Essay 2025 Essay Paper 125 marks 1200 words Analyse

Q2

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

बिना लड़े ही दुश्मन को परास्त करना युद्ध की सर्वोच्च कला है।

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Directive word: Analyse

This question asks you to analyse. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Analyse demands breaking down Sun Tzu's aphorism into constituent elements—examining what constitutes 'subduing', why 'without fighting' is supreme, and the conditions enabling such victory. Structure: Introduction contextualising the quote in ancient and modern strategic thought; Body exploring dimensions (military, diplomatic, economic, psychological, technological); Conclusion assessing contemporary relevance for India's strategic autonomy.

Key points expected

Distinction between kinetic and non-kinetic warfare—diplomacy, deterrence, economic statecraft as instruments of subduing
Historical exemplars: Chanakya's Arthashastra (Matsya Nyaya, Rajamandala), Ashoka's transformation post-Kalinga, India's 1971 Bangladesh liberation through strategic isolation
Modern applications: Sanctions regimes, cyber deterrence, information warfare, space dominance, cognitive domain operations
Indian strategic practice: Non-alignment as strategic autonomy, nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, Doklam and Galwan crisis management
Philosophical underpinnings: Cost-benefit analysis of conflict, opportunity costs of war, moral legitimacy in statecraft
Limitations and critiques: When non-fighting strategies fail, ethical dilemmas of 'victory without war', asymmetrical challenges from non-state actors

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Thesis clarity	20%	25	Establishes a nuanced thesis that 'subduing without fighting' encompasses deterrence, compellence, and strategic shaping—not mere pacifism; clearly positions whether this remains achievable in contemporary multipolar disorder	Accepts the quote at face value as praise for diplomacy; thesis wanders between praising peace and celebrating cunning without analytical rigour	Misinterprets as advocating cowardice or unconditional pacifism; no clear argumentative stance established in introduction
Multi-dimensional coverage	20%	25	Covers minimum five dimensions: military (deterrence theory), diplomatic (coercive diplomacy), economic (sanctions, supply chains), technological (cyber, space, AI), and psychological (information operations, strategic communication); interconnections explicitly drawn	Covers three dimensions adequately (typically military, diplomatic, economic) but treats them in isolation; misses technological or cognitive dimensions entirely	Reduces to military strategy only or generic 'soft power' discussion; dimensions repetitive or confused with examples
Examples & evidence	20%	25	Balances global and Indian examples: US-China strategic competition without direct war, India's 1971 isolation of Pakistan, ISRO's peaceful space programme as deterrence, Doklam's 'no shots fired' resolution; at least one contemporary case (Ukraine as failure, or Quad as success)	Relies heavily on Sun Tzu and Chanakya without contemporary application; examples generic (Cold War) or misapplied; Indian examples superficial	Examples factually wrong or irrelevant; conflates 'avoiding war' with 'subduing enemy'; no Indian strategic examples
Language & flow	20%	25	Employs strategic studies vocabulary (deterrence, escalation ladder, grey-zone warfare, strategic ambiguity) appropriately; transitions between dimensions logical; maintains analytical tone without becoming jargon-heavy; effective use of subheadings	Readable but pedestrian prose; occasional misuse of technical terms; paragraph transitions mechanical; tone shifts between academic and colloquial	Grammatically flawed or overly ornate; disjointed paragraphs; excessive quoting of Sun Tzu substituting for own analysis; illegible handwriting or poor paragraphing (if handwritten)
Conclusion & forward look	20%	25	Synthesises that 'supreme art' requires comprehensive national power, strategic patience, and technological edge; forward look addresses India's specific challenges (China, Pakistan, cyber vulnerabilities) and advocates for investment in non-kinetic capabilities; avoids mere summary	Restates main points without synthesis; forward look generic ('India should be strong') or utopian ('world peace'); no specific policy relevance	Introduces new arguments in conclusion; ends with platitude or unrelated quote; no forward-looking element; abrupt termination

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