GPSC Mains: Essay
About this paper
The Essay is Paper III of the GPSC Main Examination and the first of the five papers whose marks count for the final merit list.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stage | Main Examination (written), Paper III |
| Marks | 250 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Type | Descriptive |
| Task | Two essays, one from each of two sections, about 1,000 to 1,200 words each |
| Medium | English or Gujarati, as chosen by the candidate |
| Status | Counted for merit |
- Counted for merit. Papers III to VII (the Essay and General Studies-I to IV) make 1,250 marks; with the Personality Test (150) they make the 1,400 marks for final selection. The Essay alone is 250 of them.
- Two sections, one essay from each. The syllabus does not say what each section contains, how many topics each offers or how the 250 marks are divided between the two essays: check the instructions printed on the question paper.
- Length and time. About 1,000 to 1,200 words for each essay, so some 2,000 to 2,400 words in 3 hours, including the time to choose topics and plan.
- Language. The medium of the Main Examination is English and Gujarati. For each of Papers III to VII the candidate states, in the Main Examination application, the language in which it will be written. A Commission notice of 12 August 2026 says the choice is final once the form is submitted, and answers written in another language are not evaluated.
- Attendance. A candidate absent from any Main Examination paper is not eligible.
Official syllabus
PAPER 3: ESSAY (MAIN EXAMINATION). Descriptive. Marks: 250. Medium: English/Gujarati. Time: 3 hours.
Attempt two essays, one from each of the two sections, in about 1000-1200 words each.
Objective:
This paper is designed to test candidates'
- Ability to compose a well-argued piece of writing
- Ability to express coherently and sequentially,
- Originality of thought and expression.
The syllabus also says of the Main Examination as a whole:
The main examination intends to test a candidate's thinking skills and depth of understanding rather than just memory or facts.
What the three objectives mean
- A well-argued piece of writing: a clear position or line of thought on the topic, supported by reasons, examples and facts, with other views considered and answered.
- Coherent and sequential expression: an order the reader can follow, from introduction through linked paragraphs to a conclusion that follows from them.
- Originality of thought and expression: your own reading of the topic, fresh examples and your own phrasing, rather than a memorised essay or a string of quotations.
Subject-wise breakdown
- What the Essay Paper Assesses: the three official objectives, point by point, as a checklist for reviewing an essay.
- Planning, Structure and Time: choosing a topic, planning, the parts of an essay, and using 3 hours for two long essays.
- Theme Areas to Prepare: the fields from which essay material comes, mapped to the General Studies syllabus and to Gujarat.
How this paper connects
- The content of good essays comes from the General Studies papers: General Studies-I (history, culture, society, Gujarat), General Studies-II (polity, governance, social justice), General Studies-III (science, environment, geography, economy) and General Studies-IV (ethics and values).
- The qualifying English and Gujarati papers each have a shorter essay (about 500 and 250 to 300 words); practice there carries over.
Source: Gujarat Public Service Commission, Syllabus of Main Examination, Advertisement No. 05/2026-27, PDF; Detailed Advertisement No. 05/2026-27, PDF; and the Commission's notice of 12 August 2026 on the medium of the Main Examination, PDF. Last checked 11 November 2026.