The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE), which is among the most popular examinations in India. The second stage of the CSE, the mains examination, comprises nine papers, some of which are devoted to language comprehension, essay composition, and elective subjects. The key to passing the UPSC CSE Mains is to compose well-crafted responses that demonstrate your analytical and knowledge-based abilities while also meeting the question's requirements. This blog will provide advice on how to compose an effective UPSC Mains response.

Determine which questions you are expected to answer.

Before beginning to compose your response, you must have a thorough understanding of the query. At least twice through the query, determine what it is that which it is requesting. This will assist you in properly structuring your response. Occasionally, queries may consist of multiple components, and your response must address each one. So, make sure you know what is being asked before you start composing.

Find Keywords in the Question

Keywords are the most essential part of any question, and identifying them will assist you in grasping the crux of the question. Additionally, keywords will assist you in organizing your thoughts and structuring your response. Make sure to use these keywords in your answer, as it will demonstrate the examiner that you have understood the query and are answering it directly.

Answer according to the Question Directive

The query directive is the instruction that instructs you how to approach the question. The most common directives in UPSC mains are ‘critically examine,’ ‘evaluate,’ ‘discuss,’ ‘analyse,’ and ‘elucidate.’ Each directive requires a distinct approach to answering the question, so it is necessary to comprehend the directive before starting your answer. For example, if the directive is ‘critically examine,’ you need to provide both positive and negative aspects of the topic and then come to a conclusion. If the directive is ‘evaluate,’ you need to provide a judgment on the topic and give reasons for your judgment.

Structure your answers with the correct logical flow

A well-structured answer is crucial to obtaining high marks in the UPSC Mains exam. Your answer should have a distinct introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should state your thesis or argument, the body should justify your thesis, and the conclusion should recapitulate your thesis and provide a final conclusion. This logical flow will help the examiner comprehend your thought process and make it simpler for them to grade your answer.

Introduction of the answer: State your argument

The introduction of your answer should be plain and concise, and it should state your thesis or argument. Your thesis should be a direct response to the query, and it should be specific and focused. Make sure to use the keywords from the question in your thesis, as it will demonstrate the examiner that you have understood the question and are addressing it explicitly.

Body of the answer: Justify your thesis

The substance of your answer should justify your thesis or argument. You should provide evidence, data, and examples to support your thesis. Make sure to structure your answer in a logical manner, with each paragraph addressing a specific aspect of the query. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make your answer more organized and simpler to comprehend.

Conclusion of the answer: Prove your thesis

The conclusion of your answer should recapitulate your thesis and provide a final conclusion. You should also provide your opinion on the topic and give reasons for your opinion. Make sure to avoid introducing any new arguments or evidence in the conclusion, as it may confound the examiner and undermine your answer.

Bottomline

You should also not neglect to Provide value addition in order to stand out from the crowd. You need to provide value addition to your answer. This means providing additional information or insights that are not mentioned in the question or in the standard textbooks.