Civil Services – Page 3

General Essay is an important section in Civil Services Main Examination. The question in this section are not specific to any particular topic. Candidates are expected to discusss the given topic / issue in details from various perspectives. This is to test the comprehension and analytical skills of the candidates.

Also Read: Strategy for Civil Services Examination

Two Essays:

Candidates have to write two essays in the examination. There will be choice in the exam. The topics may include current issues also. If you look at the previous papers, the questions are asked mostly from topics like Freedom Movement, Knowledge – Education, Peace, Non-Violence, Children, Child Labour, Law and Administration, Leadership etc.

Selection of Topic:

The first critical step in attempting essay section is selection of the questions. You need to allocate at least 5 / 10 minutes to shortlist the points to be covered in the answer. Based on this plan you have to write the answer in 1200 words. Following are some of the important questions for Essay Section in Civils Main Exam:

Also Read: Civil Services Main – Previous Exam Analysis

Model / Practice Questions:

1. Will the 21st century be India’s century?
2. Privacy vs Transparency: Transparency is for Government, not for citizens
3. Globalisation is dead, Long live localisation
4. Multilateralism vs Rationalism. Which is good for world economy?
5. Nuclear weapons ensure peace on Earth
6. Is growing level of competition good for the children?
7. Social media and violence
8. Apolitical education- the need of the hour
9 ‘Malpractices in examinations threaten the future of the Indian education system’ – Comment.

This is the last part of the series of articles on Civil Services Preliminary Examinations. Economic Survey Report and India Year Book are two important sources of information for the candidates those preparing for Civil Services Preliminary Examination. These books will have thousands of pages and it is very difficult to find the information useful and that not useful from the examination point of view. Most of the candidates waster their precious time by reading unnecessary information in these reports. Following are the details of topics and sections along with page numbers that are useful for Civil Services Preliminary Examination:

Read previous parts of the article:

Prelims Exam Structure and Syllabus
Why Negative Marking?
Strategy for Paper 1
Strategy for Paper 2
Prelims Strategy – Final Tips Part 5

1. State of the Economy and Prospects: Introduction, Growth in real GDP (1.3), Agriculture and Food (1.18 to 1.22), Human Development (1.68), Employment (1.70)

2. Micro Foundations of Macro Economic Development : Food and Inclusion (Box 2.22), Aadhaar’s Progress (Box 2.3), Managing the Exchange Rate (2.22), Central Bank Interventions (Box 2.4), The Risks of Over Regulation (Box 2.8, 2.54)

3. Fiscal Developments & Public Finance : Goods and Services Tax (3.19), Rangarajan Committee (Box 3.1), Subsidies(3.28), Nandan Nilekani Committee (Box 3.2)

These are just examples only. See detailed table from below link:

Civils Prelims Strategy – Useful Parts in India Year Book and Economic Survey Reports

Civil Services Main Exam – General Essay Topics and Model Questions for Practice

Civils Prelims Topics in India Year Book and Economic Survey – Part 6