Last 10 Years UPSC Essay Topics with Analysis : Agar aap UPSC Mains ki preparation kar rahe hain, toh Essay Paper (Paper 1) ko ignore karna sabse badi galti hai. Ye paper 250 marks ka hota hai, aur agar aap isme average se upar score kar jaate ho, toh aapki final rank par direct impact padta hai
Is post me aapko milenge:
✅ UPSC essay topics from 2014 to 2023
✅ Topic-wise & theme-wise analysis
✅ Pattern kya keh raha hai
✅ Essay likhne ki smart approach
📚 UPSC Essay Paper Format (Quick Overview)
Last 10 Years UPSC Essay Topics with Analysis
2 sections (A & B) – 4 topics each
You have to write one essay from each section
Word Limit: ~1000–1200 words per essay
Total Marks: 250
📜 UPSC Essay Topics (2014–2023)
📅 2023 Essay Topics
Section A:
Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opponent.
Visionary decision-making happens in a grey space.
Not all who wander are lost.
Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.
Section B:
Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines.
Mathematics is the music of reason.
A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.
Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
🧠 Analysis (2023):
Focus on abstract & philosophical topics tha. UPSC clearly chah raha hai ki candidate ka depth of thought, originality aur clarity of expression dikhe.
📅 2022 Essay Topics
Section A:
Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for.
Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
Section B:
You cannot step twice in the same river.
A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
🧠 Analysis (2022):
Abstract topics + literary quotes ka mix. Focus tha on philosophical reflection, personal interpretation and logical clarity.
Last 10 Years UPSC Essay Topics with Analysis
📅 2021 to 2014 Topics (Short Format)
| Year | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| 2021 | The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced, Your perception of me is a reflection of you… |
| 2020 | Life is a long journey between human being and being humane, Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self |
| 2019 | Wisdom finds truth, Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be |
| 2018 | Alternative technologies for a climate resilient India, Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life |
| 2017 | Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms, Social media is inherently a selfish medium |
| 2016 | If development is not engendered, it is endangered, Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth |
| 2015 | Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole, Can capitalism bring inclusive growth? |
| 2014 | With greater power comes greater responsibility, Is the growing level of competition good for youth? |
🧠 Trend Observation:
Abstract themes dominate after 2018
Ethical & social reflection is constant
Education, innovation, media, environment – repeatedly appear
UPSC loves topics that test depth, structure & originality
🎯 How to Use This Analysis in Your Preparation?
Practice both abstract and issue-based essays – UPSC will mix both
Use real-life examples – from news, history, personal reflection
Make a structure: Intro → Arguments → Counter → Conclusion
Maintain a balanced tone – logical + creative
Don’t use coaching-style clichés – be original
📌 Essay Writing Resources
🔹 UPSC Previous Year Papers (Mains)
🔹 Vision IAS Essay Compilations
🔹 ForumIAS Essay Test Series
🔹 Yojana & Kurukshetra (for content enrichment)
🔹 Daily Editorials (for abstract handling)
💡 Bonus Tip:
Maintain a personal essay idea bank. Jaise hi koi quote ya unique phrase dikhe, note it down + examples soch lo.
Ek ache aspirant ke paas hamesha ready hota hai:
✔️ 10 quotes
✔️ 5 themes
✔️ 3 sample essays
❓ FAQs – People Also Ask
Q1. Does UPSC repeat essay topics?
Not exactly, but similar themes or values do repeat. Jaise education, innovation, ethics.
Q2. How to handle abstract essay topics in UPSC?
Break it down into philosophical, social, economic, and personal dimensions. Use analogies and examples.
Q3. How many essays should I practice before Mains?
At least 15–20 full-length essays with feedback.
🚀 Final Words
Essay paper is not about information, it’s about expression + clarity + balance.
UPSC har saal aapki thinking test karta hai, not just memory.
So if you want to stand out in 2027 or any year – practice writing, not just reading.
📥 Bonus: Join our Telegram Channel for FREE essay compilations, topper copies, and model answers.
