75 Golden Keywords for UPSC Mains Answer Writing – The Ultimate Guide to IAS Success

Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Mains exam is not just about how much you know — it’s about how you express what you know. The examiner doesn’t have time to read long stories. They look for clarity, analysis, and maturity in your answers.

This is where keywords act as game-changers. Using the right words instantly conveys deep understanding, saves time, and makes your answers stand out. Terms like inclusive growth, climate resilience, strategic autonomy, or ethical governance act as power boosters, helping you write like a policymaker, not just a student.

In this blog, we bring you the 75 most essential keywords for UPSC Mains answer writing — carefully chosen, briefly explained, and arranged across six major themes: Governance, Economy, Society, Environment, Ethics, and International Relations & Security.

Use them smartly, underline them in your answers, and watch your writing transform into UPSC topper-style content.

1. Governance & Administration Keywords

These words show your grasp of polity, governance, and public administration.

1. Inclusive growth – Growth that reduces inequality and benefits all sections of society.
2. Participatory governance – Decision-making with citizen involvement at all levels.
3. Accountability – Public officials being answerable for their actions.
4. Transparency – Openness in government functioning to ensure trust.
5. E-governance – Use of ICT for better service delivery and efficiency.
6. Rule of law – Law applies equally to all, including the state.
7. Good governance – Marked by responsiveness, fairness, and efficiency.
8. Policy convergence – Coordination among different policies for common goals.
9. Institutional capacity – Ability of institutions to deliver effectively.
10. Public service delivery – Ensuring essential services reach citizens seamlessly.

2. Economy & Development Keywords

These add weight to GS Paper III answers.

11. Sustainable development – Growth that balances economic, social, and environmental concerns.
12. Demographic dividend – Economic benefits of a young, productive workforce.
13. Structural transformation – Shift from agriculture to industries and services.
14. Formalization of economy – Bringing informal sectors into the tax net.
15. Financial inclusion – Access to credit, banking, and insurance for all.
16. Innovation-driven growth – Expanding economy through R&D and startups.
17. Ease of doing business – Simplifying rules to promote investment.
18. Social safety nets – Programs that protect the poor and vulnerable.
19. Human capital formation – Building skills, health, and education.
20. Balanced regional development – Reducing inequalities across states and regions.

3. Society & Social Justice Keywords

Best suited for GS Paper I & II answers.

21. Social capital – Trust and networks that strengthen democracy.
22. Affirmative action – Corrective policies for disadvantaged groups.
23. Intersectionality – Overlapping social inequalities like caste + gender.
24. Empowerment – Enabling decision-making and self-reliance.
25. Equity vs. equality – Equity = fairness, equality = sameness.
26. Vulnerable sections – Marginalized groups needing protection.
27. Gender mainstreaming – Integrating gender in all policies.
28. Social cohesion – Unity amidst diversity.
29. Pluralism – Peaceful coexistence of diverse identities.
30. Fraternity – Brotherhood and mutual respect, a constitutional value.

4. Environment, Agriculture & Sustainability Keywords

Useful in GS Paper III & Essays.

31. Climate resilience – Ability to adapt to climate change impacts.
32. Ecosystem services – Benefits from nature (air, water, pollination).
33. Carbon neutrality – Achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
34. Circular economy – Recycling, reusing, reducing waste.
35. Agro-ecology – Sustainable farming practices.
36. Food security – Availability, access, affordability, and nutrition.
37. Biodiversity hotspots – Rich species zones under threat.
38. Sustainable livelihoods – Income generation without harming environment.
39. Water security – Reliable and clean water access.
40. Environmental justice – Fair distribution of ecological benefits and burdens.

5. Ethics, Values & Governance Keywords

These shine in GS Paper IV (Ethics).

41. Ethical governance – Decision-making rooted in fairness and integrity.
42. Integrity & probity – Moral uprightness in public life.
43. Conflict of interest – Clash between personal and official roles.
44. Citizen-centric administration – Policy designed around people, not systems.
45. Accountability mechanisms – Checks like CAG, Lokpal, RTI.
46. Transparency in ethics – Making ethical choices visible.
47. Code of conduct – Norms guiding public officials’ behavior.
48. Moral legitimacy – Authority earned through ethical leadership.
49. Public interest – Welfare of citizens above personal gain.
50. Values-driven leadership – Governance rooted in empathy and service.

6. International Relations & Security Keywords

These are game-changers in GS Paper II & III.

🌍 Global Order & Diplomacy

51. Rules-based international order – Global relations governed by laws and treaties.
52. Strategic convergence – Alignment of interests between countries.
53. Geopolitical realignment – Shifting power dynamics in world politics.
54. Normative power – Shaping others through universal values.
55. Global governance deficit – Weaknesses in institutions like UN or WTO.
56. Minilateralism – Small group cooperation (QUAD, I2U2).
57. Strategic hedging – Balancing ties with rival powers.
58. Middle power diplomacy – Emerging nations shaping global debates.
59. Multipolarity with asymmetry – Unequal distribution in a multipower world.
60. Global South solidarity – Cooperation among developing nations.

🛡️ Security & Strategic Affairs

61. Comprehensive national security – Military + economic + cyber + energy security.
62. Strategic deterrence – Preventing war through credible defense.
63. Hybrid warfare – Mix of conventional, cyber, and information warfare.
64. Grey-zone tactics – Coercive acts below open warfare (cyberattacks, propaganda).
65. Maritime domain awareness – Monitoring seas to protect trade and security.
66. Blue economy security – Linking ocean resources with sustainable defense.
67. Critical technology sovereignty – Control over AI, space, and semiconductors.
68. Resilient supply chains – Reducing dependence on rival nations.
69. Strategic depth – Using geography or alliances as buffers.
70. Net security provider – India’s role in stabilizing the Indian Ocean Region.

🌐 Global Challenges

71. Transnational threats – Terrorism, pandemics, climate change crossing borders.
72. Weaponization of interdependence – Using trade and finance as geopolitical tools.
73. Energy geopolitics – Security challenges from oil, gas, and renewables.
74. Strategic partnerships – Beyond trade, covering defense and intelligence.
75. Collective resilience – Nations cooperating to withstand global shocks.

How These Keywords Help in UPSC Mains

• Show conceptual clarity – Words like structural transformation or climate resilience condense big ideas into sharp terms.
• Add analytical depth – Keywords anchor your arguments, making answers multidimensional.
• Improve structure – They work as headings, connectors, and frameworks.
• Impress examiners – Keywords make answers look exam-oriented and policy-ready.
• Cross-linkage – Same keyword fits multiple papers (e.g., inclusive growth in Economy, Society, Ethics).
• Save time – One keyword = one big idea (e.g., financial inclusion instead of long explanations).

Conclusion

The difference between an average UPSC Mains answer and a top-scoring answer often lies in the choice of words. By using these 75 golden keywords, you demonstrate not only subject knowledge but also the analytical and administrative mindset expected from a future civil servant.

So the next time you write, remember: facts show knowledge, but keywords show wisdom. And in UPSC, wisdom always fetches extra marks.

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