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 INDEX
Introduction……………………………………………. P2
Main Body………………………………………………...P3
Conclusion…………………………………………….…. P4
Diagrams……………………………………………………P5
Terminologies…………………………………………...P6
Structure………………………………………………...P10
Paper wise key points………………………………P14
Toppers copy……………………………………........P15

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 _

How Can We Write Introduction?

Recent
Definition Data Quote
Event

Background

TYPES
Definition Based: like if there is a question on citizen charter, we can give its definition.

Data Based: Like if there is a question on causes of women’s low economic participation
than we can give data of women low labor force participation rate and therefore these are
its causes…

Recent events: Like if there is question on India-China relations, we can start with recently
there is Galwan Standoff that has strained India-China relation.

Quote based: This is mainly written in ethics question where we can write a quote that is
relevant to the theme of question and start our main body.

Background based: This type is mainly used in history related questions where we can
write background of events like background on 1857 struggle. Here we can give
chronology of events.

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 How to think of Main Body?
Brainstorming Methods
1.Subject Wise : From GS 1 to GS 4 like history, geography, art & culture…….

GS 1 GS 2 GS 3

• History • Polity • Economy

• Art&culture • Governance • Environment
• Geography etc. • Social justice • Security
• IR • S&T

2. PESCAL method:
P-Polity

E-Economy

S-Society

C-Culture

A-Administrative

L-Legal

What to think in Main Body?

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 Merit &
Issues Challanges Causes Benefits Relevance
Demrit

Try to identify these key words in question.

How to Write conclusions?

Types
Summarising

Forward looking

Balanced

Philosophical/visionary

Cyclic

Quote based

Summarizing: Briefly restate your main arguments without repetition.

 Example: Economic liberalization brought growth but also inequality; a balanced approach with
social welfare is key.

Forward-Looking/Suggestive (Way Forward): Offer solutions or policy recommendations for the

future. This is highly valued.

 Example: Solving the water crisis needs both large infrastructure and community-led initiatives
like rainwater harvesting.

Balanced/Nuanced: Acknowledge different perspectives and suggest a middle ground, especially for
complex topics.

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  Example: Technology offers progress but raises privacy concerns; balance innovation with
strong regulations for societal benefit.

Philosophical/Visionary: Elevate the discussion to broader implications, values, or a grander vision.

 Example: Democracy's future depends on active citizens, just institutions, and dialogue for a more
equitable world.

Cyclic: Refer back to an idea or quote from your introduction for a sense of completeness.

 Example: Reiterate an initial quote, like Gandhi's on truth, to show its continued relevance.

Quote-Based: Use a relevant, impactful quote to add authority and memorability.

 Example: Quote Mandela on education as a powerful weapon to change the world.

Few Diagrams and Schematics

Type 1 Health

Components
Education Poverty
of inclusion

Women empowerment

Type.2
Causes of low status of women

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 Economic Social Political Culture

C
A Social
U
S Economic
E
S Political

UNDERSTANDING TERMINOLOGIES USED IN QUESTIONS

Terminology Meaning and Demand of the directives/commands

It is also a common directive. You write the meaning of the problem, all
aspects involved in it. You simply try to write all the why/which may emerge in
the problem. We can give an example; Why smart city programme, this has to
be written in `explain smart city. Explain is the answer to all `why`. It touches
Explain and explores all aspects.
Explanations require you to write the context of the question. You explain or
convince by providing this context. In simple terms you write all aspects
without any criticism
and your opinion
It means scrutiny of the statement/question. You first write after two lines
of introduction, a brief statement of what the idea or presentation is.
Only then you examine. Examine does not mean only a rejection of the
Examine idea or criticism. It also means support and praise, that is, examine doesn’t
mean only to criticize. The given statement may or may not invite criticism.
Since the command is to examine, the question has been framed in such a way
that it will necessarily have some criticisms.

Evaluate It simply means write pros and cons of the given statement.

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 Both have the same meaning when they are given towards the end of the
question. that the given statement/question is not correct and it should be
rejected. In nutshell, you should demolish the proposition. But that does not
mean only rejection should be written. Rather first write after few lines of
Critically introduction, a brief statement of what the idea or presentation is about the
statement. Only then you critically examine.
Examine or Note: in such command, one must take stand in the answer which is essential
Critically condition.
Evaluate Generally, aspirants avoid taking stand by simply skipping conclusive view. That
is, towards the end of the answer, aspirants don’t write what is the conclusive
view. In such case, answer is considered as incomplete.
Note: when critically examine or critically evaluate is given in the beginning of
the question, in such case, one has to write first positive sides and then the
negative sides of the question.

It is the most frequently asked command in the question.

Generally, this is presented at the end of the question and so it is called suffix.
In comment, you write the different aspects of a problem or issue or the topic
in an analytical manner and you also give your opinion.
Comment In comment, the whole problem or issue is presented, and different aspects
and different views are presented related to the issue or the problem. No
criticisms are to be attempted. Criticism is the view of a scholar and comment is
your view. That is, the uniqueness of this command is that you can write
answer in your own view.
It is also a very frequent directive. You simply remember one analogy. As the
medical students dissect insects or human organs in their laboratories so you
Analyze analyze a problem threadbare. You go deeper; you want to see the inner
meanings. It is in‐depth view on the given statement

We have already presented the meaning of analyze. One has to dissect any
phenomenon trying to go deeper and present the causes of any phenomenon.
This requires one to go inside any phenomenon and do the brain searching.
Critically analyze means does not only show the underlying causes of a
phenomenon but show all other dimensions. It requires any one to show the
underlying causes but also the plus and minus of any cause. This refers to
Critically seeing and imagining all the interrelated aspects of the causes. This is in‐depth
Analyse and analyzes underlying and interrelated causes. For example, one
has to critically analyze the problem of black money in India. One has to write
the sources of black money, the causes of black money, why it is difficult to
identify black money, how other countries like USA have done this.
Critically analyze is different from critically examine/comment/evaluate. It
doesn’t mean to write criticism. Rather the examiner has in the mind that

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 some critical facts/information will necessarily be written that is the question
has been framed and command has been given as critically analyze.

In discuss, you have to write two or all the aspects of an issue. Don’t criticize,
simply present all the sides in an analytical manner. In conclusion you write a
brief summary of all the sides. Since one has to write all the aspects, towards
end of the answer, one can write the contrary/negative view or a bit of
Discuss criticism. This makes the difference between the command Discuss and Explain
as in explain, one doesn’t have to write anything
negative.
It is like discuss plus evaluate.
In discuss one writes two aspects or all aspects of an issue or the problem.
Discuss is an elaboration in which all the aspects of a problem, issue and a
phenomenon are to be presented. Critically discuss is a recent command
introduced by the UPSC. Critically discuss, one has to present all the aspects by
examining its pros and cons. One does not only present all aspects but evaluate
Critically the different aspects. It refers to examine either two aspects or aspects by
Discuss examining aspects. One has to give the plus points and minus points of a
phenomenon. For example, one has to critically discuss the Gandhian view
of nonviolence. In this one has to see the plus
points of nonviolence and one must give the example of India`s national
struggle. Then one has to severely criticize the concept of non‐violence
and cite all the negative aspects of nonviolence.
It simply means you have to expand the given statement/question suppose it is
in 20 words then you have to expand to 150/250/300 words as per the
marks of the questions.
Elaborate Note: one must not write any criticisms in elaborate command. It is strictly
prohibited.

It simply means you have to expand the given statement/question suppose it is

in 20 words then you have to expand to 150/250/300 words as per the
marks of the questions. Plus write one/two good examples which is an
Elucidate essential condition. It is like:
Elaborate + appropriate examples
Note: one must not write any criticisms in elucidate command. It is strictly
prohibited.
Enumerate One has to simply write in points in order about the given statement. Like
enumerate the features of parliamentary democracy.
Illustrate It means explain with diagrammatic/figurative explanation. Diagrams/ flow‐
chart is must in such command.

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 Distinguish It indicates a directive when you have to write the differences between two or
more phenomena. You distinguish all aspects
It is a directive in which you first, in very brief present the meanings of
the phenomena you are to compare. Then you write the similarities as well as
Compare and differences of the two. In the conclusion when you are summarizing write
contrast what are more, the similarities or the differences.
Note: in case of only compare, write head to head comparison.
It means you have to prove a particular proposition. You give only positive
aspects. You present your arguments as a lawyer. You convince the examiner.
Substantiate

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 STRUCTURE

TYPE 1
Introduction

Introduction should be of at least 30 words.

MAKE ANY DIAGRAM,

SCHEMATIC OR CHART

Main Body 1
1.
2.
3.

Main Body 2
1.
2.
3.

WAY FORWORD THROGH ANY

DAIGRAM

CONCLUSION

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 TYPE.2

Introduction

Here we need some connecting words

From here we will start our first main body

Now we need connecting words like similarity, however, although etc. to start our second MAIN

BODY

Conclusion

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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 TYPE.3

Introduction

It should be of at least 30 words.

Main body 1
Sub heading of point 1

Sub heading of point 2

Sub heading of point 3

Main body 2

Sub heading of point 1

Sub heading of point 2

Sub heading of point 3

WAY
FORWORD
Conclusion

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 TYPE 4

Introduction

In the end of introduction, we need to start form a sentence as “there are following issues or causes of
these and they are” (here starts FIRST MAIN BODY)
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
Now you need to give a line here that says that although the above points are for example the advantages
or cause but there is also a different side (Here start our SECOND MAIN BODY on if question ask for
it) …
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________

Here if needed, write WAY FORWARD

Conclusion

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 IMPORTANT POINTS FOR GENERAL STUDIES
PAPERS
For GS 1
1. In History give chronology and history fact.
2. In Geography maps and diagrams and facts are vital.
3. In Society add key words of subject.

For GS2
1. In polity Supreme court judgements and committee recommendations are vital.
2. In International Relation adding map and current data marks fetching.
3. In Social Justice writing legislative and executive actions related to vulnerable sections are must.

For GS 3
1. Data and facts are real fodder for Economy point of view.
2. Security is marks fetching as themes are mostly repeated every year.
3. In Environment and S&T (technology wise) understanding of concept is important.

For GS 4
1. Examples are the fodder (can refer IAS SAHAYOGI ETHICS VALUE EDITION MATERIAL).

2. Subject key words are significant here.

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 Shruti Sharma (AIR 1, 2021)

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 ANUDEEP DURISHETY AIR 2017

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