The Essay Paper in the UPSC Civil Services (Mains) Examination plays a decisive role in determining the final merit rank. An in-depth analysis of Essay Previous Year Questions (PYQ) helps aspirants understand the evolving nature of UPSC essay topics, recurring themes, and the balance between philosophical, social, economic, and governance-related issues.

By studying Essay PYQ UPSC Mains in a topic-wise and trend-based manner, candidates can develop a structured thought process, improve content relevance, and align their essay preparation with the actual demands of the examination.

This article provides a comprehensive trend analysis of UPSC Essay PYQs, categorising questions topic-wise to help aspirants prepare strategically and write high-scoring essays.

Total Essay Questions by Primary Syllabus Topic (2013-2025)

Essay Questions Trend Analysis for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam Last 10 Years

The chart reveals the distribution of essay topics across the major syllabus areas:

  • Society/Diversity/Unity/Equality and History, Culture, Past have been the most frequently asked topics, each accounting for 12 questions.
  • Science And Technology and Economy/Globalization are also highly represented with 11 questions each.
  • The topics of Philosophy, Abstract, Quotes and Environment, Ecology, Disaster have the lowest count, each with 7 questions.

2022History is a series of victorious won by the scientific man over the romantic man
2021History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.
2020Culture is what we are, civilisation is what we have.

2023Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines.
2023A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.
2020There can be no social justice without economic prosperity, but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless.
2020Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality.
2019Best for an individual is not necessarily best for society.
2017Fulfillment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth.
2013Is the colonial mentality hindering India’s success?

2018Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere
2016If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
2016Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare.
2015Dreams which should not let India sleep.
2014Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?
2014Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?

2014Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?
2014Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India?

2019Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy.
2017We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws.
2016Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality
2014Is sting operation an invasion on privacy?

2023Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school
2021What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!
2019Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness.
2017Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.
2015Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil.

2019South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural culture and plural identities.
2018Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task.
2017Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world?

2017Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for the majority of farmers in India.
2016Water disputes between states in federal India.

2024Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them.
2022Forests are the best-case studies for economic excellence.
2017Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India.
2016Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
2016Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality.
2015Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.
2015Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
2013GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the well-being of a country.

2024The doubter is a true man of science
2021The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.
2020Technology as the silent factor in international relations.
2019Rise of Artificial Intelligence: The threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.
2018Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.
2017Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
2016Cyberspace and internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run.
2015Technology cannot replace manpower.
2013Science and Technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.

2025Truth knows no color.
2025The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
2025Thought finds a world and creates one also.
2025The best lessons are learnt through bitter experiences
2025Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.
2025The years teach much which the days never know.
2025It is best to see life as a journey, not as a destination.
2025Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is artificial poverty.
2024The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind.
2024There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path.
2024All ideas having large consequences are always simple.
2024Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power.
2024Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’ amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness.
2024The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.
2023Mathematics is the music of reason.
2023Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.
2023Not all who wander are lost.
2023Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.
2023Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.
2022Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
2022A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
2022You cannot step twice in the same river.
2022The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
2022A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.
2022Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
2021There are better practices to “best practices”.
2021Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
2021The real is rational and the rational is real.
2021Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.
2021Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.
2020Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
2020Ships do not sink because of water around them, ships sink because of water that gets into them.
2020Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self.
2020Life is a long journey between human being and being humane.
2019Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success.
2019Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be.
2019Wisdom finds truth.
2018Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it.
2018A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both.
2018The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values.
2018Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life.
2018A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
2017Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
2016Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed.
2015Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
2015Quick but steady wins the race.
2015Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
2014Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.
2014With greater power comes greater responsibility.
2013Be the change you want to see in others – Gandhiji.

What can we conclude from the PYQs data analysis?

The topic-wise analysis of Essay PYQs from 2013 to 2025 clearly demonstrates that the UPSC Essay paper is heavily skewed towards abstract, philosophical, and value-based themes. With 50 questions drawn from Philosophy, Values, Quotes, and Proverbs, this category overwhelmingly dominates the Essay paper, highlighting UPSC’s emphasis on ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity over factual narration.

Among conventional GS-aligned themes, Science & Technology (9 questions) and Economy (8 questions) emerge as the most frequently asked areas, indicating the importance of understanding contemporary developments and their societal implications. Society, Diversity, Unity, and Equality (7 questions) along with Health & Education and Growth, Development, and Welfare (6 questions each) reflect UPSC’s consistent focus on social justice, human development, and inclusive growth.

In contrast, relatively fewer essays have been asked from Polity and Constitution (4), History and Culture (3), Security and International Relations (3), and Agriculture and Empowerment-related sectors (2 each). This data confirms that while static GS subjects are relevant, they are often tested indirectly through philosophical framing or interdisciplinary linkage rather than as standalone factual topics.

Overall, this Essay PYQ trend analysis underscores that aspirants must prioritize:

  • Strong command over philosophical and ethical dimensions
  • Ability to link abstract ideas with current affairs and GS topics
  • Multidimensional essay structuring backed by real-world examples

A preparation strategy grounded in data-driven Essay PYQ analysis enables candidates to focus on high-yield themes, avoid random topic coverage, and align essay practice with UPSC’s long-term questioning pattern—significantly improving performance in the UPSC Civil Services (Mains) Essay paper.