History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce
Introduction: Body: Conclusion:
What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!
Introduction: Body: Conclusion:
The real is rational and the rational is real
Introduction: Body: Conclusion: Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world Introduction: Body: Conclusion:
“The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced”
Introduction: Body: Conclusion: Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an
“Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Relate to philosophical debates on free will, moral relativism, and
“A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Think of the smile as a multipurpose tool—diplomacy, masking pain,
“You cannot step twice in the same river”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Emphasize “constant flux” as universal principle—apply to personal growth, geopolitics,
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Think “prevention is better than cure”—apply to governance, infrastructure, personal
“A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Anchor on metaphor of “harbour vs. ocean”—personal, organizational, national contexts.
“History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Contrast Enlightenment-era rationalism with Romantic movement—highlight key turning points (Industrial
“Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Anchor on Shelley’s assertion (“Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of
“Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Frame “forests” as living laboratories of sustainable economics—renewal, resilience, and
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Relate to Einstein’s paraphrased remark: “I never teach my pupils.
“A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Link “justice” with “social contract” (Rawls) and “charity” with “band-aid
“Mathematics is the music of reason.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Relate to Pythagorean discovery of musical intervals and mathematical ratios.
“Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Emphasize intersectional feminism—recognizing how patriarchy also traps boys. 2. IBC‐Style
“Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Relate to “beginner’s mind” (Shoshin in Zen)—seeing the ordinary as if
“Not all who wander are lost.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Distinguish between “drifting” (aimless) and “wandering” (intentional exploration). 2. IBC‐Style Outline
“Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Relate to Daniel Kahneman’s System 1 (intuition) and System 2 (logic)
“Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Link “thinking” to “dialectical method”—thesis, antithesis, synthesis. 2. IBC‐Style Outline Introduction
“The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Think in terms of “opportunity cost” in economics; “sunk cost
“All ideas having large consequences are always simple.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Think of “Occam’s Razor”—simplicity in hypotheses; “KISS principle” (Keep It Simple,
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Link to “Lord Acton’s dictum: ‘Power tends to corrupt; absolute power
“Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’ amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Link “FOMO” with “social comparison theory” (Festinger) and “dopamine loop”—neuro-psych basis.
“The doubter is a true man of Science.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Connect “doubter” with “falsifiability” (Karl Popper) and “peer review”Culture. 2. IBC‐Style
“There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Contrast “happiness as endpoint” vs. “happiness as daily practice.” Relate to
“The Empires of the future will be the empires of the mind.”
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Frame as transition from “gunpowder empires” → “industrial empires” → “knowledge
Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them.
1. Interpretation & Key Theme Revision Tip: Remember this proverb as a cyclical‐history framework—rise (forests), zenith (civilization), decline
“Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is artificial poverty.”
Interpretation & Key Theme Meaning: True richness arises from satisfaction and moderation, while endless luxury breeds dissatisfaction and
“It is best to see life as a journey, not as a destination.”
Interpretation & Key Theme Meaning: Life’s value lies in the process of becoming, not merely achieving goals. Fixation
“The years teach much which the days never know.”
Interpretation & Key Theme Meaning: Deep wisdom emerges over long periods through cumulative experience, reflection, and lived realities.
“Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.”
Interpretation & Key theme IBC-Style Outline Introduction Body — Dimensions / Arguments Conclusion Core Dimensions & Examples (many)
Best lessons are learnt through bitter experiences.
Interpretation & Key theme IBC-Style Outline Introduction Body — Dimensions / Arguments (each paragraph = one dimension) Conclusion
Thought finds a world and creates one also.
Interpretation & Key theme Meaning: Thought has a dual power — it discovers (recognises patterns, truths that
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” — Sun Tzu
Meaning: The highest form of strategic success is to achieve objectives without bloodshed — by undermining the enemy’s
Truth knows no color
Interpretation & Key theme Meaning: “Truth knows no color” states that truth — whether factual, moral, scientific, or
Truth knows no color
Interpretation & Key theme Meaning: “Truth knows no color” states that truth — whether factual, moral, scientific, or
UPSC Solved Essays since 2014-2025 (all)
S.No. Essay Title Year Page No. 1 Truth knows no color. 2025 (A) 14 2 The supreme art
