THE 7 THEMES OF UPSC ESSAYS

No.

Theme

Subthemes

Example

1

India: Democracy, Administration, Society, Culture

India Since Independence

Dreams which should not let India sleep. 2015

Federalism/Decentralization

Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India. 2017

Administration

Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. 2024

Judiciary

Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world 2022

Poverty, Social Justice

A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity. 2023

Indian Society, Culture and Values

Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have. 2020

Media, TV & Cinema

Social media is triggering Fear of Missing Out' amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness. 2022

2

Economy, Development

Growth vs Development

Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. 2018

Environment vs Development

Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them. 2024

Multi-National Companies

Is the criticism that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified ? 2012

Sectors of Economy

Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India. 2017

3

Education

Values in Education

Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team. 2024

Scheme implementation

Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness. 2019

Higher education

Credit – based higher education system – status, opportunities and challenges. 2011

4

Abstract, Quotes/Phrases based, Philosophy, Ethics

Character, Honesty, Ethics

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power. 2024

Knowledge

All ideas having large consequences are always simple. 2024

Compassion

Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. 2015

Truth and reality

The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing. 2024

Youth, Discipline

Social media is triggering Fear of Missing Out' amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness. 2024

Towards excellence

There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path. 2024

5

Women empowerment

National Politics

Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. 2006

World / Quote type

Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. 2021

Empowerment overall

Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality  2020

Compared to men

Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands - two equally harmful disciplines. 2023

6

International issues, Internal Security

Globalization

The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind. 2024

International Organizations/ Bilateral relations

Technology as the silent factor in international relations 2020

Security

Management of Indian border dispute is a complex task. 2018

7

Science-Technology

Science and Religion

Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ? 2012

Science and Education

Modern technological education and human values. 2002

Computer and internet

Technology as the silent factor in international relations 2020

Sci-Tech: Miscellaneous

The doubter is a true man of science. 2024