PSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2019 started on Friday, September 20, 2019, with a 3-hour exam of Essay Paper. Candidates were asked to write two essays, one each from Section A and B.

ESSAY PAPER: UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination - 2019

Time allowed: 3 Hours

Maximum Marks: 250

Instructions

1. The essay must be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this question-cum-answer (QCA) booklet in the space provided
2. No marks will be given for answers written in the medium other than authorized one
3. Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to
4. Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly
5. Write two essays, choosing one topic from each of the following Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each (125*2=250)

SECTION - A

1. Wisdom finds truth

2. Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be

3. Best for an Individual is not necessarily best for the society

4. Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success

SECTION - B

5. South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and identities.

6. Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness

7. Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy

8. Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.

Analysis by ClearIAS.com

A dedicated essay paper worth 250 marks - for 2 essays to be written in 3 hours - is something unique to UPSC Civil Services Examination.

Candidates are provided 8 essay choices - 4 each in two Sections. They were asked to write two essays, one each from Section A and B.

This year's Essay Paper was in the expected lines for most candidates. Essay topics asked were quite familiar, and most candidates should have left the exam hall with satisfaction. There were no controversial questions or ambiguous terms as appeared in some of the previous years.

However, one noticeable aspect this year is how topics are topics divided into two sections.

Section A

All four questions in Section A were more or less general in nature. Nothing specific was mentioned except key terms like 'wisdom', 'values' 'courage' etc, and hence all essays were philosophical or abstract in a broader context.

If the topic is too general, unless properly trained, there is every tendency that candidates may lose focus. While some may deviate from the topic, others may write only on specific areas - without touching the multiple dimensions of the topic. Also, the way a philosophical essay is to be presented is not like other theses.

Section B

Section B sought from candidates their knowledge and expertise in specific topics. While the first question was specific to South Asian Societies, the second essay focussed on health care and education - that too on a primary level.

It is interesting to note that UPSC picked the bias of the media as the 3rd question in Section B. The sharp-focus of UPSC in identifying the priority areas of an aspiring civil servant is clear this year too. The Essay Paper finished with a question on Artificial Intelligence, a highly relevant, but widely expected current topic.

Conclusion:

In general, the Essay Question Paper of UPSC Civil Services Main Exam (Written) 2019 was devoid of any ambiguities. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) straight away touched topics appropriate for a well-educated youth. Almost all questions were answerable. What would make the difference in marks between candidates then?

It would be time-management, presentation skills, easy-of-reading, examples, and original thoughts!

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