The UPSC CSE Mains exam consists of nine papers, out of which four are General Studies papers that test your knowledge and understanding of various topics related to Indian and world history, geography, polity, economy, society, culture, environment, science and technology, ethics and international relations. Each paper has 20 questions that have to be answered in a descriptive manner within a word limit of 150 / 250 words for 10 / 15 marks each. The total marks for each paper are 250 and the total time allotted is 3 hours.
To write a best answer for UPSC CSE Mains General Studies papers, you need to follow some basic steps and guidelines that can help you score high marks and impress the examiner. Here are some of them:
Read the question carefully and understand the demand of the question: Before you start writing your answer, you need to read the question carefully and identify the keywords, directives and sub-parts of the question. Keywords are the main terms or concepts that define the topic or theme of the question. Directives are the words or phrases that tell you what to do with the keywords, such as discuss, analyse, evaluate, comment, examine, elucidate etc. Sub-parts are the different aspects or dimensions that the question wants you to cover in your answer. For example, if the question is "Discuss the impact of climate change on India's agriculture and food security. Suggest some measures to mitigate the adverse effects.", then the keywords are climate change, agriculture and food security; the directive is discuss; and the sub-parts are impact and measures.
Structure your answer in a logical and coherent manner: After you have understood the demand of the question, you need to structure your answer in a logical and coherent manner that can convey your thoughts clearly and effectively. A good structure for a UPSC CSE Mains answer consists of three parts: introduction, body and conclusion. Introduction is where you introduce the topic or theme of the question, provide some background or context, define the keywords or terms if needed, and state your main argument or thesis statement. Body is where you develop your main argument or thesis statement by providing relevant facts, data, examples, evidence, arguments, analysis, evaluation etc. You should also address the sub-parts of the question in separate paragraphs or points with proper headings or sub-headings. Conclusion is where you summarise your main argument or thesis statement, restate your main points briefly, provide some suggestions or recommendations if asked, and end with a positive note or a way forward.
Use simple and clear language and avoid grammatical errors: While writing your answer, you should use simple and clear language that can communicate your ideas effectively and avoid any ambiguity or confusion. You should also avoid using jargons, slang, abbreviations or acronyms that are not commonly known or understood by the examiner. You should also check your grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence construction before submitting your answer. Grammatical errors can reduce your marks and affect your impression on the examiner.
Use diagrams, maps, charts or tables to enhance your answer: While writing your answer, you can also use diagrams, maps, charts or tables to enhance your answer and make it more attractive and informative. Diagrams can help you illustrate a concept, process or phenomenon; maps can help you show a location, region or distribution; charts can help you compare or contrast data or information; tables can help you organise data or information in a systematic way. However, you should use these tools only when they are relevant and necessary for your answer. You should also label them properly and explain them briefly in your answer.
Stick to the word limit and time limit: While writing your answer, you should also stick to the word limit and time limit prescribed by the UPSC for each question. The word limit for each question is 150 / 250 words and the time limit for each paper is 3 hours. You should not exceed the word limit as it can lead to negative marking or loss of marks. You should also not write less than the word limit as it can indicate lack of content or depth in your answer. You should also manage your time wisely and allocate equal time for each question. You should not spend too much time on one question at the cost of others. You should also leave some time for revision and editing at the end.
These are some of the tips on how to write a best answer for UPSC CSE Mains Descriptive General Study Papers. You should also practice answer writing regularly by referring to previous year papers (Follow this website), model answers and feedback from experts. This will help you improve your writing skills, speed and accuracy.