Essay 2025 Essay Paper 125 marks 1200 words Analyse
Q8
Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is artificial poverty.
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
संतोष स्वाभाविक संपत्ति है; विलासिता कृत्रिम निर्धनता है।
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 the philosophical tension between contentment as innate abundance and luxury as constructed deprivation. Structure: introduction defining both concepts with thesis positioning; body exploring philosophical, psychological, economic and ecological dimensions with Indian and global illustrations; conclusion synthesising towards a balanced, contemporary vision of sustainable fulfilment.
Key points expected
- Distinguish between contentment (santosha) as internal sufficiency versus luxury as external, comparative consumption
- Examine how luxury creates artificial scarcity through hedonic adaptation and positional goods
- Draw from Indian philosophy—Upanishadic 'enoughness', Gandhi's trusteeship, Buddhist middle path
- Analyse economic paradox: rising GDP alongside declining happiness indices, India's growth vs. mental health crisis
- Address ecological unsustainability of luxury consumption patterns and degrowth alternatives
- Propose synthesis: contentment not as ascetic withdrawal but as conscious, ethical sufficiency
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis clarity | 20% | 25 | Presents a nuanced, arguable thesis that neither glorifies poverty nor condemns all material progress; clearly stakes position on whether contentment and development can coexist; thesis thread visible throughout essay | Thesis present but either too simplistic (contentment good, luxury bad) or ambiguous; position wavers without deliberate dialectical exploration | No discernible thesis; mere description of concepts or compilation of quotes without argumentative spine |
| Multi-dimensional coverage | 20% | 25 | Weaves together philosophical (Eastern/Western), psychological (hedonic treadmill), economic (conspicuous consumption, inequality), ecological (carbon footprint of luxury), and sociological (aspirational class) dimensions with seamless transitions | Covers 3-4 dimensions adequately but some feel bolted-on; philosophical treatment stronger than contemporary analysis or vice versa | Single-dimensional treatment (only philosophical quotes or only economic data); dimensions listed without integration |
| Examples & evidence | 20% | 25 | Specific, varied illustrations: Gandhi's Sabarmati ashram experiments, Bhutan's GNH vs. GDP, research from IIT-Kharagpur happiness studies, contrast of Ambani wedding expenditure with MNREGA wages, Thoreau's Walden, Diogenes; examples illuminate rather than decorate | Generic references (Gandhi, Buddha) without specificity; some contemporary examples but thin on empirical grounding; examples occasionally mismatched to point | No Indian examples; repetitive use of same 2-3 figures; factual errors in citing; examples substituted for argument |
| Language & flow | 20% | 25 | Elegant, controlled prose with rhythmic variation; effective use of epigrammatic structure befitting philosophical topic; paragraphs build momentum; minimal grammatical error; voice distinct and appropriate to reflective essay | Competent but occasionally verbose or clichéd ('need of the hour'); some awkward transitions; minor grammatical slips; readable but unmemorable | Fragmented, telegraphic or excessively ornate; frequent errors; poor paragraphing; abrupt shifts; exceeds or falls significantly short of word limit |
| Conclusion & forward look | 20% | 25 | Synthesises tension rather than resolving it cheaply; offers concrete pathway—personal (mindfulness), institutional (policy for gross national happiness), civilisational (reclaiming Indian philosophical resources); ends with resonant image or provocation; connects to aspirant's own ethical formation | Restates thesis without development; generic exhortation to 'balance'; forward look absent or purely rhetorical ('hope for better tomorrow') | New argument introduced; abrupt ending; mere summary; moralistic preaching without structural vision; ignores contemporary relevance entirely |
Practice this exact question
Write your answer, then get a detailed evaluation from our AI trained on UPSC's answer-writing standards. Free first evaluation — no signup needed to start.
Evaluate my answer →More from Essay 2025 Essay Paper
- Q1 Truth knows no color.
- Q2 The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
- Q3 Thought finds a world and creates one also.
- Q4 Best lessons are learnt through bitter experiences.
- Q5 Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.
- Q6 The years teach much which the days never know.
- Q7 It is best to see life as a journey, not as a destination.
- Q8 Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is artificial poverty.