🔢 Master These 30 Powerful Vocabulary Words for UPSC Essays & GS Answers – Set 3
Introduction:
Strong vocabulary empowers precise expression – a hallmark of high-scoring answers in UPSC Mains. Whether it’s GS2 (Governance), GS4 (Ethics), GS1 (Society), or Essay, using the right word in the right context sets your answer apart. Here’s a set of 30 theme-based vocabulary words to help you do exactly that.
🔹 Thematic Word List – GS2, GS4, Essays, CSAT & More
| Word | Meaning | Usage in UPSC Context | Related Theme |
| Advocacy | Public support for a cause | “There is a growing advocacy for police reforms in India.” | Governance & Law |
| Advocate | A person who publicly supports a cause | “The lawyer advocated for stronger victim protection laws.” | Governance & Law |
| Adversarial | Involving conflict or opposition | “India’s relations with some neighbors remain adversarial.” | Governance / IR |
| Adulterate | To make impure or degrade | “Strict penalties exist for those who adulterate food products.” | Governance / Ethics |
| Aggrieve | To wrong or cause resentment | “Aggrieved citizens often resort to legal petitions for justice.” | Governance & Law |
| Agitate | To arouse public concern or protest | “Farmers agitated against the proposed land acquisition bill.” | Governance / Society |
| Adulate | To excessively praise | “Unethical officers often adulate superiors for favors.” | Ethics & Integrity |
| Adulation | Excessive or insincere praise | “Adulation in bureaucracy can lead to groupthink and poor decision-making.” | Ethics & Integrity |
| Affectation | Pretentious behavior | “Affectation in public service undermines credibility.” | Ethics & Integrity |
| Aggrandize | To increase power, status, or wealth unjustly | “Some leaders aggrandize their positions instead of serving the people.” | Ethics / Economy |
| Agonize | To undergo great mental struggle | “The officer agonized over whether to report the irregularities.” | Ethics / Psychology |
| Aggregate | Total or collective amount | “The aggregate fiscal deficit of states has widened post-pandemic.” | Economy / S&T |
| Affluent | Wealthy or well-off | “Welfare schemes often bypass the affluent to target the poor.” | Economy & Development |
| Adverse | Unfavorable or harmful | “Adverse trade balances weaken the domestic economy.” | Economy / IR |
| Adventitious | Arising by chance or not inherent | “Adventitious urban growth leads to poor infrastructure planning.” | Economy / S&T |
| Adorn | To decorate or make attractive | “Temples adorned with sculptures reflect India’s artistic legacy.” | Society / Art & Culture |
| Aesthetic | Concerned with beauty or artistic value | “Public spaces must be both functional and aesthetic.” | Society / Architecture |
| Aestheticism | Belief in art for its own sake | “Aestheticism shaped India’s classical literature and painting traditions.” | Society / GS1 |
| Aerie | A high nest or place, used poetically | “The fort stood like an aerie above the valley – a metaphor for dominance.” | Society / Essays |
| Affinity | A natural connection or attraction | “India shares cultural affinity with South-East Asia.” | Society / IR |
| Advent | Arrival or beginning of something significant | “The advent of AI has reshaped industrial economies.” | Science / Tech / Economy |
| Affable | Friendly and easy to talk to | “An affable officer is more approachable to citizens.” | Ethics / Personality |
| Agog | Very eager or excited | “Citizens were agog with anticipation ahead of the Budget.” | Essays / Psychology |
| Agile | Able to move or think quickly | “Agile governance is key in a dynamic policy environment.” | Governance / Innovation |
| Addendum | Additional material at the end of a document | “An addendum to the report clarified earlier ambiguities.” | Policy / Governance |
| Acrid | Sharp or bitter (usually smell or taste) | “The acrid smoke from stubble burning caused respiratory illness.” | Environment / Disaster Mgmt |
| Adverse | Unfavorable, repeated for emphasis in multiple contexts | “Adverse climatic shifts affect crop productivity.” | Economy / Environment / IR |
| Affectation | Repeated to reinforce ethical misuse (intentional) | “Affectation can distort leadership authenticity.” | Ethics |
| Aggrieve | Repeated to emphasize citizen grievances | “The aggrieved community staged a peaceful protest.” | Governance |
| Aggrandize | Reused due to dual relevance (Ethics & Economy) | “Corporate entities must not aggrandize wealth at public cost.” | Ethics / Economy |
💡 How to Use These in Essays/Answers
- In Ethics Paper (GS4):
“Aggrandizing one’s role in public service contradicts the spirit of probity.” - In GS2/IR Answers:
“Diplomatic engagements must move beyond adversarial postures to collaborative dialogues.” - In Essays:
“The advent of disruptive technologies demands agile governance and ethical foresight.”
🎯 Sample Practice
Instruction: Rewrite the following sentences using UPSC-ready vocabulary:
- The leaders praised the minister excessively.
→ The officials adulated the minister, bordering on sycophancy. - The people reacted strongly to the polluted air.
→ Citizens were alarmed by the acrid air, demanding action. - The new report added more details.
→ A detailed addendum was attached to the original policy draft. - She struggled with the ethical decision.
→ She agonized over the moral implications of her choice. - The country’s growth was due to random, unplanned expansion.
→ Much of the urbanization was adventitious, lacking foresight.
📄 PDF + Flashcards
🔗 Related Thematic Sets:
- 30 Thematic Vocabulary Words for UPSC Essays & Mains – Set 1
- 30 Governance, Ethics, Economy & Society Vocabulary Words for UPSC – Set 2
🚀 Final Tip:
Rich vocabulary showcases intellectual maturity in UPSC answers. But always prioritize clarity over complexity. Use these words to enhance precision, not confuse.
Stay articulate,
Team Howdybuzz
