UPSC CSE Mains 2022 Essay Paper Analysis

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Essay Paper of the CSE Mains 2022 on September 16. The instructions for the Essay Paper were as follows: the total marks for the paper were 250 marks and the time duration was 3 hours. Gain insights into UPSC CSE Mains 2022 Essay Paper Analysis! Expert analysis and key takeaways to excel in your preparation.

The essay had to be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate and the medium should be clearly stated on the cover of the question-cum-answer booklet. Marks would not be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one. The word limit specified should be followed and any blank pages should be clearly struck off. Candidates had to write two essays, choosing one topic from each of the sections A and B.

The topics for Section A were:

1. Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
2. Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
3. History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
4. A ship in the harbour is safe but that is not what a ship is for.

The topics for Section B were:

1. The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
2. You cannot step twice in the same river.
3. Smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
4. Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

The Essay Paper in UPSC CSE Main 2022 required candidates to write philosophical essays.

The questions were tricky and it was challenging to write 1000 words on each topic within the time limit. UPSC aimed to assess candidates’ essay writing skills by providing abstract or philosophical topics rather than familiar or practiced topics. The themes this year were mostly proverbs or famous quotes that required broad interpretation. The topics tested applicants’ spontaneous thinking, understanding, writing, and time management.

The significance of the essay paper in a competitive exam like UPSC CSE is to evaluate the thought process, viewpoint, clarity in thinking, and ability to express ideas concisely and effectively of the candidates. It acts as a means to assess the qualities of a potential civil servant. Therefore, it is important to debunk misconceptions associated with the essay paper.

There is a misconception that no preparation is required for the essay paper and general studies (GS) and optional knowledge will suffice. However, in GS, marks are awarded for content, while the essay paper evaluates more than just content. Candidates need to have a good command of English and use technical jargon and vocabulary.

This is also a misconception as simple language is preferred in the essay paper. Another misconception is that the language paper essay and ‘Essay’ paper are the same, but they hold different importance. Gain insights into UPSC CSE Mains 2022 Essay Paper Analysis! Expert analysis and key takeaways to excel in your preparation. The essay paper cannot be prepared easily, but this is again a misconception as proper strategy and preparation can significantly improve marks. The essay paper requires relatively lesser effort to improve compared to GS papers.

To prepare for the essay paper, candidates should gather content from GS and optional subjects. Reading non-fiction helps develop the thinking process, and anecdotes, stories, quotes, facts, and figures should be collected in a separate notebook. Referring to magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, EPW, Economic Survey, and Down to Earth, as well as newspaper editorials and relevant lines from eminent/constitutional posts, can also provide valuable material. It is helpful to read essay transcripts of previous year toppers.

When preparing for the essay paper, reading transcripts of previous year toppers gives a sense of a well-written essay. Candidates should have a separate notebook for the essay where they can gather material from various sources. Material on general topics that have been asked in previous exams should be prepared, including quotations, facts/figures, anecdotes, case studies, and government schemes.

It is important to focus on the thoughts of philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Friedrich Niche, and Karl Marx. Writing essays on famous quotes and considering all possible themes and dimensions of a topic helps in covering multiple dimensions. Reading different kinds of essays, especially philosophical essays, is also beneficial. Practicing previous year papers at home in exam conditions and seeking feedback from mentors, peers, and teachers is essential.

Approaching an essay requires a clear plan. Candidates should determine the time allocation for choosing the topic, interpreting the topic, making a rough skeleton of the essay, attempting the essay, and revising and underlining keywords. It is advisable to keep a buffer of 10 minutes for any exigency.

Topic selection should be based on a holistic understanding of the topic, and the temptation to choose an unconventional topic to impress the examiner should be avoided. Interpreting the topic and understanding its theme is the most important aspect of essay writing.

Brainstorming and preparing a skeleton of the topic, including an introduction, body, and conclusion, is necessary. The introduction can include a fictitious story, real-life anecdote, quote, or a paragraph outlining what will be covered in the essay. Themes and dimensions to be covered should be considered.

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