Best book for essay writing for upsc by upscpage.in

best book for essay writing for upsc by upscpage.in

Introduction

The Essay Paper in the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination holds significant weight—250 marks to be precise. This paper is often the game-changer for many aspirants. While General Studies papers test your analytical abilities and factual knowledge, the Essay Paper evaluates your articulation, structure, coherence, and originality. To ace this, choosing the best book for essay writing for UPSC is crucial.

In this guide, we bring you a well-researched and SEO-optimized list of top essay books for UPSC preparation, along with writing strategies, toppers' tips, and FAQs to give you a complete roadmap for success in the essay paper.

Why Essay Writing is Crucial in UPSC

  • Weightage: 250 marks can be a major determinant in your final selection.

  • No strict syllabus: Essays require holistic understanding, current affairs knowledge, and clarity of thought.

  • Reflection of Personality: Your essay is a reflection of how you think and communicate—two essential qualities for a civil servant.

Key Features to Look for in a Good Essay Book

When choosing a book for essay writing in UPSC, make sure it:

  • Offers diverse topics (philosophical, current affairs, socio-political)

  • Provides model essays with structure

  • Focuses on language clarity and simplicity

  • Includes quotes, anecdotes, and data

  • Offers strategies on introduction, body, and conclusion writing

  • Contains previous years' essays

Best Books for Essay Writing for UPSC – Expert Recommendations

1. “151 Essays for UPSC Mains” by Arihant Publications

Why It's Recommended:
This book covers a wide range of essay topics—social, political, philosophical, economic, and international affairs. It’s beginner-friendly and provides a structured format.

Pros:

  • Updated with contemporary topics

  • Covers previous years' essays

  • Contains value-added quotes and data

Cons:

  • Lacks detailed strategies on structure

  • Needs supplementation with current affairs

Best For: Aspirants who are starting their essay preparation and want exposure to a variety of topics.

2. “ESSAYS for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations” by Pulkit Khare (TMH)

Why It's Recommended:
Published by Tata McGraw Hill, this book is recommended by many UPSC toppers for its detailed structure and approach-based explanation.

Pros:

  • Topic-wise breakdown

  • Analytical perspectives

  • Strong philosophical and contemporary mix

Cons:

  • Slightly theoretical

  • Needs regular practice for improvement

Best For: Intermediate to advanced aspirants who want to refine their analytical writing.

3. “Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude” by Niraj Kumar (for value addition)

Why It's Recommended:
Though not an essay book, Lexicon helps in integrating ethical quotes and thoughts into your essays, especially philosophical ones.

Pros:

  • Great for quote enrichment

  • Helps in value-based essay topics

  • A must-have for GS Paper IV too

Cons:

  • Not a direct essay resource

  • Needs integration with other essay books

Best For: Essay enrichment and ethical perspectives.

4. “Selected Contemporary Essays” by Saumitra Mohan (McGraw Hill)

Why It's Recommended:
This book is curated for UPSC aspirants by an IAS officer and contains contemporary essays based on issues like governance, democracy, and education.

Pros:

  • Real-world examples

  • Easy language, balanced arguments

  • Good mix of current and traditional topics

Cons:

  • Limited philosophical content

Best For: Aspirants looking for contemporary relevance and simplicity.

5. Vision IAS Essay Booklet (PDF/Printed)

Why It's Recommended:
Vision IAS provides a highly analytical approach to essay writing with practice papers, model essays, and topic-wise frameworks.

Pros:

  • Topic-wise framework

  • Regularly updated

  • Good use of facts and quotes

Cons:

  • Limited to students enrolled or PDFs via Telegram

Best For: Practice, framework building, and mock writing.

6. Insights IAS Essay Compilation

Why It's Recommended:
It includes weekly essay topics with toppers’ essays and strategies. Many UPSC toppers follow their format.

Pros:

  • Practical writing approach

  • Simple language and clear flow

  • Regularly updated

Cons:

  • Only available online

Best For: Practice and peer comparison.

Additional Resources for Essay Writing

Apart from books, you must use:

  • Newspapers: The Hindu, Indian Express (for data and examples)

  • Magazines: Yojana, Kurukshetra, and EPW

  • Toppers' Copies: Available on websites like ForumIAS and Insights

  • YouTube Channels: Drishti IAS, StudyIQ (essay-specific videos)

  • Editorial Analysis PDFs: Vision IAS and GS Score

Essay Writing Strategy for UPSC

1. Understanding the Topic

  • Analyze the topic's dimensions—social, political, economic, ethical

  • Define key terms clearly

2. Brainstorm and Make a Rough Outline

  • Introduction: Define and set the context

  • Body: Divide into themes—historical, societal, global, etc.

  • Conclusion: Summarize, provide a futuristic or ethical solution

3. Use Quotes, Anecdotes & Data

  • Gandhi, Ambedkar, Vivekananda, APJ Abdul Kalam

  • Use government data (NITI Aayog, Economic Survey)

4. Language and Flow

  • Simple and formal language

  • Avoid jargon

  • Maintain paragraph coherence

5. Practice Regularly

  • Write 1 essay per week

  • Get it evaluated by mentors or online communities

Tips from UPSC Toppers

✅ Anudeep Durishetty (AIR 1, 2017)
“Essay is not about information but articulation. Structure and balance matter more.”

✅ Srushti Deshmukh (AIR 5, 2018)
“Practice at least 15–20 essays before Mains. Focus on original thinking.”

✅ Aishwarya Verma (AIR 4, 2021)
“Work on both philosophical and issue-based essays. Balance optimism with realism.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ❌ Ignoring philosophical topics

  • ❌ Writing without a structure

  • ❌ Using overly complex language

  • ❌ Lack of examples and real-life data

  • ❌ Neglecting introduction and conclusion

FAQ – Best Book for Essay Writing for UPSC

Q1. What is the best book for essay writing for UPSC beginners?

Ans: “151 Essays by Arihant” and “TMH Essay by Pulkit Khare” are ideal for beginners due to their structured approach and range of topics.

Q2. Do I need to read multiple books for essays?

Ans: Ideally, combine one primary essay book with current affairs sources (Yojana, The Hindu, Vision IAS).

Q3. How many essays should I practice before Mains?

Ans: At least 15–20 full-length essays, including both philosophical and socio-political themes.

Q4. How can I improve my essay introduction?

Ans: Start with a quote, anecdote, story, or striking fact to engage the reader.

Q5. Are Vision IAS or Insights essay PDFs sufficient?

Ans: They’re good for practice and idea generation but should be supplemented with structured books.

Final Thoughts

Cracking the Essay Paper in UPSC requires clarity of thought, balanced arguments, and structured expression. While no single book is enough, a combination of one structured book (like TMH or Arihant), practice material (Vision or Insights), and daily reading (newspapers and Yojana) will prepare you thoroughly.

Choose a book that fits your style and current level, and remember—writing regularly is the key to mastering essays.

Recommended Combo:

✅ Primary Book: TMH Essay Book by Pulkit Khare
✅ Practice Book: Vision IAS Essay Booklet
✅ Value Addition: Lexicon for Ethics + Editorial reading

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