Saturday, 21 October 2017

UPSC 2017: Expected Essay Topics for IAS Mains Exam

The Essay Paper of UPSC Mains Exam is for 250 marks and comprises of two sections A and B. Candidates’ should choose one topic from each section and write the essays on two topics. They should keep the essay writing closely to the topic and arrange their ideas in an orderly manner and write concisely. The essay papers of the candidates are evaluated based on the idea presented in an effective way and exact expression.

The topics under the section ‘A’ generally are of philosophical type while in Section ‘B’ usually, the topics are of administration related.

Here we bring a list of expected topics that would probably be asked in the UPSC Mains Exam.


Few expected Essay topics of UPSC Mains Exam are given below which may be asked under the Section ‘A’.

Expected ESSAY TOPICS under Section ‘A
  • “Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes”
  • “It takes a whole village to raise a child”
  • “Trust take years to Build, Seconds to Break”
  • “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”
  • “Honesty is the best policy.”
  • “Fortune favors the bold”
  • “Quick but steady wins the race”
  • “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
  • “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
  • An idle brain is the devil’s workshop
  • Are Classrooms Irrelevant to Learning?
  • “Attack is the best form of defence”
  • “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
  • “He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” —Aristotle
  • “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
  • “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
  • “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” ― Cicero

Here are a few expected Essay topics of UPSC Mains Exam related to administration which may be asked under the Section B’.

Expected ESSAY TOPICS under Section ‘B’

  • Kyoto to Paris – Climate Deals: Is the Future of the World Safe?
  • India Will Help Shape a New World Order in 21st Century’
  • The Rise in Antibiotic Resistance is Comparable to the Threat of Global Warming
    Will the Third World War be a Fight between Terrorists and Nations?
  • The Role of Civil Society in Good Governance and Strengthening of Democracy
    Progress and Growth are Linked to the Environment of Tolerance and Mutual Respect.
  • Should Women be allowed to fight in Combat, Including in Infantry?
  • “Corruption and its Effect on National Security and Development”.
  • Preparedness of Our Society For India’s Global Leadership Role Globalisation is Dead
  • Democracy is India’s Achilles’ heel
  • Inclusive Growth vs Redistribution – Which is Better for India and Why?
  • The Role of Science in Public Policy – The Indian Context
  • Social Media and Violence
  • Crimes against Women in India

Some more probable Essay Topics added to the list for UPSC Mains Exam (Only topics are mentioned. Questions could be framed by the UPSC on them).


  1. North-eastern India. Special attention needed.
  2. Nuclear power plants in India. Whether India should focus more on them, etc.
  3. Attack on Africans in India.
  4. Farmer suicides.
  5. PM Modi’s agricultural schemes.
  6. Demonetization
  7. Prohibition on liquor and its effects.
  8. 100% FDI in ecommerce.
  9. Freedom of expression versus nationalism.
  10. Digitisation and Indian democracy.
  11. Pros and cons of 2017 Union Budget.
  12. Pollution in India. Environmental crisis.
  13. India’s responsiveness to natural disasters like flooding, etc.
  14. Make in India.
  15. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
  16. Beef politics.
  17. India against terrorism.
  18. Energy security in India.
  19. Syrian crisis.
  20. Jallikattu protests in Tamil Nadu.
  21. Intolerance debate in campus.
  22. Social media versus conventional media.
  23. India’s educational system.
  24. Relevance of Gandhi today.
  25. Pros and cons of a cashless economy.
  26. Relevance of SAARC today.
  27. Relevance of BRICS.
  28. Water disputes between Indian states.
  29. Value education in India and corruption.
  30. Trial by media.
  31. Tiger conservation in India.
  32. Development and Green India.
  33. Poverty and crime.
  34. “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” (Albert Einstein)
  35. Inclusion of women in the armed forces. More combat roles for women.
  36. Superstition in India.
  37. Is socialism relevant?
  38. “Good fences make good neighbours.” (Robert Frost)
  39. Freedom of press in India.
  40. India’s role in the changing global order.
  41. Poverty and gender equality.
  42. Beti Bachao.
  43. “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family.” (Kwegyir-Aggrey)
  44. Juvenile crime in India.
  45. Crime against women in India.
  46. Should there be priority for India’s space missions amidst pressing issues like poverty, unemployment, etc.?
  47. Corruption in the armed forces.
  48. Scrapping of the Planning Commission.
  49. “No country for old men.”
  50. “The death of dogma is the birth of morality.” (Emmanuel Kant)

These are few topics we have gathered and expected to be asked in the UPSC mains Essay Paper.

Hope, this would help the IAS Aspirants who are writing the Civil Services Mains Exam 2017.
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