Insights 70 Days Ethics Plan for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam – 2018

Insights 70 Days Ethics Plan for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam – 2018

Along with Essay paper, General Studies paper-4 is very rewarding in UPSC civil services Mains for two reasons: You don’t have to read extensively as you do for other GS/Optional papers; secondly, all it needs is lots of common sense with basic understanding of underlying theories and decent amount of writing practice with right approach. 

However, unlike previous years, in CSE-2017 UPSC has been conservative in awarding marks in general studies paper-4. Almost everyone has seen dip of an average of 20 marks from their previous scores. Still, few toppers have scored in the range of 110-120. 

To get these scores or even better scores, two fundamental requirements are:

1. You should not completely neglect concepts and theories in your answers. You should let know examiner that you have fundamental understanding of ethics concepts and you are not just cooking up answers solely based on experience or common-sense. This doesn’t mean heavy usage of ethics jargon in answers. Wherever necessary, especially in the introduction and also in justification part, do use minimally, suitable and contextually correct ethics related terms/theories. 
2. You should write more practical answers with lots of conviction and justifications. Let your answers be more practical while being ethical. If you are idealistic in your approach to solving problems or handling situations (while answering case studies), you will not score well. While being practical, your approach should be legal and ethical as well. 

To enrich your answers, collect good examples from newspapers (both Indian and international examples). Without examples to justify or substantiate your stance, your answers are empty rhetoric and attract lowest marks. 

70 Days Ethics Plan:

DISCLAIMER: This plan is intended to help you study Ethics paper systematically before Mains – 2018 and is not intended to give you set of ‘EXPECTED QUESTIONS’ that might get repeated in Mains 2018 GS-4 paper. Questions which will be posted under this plan are intended to help you do good writing practice. Don’t BASH us later in case you don’t see any question getting repeated from here in Mains-2018.

Under the 70 Days Ethics Plan, Questions will be posted as Separate Post (not under Secure). Under Secure there will be one question as usual that’s taken from current affairs. 

Starting from June 25, questions will be posted in the morning. Monday to Saturday questions will be posted. Sunday may be used for revision. Spending daily 1-2 hours of your time is sufficient to keep up with the timetable. 

You may refer to any source that you have been following. The link given in the timetable has almost all sources necessary for studying GS-4 paper. Do check in comments to see some sources shared by aspirants. 

Wish you all the best 🙂

Download PDF of Timetable Here