to show different sides of the argument. Do not be too biased or only show one point of view. Think about many different ideas and present a full picture of the topic.
  • Give Examples and Facts: Make your arguments stronger and more believable by using real-life examples, facts, numbers, and quotes from famous people. This makes your essay more convincing.
  • Write Clearly: Write in a way that is easy to read and understand. Use simple words and avoid jargon (words that are hard for most people to understand) or very long, complicated sentences. Keep your sentences shorter and to the point.
  • Practice Often: Writing essays regularly is very important to get better at it. Practice writing essays on many different upsc essay topics previous years have covered. This will help you get good at writing on various subjects.
  • Manage Your Time: During the exam, give enough time for each part of the essay: planning, writing, and checking your work. This helps you manage your time well and finish all your essays within the given time.
  • Check and Improve: Always read through your essays when you are done. Check if your ideas flow well, if there are any grammar mistakes, and if the overall structure is good. Make any changes needed to make your writing better and more polished.

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UPSC Essay Topics FAQs

UPSC essay topics generally fall into two categories: philosophical/abstract themes and socio-economic/political/current affairs issues. You are usually given a choice to pick one from various options.

Choose a topic you understand well, can write deeply about, and have enough points and examples for. Avoid topics where your knowledge is shallow or you might struggle to form a clear argument.

You need to write one essay, usually within a word limit of 1000-1200 words. The time allotted for the essay paper is 3 hours.

The essay paper is very important, carrying 250 marks, which is a significant portion of the total Mains score. A good score here can greatly boost your overall rank.

A typical UPSC essay structure includes an introduction that hooks the reader and introduces the theme, a main body with several paragraphs developing different aspects of the topic with arguments and examples, and a strong conclusion that summarizes, offers solutions, or provides a forward-looking perspective.
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