The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023 Essay Paper was conducted for candidates who qualified the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The Essay paper carries 250 marks and evaluates a candidate’s ability to present ideas in a clear, logical, and well-structured manner.
On this page, you can find the UPSC CSE Mains Essay Question Paper 2023, official essay topics, exam pattern, important instructions, and the official UPSC PDF link.
UPSC CSE Mains Essay Paper 2023: Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Examination | UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023 |
| Paper | Essay (Paper I) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Exam Stage | Main Examination |
| Maximum Marks | 250 |
| Time Allowed | 3 Hours |
| Essays to Attempt | 2 (One from Section A and One from Section B) |
| Word Limit | 1000–1200 words for each essay |
| Question Type | Descriptive |
| Medium | Any language authorized by UPSC in the Admission Certificate |
Question Paper Instructions
- The ESSAY must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of the Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided.
- No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
- Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
- Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet must be clearly struck off.
UPSC CSE Mains Essay Question Paper 2023
Write two essays, choosing one topic from each of the following Sections A and B, in about 1000 – 1200 words each :
125×2=250
SECTION A
- Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.
- Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.
- 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.
Official UPSC PDF
The official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023 Essay Question Paper can be downloaded from the UPSC website.
Download Official UPSC CSE Mains Essay Question Paper 2023 (PDF)