UPSC 2024 Mains Essay - All Model Answers

1. Philosophical themes grounded in contemporary insights: This year’s essay topics demonstrated a notable shift, with philosophical themes now intertwined with contemporary issues. Their origins can be traced to significant events occurring in our surroundings, like the rise of social media, test of power, and sustainability of civilizations. This provides a rich context for exploration and discussion.

2. Difficulty analysis: The topics this year were easier to decode compared to those in previous years. Repeated themes such as social media, civilization, science, character, power, happiness, and ideas offer aspirants a sense of familiarity and comfort in their choices. However, these themes require deeper exploration to gain a competitive edge and achieve high scores.

3. Section wise analysis: Section A topics appear enigmatic, making it challenging to apply fixed frameworks like PESTEL (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal). They demand a nuanced approach that may complicate the structuring process. In contrast, Section B topics are more straightforward, allowing candidates to easily connect them with contemporary issues like social media FOMO, utility of simple ideas, power and corruption, and importance of taking action.

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1. Forests Precede Civilizations and Deserts Follow Them

2.The Empires of the Future Will Be the Empires of the Mind

3. There is no Path to Happiness; Happiness is the Path

4. The Doubter Is a True Man of Science

5. Social Media and the 'Fear of Missing Out': A Pathway to Depression and Loneliness

6. Nearly All Men Can Stand Adversity, but to Test the Character, Give Him Power

7. All Ideas Having Large Consequences Are Always Simple

8. The Cost of Wrong Is Less Than the Cost of Doing Nothing

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