UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 Essay Paper PDF | Question Paper

Central Government Jobs Administrative / Civil Services 2021

  • Year 2021
  • Conducted By UPSC
  • Maximum Marks 250
  • Languages Hindi & English

Exam Details

Detail Information
Examination Civil Services (Main) Examination
Year 2021
Conducting Body UPSC
Paper Essay
Subject Essay
Maximum Marks 250
Question Type Descriptive / Subjective

This is the official Essay paper for the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2021. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), this paper is a crucial part of the Mains examination. Aspirants are required to write two essays, one from each section (A and B), in approximately 1000-1200 words each. The total marks for this paper are 250. Practicing this previous year's question paper is essential for understanding the depth and breadth of topics expected and for honing essay-writing skills under timed conditions.

Major Topics Covered

  • Self-discovery
  • Perception and Reaction
  • Materialism vs. Spirituality
  • Reality and Rationality
  • Nurturing and Governance
  • Research and Knowledge
  • History
  • Best Practices

Why This Paper is Important

  • Useful for Civil Services (Main) Examination preparation
  • Helps understand the latest exam pattern
  • Useful for practice and self-assessment
  • Covers frequently asked General Studies topics
  • Helpful for analysing question trends

Related Resources

  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 General Studies Paper I
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 General Studies Paper II
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 General Studies Paper III
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 General Studies Paper IV (Ethics)
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 Essay Answer Key
  • UPSC Civil Services Main Exam Syllabus
  • UPSC Essay Paper Syllabus
  • UPSC Civil Services Main Exam Pattern

Instructions

  • पुस्तिका के मुखपृष्ठ पर निर्दिष्ट स्थान पर करना आवश्यक है।
  • प्राधिकृत माध्यम के अलावा अन्य माध्यम में लिखे गए उत्तरों पर अंक नहीं दिए जाऐंगे ।
  • प्रश्नों के उत्तर निर्दिष्ट शब्द-संख्या के अनुसार होने चाहिए।
  • प्रश्न-सह-उत्तर पुस्तिका में खाली छोड़े गए किसी पृष्ठ अथवा पृष्ठ के भाग को पूर्णतः काट दीजिए।

  • The ESSAY must be written in the medium authorised in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided.
  • No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorised one.
  • Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
  • Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Questions (page 2)

Section A

Q1. Write TWO Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each.
125 × 2 = 250

(1) आत्म-संधान की प्रक्रिया अब तकनीकी रूप से वाह्य स्रोतों को सौंप दी गई है।
The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.

(2) आप की मेरे बारे में धारणा, आपकी सोच दर्शाती है; आपके प्रति मेरी प्रतिक्रिया, मेरा संस्कार है ।
Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.

(3) इच्छारहित होने का दर्शन काल्पनिक आदर्श (युटोपिया) है, जबकि भौतिकता माया है।
Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.

(4) सत् ही यथार्थ है और यथार्थ ही सत् है।
The real is rational and the rational is real.

Section B

Q2.

(5) पालना झूलाने वाले हाथों में ही संसार की बागडोर होती है ।
Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

(6) शोध क्या है, ज्ञान के साथ एक अजनबी मुलाकात !
What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!

(7) इतिहास स्वयं को दोहराता है, पहली बार एक त्रासदी के रूप में, दूसरी बार एक प्रहसन के रूप में ।
History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.

(8) "सर्वोत्तम कार्यप्रणाली" से बेहतर कार्यप्रणालियाँ भी होती हैं ।
There are better practices to "best practices".

Question paper preview

Scanned pages 1–2 for reference. Download the official PDF for the full paper.

Page 1
UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 Essay question paper page 1 instructions scan PDF download
Page 2
UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 Essay question paper page 1 instructions scan PDF download

Free question paper download

Download question paper PDF

  • 1.2 MB
  • 2 pages
  • PDF format

Frequently asked questions

What is the name of the exam?

The exam is the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2021.

Which paper is this?

This is the Essay paper for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2021.

Who conducts the Civil Services Main Examination?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Main Examination.

What is the maximum marks for the Essay paper?

The maximum marks for the Essay paper is 250.

What is the question type for the Essay paper?

The Essay paper is descriptive, requiring candidates to write essays.

What is the word limit for each essay?

Each essay should be written in about 1000-1200 words.

← Back to Administrative / Civil Services papers