Introductions that commit
The introduction is your answer to the question, in one or two sentences. The body then proves it.
How long
| Answer | Introduction |
|---|---|
| 10 marks, 150 words | 20 to 30 words |
| 15 marks, 250 words | 30 to 40 words |
That is two to four lines of handwriting.
What the introduction does
| Job | How |
|---|---|
| Answers the question | Your position, or the parts of your answer, in the first sentence |
| Follows the directive | A comment or how far question gets a position. A what are or why question gets the parts named |
| Points to the body | The examiner can see what the next three or four points will be |
Three openings that work
| Opening | Use it for | A real question | An opening for it |
|---|---|---|---|
| State your position | Comment, how far, do you think, any critically form | "Unity in diversity remains the defining feature of Indian society despite the challenges from communalism and regionalism. Comment." (UPSC Mains 2026, GS Paper 1, 10 marks) | The statement holds. Communal riots and regional movements have strained unity, but the constitutional order and shared elections have held. |
| Name the parts | What are, why, analyse | "Analyze the major drivers of human-induced land-use changes in India and their geographical consequences." (UPSC Mains 2026, GS Paper 1, 15 marks) | Four drivers dominate: urban expansion, irrigated farming, mining and new transport corridors. Each turns forest, wetland or pasture into land that is hard to restore, with effects on floods, water tables and wildlife. |
| Define, when the question asks for it | What is | "What is sea surface temperature rise? How does it affect the formation of tropical cyclones?" (UPSC Mains 2024, GS Paper 1, 10 marks) | Sea surface temperature rise is the long-term warming of the ocean's top layer. Water above about 26.5°C supplies the heat and moisture a cyclone feeds on. |
Three openings that waste the space
| Opening | Example | What to write instead |
|---|---|---|
| A definition nobody asked for | "Federalism is a system in which power is divided between a centre and its units." | Define only when the question says what is, or when your answer depends on which meaning you use |
| A line on how important the topic is | "Education is the backbone of any developing nation." | Your answer to the question. If the line could open any answer on the paper, cut it |
| A history lesson | "Since independence, India has faced many challenges in this sector." | The causes, parts or position the body will cover |
Steps
- Underline the directive or the question word.
- Decide your answer before you write a word of the introduction.
- Write it in one sentence. Add a second sentence that names the parts.
- Count the words. Keep to 20 to 30 for 10 marks, 30 to 40 for 15 marks.
- Ask whether the opening could sit under a different question on the paper. If it could, rewrite it.
The same introduction, written twice
Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?
(UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper 1, 15 marks, 250 words)
| An average introduction | A strong introduction |
|---|---|
| Human development means enlarging people's choices, as Mahbub ul Haq put it. Economic development means growth in output. India has grown fast since 1991. | After 1991, incomes rose faster than the state built schools and clinics that worked. Low public spending on health and education, weak learning outcomes and growth with few jobs explain most of the gap. |
| Defines both terms and gives a date. Does not answer why | Answers why in the first sentence and names the three causes the body will cover |
Your turn
Which of these openings answers the question: "The groundwater potential of the gangetic valley is on serious decline. How may it affect India's food security?" (UPSC Mains 2024, GS Paper 1)
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (C) Falling water tables in the Gangetic plain threaten irrigated wheat and rice, the crops that stock the public distribution system, and raise the cost of growing them.
The answer is (C). It links falling groundwater to specific crops and to the public distribution system, so it answers how food security is affected. (A) could open any answer about water. (B) defines groundwater, which the question did not ask for. (D) gives geography, and the question asked about the effect on food security.
✍️ Your turn
Write the introduction, 30 words or fewer, for: "To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India?" (UPSC Mains 2021, GS Paper 2, 10 marks, 150 words). The question asks to what extent, so your opening should say where you land.