Common Mistakes Students Commit While Writing an Introduction for UPSC Civil Service Examination

Common Mistakes Students Commit While Writing an Introduction for UPSC Civil Service Examination

The UPSC Civil Services examination is one of the most demanding and respected examinations in India. GS and an essay paper are inclusive in this exam, which examines not only what the candidates know but also how well they write. A good introduction is very important because it sets up the tone of the essay as well as grabbing examiner’s attention. This however has been a hard nut to crack for many aspirants since they have committed mistakes that have sabotaged their efforts. In this blog post we will look at some common errors made when writing an introduction by students and also ways on how to avoid them, concerning insights from various teacher and toppers’ talks.

• Lack of Clarity and Focus: The primary mistake that students make involves giving answers that begin with ambiguous An introductory paragraph should be clear about both its topic and position of the writer. According to Vimersa IAS, one of the leading coaching institutes, a good introduction should contain explicit thesis statement outlining what follows in their writing. Consequently, such answer may appear unfocused or digressive due to lack of clarity.
  • Example of a Weak Introduction: “India has a rich cultural heritage and a long Many factors have influenced its development over the years.”
  • Example of a Strong Introduction: “India’s cultural heritage, deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions and diverse influences, has significantly shaped its socio- political landscape, as evident in its evolving democratic framework.”
• Overloading with Information: Although students are usually tempted to exhibit what they know from the onset, thus making the introduction overwhelming and hard to Toppers also argue that an introduction should be brief and concise, giving the context but not going into further details. The essence of the answer can be compressed into 2-3 sentences.
  • Example of Overloaded Introduction: “India has a complicated governance system with its huge population and numerous states having legislative, executive, and judicial arms. This country obtained independence in 1947, which has facilitated remarkable economic progress and growth accessed by some challenges such as poverty, education, and health care.”
  • Example of a Balanced Introduction: “Since attaining independence in 1947 India has managed to set up strong democratic structures that have faced many socio-economic hurdles leading towards impressive growth.”
• Using Clichés and Generalizations: An unoriginal or uninspired introduction is one full of clichés and Do not use hackneyed phrases or blanket statements that do not add any value to your response as put by Anudeep Durishetty UPSC CSE 2017 Rank 1; instead, present unique perspectives and specific insights.
  • Example of a Clichéd Introduction: “India is a land of diversity with a rich history and “
  • Example of a Unique Introduction: “India’s unparalleled diversity, reflected in its myriad languages, religions, and traditions, forms the backbone of its resilient democratic ethos.”
• Lack of Engagement: A good start should be interesting and should enable the reader to want to read A boring and monotonic opening will set a wrong tone for the whole response. According to UPSC CSE 2018 Rank 2, Akshat Jain and other top scorers, one can make the introductory part more engaging by using anecdotes, quotes or thought-provoking questions.
• Repetition of the Question: One of the common mistakes is repeating exactly what has been asked by the examiner in the introduction without adding any value. Instead give a brief description about what you think are some of those aspects of that question that arouse your curiosity and hint on how you intend to answer it.

Conclusion

Writing a strong introductory paragraph for UPSC Civil Services Exam entails making a powerful first impression. There are several common pitfalls such as vagueness, information overload, clichés use, digression from topic under discussion, lack of connection with readers’ expectations and ignoring structure which if avoided could enhance its quality considerably. Students can therefore produce appealing introductions through these revelations that would form an effective basis for logical treatise argumentation.