The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination is not just a test of knowledge — it’s a test of interpretation, articulation, and precision. Many aspirants with strong knowledge fail to score well because they miss one crucial aspect: understanding and following the directives in the question.
From Discuss to Critically Examine, each directive tells you exactly what the examiner expects. Toppers like Anudeep Durishetty (AIR 1, 2017) and Tina Dabi (AIR 1, 2015) have openly credited their success to understanding these directives and tailoring answers accordingly.
In this blog, we’ll decode every major directive, show how toppers approach them, and give you ready-to-use strategies for UPSC Mains answer writing.
What Are Directives in UPSC Mains?
In simple terms, directives are instructional keywords in the question that define:
- Approach: How to structure the answer.
- Depth: How detailed your explanation should be.
- Tone: Whether to remain neutral, critical, or persuasive.
Ignoring the directive is like answering the wrong question — you may write a great essay, but it won’t fetch marks if it doesn’t follow instructions.
Why UPSC Directives Matter So Much?
- Precision in Evaluation – UPSC examiners have limited time; they reward those who hit the directive requirements quickly and effectively.
- Answer Structuring – Directives tell you whether to analyze, justify, or compare, shaping your answer flow.
- Toppers’ Advantage – Anudeep Durishetty emphasized in his strategy blog that “directive words decide my paragraph layout, headings, and conclusion style.”
List of Common Directives and Their Detailed Meanings
Let’s break down the most important UPSC directives, their meanings, answer structures, and toppers’ approach.
1. Discuss
- Meaning: Write in detail about all relevant aspects, covering both sides if applicable.
- Approach:
- Introduction – Briefly define the topic.
- Main Body – Cover various dimensions (historical, economic, social, political).
- Conclusion – Summarize with a balanced view.
- Toppers’ Tip: Tina Dabi often used subheadings for different dimensions, making answers easy to scan.
- Example Question: Discuss the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture.
– Cover productivity, farmer income, adaptation strategies, policy gaps.
2. Critically Examine
- Meaning: Investigate deeply, highlight both merits and demerits, then give a judgment.
- Approach:
- Explain the concept.
- Analyze positives.
- Analyze negatives.
- Give a balanced conclusion.
- Toppers’ Tip: Gaurav Agarwal (AIR 1, 2013) used a “Pros → Cons → Way Forward” format for such answers.
- Example Question: Critically examine the role of MSP in ensuring food security.
3. Analyze
- Meaning: Break into smaller parts and study relationships between them.
- Approach:
- Define the concept.
- Examine each component individually.
- Connect findings into a coherent conclusion.
- Toppers’ Tip: Use flowcharts to show interlinkages for extra marks.
- Example Question: Analyze the causes of urban flooding in India.
4. Evaluate
- Meaning: Assess the value or effectiveness based on evidence.
- Approach:
- State evaluation criteria.
- Apply them to the given topic.
- Conclude with a judgment.
- Example: Evaluate the performance of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) since its implementation.
5. Elucidate / Explain
- Meaning: Make the meaning clear and simple, with examples.
- Approach: Use real-life illustrations and case studies.
- Example: Elucidate the term ‘Judicial Activism’ with suitable examples.
6. Compare & Contrast
- Meaning: Point out similarities and differences.
- Approach: Tables or bullet points make these answers clearer.
- Example: Compare and contrast Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
7. Justify
- Meaning: Provide logical reasons and evidence to support the statement.
- Approach: Facts, reports, and case studies are key.
- Example: Justify the need for renewable energy expansion in India.
8. Comment / Critically Comment
- Meaning: Offer your opinion based on facts (critical = balanced viewpoint).
- Approach:
- Start with a neutral explanation.
- State your opinion with evidence.
- End with a forward-looking suggestion.
- Toppers’ Tip: Sriram V (AIR 2, 2020) said his “Critically Comment” answers always had both sides, even if he agreed with one.
Practical Strategies to Master Directives
- Underline the Directive – Prevents accidental deviation.
- Use Directive-Specific Conclusions – If it says Evaluate, conclude with a judgment, not just a summary.
- Practice with PYQs – Past Year Questions are the best resource to understand directive patterns.
- Create a Directive Cheat Sheet – Toppers keep a table of directives with meanings for quick revision.
Sample Directive Cheat Sheet
| Directive | What to Do | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Discuss | Cover multiple dimensions | Intro → Dimensions → Conclusion |
| Critically Examine | Show both sides + judgment | Intro → Pros → Cons → Judgment |
| Analyze | Break into parts & link them | Intro → Components → Links → Conclusion |
| Evaluate | Apply criteria & judge | Intro → Criteria → Analysis → Verdict |
| Elucidate | Simplify with examples | Intro → Explanation → Examples → Conclusion |
| Compare & Contrast | Highlight similarities & differences | Table + Summary |
| Justify | Support with facts | Intro → Evidence → Supportive Conclusion |
| Comment | Give opinion | Intro → Opinion with facts → Conclusion |
Conclusion: Directives Are the Hidden Key to UPSC Success
In UPSC Mains, knowledge is abundant among aspirants — what makes toppers stand out is their ability to follow the question’s directive precisely.
By underlining directives, structuring answers accordingly, and learning from toppers’ methods, you can dramatically improve your answer quality and boost your Mains score.
Remember: In UPSC, “The right answer to the wrong question will still get you zero”. Understanding directives ensures you always answer the right question the right way.
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