The PRESS Pad

The UPSC Mains 2026 Essay Paper once again raises an important question for Civil Services aspirants: is UPSC gradually moving away from conventional, information-heavy essays towards topics that test a candidate's personality, intellectual maturity and ability to think through ambiguity? According to Daksha Jain, UPSC faculty and one-to-one mentor for Civil Services aspirants, the 2026 Essay Paper should not be viewed simply as a collection of eight topics. Taken together, t

The UPSC Civil Services Mains General Studies Paper-1 (GS-1) for 2025 was conducted on August 22, 2026, during the morning forenoon session from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. This paper forms a vital part of the UPSC CSE Mains Examination as it evaluates candidates on History, Geography, Indian Society, and related themes. UPSC Mains GS-1 2026 – Question Paper Structure Total Marks: 250 Time: 3 Hours Word Limits: 150 words / 250 words (as specified in each question) UPSC Mains 2026

Start your Ethics preparation for UPSC CSE Mains 2026 with Lecture 1 of the GS Paper 4 Complete Series by Daksha. Learn the meaning and importance of Ethics, the difference between Ethics, Morality and Law, and its relevance in Civil Services and UPSC GS Paper IV.

Test your UPSC CSE 2026-27 preparation with today’s GS 2 Daily Mains Question — covering India-Bhutan relations, India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, hydropower cooperation, development partnership, strategic and security cooperation, economic connectivity, cultural ties, Bhutan’s sustainable development and India’s role in Bhutan’s modernization. Q. India-Bhutan relations are often regarded as the most successful example of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Discuss the fa