Monk’s Solutions to IAS Mains Essays (2014–2025)
Your complete, year-wise gateway to solved UPSC Mains Essays by IAS Monk.
Every year, UPSC frames topics that demand depth, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment,
and philosophical maturity. This Master Index helps you navigate each year’s essays
systematically — and learn how to think like a visionary, not just an administrator.
Below lies the entire Monk Archive: 2014–2025.
MONK’S INSIGHT
Essay Paper = 250 marks = 14.2857% of your Mains score.
Mastering Essay also strengthens your GS4 Ethics Paper — another 14.2857%.
If you choose Philosophy Optional (IAS Monk’s domain),
you add two more segments of 14.2857%.Together, this forms a massive treasure of 54.1428% of your Mains marks —
all lying in the zone where IAS Monk can transform your performance.With this integrated Magical Wand, a Top Rank is just a hand-stretch away.
A Note to IAS Aspirants
From 2014 onwards, UPSC changed the Essay structure.
Earlier (2012–2013):
- One long essay (2000–2500 words)
- Worth 200–250 marks
- Choice: 1 out of 4 topics
From 2014 to Present:
- Two essays (1000–1200 words each)
- One from Section A (philosophical/debatable themes)
- One from Section B (India-centric themes)
- Total: 250 marks
The paper is not harder — but longer and more demanding.
It rewards those who think clearly, write cleanly, and express ideas with originality.
UPSC’s instruction is unambiguous:
“Special attention will be paid to relevance, grasp of material, constructive thinking,
and effective, logical, concise presentation.”
If you can express nuanced thought in grammatically sound language,
the Essay Paper becomes your strongest ally.
What You Will Learn Here
- How to think in layers
UPSC essays demand conceptual clarity, emotional maturity, ethical reasoning,
philosophical sharpness, and administrative sense. Monk’s essays reflect this
multi-layered thinking. - How to structure essays in 8 elegant stages
Monk’s method includes:
- A striking introduction
- Defining the scope
- Philosophical depth (East + West)
- Ethical dimension (GS4 link)
- Socio-political relevance (GS2 link)
- Economic/tech angle (GS3 link)
- Contemporary examples
- A visionary conclusion
- How to develop originality and authenticity
Monk’s essays are infused with analogies, metaphors, administrative insight,
lived experience, and philosophical calm — qualities that separate you from 14 lakh aspirants.
YEAR-WISE INDEX (2014–2025)
2025 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2025 Essay Set
2024 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2024 Essay Set
2023 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2023 Essay Set
2022 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2022 Essay Set
2021 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2021 Essay Set
2020 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2020 Essay Set
2019 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2019 Essay Set
2018 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2018 Essay Set
2017 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2017 Essay Set
2016 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2016 Essay Set
2015 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2015 Essay Set
2014 — UPSC CSE Essays Solved
→ Open 2014 Essay Set
Walk this path calmly.
Read one solved essay at a time. Absorb the flow.
Try writing your own version afterwards.Let this Index be a lamp that guides you through the next five months
— steadily, silently, and powerfully. IAS Monk