Target in Essay: 24 Most Important Essay Topics

24 MOST IMPORTANT ESSAY – DIMENSIONS & MINDMAPS: MAINS 2020-21
Under the Guidance of M K YADAV
MAINS 2020 - 21
TARGET 140+ IN ESSAY

24 MOST IMPORTANT
ESSAY TOPICS
20+ DIMENSIONS & MINDMAPS on Each Topic
-
SAMPLE NOTES
TOPICS
1 TARGET 140+: AN APPROACH TO WRITING A SCORING ESSAY – BY MK YADAV SIR 3
2 ESSAY 01 - SINCE AGES, WE ARE LIVING ON THIS PLANET AS IF WE HAD ANOTHER ONE TO GO TO 5
3 ESSAY 02 - ATTITUDE DETERMINES THE ALTITUDE OF LIFE 14
THEME-WISE PREVIOUS 25 YEARS ESSAY QUESTIONS
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TARGET 140+: AN APPROACH TO WRITING A SCORING ESSAY
BY MK YADAV SIR
Essay is indeed one of the least understood and underrated, yet scoring paper, in the entire CSE Mains
examination scheme. Time and again, aspirants have come up with fluctuating scores in essay over the years.
So, what makes some candidates score consistently well (140-150+) every time? What are they doing right?
With UPSC, one can only make an educated guess.
Here are some pointers that will enable you to develop a consistent strategy & approach to writing a scoring
essay. These have been tried & tested by theIAShub’s selected candidates, thus, offer a credible blueprint.
1. What sources should one study for writing a brilliant essay?
• You may refer the same sources as you’ve referred for the GS exam preparation, including optionals.
• Basically, it is the same knowledge pool and content bank. Only the approach changes ie. you’ve to
write in a precise manner in GS answers and in detail explanation format in an Essay.
• Word of Caution - Do not overuse your optionals knowledge. It would limit your ability to generate
general and varied dimensions. Do not make your essay too complex.
2. What kind of language should one use?
• Remember, it’s not about writing heavy words and showing the strength of your vocabulary. Write an
essay which can be understood by anyone ie. write in a simple yet lucid language.
• Do not forcefully insert complicated words, it will only break the natural flow of your thought.
• If you really want to appreciate the power of simplicity, do listen to US ex-president Barak Obama’s
presidential speech of 2008 (available on YouTube). He used the simplest possible vocabulary, and yet
very powerfully expressed his thoughts.
• And have neat, clean, & legible handwriting. You’re not in a calligraphy competition!
• Word of Caution – Simple language does not mean simplistic language. Do not hesitate to be creative
with language - use keywords, quotes, idioms etc and make your essay interesting. Of course, this ability
comes with reading good articles, books etc.
3. Should one write essay in point format? And draw diagrams, just like GS answers?
• A 1000-1200 words essay should preferably be written in a paragraph format, with small paragraphs (to
break the monotony).
• Each paragraph should have a unique idea which must not be repeated anywhere else in the essay
(don’t unnecessarily break single idea paragraphs).
• You can divide the entire essay into 6-7 major parts and give relevant sub-headings.
• Avoid mindmaps/diagrams or use only if it goes with the overall flow of your idea. Do not attempt to
“force fit”. You can use tables to show data, if necessary, or maps.
• Word of Caution – Proper structuring of essay is crucial. Prepare a rough outline of your essay, in the
rough space provided, before actually attempting it. This requires brainstorming of points and
prioritising them to give a proper flow to the essay.
4. How should one go about choosing the Topic?
• Choice of topic must be based on familiarity with the topic. If you are comfortable with the topic, ideas
will flow naturally. You have to own the topic!
• Choose a topic where you can generate more dimensions and have a reasonable depth of knowledge.
• Remember to stick to the topic. Keep a grip on the central theme throughout the essay. Deviation from
the topic ends up irritating the evaluator and results in poor marks.

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• Word of Caution – Do not unnecessarily choose a difficult, unconventional topic. A good topic with bad
content will (definitely!) not fetch marks.
5. How important is writing an introduction? How to write a catchy introduction?
• Well begun is half done! A catchy introduction captures the interest of the examiner (who probably is
dead bored with correcting several essays!). It gives a sneak peek into what more interesting ideas await
in rest of the pages.
• Preferably, start with a relevant quote! If need be, you may explain it.
• You may narrate a historical anecdote, state a current situation (fact, news etc.), relate a personal story,
pose a counter question, can extrapolate a future happening based on current scenario etc.
• Develop a good quote bank (for introduction & conclusion). Memorising takes time, so begin early. Try
jotting down good lines, quotes, examples, stories, case studies, etc. from daily newspaper editorials or
other readings. Try compiling the quotes theme-wise – for eg. Women, Economy, Education, Health,
International Relations etc.
• Word of Caution – Do not overuse quotes or straight jacket them where they do not belong.
6. How can one cover all the major dimensions in the body of the essay?
You may use these well-tested techniques to gather dimensions –
• Temporal Analysis – Past, Present and Future
• PESTLE Analysis – Polity, Economics, Science, Tech, Law, Env.
• Level Analysis – Personal, Family, State, National, International
• Stakeholder Analysis – Govt, Public, Business, Media, NGOs etc.
• GS syllabus based – Geography, History, Society, Polity, Governance, International Relations, Economy,
IS, S&T, Environment, Disaster Management, Ethics etc.
• Word of Caution – In an attempt to generate too many dimensions, do not forget to maintain the flow
and central idea of the essay. Your ideas, point of view and vision must be solid, dimensions are to be
used only to expand on them.
7. How can one enrich the essay and make it stand apart?
• As mentioned earlier, before attempting, make a rough framework of the essay and jot down all the
important dimensions in the rough space provided. This will help you to remember all your enrichment
points and stick to the topic, otherwise you may lose track!
• Cite important facts, Keywords, SDGs, Committee’s name, SC judgements, World Summit, Parliamentary
Law, words from PM/President/Vice-President speeches, thoughts of famous thinkers, NITI Ayog
Reports, Important Indices/ Index, current affairs news etc.
• Simply generating issues is not enough, give innovative solutions, or a positive way ahead.
• Word of Caution – For every argument you make, back it up with facts or examples to lend weight to
your opinions.
8. What else?
• Time Management – Preferably, assign 5 minutes to select the topic, 15-20 to prepare broad framework
and brainstorm, 1-1.15 hrs to write the essay.
• Practice, Practice, Practice – The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war. Practice at least 5-
6 essays before the exam.
• Go through last 20-25 years’ essay topics - This will also help assess the oft repeated topics and aid you
you in preparing ready reference fodder on various topics.
• You may also refer to the answer copies of past toppers to have an idea and give few tests to help you
in self -evaluation.

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SINCE AGES, WE ARE LIVING ON THIS PLANET

1 AS IF WE HAD ANOTHER ONE TO GO TO
Note: The aim of this document is to give varied dimensions and broad fodder points for the essay topics.
These are meant to serve only as indicative frameworks for students to build further upon. Essays are a
subjective expression of one’s point of view. So, content, context, and dimensions may change from one
person to another.
MODEL APPROACH
DEMAND OF THE TOPIC:
The topic mainly requires addressing major issues related with overall environmental degradation over the
period of time. These major issues are - climate change, pollution, extraction of earth’s resources, extinction of
various species, etc. It also (indirectly) questions the so-called “Development” which the human race has
achieved, and the efforts, achievements, hurdles, and future of sustainable development paradigm.
INTRODUCTION
The essay can be started with
1) Quotes: For e.g.-
• “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.”- Mahatma Gandhi
• “The greatest danger to future of our planet is apathy.”- Jane Goodall
• “Here we are, the cleverest species ever to have lived. So how is it we can destroy the only planet we
have?” - Jane Goodall.
• “The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant
except in a picture book?”- David Attenborough.
2) Reports/ facts:
• IUCN data - world will witness loss of 20% of its biodiversity (flora and fauna) by the end of this century.
• UNEP Report - A healthy environment plays a key role in meeting almost all the 17 SDGs!
• World Environment Day 2020 Theme: ‘TIME FOR NATURE.’
• Our Common Future Report, Brundtland Report, 1987- “Humanity’s inability to fit its activities into that
pattern is changing planetary systems, fundamentally. Many such changes are accompanied by life-
threatening hazards. This new reality, from which there is no escape, must be recognized- and
managed.”
FODDER POINTS FOR MAIN BODY
Broad Outline/Essay flow
1. Connecting introduction with significance of environment for the whole humanity.
2. Despite widely acknowledged looming climate change threat, why delays in dealing with or ignorance
towards environmental issues.
3. Consequences of such ignorance/ inaction/ procrastination/ negotiation deadlock/ current scenario.
4. The other side of the coin/ positives/ what we have done at various levels.
5. What more needs to be done at individual/ societal/ national / and international level.
6. Concluding essay on positive note.
7. Note: Give a Short sub heading for each dimension.

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1. Importance of the environment & ecology for mankind:

“Environment: A Cornerstone to Human Existence”
• Prerequisite for life - providing food, oxygen, water, shelter for humans and habitat for innumerable
wild flora and fauna.
• Economic activities - Raw material for almost all the industries is derived from nature eg.-timber,
minerals, sandstones, etc.
• Industrial activities- eg: (a) tourism and modern-day adventure sports industry- eg. diving, snorkelling,
rafting (b) pharma & cosmetics - total dependence on extracts and essences from nature.
• Social practices - Festivals, traditions strongly connected with nature, eg. North East India festivals,
Cheraw dance (famous Bamboo dance from Mizoram), Bishnoi Community worshiping and believing in
coexistence with nature and other living beings in the surrounding areas.
• Cultural significance - Sacred groves supporting cultural linkages of various communities in India.
2. Why apathy/ignorance towards Environmental issue:

“The Climate Change Denial”
• Growth at any cost – a race for higher production among nations - journey from extraction to irrational
exploitation, to reach the top of economic ladder (“Race to the Top” that inevitable results in “Race to
the Bottom”).
“As long as people and governments treat climate and environment as marginal to development, and
well-being as marginal to GDP growth, climate change impacts will strain and tear every weak stitch
of the world’s economic and development fabric.” (Quote for reference purpose)
• Population is increasing rapidly vis a vis Resources: Human population continues its explosive growth
— estimated today at 7.7 billion — and large segments of that population seek more affluent and more
consumptive ways of life. The human numbers and growing impact stress every aspect of Earth’s
systems.
• Tragedy of Commons Theory: resources of the earth are not shared properly, rather self-interests are
at the core when people are using resources.
• Developing nation’s dilemma: Development vs. Environmental conservation. Eg. Brazil’s arguments for
deforestation in the Amazon rainforest area. Need for (limited & shrinking) Carbon space for economic
growth and to pull out millions from the abyss of poverty. Social cost of giving up fossil fuels is too high.
• Developed Vs Developing Countries Perspectives- e.g. deadlocked climate change negotiations, need
for Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, demand for “loss and damage”, more
flexibilities for Developing nations, Developed country hesitant in committing finance & technology
transfer, Nation before Earth (America first policy led to its withdrawal from UNFCCC) etc.
• It is an Issue of “Global Willpower”, not of Global Capacity – In fact, shifting the world onto low carbon
path would eventually benefit the economy by 1.8 Trillion Euros a year.
• Near absent “Environmental Literacy” ➔ Ignorance among people
- Poor Environmentally responsible behaviour - It is the “behaviour that consciously seeks to
minimize the negative impact of one’s actions on the natural and built world”. People ignorant of
ways in which they contribute to climate degradation; and manner in which they can rescue the
environment.
- Constructed apathy – resigned to believe that their individual actions would mean almost nothing
for the global issue of climate change.

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3. Major consequences (give as many examples as you can)

“Drifting toward a Climate Catastrophe”
• Socio- Economic Consequences:
- Increased poverty – Give data points wherever possible for eg. Estimates indicate that by 2030 more
than 100 million people could fall back into extreme poverty due to climate change (UNDP)
✓ High poverty ➔ less choice about resource use ➔ wasteful use of resources ➔ even greater
environmental degradation
- High level of inequality - Initial inequality makes disadvantaged groups suffer disproportionately
from the adverse effects of climate change, resulting in greater subsequent inequality. (UNDESA)
➔ climate becomes another conduit for reinforcing existing inequalities.
✓ The gap between the economic output of the world’s richest and poorest countries is 25% larger
today than it would have been without global warming (research from Stanford University).
✓ Threatens Intergenerational equity
✓ Inequality erodes social cohesion and undermines individual willingness to engage in collective
action. It weakens the sense of social responsibility that is vital to foster demand for pro-
environmental policies.
✓ High inequality hampers the development and adoption of new green technologies.
- Low HDI – climate change exacerbating poverty, poor incomes, health impacts, infrastructure
damage (due to increased frequency of disasters), displacement, etc.
- Impact on food security
- Loss of Livelihood of people
- Increasing number of “Climate Change Refugees” – For eg. within India, around 50 lakh internal
displacements caused by disasters and extreme weather conditions like floods, cyclones and
drought in 2019 ➔ highest in the world. (Source: State of India's Environment 2020).
- Negative impact on Living Standards of people especially in developing world ➔ frontal threat on
our national objective to deliver “Ease of Living”.
- COVID-19 is alarm bell for climate change- more outbreaks may follow
• Ecological and Biospheric consequence:
- The rate of species extinction continues to accelerate, diminishing Earth’s biodiversity and
weakening the web of life which sustains us all. For eg. Year 2019 witnessed extinction of 7 wildlife
species- IUCN
- Plastic gyres in Pacific Ocean can be seen from space.
- Increased frequency of forest fires- eg. recent disastrous forest fires in Australia, USA etc.
• India specific consequences:
- Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI), 2020
✓ India is the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change induced extreme weather events
(Rank worsened to 5th in 2018, from 14th rank in 2017).
✓ India recorded the highest number of fatalities due to climate change and the 2nd highest
monetary losses (over $37,000 million = 4 times India’s Health Budget) from its impact in 2018.
- Loss of Man hours & productivity – By 2030, India would lose about 6% of its working hours due to
heat stress, a productivity loss equivalent to 34 million full-time jobs (Source: ILO report)
- Increasing pollution eg. Indian cities in WHO most polluted cities of the world list
- Increased Monsoon Anomalies
- Recent Locust Attack
- India lost its Parali island: climate change standing at our doorsteps!

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• International consequences:
- Water crisis - Cape Town case study
- Increasing deforestation eg. Of the countries that lost the most forest since 2001, the top five are
located in the Global South namely - Brazil, Indonesia, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia (i.e rainforests
countries of the world) - The World Resources Institute Report
- Climate change evidence - melting glaciers, increasing temperatures in polar regions, etc.
- Increased International water dispute, eg. India and all its neighbours - China (Brahmaputra river),
Pakistan (Kishanganga), Nepal ( source of Mahakali), Bangladesh (Teesta) etc.
- Climate change refugees ➔ Xenophobia, conflicts, etc.
4. Another side of the coin/ positives:

“Green Shoots of Efforts”
• India’s ancient heritage and culture which recognizes that every Atma/ Jiva is a part of Parmatma
philosophy and ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakam philosophy’
• Successful examples of individual initiatives
- The Forest man of India - Jadav Payeng who transformed barren sandbars of Brahmaputra into
lush green forest reserves.
- Tulsi Gowda, aged 76, planted innumerable plants, and also looks after the nurseries of the Forest
Department.
- Common people - bringing lifestyle changes, opting for sustainable food, fashion etc. People are
going back to organic food, eco-friendly homes, practices etc.
• Collective Environmental movements like
- Chipko, Appiko, Narmada Bachao Andolan etc
- Contemporary NGOs- Vandana Shiva, Suniti Narain- Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
• Current Government's initiatives like
- International Solar Alliance, One Sun-One World-One Grid Plan, and other initiatives.
- India’s actions and programs related with UN-SDGs.
- Local initiatives e.g. ban on plastic, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework,
Environment regulation rules, acts, policies and related Institutions.
• Increasing awareness at international level
- INDCs finalised
- Green Deal by European Commission was announced for member nations to cut emissions by at
least 50% by 2030 & go net zero by 2050.
- Gender Action Plan (GAP) – Adoption of new five-year gender action plan (GAP), intended to
“support the implementation of gender-related decisions and mandates in the UNFCCC process”.
- Awareness generation – IPCC’s Special Reports
- Climate protests - Hope for the future: Positive events initiated by Greta Thunberg.
5. What More needs to be done

“Tackling the climate crisis”
• “We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do
something about it.” - Barack Obama
• Reject Climate Change denial - the truth of our crisis is obvious, and the need for transformational
change is clear.
• Industrial level - Producers responsibility towards environment- applying strict Polluters Pay Rules
• Inculcating values in our children like switching lights when not required (small changes make big
impacts)

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• Societal level - promoting practices like donating trees/ adopting trees on occasion of social- political
functions instead of felicitations with garlands.
- Piplantri Village Model (Rajasthan) - they plant 111 trees to celebrate the birth of every girl child.
• National level - Increasing role of local governments, incentives for social forestry, better and effective
implementation of existing plethora of schemes and initiatives, stabilize GHG emissions, reduce
emissions by 2/3rd by 2050, improve energy conservation and efficiency, introduce new regulations eg.
transportation and building codes, raise price of fossil fuels and establish a carbon tax etc.
• International level:
- Not reactive but proactive policies and programmes for implementation.
- Increasing awareness - supporting international efforts like Earth Hour
- International community – Governments, private sector, media, NGOs etc must work together to
act against climate change. For eg. Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action
- Global south- south cooperation for stricter implementation of common but differentiated
responsibilities principle.
- Paris Deal plus approach - more ambitious targets, while ensuring welfare of all.
- Ability of developing countries to take on ambitious targets hinges on availability of finance,
technology, and capacity building ➔ Thus, developed countries, the historical polluters, must fulfil
their commitments under the Pre 2020 agreement.
- More transparent rules and guidelines for usage and utility of Global Commons (Atmosphere, Outer
space, The high seas, Antarctica) etc.
- Consensus on outcomes will be achieved only if trust is built. Thus, the platform provided by Talanoa
dialogue must be used optimally.
• Need to stop being an “individual” and work as a “collective force” - “We cannot, of course, save the
world, because we do not have authority over its parts. We can serve the world, though. That is
everyone’s calling, to lead a life that helps.” - Barry Lopez
6. Conclusion on a positive note:

“Facing Daunting Challenge, with Our Indomitable Spirits”
• Connecting all arguments with a major argument that - Earth is a living planet- everything is
connected and there is Core Interdependence of all living and non-living things on the planet, which is
the key to survival!
• One can end the essay by addressing that there are multiple problems but simultaneously multiple
possibilities!
• OR can conclude an essay by using quotes such as:
“The environment is at the brim. It is our collective responsibility to work together for providing a
brighter future for the coming generations – a lifestyle that is self-sustaining, resources that are
adequate for all, development that is not compromising our ecosystem, flora-fauna and wildlife that
are in safe hands and the land, water and air that are fit for humans and other forms of life.”
==========================================================================================

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FLOW-MAPS

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ATTITUDE DETERMINES
2 THE ALTITUDE OF LIFE
MODEL APPROACH
DEMAND OF THE TOPIC:
• Human beings are different from other species due to their “ability to reason’. They can think, express,
understand other fellow human beings and also determine their responses to various situations.
• However, despite having this ability not all of us can respond in a uniform way, the reason behind this
is our “Attitude”.
• It is the core aspect which determines the outcome of various human actions and its consequences.
• It is not necessary that all our actions always result in expected success, we might face numerous
failures, but with the right attitude we can see that as an opportunity to improvise!
INTRODUCTION
The Essay can be Started with
1) A quote/ philosophical idea:
• “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive
because your words become your behaviour. Keep your behaviour positive because your behaviour
becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your
values positive because your values become your destiny.”- Mahatma Gandhi
• “Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount
importance that we know how to harness and control this great force.”- Irving Berlin
• “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his
attitude.”– Oprah Winfrey
• If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. Milton Berle
• “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.“- Oscar Wilde
• “Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.”- Richard Bach
• “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.”- Albert Einstein
• “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”- Epictetus
• Your problem isn’t the problem, it’s your attitude about the problem. -Ann Brashares
• “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” -Ralph Marston
• “You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.” -Joyce Meyer
Some other thoughts to start with
• 21st century positive attitude is as important as talent and mastery over skills.
• Your attitude forms every event in your life, whether you realize it or not.
2) Note: You may also begin with an anecdote – For eg.
A wiseman was approached by a trader who had just one question, “How are you able to remain positive
all the time”. The wise man replied, “It’s simple. Each morning I wake up, I say to myself, you have two
choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or bad one. I chose good mood.
Whenever something bad happens to me, I ask myself, either you can choose to be a victim or can learn
something from it. I chose to Learn.
Every time someone comes complaining to me, I have choice to accept complaint or I can point out positive
side of life. I chose positive side of life..”

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Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you
react to situations. It’s your choice how you live your life.
FODDER POINTS FOR MAIN BODY

Broad Outline/Essay flow
1. Expanding the concept of attitude. What is attitude?
2. Why does attitude matter?
3. Attitude - altitude connection/ how attitude determines the altitude? – Give lots of examples here to
justify your points
4. How to develop a positive attitude
5. Connecting it with conclusion.
1. What is attitude anyway?

“Deconstructing Attitude”
• “Attitude is a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity (individual,
event, interaction etc) with some degree of favour or disfavour”.
• The word ‘attitude’ comes from the Italian word “attitudine” (meaning ‘posture’). It stands for “how
we carry ourselves”, “something we hold in our entire being”, or our approach to personal and
professional interactions.
• In our daily lives attitude is manifested in many forms - For e.g., an attitude towards the self is called
self-esteem, negative attitudes towards specific groups forms our prejudices, attitudes towards
individuals are called interpersonal attraction, and attitude towards own job is called job satisfaction.
• It is, thus, the mental state or position we take regarding our life and affairs. This means it's not what
we think, but how we think it.
• Out of our attitude comes our enjoyment of life and gratitude for all your blessings, despite having
stress, struggles and suffering. Out of our attitude also comes our disappointment and anger at how
things have turned out. Out of our attitude also comes the feeling that no accomplishment will ever be
good enough or that you are not good enough.
• In a nutshell, our joys and fears, hopes and threats, ideas and fatalism - all are a manifestation of our
attitude. It is the attitude that forms every event in our life, whether we realize it or not.
• You can also mention the sources of attitude – education, peer group, upbringing, life experiences etc.
2. Why Attitude matters?

Attitude determines our Life Choices
• Positive attitude is not just a New Age concept. In fact, throughout the history of mankind, our
perseverance and ability to adapt to new situations despite the circumstances are how we’ve survived.
• Marcus Aurelius, the great philosopher and 16th Emperor of the Roman Empire, put it simply: “Our life
is what our thoughts make it. Hence it is evident that this concept is not new to us.’’
• Attitude steers the responses in stressed situations for eg. Will you allow adversity to stop you from
moving forward? Will you allow a negative person to ruin your day, make you lose your cool, or force
you to give up on your dreams? such situations are handled positively with a positive attitude.
- At certain junctures in our lives, we will encounter challenging circumstances or people. We can
either regard our dilemmas with illogical reactions, panic, anger, bitterness or frustration,
- Or we can look deep within and find the “Internal Source” that is beyond all circumstances and
then pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move forward knowing all things will work in our
favor.

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• Our attitude not only helps us to deal with ourselves but it also helps to deal with people around
us! Keep the words of George Washington in mind “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you
esteem your own reputation, for it’s better to be alone than be in bad company.’
• It is simply a way of responding to life in a manner that allows us to accept the duality, the paradoxes,
the contradictions, the contrasts of our experiences. A positive attitude enables us to make a difference
in the world around us because when you are able to see things in a positive light, you help to influence
and shape other people’s attitude as well.
3. How does attitude determine the altitude of our lives?

“Our rise or fall, success or failure, happiness or unhappiness depends on our attitude.”
• Better outlook and learning curve – Positive people always find a solution in a problem. Famous
example of Thomas Alva Edison who invented the light bulb had faced multiple failures before the
successful invention of light bulb, however he said, “I did not fail multiple times rather I learnt how not
to make this bulb multiple times!
- It also leads to Acceptance: acknowledging that things don’t always turn out how you want them
to, but learning from your mistakes.
• Become better leaders – “If the climate inside you is positive, it radiates all around you”. Won’t we all
would rather be around positive people than negative people? Some great leaders of the world like
Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, did not resign to fatalism. Rather they
became change agents, driving history’s biggest revolutions. For eg. When Mahatma Gandhi was
forced out of an all White’s compartments in a train, ‘Satyagraha was born’.
• Facing fears ‘head on’ - Fear of rejection, Fear for not fulfilling your dreams, Fear of failure ➔ Great
empires, businesses, nations were built by those who took risk, and believed in themselves.
- Businessmen like Dhirubhai Ambani had created an empire from nothing. Other examples Bill
Gates, Obama (USA’s first Black President) etc.
• Positivity Creates Success - It’s easier to reach your goals when you have an optimistic outlook. Enjoying
the unexpected, even when it’s not what you wanted originally.
- How attitude of a nation can impact its altitude of a nation: eg. Japan- emerged as a phoenix from
the ashes of world war II.
- Israel- nation with no land, to nation now leading in agricultural, defence, and other technologies.
• “Dealing with uncertainties”: like current times of pandemic - The combination of a sound personal
philosophy and a positive attitude about ourselves and the world around us gives us an inner strength
and a firm resolve that influences all the other areas of our existence.
• Handling criticism/rejection more wisely - Attitude and nation building, USA restricted supplies of
PL480 to India, and we as a nation with the help of scientists like M.S. Swaminathan transformed that
obstacle into opportunity (Green Revolution and major step towards Food Self reliance)
• Boost to self confidence, Motivation, self esteem – Believing is achieving and when you believe in
yourself, you achieve massive success. It produces more energy, enthusiasm, interest and even curiosity
- In sports: eg. Wilma Rudolph -First American woman to win three olympic gold medals, at a single
Olympic. But she was a sick child and had to wear support on her one leg. Doctors had told her that
she would never walk again however her mother's positive attitude resulted in wonders, that
nobody would believe.
• Resilience - bouncing back from adversity, disappointment, and failure instead of giving up.
- For eg. Holocaust Survivor and famous writer Victor Frankl explained that, those who survived
holocaust had one common thing that was “Positive Attitude Towards Life!”
• It will determine the health of interpersonal relationships in not only personal sphere but also in public
and professional spheres. Social Networks are based on trust, and someone who oozes with positivity
has better chances of building trust.

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• Stress free and Happy - “Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and
strong. The amount of work is the same.” Good health, especially mental health, is key to good and
productive life. One can contribute much more.
• More focused - With positive thinking, you achieve emotional balance, which actually helps the brain
to execute functions properly. You learn to stay focused and as a result, you can come up with the right
decisions in challenging situations.
• Attitude helps in introspection and improvisation - In a world characterized by upheavals, crisis,
disappointments, depression and dejection, there is a need for every individual that wants to live, to
grow, to be successful, have fun and ultimately take the rightful place in destiny to be self-motivated
and self-encouraged.
• Connecting this with the argument that the challenges will remain in every journey, however the
journey (of any walk of life) cannot be completed meaningfully without Positive Attitude.
4. How to develop positive attitude?
Positive attitude is never automatic. You have to work at it!
• “ATTITUDE IS A MATTER OF CHOICE!”: Choose to be happy. One needs to consciously make that choice.
• It’s not only a matter of choice, but also repeated attempts. Repeat affirmations to inspire and motivate
yourselves. Practise positivity on an ongoing basis. No matter how tough a situation is, there is always
some good in it, some insight and lessons to learn.
• Remember that YOU control your attitude - Attitude does not emerge from what happens to you, but
instead from how you decide to interpret what happens to you.
• Constructive solutions - It is not enough just to believe that things will turn out okay. You also need to
seek constructive solutions and carrying them out.
• A positive attitude is not about merely displaying a perky disposition, our smiling faces or merely positive
talks. It is about feeling positive from within.
• Listen to your internal dialogue. When faced with a negative thought, turn it around to make it into a
positive thought. (For example, “I am no good at this!” could be changed to, “Maybe this is not one of
my strengths, but I’ve tried my hardest, and I am skilled in many other things.”)
• Associate yourself with positive people, since happiness is contagious.
• Enjoy the present but keep striving for better – Positive attitude does not mean complacency.
• Create a "library" of positive thoughts - read, view, or listen to something inspirational or motivational.
Avoid angry or negative media.
• Volunteer - Do something that will help others. This will give you a sense of fulfilment and make you
feel happy inside.
5. Conclusion
• Albert Einstein rightly said “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.”
• Nothing good stands without the right attitude. You may know how to do it, but if the attitude is
negative, all you can say is “I could have done it”. So, know that we may encounter many defeats, but
we must not be defeated."
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24 MOST IMPORTANT ESSAY – DIMENSIONS & MINDMAPS: MAINS 2020-21

Under the Guidance of M K YADAV

TARGET 140+ IN ESSAY

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TARGET 140+: AN APPROACH TO WRITING A SCORING ESSAY

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SINCE AGES, WE ARE LIVING ON THIS PLANET

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1. Importance of the environment & ecology for mankind:

2. Why apathy/ignorance towards Environmental issue:

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3. Major consequences (give as many examples as you can)

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4. Another side of the coin/ positives:

5. What More needs to be done

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6. Conclusion on a positive note:

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FODDER POINTS FOR MAIN BODY

1. What is attitude anyway?

2. Why Attitude matters?

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3. How does attitude determine the altitude of our lives?

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