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UPSC CSE Mains 2016 Essay Question Paper

Filed Under: UPSC Mains

Dear aspirants, please find the UPSC Civil Services Exam (Mains) 2016 Essay Question Paper below. You can download the same as a PDF using the print-pdf button on the left/bottom.

UPSC CSE Mains 2016 Essay Question Paper

UPSC Civil Service Exam Mains 2016 Essay Paper

Instructions: Write two essays, choosing one from each of the following Section A and B, in about 1000-1200 words.

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Section A

  1. If development is not engendered, it is endangered
  2. Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed
  3. Water disputes between states in federal India
  4. Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare

Section B

  1. Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality
  2. Cyberspace and internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run
  3. Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms
  4. Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality

Quick Analysis of the Question Paper

  • Essay questions of 2016 are comparatively easier than those asked in 2015 and 2014.
  • Four analytical questions were asked in Section B – with all four questions having an ‘OR’ option. The two sides were asked to analyse before taking a stand.
  • Questions like digital economy, jobless growth, water disputes, innovation etc. are all GS topics, and hence normally covered by aspirants while studying General Studies Paper 2 and General Studies Paper 3.
  • Related questions were asked in ClearIAS 50-day HVAW, 30-day AWP, model tests and other GS tests.
  • Though the exact meaning of the word ‘engendered’ is not completely related with ‘gender’, the question 1 in section A is connected with gender equality as it can be inferred from the ‘Hindi Translation’ which talks about ‘Stree-Purush…’. “Development, if not engendered, is endangered” is a catchy quote, taken from a UN development report published a decade and a half ago. It talks about the need for gender equality.
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About Alex Andrews George

Alex is the founder of ClearIAS.com website and the author of the best-seller book Important Judgments that transformed India. As one of the pioneers in online civil services exam coaching, his notes, strategies, guidance, and mock exams have been helping thousands of candidates clear various stages of UPSC Civil Services exam, every year.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mahendra says

    December 3, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    plz let me know that whether the marks of only
    paper A (indian lang) &
    paper B (english lang)
    be displayed in the result of mains in february
    OR
    the marks of all 7 papers + paper A & B be displayed..??

    Reply
  2. avinash bhati says

    December 3, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Essay ko English mai likhna compulsory hai ya Hindi mai likh skate hai

    Reply
    • ANOOP VISHWAKARMA says

      June 27, 2017 at 11:56 am

      ENGLISH SUBJECT COMPULSARY HOTA HAI AND ESSAY WRITTING SE APKI ENGLISH STRENGTH CHECK KI JATI HAI KI

      Reply
    • Puja Bhujade says

      November 18, 2017 at 2:23 pm

      Aap Hindi me likh sakte hai.

      Reply
  3. Sibtain Raza Alimi Alig says

    December 4, 2016 at 12:59 am

    Commonly question were simple but writing was enough do if writing skills will be fast then easily able to qualify mains paper.

    Reply
  4. Lakshmipathi says

    December 5, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    yes, i need to develop my writing skills

    Reply

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