Prafull Kumar Sharma (AIR-249, CSE-21) Ethics Strategy

In this pursuit, i have realised that for ethics paper, strategy should be that:

Study Static part from one source (pick up Lukman notes / Vajiram notes / Mudit Jain Ethics Book)
Practice previous year questions for ethics paper since start (themes anyway repeat in most of questions)
Keep on adding relevant keywords from model answers, topper coppies, twitter feeds, youtube reels, newspaper whatever you feel is relevant for exam.
Do use mythology, philosophers, real life examples in judicious manner as it helps in scoring well.

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, Current Affairs Prelims, Current Affairs Prelims + Mains

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

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

For ethics theory part:

Always define the relevant keywords associated in syllabus in a question.
It is desirable that we write diverse examples from areas like administration, mythology (greek, indian), folklores based, technology based, sports, cinema, real life examples.
I had utilised “Kvizzing with Comedians by Kumar Varun” show for collecting random facts which could be relevant for writing in ethics theory.
I used my ethics notes (shared below) as one stop source to collect all these facts and revise them multiple times.
In theory section for quote based questions, one may start answer with some thinkers/relevant quote to show your understanding of given question. I have demonstrated it in answer script shared below.
Please ensure you are writing thinkers atleast in 7-8 theory questions in organic manner.

For ethics case studies:

It should be ensured case studies are finished by 2nd hour of ethics paper during exam. Ideally a case study should take 1 hour 40 minutes when done together.
Whenever you start a case study, one can start introduction with core keywords of given case study as well instead of writing stakeholders conventionally unless asked.

For example, one can write that “Following case study focusses on traditional dilemma of ethical governance rooted in upholding public interest over private self interests” in case studies involving personal versus public interest.

It is desirable if you put some relevant and appropriate quotes in concluding remarks of a case study.
I have observed that some toppers also put “my vision”/ “thinkers” in their case study to enrich answers. One can try this strategy as well.
For case studies, ideal source is PYQs of UPSC from 2013-2021 as i have observed almost repetition of themes even in unconventional case studies like was asked during CSE 2020. You can prepare certain quotes/ thinkers for certain type of case studies.

Ethics Notes:

Here is my ethics notes. I used primarily Vinayak Mahamuni sir notes, Mudit Jain Ethics Book, used youtube videos, twitter feeds and toppers copies to collect relevant keywords. Since they were short, i could revise entire notes within 2 hours for multiple times.

Prafull-ethics-notes Download

Ethics Answer Copy:

Prafull-ethics-answer-copy Download

You can contact Prafull at his Telegram Channel or at his Instagram.

Other CSE 21 Topper Strategies:

Hi All,

Prafull Kumar Sharma is a ‘silent member or observer‘ of DecodeCIVILS group. I say so because when I was identifying group members who cleared CSE-21, he DMed me and said he was in. However, I hardly remember him asking any query on group ever!

You can contact Prafull at his Telegram Channel or at his Instagram.

He cleared CSE-21 with AIR-249. His optional is Physics. In this blogpost, he has discussed his Ethics strategy wherein he scored 102 marks i.e. quite good this year.

Following is his Ethics paper strategy in his own words:

In ethics paper, we often lead ourselves to read many materials yet end up with no consolidated one stop material at the end before D day of mains.

This is precisely what i faced during my 2019 and 2020 attempts. So i decided that this year, i will make one stop notes and use it as final one. So that i can revise content multiple times.

With the help of two friends (one whom i consider as my mentor and show deep regards for), i was able to collect relevant keywords from topper copies and improve my style of answer writing.

In this pursuit, i have realised that for ethics paper, strategy should be that:

Study Static part from one source (pick up Lukman notes / Vajiram notes / Mudit Jain Ethics Book)
Practice previous year questions for ethics paper since start (themes anyway repeat in most of questions)
Keep on adding relevant keywords from model answers, topper coppies, twitter feeds, youtube reels, newspaper whatever you feel is relevant for exam.
Do use mythology, philosophers, real life examples in judicious manner as it helps in scoring well.

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

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

For ethics theory part:

Always define the relevant keywords associated in syllabus in a question.
It is desirable that we write diverse examples from areas like administration, mythology (greek, indian), folklores based, technology based, sports, cinema, real life examples.
I had utilised “Kvizzing with Comedians by Kumar Varun” show for collecting random facts which could be relevant for writing in ethics theory.
I used my ethics notes (shared below) as one stop source to collect all these facts and revise them multiple times.
In theory section for quote based questions, one may start answer with some thinkers/relevant quote to show your understanding of given question. I have demonstrated it in answer script shared below.
Please ensure you are writing thinkers atleast in 7-8 theory questions in organic manner.

For ethics case studies:

It should be ensured case studies are finished by 2nd hour of ethics paper during exam. Ideally a case study should take 1 hour 40 minutes when done together.
Whenever you start a case study, one can start introduction with core keywords of given case study as well instead of writing stakeholders conventionally unless asked.

It is desirable if you put some relevant and appropriate quotes in concluding remarks of a case study.
I have observed that some toppers also put “my vision”/ “thinkers” in their case study to enrich answers. One can try this strategy as well.
For case studies, ideal source is PYQs of UPSC from 2013-2021 as i have observed almost repetition of themes even in unconventional case studies like was asked during CSE 2020. You can prepare certain quotes/ thinkers for certain type of case studies.

Ethics Notes:

Prafull-ethics-notes Download

Ethics Answer Copy:

Prafull-ethics-answer-copy Download

You can contact Prafull at his Telegram Channel or at his Instagram.

Other CSE 21 Topper Strategies:

DecodeCivils by Mudit Jain