We often call UPSC as Unpredictable Public Service commission but are we seeing a pattern of kind of essays being asked by UPSC? I don’t see this essay paper much different from last year’s philosophical overdose, but with an extra pinch of some famous quotes that we didn’t do much brainstorming over, except using them as our morning motivational status/wallpaper on whatsapp or whatever social media platform we use.
Coming to the paper, This paper presents a dilemma of selection of essay. Don’t choose an essay just by looking at it and getting some random related thoughts because a question that seems short and easy most often makes things complicated when being answered. so this essay paper perfectly sums up that Just because you have a choice, it does not mean any of them has to be right.
But we can take help of some basics to know if the choice is right. A right choice is not the one that seems quite heard of or natural to you but one where,
- You are able to think at least of some GOOD examples.
- You can give a good eye catching start to your essay.
- You can soon prepare a structure that has a good flow.
- you are able to relate it to few dimensions of syllabus part of Mains, especially Historical, social and ethical if its a philosophical essay.
So considering above points my choice would be to go with following.
Section A
- History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
- A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for.
Section B
- The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
- Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
Also soon I’ll be coming up with approach for each of these essays that will contain not only initial structure mind maps but also full answers. watch this space.