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[Analysis] Essay topic trends in last 19 years (1993-2011) for UPSC civil service IAS exam
Trouble viewing the charts and tables? Download the pdf f ile by clicking me Im classif ying all the essays asked in last 19 years, into 8 broad topics. Topic [bracket shows # of questions asked so f ar] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Economy (India vs Bharat theme) [12] Education [11] Culture [18] International issues [13] Philosophy [15] Polity & Administration [27] Technology [6] Women empowerment [10]

The Occurrence Table of Essay Topics

Now doing the interpretation based on the year-wise occurrence of these essays. See this table

Chart: The o c c uranc e tab le o f Es s ay to p ic s fo r 1993-2011(if tro ub le vie wing the p ho to , the n d o wnlo ad the p d f file )

The Observations & Speculations

1. Since last 5 years continuously, no essay on technology or women empowerment. (see the continuity of those black dots in the table) As we saw in the mains analysis, the Women empowerment topic seems to be shif ted f rom Essay papers to GS Paper 1. 2. In the early 90s you were given 6-8 essays and you had to pickup one, theyve gradually reduced the options to barely 4 essays! 3. Economy is under dry spell af ter a long time (2011), otherwise since 2006, there has been 1-2 essays each year. 4. Education topic had atmost 2 continuous dry years during the entire 19 years period, otherwise theyve been asking f rom it at a regular interval. 5. Indian culture is second most important topic af ter polity (total 18 essays) 6. Just like Education, culture too hasnt seen lengthy dry years, same is true f or Global/international issues. 7. Philosophical essays were hot in the initial years: 1993 to 1996, two essays per year and then abruptly stopped f or f our years. I guess the paper-setter retired or perhaps UPSC changed their trend in those years f or some reason. 8. Polity /Administration has seen dry year only thrice. 9. Seems UPSC has some personal grudge against science prof essors, when It comes to f raming the essay paper, Only 6 essays so f ar f rom S&T in last 19 years! Or perhaps, to balance the advantage enjoyed by Science graduates in GS paper-II and to provide level playing f ield to nonscience graduates, theyve stopped asking S&T essays since last 5 years. 10. 1993-2006, Women empowerment used to be a recurring essay topic, almost every year. Now what can be the speculations f or 2012??

1. T here will be 4 essays. (or 3?!) 2. UPSC continues its love f or culture, one essay will be asked (since Art n Culture as a topic is not given as much importance in GS paper1)? 3. UPSC continues to ignore S&T and Women empowerment topic. (as theyre well covered in GS papers)? 4. You can share your own speculations in the comments below! T he Bar and Pie chart breakups

Bar and Pie c hart b re akup s fo r Es s ay to p ic s in las t 19 ye ars

Appendix- I (The topicwise Essay list of last 19 years (1993-2011)

Economy (india vs bharat theme)
1. 2. 3. 4. Protection of ecology and environment is essential f or sustained economic development. -2006 Bpo boom in india. -2007 Globalization would f inish small-scale industries in india. -2006 Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. -1993

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993 Multinational corporations saviours or saboteurs -1994 Special economic zone : boon or bane -2008 Resource management in the indian context. -1999 Should a moratorium be imposed on all f resh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010 Are our traditional handicraf ts doomed to a slow death? -2009 T he f ocus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the haves of our society. -2009 Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997

Education
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Modern technological education and human values. -2002 Credit based higher education system status , opportunities and challenges -2011 Education f or all campaign in india: myth or reality. -2006 Privatization of higher education in india. -2002 Irrelevance of the classroom. -2001 Value-based science and education. -1999 Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses ? -2008 Independent thinking should be encouraged right f orm the childhood. -2007 Restructuring of indian education system. -1995 Literacy is growing very f ast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. -1996 What is real education? -2005

Indian culture
1. Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? -2000 2. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. -2000 3. Youth culture today. -1999 4. Mass media and cultural invasion. -1999 5. T he composite culture of india. -1998 6. T he indian society at the crossroads. -1994 7. Does indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely ref lect it -2011 8. Geography may remain the same ; history need not. -2010 9. From traditional indian philanthropy to the gates-buf f et model-a natural progression or a paradigm shif t? -2010 10. Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. -1994 11. New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion -1996 12. How has satellite television brought about cultural change in indian mindsets. -2007 13. globlisation vs. nationalism -2009 14. National identity and patriotism -2008 15. Responsibility of media in a democracy. -2002 16. Why should we be proud of being indians? -2000 17. True religion cannot be misused. -1997 18. Globalizations and its impact on indian culture. -2004

International issues
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Indias role in promoting asean co-operation. -2004 T he masks of new imperialism. -2003 As civilization advances culture declines. -2003 T he implications of globalization f or india. -2000 My vision of an ideal world order. -2001 Indias contribution to world wisdom. -1998 T he world of the twenty-f irst century. -1998 Preparedness of our society f or indias global leadership role. -2010

9. T he global order: political and economic -1993 10. Importance of indo-u.s. nuclear agreement -2006 11. Good f ences make good neighbors -2009 12. Terrorism and world peace -2005 13. Restructuring of uno ref lect present realities -1996

Philosophy
1. Discipline means success , anarchy means ruin -2008 2. Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man. -2007 3. T here is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. -2003 4. Search f or truth can only be a spiritual problem. -2002 5. Spirituality and scientif ic temper. -2003 6. Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lif eblood of civilisation. -1995 7. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. -1995 8. Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, oldage a regret -1994 9. Useless lif e is an early death. -1994 10. He would reigns within himself and f olds his passions and desires and f ears is more than a king. 1993 11. Compassion is the basic of all morality would -1993 12. If youth knew, if age could. -2002 13. T he paths of glory lead but to the grave. -2002 14. T he pursuit of excellence. -2001 15. Truth is lived, not taught -1996

Polity, administration
1. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative , economic and developmental implication -2011 2. Evaluation of panchayati raj system in india f rom the point of view of eradication of power to people. -2007 3. Justice must reach the poor -2005 4. Water resources should be under the control of the central government. -2004 5. T he misinterpretation and misuse of f reedom in india. -1998 6. T he language problem in india: its past, present and prospects. -1998 7. Reservation, politics and empowerment. -1999 8. When money speaks, the truth is silent. -1995 9. How should a civil servant conduct himself ? -2003 10. Politics without ethics is a disaster. -1995 11. Judicial activism. -1997 12. T he vip cult is a bane of indian democracy -1996 13. Need f or transparency in public administration -1996 14. Whither indian democracy? -1995 15. Politics, bureaucracy and business f atal triangle. -1994 16. How f ar has democracy in india delivered the goods? -2003 17. What we have not learnt during f if ty years of independence. -1997 18. My vision of india in 2001 a.d. -1993 19. In the indian context , both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism -2011 20. Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? -2007 21. T he countrys need f or a better disaster management system. -2000 22. Are we a sof t state ? -2009 23. Role of media in good governance -2008 24. Judicial activism and indian democracy. -2004 25. What have we gained f rom our democratic set-up? -2001

26. 27.

Urbanisation and its hazards -2008 Food security f or sustainable national development -2005

Technology
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution. -1993 T he march of science and the erosion of human values. -2001 T he modern doctor and his patients. -1997 Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. -2006 T he cyberworld: its charms and challenges. -2000 T he lure of space. -2004

Women empowerment
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Men have f ailed: let women take over. -1993 Womens reservation bill would usher in empowerment f or women in india. -2006 T he hand that rocks the cradle -2005 If women ruled the world -2005 Whither womens emancipation? -2004 Empowerment alone cannot help our women. -2001 Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. -1999 Woman is gods best creation. -1998 Greater political power alone will not improve womens plight. -1997 T he new emerging women power: the ground realities. -1995

Appendix II (Yearwise Essay Papers for UPSC mains 1993-2011)

2011 1. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative , economic and developmental implication 2. Does Indian Cinema shape our popular culture or merely ref lect it 3. Credit based higher education system status , opportunities and challenges 4. In the Indian context , Both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism 2010 1. Geography may remain the same ; history need not. 2. Should a moratorium be imposed on all f resh mining in tribal areas of the country? 3. Preparedness of our society f or Indias global leadership role. 4. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buf f et model-a natural progression or a paradigm shif t? 2009 1. Are our traditional handicraf ts doomed to a slow death? 2. Are we a Sof t state ? 3. T he f ocus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the haves of our society. 4. Good Fences make good neighbors 5. Globlisation vs. Nationalism

2008

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

2007

1. Independent thinking should be encouraged right f orm the childhood. 2. Evaluation of Panchayati Raj System in India f rom the point of view of eradication of power to people. 3. Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man. 4. Is Autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? 5. How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets. 6. BPO boom in India.

2006

1. Womens Reservation Bill Would Usher in Empowerment f or Women in India. 2. Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential f or Sustained Economic Development. 3. Importance of Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement 4. Education f or All Campaign in India: Myth or Reality. 5. Globalization Would Finish Small-Scale Industries in India. 6. Increasing Computerization Would lead to the Creation of a Dehumanized Society.

2005

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

2004

1. Indias Role in Promoting ASEAN Co-operation. 2. Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy. 3. Whither Womens Emancipation? 4. Globalizations and Its Impact on Indian Culture. 5. T he Lure of Space. 6. Water Resources Should Be Under the Control of the Central Government.

2003

1. T he Masks of New Imperialism.

2. How f ar has democracy in India delivered the goods? 3. How should a civil servant conduct himself ? 4. As civilization advances culture declines. 5. T here is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. 6. Spirituality and Scientif ic temper. 2002 1. Modern technological education and human values. 2. Search f or truth can only be a spiritual problem. 3. If youth knew, if age could. 4. T he paths of glory lead but to the grave. 5. Privatization of higher education in India. 6. Responsibility of media in a democracy. 2001 1. What have we gained f rom our democratic set-up? 2. My vision of an ideal world order. 3. T he march of science and the erosion of human values. 4. Irrelevance of the classroom. 5. T he pursuit of excellence. 6. Empowerment alone cannot help our women. 2000 1. Why should we be proud of being Indians? 2. T he cyberworld: Its charms and challenges. 3. T he countrys need f or a better disaster management system. 4. Indian culture today: A myth or a reality? 5. T he implications of globalization f or India. 6. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. 1999 1. Women empowerment: Challenges and prospects. 2. Youth culture today. 3. Mass media and cultural invasion. 4. Resource management in the Indian context. 5. Value-based science and education. 6. Reservation, politics and empowerment. 1998 1. T he composite culture of India. 2. Woman is Gods best creation. 3.T he misinterpretation and misuse of f reedom in India. 4. Indias contribution to world wisdom.

5. T he language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects. 6. T he world of the twenty-f irst century. 1997 1. What we have not learnt during f if ty years of Independence. 2. Judicial activism. 3. Greater political power alone will not improve womens plight. 4. True religion cannot be misused. 5. T he modern doctor and his patients. 6. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. 1996 1. Literacy is growing very f ast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. 2. Restructuring of UNO ref lect present realities 3. New cults and Godmen: a threat to traditional religion 4. T he VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy 5. Need f or transparency in public administration 6. Truth is lived, not taught 1995 1. Politics without ethics is a disaster. 2. T he new emerging women Power: the ground realities. 3. When money speaks, the truth is silent. 4. Whither Indian democracy? 5. Restructuring of Indian education system. 6. Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lif eblood of civilisation. 7. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. 1994 1. Youth is a blunder, Manhood a struggle, oldage a regret 2. T he Indian society at the crossroads. 3. Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. 4. Useless lif e is an early death. 5. Politics, bureaucracy and business Fatal Triangle. 6. Multinational corporations saviours or saboteurs 1993 1. My vision of India in 2001 A.D. 2. T he global order: political and economic 3. He would reigns within himself and f olds his passions and desires and f ears is more than a king. 4. Compassion is the basic of all morality would 5. Men have f ailed: let women take over.

6. Economic growth without distributive justice is bound to breed violence. 7. Ecological considerations need not hamper development. 8. Computer: the harbinger of silent revolution.

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