Q1. Write an essay in about 600 words on any one of the following topics :
(a) Impact of westernization on the Indian Family
(b) Literature Mirrors Society
(c) Women in Indian Politics
(d) Rural Urban divide in India
UPSC Civil Services Main 2018 English Compulsory Question Paper PDF
- Year 2018
- Conducted By UPSC
- Maximum Marks 300
- Duration Three Hours
- Languages English
Exam Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Examination | Civil Services (Main) Examination |
| Year | 2018 |
| Conducting Body | UPSC |
| Paper | English (Compulsory) |
| Subject | English |
| Duration | Three Hours |
| Maximum Marks | 300 |
| Question Type | Mixed |
This is the official question paper for the English (Compulsory) paper of the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination held in 2018. The paper, worth 300 marks, allowed candidates three hours to complete. It consists of both essay writing and comprehension sections, testing candidates' proficiency in English language and writing skills. Aspirants can use this paper to understand the exam pattern, question difficulty, and marking scheme, which is crucial for effective preparation for the Civil Services Main Examination.
Major Topics Covered
- Essay Writing
- Comprehension
- English Language Proficiency
- Indian Society
- Westernization
- Women in Politics
- Rural-Urban Divide
- History of Warfare
- Indian Army Organization
- Plunder and Warfare
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 2017 English (Compulsory) Question Paper
- UPSC Civil Services Main 2019 English (Compulsory) Question Paper
- UPSC Civil Services Main 2018 General Studies Paper I Question Paper
- UPSC Civil Services Main 2018 General Studies Paper II Question Paper
- UPSC Civil Services Main 2018 English (Compulsory) Answer Key
- UPSC Civil Services Main Exam Syllabus
- UPSC English (Compulsory) Syllabus
- UPSC Civil Services Main Exam Pattern
Instructions
- The number of marks carried by a question is indicated against it.
- Answers must be written in ENGLISH only.
- Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to and if answered in much longer or shorter than the prescribed length, marks will be deducted.
- Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Questions (page 2)
Q2. Read carefully the passage given below and write your answers to the Questions that follow in clear, correct and concise language :
(a)
It is often said that the Ghaznavid and Ghurid soldiers regarded death in a war against infidels as martyrdom in the cause of Islam. But it is more likely that the real draw was the attraction of plunder, the likes of which they had not seen in campaigns in more arid lands. For Indian Commanders, apart from plunder, battles incorporated the niceties of a sport with its own rules of play. Immortalizing the heroism of kings in battle, the poets and bards emphasized the rules of war and chivalry. To apply the chivalric code in minor campaigns may have relieved the tedium of war, but the campaigns against the Ghurids were of an entirely different nature and this may not have been realized initially. Notions of honour and devotion were often placed above expediency, and gradually the astrologically determined auspicious moment for attack took precedence over strategy and tactics. Inflated claims to valour, such as the hero who could defeat a thousand warriors simultaneously, began to enter the rhetoric of courtly literature.
The organization of Indian armies added to their weakness. Each army had as its permanent core the standing army, but many of the soldiers were local levies or soldiers supplied by Samantas where this was part of the latter's obligation to the suzerain. In addition, mercenaries were a visible section of the armies of these times. Such a collection of soldiers had not always been trained to fight as a consolidated army. It was possibly also the dispersed character of the army that gave it a license to plunder indiscriminately. Villagers were harassed and looted by armies on the march, particularly if the campaign coincided with the harvesting of the crop, as it often did. For peasants and merchants, war was a nightmare that disrupted the routine of earning a livelihood. Laying waste vast tracts of inhabited and cultivated land, merely because it was part of the enemy's territory, was a proud boast attributed to Prithviraja Chauhan on defeating the Chandella ruler.
Historians have sometimes commented, perhaps more from hindsight, on why Indian rulers did not make a conjoint effort through the centuries to defend the North-Western passes. Time and again invaders came through these passes, yet little was done to prevent this, the defence of the region lying arbitrarily in the hands of the
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Frequently asked questions
What is the name of the exam?
The exam is the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
Which year is this question paper from?
This question paper is from the year 2018.
Who conducts the Civil Services Main Examination?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Main Examination.
What is the subject of this paper?
This paper is for English (Compulsory).
What is the maximum marks for this paper?
The maximum marks for this paper is 300.
What is the time allowed to complete the paper?
The time allowed to complete the paper is Three Hours.