Download official UPSC Essay Previous Year Question Paper PDFs [2024-2010] on Testbook now! The UPSC Essay exam evaluates candidates on whether they can develop an in-depth understanding of various topics and can represent versatility with clarity. UPSC Mains has an individual essay paper, in which candidates will have to write an essay paper that will be subjective. The marks of this paper will be taken into account for merit. The total marks awarded to this paper are 250 and the Time allotted is 3 Hours. The paper must be written in the language selected by the candidates, which is also stated in the admission certificate. UPSC Essay Previous Year Question Papers will help the candidates excel in the UPSC IAS Exam by helping them channel their preparation Strategy.

We have compiled the Last 15 Years’ UPSC Essay Question Papers, which will help aspirants ace the Essay writing preparation and get familiar with the paper pattern & syllabus.

Also check - UPSC Mains Exam Analysis

UPSC Essay Previous Years Question Papers - Download PDF

Download the UPSC Essay Question Papers PDF for the past 10 years for the Mains exam in PDF format:

Also check - How to Write Essays in UPSC? 

How to Download UPSC Essay Previous Year Question Papers?

Students can easily download the UPSC Essay previous year papers by following the simple steps mentioned below -

Step 1: Go to the official Testbook website or download the Testbook app.

Step 2: Sign in or create your account.

Step 3: Go to the previous year's papers section.

Step 4: Search for the "UPSC Civil Services" exam.

Step 5: A list of the previous year's papers will open up. Choose the PDF you want to open.

Step 6: Download the PDF and save it for your reference.

Check out UPSC Previous Year Papers for other subjects in the table below:

Practicing UPSC Essay papers from previous years is more than just writing practice—it’s a precision tool that hones your ability to think, structure, and respond under real exam conditions. It reveals recurring themes in previous year UPSC Essay Question Papers, sharpens your time management, and gives direct insight into what high-scoring essays look like. When done right, this targeted approach dramatically boosts your readiness and confidence on D‑day. The following are few of the reasons why 

• Spot recurring thematic angles: Essays often revolve around contemporary socio‑economic or philosophical issues. Previous papers reveal which perspectives (e.g., equity, innovation, ethics) recur in prompts, helping you tailor your thinking.
• Benchmark quality through real answers: Comparing your essays with toppers’ or model responses highlights expected structure—balanced intros, cohesive thematic paragraphs, real-world examples, and sharp conclusions.
• Refine pacing in real time conditions: Writing a full essay in 3 hours with past paper topics helps you internalize the pace—planning, drafting, and refining—ensuring your final exam execution is smooth and stress‑free.
• Identify topic focus shifts: Analysis of past prompts shows evolution in essay trends—e.g., from abstract philosophy to applied ethics or governance. This guides your reading and idea bank building.
• Boost initial‑paper confidence: Essay is Mains Day 1. Starting confidently with a practiced, well‑structured essay gives a mental edge over the following five papers.

Also check - UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper and UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key

Apart from these UPSC Essay Previous Year Papers, if you want to explore a wide range of Free UPSC Study Materials for optional subjects, mock tests, test series, and practice sets you can download the Testbook App now!