Raj Krishna (AIR-158, CSE-21) Essay Strategy

Hi All,

Raj Krishna secured AIR-158 in CSE-21 with 141 Marks in Essay and 416 Marks in GS!

Following is his Essay Strategy in his own words:

Hello Everyone,

My journey was 4 years long, filled with despairs, lows and pitfalls. I will try to concentrate on Essay strategy for now:

You may contact Raj Krishna on his Instagram or Telegram

2019 Mains: First Essay – Attempted Neglected Primary health care and education are reason for its backwardness : Filled it with all prepared data points, facts (IMR, SR, MMR, Doctor to patient ratio; GER, Literacy rate, learning outcome – PRATHAM survey etc) and how it leads to backwardness by reducing Human capital, leading to Disability Adjusted Labor years, High Out of pocket exp, low residual income, Vicious cycle etc.

And in abstract one – Best for individual is not best for all; filled the essay with examples, even wrote crime is good (i know its not ideal, wrote whatever I could) for criminal but bad for society, other examples were also on similar lines – cheating in exam etc. Ended up with 110 marks.
Before Mains 2019, I wrote 4 Essay tests in NextIAS Essay test series, recieved decent marks there, but knew I lack preparation and lucidity.

After Prelims 2020, saw Shabbir Sir’s essay lectures – 17-18 videos, made notes of them, read Anudeep durishetty Sir’s book on Essays (Very very very very helpful), didnt write a single essay, read 20-22 essays of different toppers, a quotes compilation of essays, examples compilation with 100-150 real life examples; in exam, attempted Life is a long journey from human being to being humane; and one about social and economic development. Started with good examples, didnt know lot of data and facts, so essay was totally based on Ques-Ans format. What, Why, What if so and so, How etc. I wasn’t confident about my essay, I felt I didnt do good, but ended with decent marks.

After prelims 2021, revised the same materials, wrote 2 essay tests in December from Triumph IAS (didnt get them checked though, it was just for self confidence) and finally in exam, wrote on Philosophy of wantlessness is utopian and materialism is chimera – had passion about the wantlessness and materialism, so could write from heart, wrote about Elon musk vs bill gates, filled with quotes about selflessness (Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo), followed ques ans format. Also, i didnt know what chimera means, but hindi translation was helpful. Also, I started with Perception of me bla bla one, but while brainstorming I realised I couldn’t go further with it, and looked for any other topic, on first view I didnt understood any other topic but after reading hindi of Chimera, I decided to go with it. And second one I wrote on, Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, started with women empowerment in Ralegaon siddhi, Thomas Edison’s mother and then went on with women’s role. Filled with examples and quotes.

Various successful candidates of UPSC CSE-24 were part of Ethics/Essay Modules & Other Initiatives. Some of them, with their clickable feedback, are AIR-2, 28, 32, 35, 53, 54, 55, 57, 61, 72, 91, 119, 217, 219, 247, 256, 261, 287, 299, 328, 351, 450, 525, 579, 590, 728, 813, 871, 905 etc.

My Paid Modules: Current Affairs 2026 Prelims + Mains, Ethics Classes, Ethics Test Series, Ethics Classes + Ethics Test Series, Essay Classes + Test Series, Ethics + Essay Bundle

Ethics Module 2025-26 Detailed Plan: 281 Pages, 776 Examples, 78 PYQs, 27 Applied Ethics Issues, 18 Answer Templates. Click Here to Download the Detailed Planner

2025 & 2026 Ethics-Essay Modules are with Personalized Ethics-Essay Test Series wherein Paper & Model Answers/Essays are set by Mudit Jain Sir. He will conduct Live Discussion of Paper. These features are available only in the personalized Ethics and Essay test series, details of which are mentioned above.

My Books: Current Affairs Prelims 2025, Decode Ethics 2025 Mains, Decode Essay 2025 Mains & Decode CSAT

My Free Initiatives: Free Guidance, Free Current Affairs PDF, YouTube

How to prepare for Essay (Key takeaways) –

Prepare content from whatever sources/coaching you want, but keep ’em ready. Some sources that I’ll suggest – Anudeep Sir’s essay book + Any coaching material (Vision, forum, next, maluka, any) or any previous toppers’ notes.
Go through examples, quotes compilations and pick out the most favourite ones (Go for recent examples – International Teacher award winner, In India’s pluralistic culture, the 5 year old muslim girl who won Bhagvad gita’s recitation – like these)
Read different toppers essays and see how they do it, it will give you an idea.
Be confident and give the best you can in the paper. Let go all apprehensions about your preparation before sitting in paper.
Intro – strong example relevant with topic, Quotes, Underline, and End with a poem!

Write and brainstorm on many essay topics, especially broad ones covering-

Women
Social justice
Inclusive and equitable Economic growth
Healthcare
Education
India’s neighborhood
Service to man is service to God
Democracy

And practice some philosophical topics, if not write then atleast brainstorm. Although it’s best if you write because that gives some great insights about one’s own capabilities.

All the Best!

You may contact Raj Krishna on his Instagram or Telegram

Other CSE 21 Topper Strategies:

DecodeCivils by Mudit Jain