UPSC Exam: IFS officer shares strategy for essay writing | Competitive Exams - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

UPSC Exam: IFS officer shares strategy for essay writing

Edited by Maitree Baral
Jul 21, 2021 01:44 PM IST

Essay writing is one of the most important sections of the UPSC's Civil Services main exam and it carries a maximum of 250 marks.

Essay writing is one of the most important sections of the UPSC's Civil Services main exam and it carries a maximum of 250 marks. In this paper, candidates are required to write essays on multiple topics. The Civil Services main exam is held for those who qualify the preliminary exam.

UPSC Civil Services Exam: IFS officer shares strategy for essay writing(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
UPSC Civil Services Exam: IFS officer shares strategy for essay writing(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression," the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) says.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officer Ankit Kumar, who in the past has also shared relevant tips and suggestions on UPSC exams, has given a detailed strategy on how to write essays in the Civil Services exam.

Ankit Kumar is a 2019 batch AGMUT cadre officer. He mostly tweets on Forest Conservation, Wildlife Protection, and Climate Change.

The basic structure of an essay comprises an introduction, a body and a conclusion, he begins with. Before writing an essay, prepare its blueprint first on a rough sheet, he recommends UPSC aspirants. "Have a fair glance at the blueprint and replicate the points on main essay," he says.

The introduction part, he says, should have 10% of the total word limit. "Start with a quote or a related story or an incident related to current affairs and break it in 3-4 paragraphs," Kumar says.

The body constitutes 80% of the essay, he says and adds that the scope of a body is huge and involves dimensions like economy, polity, governance, history, geography, international relations among others.

Emphasizing on paragraph building within the body of an essay, he suggests to keep each paragraph within 6-7 lines and maintain a continuity between the paragraphs.

Coming to the conclusion, he suggests UPSC aspirants to keep it within 3 paragraphs. "In the first paragraph, keep initiatives taken by the NGO or civil society; in the second write about the initiatives taken by the government, and in the third paragraph mention about any innovative measures suggested in context of the subject matter of the essay," he says.

Get latest news onEducation along with updates on Board Exams and Competitive Exams at Hindustan Times. Also get latest Job updates on Employment News.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On