🔢 30 UPSC Vocabulary Words for Ethics, Governance, and Essay Excellence
Introduction
A strong command over UPSC Mains Vocabulary helps you write sharper, more structured answers in Ethics, Essay, GS2 (Governance), and GS3 (Environment, Science & Tech). This curated set of 30 theme-based words comes with practical usage examples and flashcard downloads to sharpen your articulation.
🧾 Thematic Vocabulary List for UPSC Mains – Set 5
| Word | Meaning | Usage in UPSC Context | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amend | To change or revise formally | “The Constitution was amended to reflect changing social needs.” | Governance & Law |
| Amnesty | Official pardon for offenses | “The government announced amnesty for tax defaulters.” | Law / International Relations |
| Anarchy | Absence of law and order | “Anarchy in failed states poses international challenges.” | Polity / IR |
| Altercation | Heated argument or confrontation | “Altercations during protests can disrupt civil order.” | Governance / Society |
| Amenable | Willing to cooperate or comply | “The ministry was amenable to incorporating stakeholder feedback.” | Law / Administration / Ethics |
| Altruism | Selfless concern for others | “Altruism is fundamental to ethical leadership.” | Ethics & Integrity |
| Amiable | Friendly and pleasant in behavior | “An amiable officer builds trust with the community.” | Ethics / Emotional Intelligence |
| Amicable | Peaceful and friendly (esp. in resolving conflicts) | “India and Bhutan maintain amicable diplomatic ties.” | Ethics / IR |
| Amity | Friendly relations | “Fostering amity among communities strengthens national unity.” | Ethics / Diplomacy |
| Ambivalent | Having conflicting feelings | “Public servants often face ambivalent situations in policy decisions.” | Ethics / Psychology |
| Ambiguity | Unclear meaning or multiple interpretations | “Ambiguity in law can delay justice delivery.” | Ethics / CSAT / Governance |
| Aloof | Emotionally or socially distant | “The bureaucracy’s aloof stance alienates citizens.” | Society / Essays / CSAT |
| Ameliorate | To improve or make better | “Policies must aim to ameliorate urban poverty.” | Essay / Development |
| Ample | More than enough | “Despite ample resources, delivery mechanisms remain weak.” | Essay / Governance |
| Amuse | To entertain or bring laughter | “Amusing anecdotes can enrich essay writing.” | Essay / Language Enrichment |
| Anachronism | Something out of its proper historical time | “Caste-based practices in modern democracy are an anachronism.” | Essay / Society / History |
| Anachronistic | Outdated or not in line with present-day norms | “Colonial-era laws are often seen as anachronistic today.” | Essay / Law |
| Ampere | Unit of electric current | “Electric mobility depends on managing ampere load efficiency.” | Science / Technology |
| Amphibian | Animal adapted to live on land and water | “Amphibians are vital indicators in biodiversity assessments.” | Environment / GS3 |
| Analgesic | A pain-relieving medicine | “Improving access to analgesics is key to rural health policy.” | Public Health / Science |
| Ambidextrous | Able to use both hands equally well; metaphor for flexibility | “Leaders must be ambidextrous in navigating bureaucracy and public needs.” | Leadership / Neuroscience |
| Amorphous | Without definite form; lacking structure | “Amorphous policy design leads to poor implementation.” | Essay / Policy Analysis |
| Analogous | Comparable in certain respects | “The cooperative model is analogous to a joint family system.” | Science / Essay / Sociology |
| Amalgamate | To merge or combine | “The two PSUs were amalgamated to streamline operations.” | Governance / Economy |
| Amplify | To increase in strength or effect | “Social media amplifies the voices of grassroots activists.” | Governance / Communication |
| Amenity | A useful facility or feature | “Basic amenities like clean water are critical to quality of life.” | Urban Development / Governance |
| Ambulatory | Capable of walking; metaphorically, mobile systems | “Ambulatory healthcare units improve rural outreach.” | Health / Governance |
| Amble | To walk slowly and leisurely | “Villagers ambled along the dusty road – a powerful image in essays.” | Essay / CSAT |
| Align | Bring into agreement or coordination | “Policies must align with constitutional principles.” | Governance / Ethics |
| Alight | To descend; metaphor for inspiration | “A bold idea alighted in the policymaker’s mind.” | Essay / Leadership |
| Aloft | Upward or at great height | “India’s ambitions in space now fly aloft with Gaganyaan.” | Essay / Aspirational Metaphors |
🧠 Sample Practice Sentences Using UPSC Words
- Original: The Constitution was changed.
→ The Constitution was amended to reflect evolving social values. - Original: He was friendly and pleasant.
→ The officer was known for his amiable demeanor with citizens. - Original: The healthcare van could move anywhere.
→ The ambulatory unit brought essential services to remote villages. - Original: The policy was vague.
→ The scheme suffered due to ambiguity in its implementation guidelines. - Original: They slowly walked through the village.
→ They ambled through the rustic paths, reflecting rural simplicity.
📥 Download UPSC Vocabulary Flashcards (PDF)
👉 📄 Download Master Flashcards A121 -A150
📚 More Resources
- 30 Thematic Vocabulary Words for UPSC Essays & Mains – Set 1
- 30 Governance, Ethics, Economy & Society Vocabulary Words for UPSC – Set 2
- 30 UPSC Vocabulary Words for Economy, Ethics & GS Mains
- 30 UPSC Vocabulary Words for Economy, Ethics & GS Mains
🎯 Final Tip
UPSC rewards clarity, precision, and expression. These 30 vocabulary words, when used wisely, elevate your answers from average to impactful. Integrate 3–4 of them in your daily practice, ethics case studies, or essay mock tests.
Stay articulate,
Team Howdybuzz
