UPSC Mains PYQs on Emotional Intelligence (GS Paper 4)
Every UPSC Mains question on Emotional Intelligence between 2013 and 2025 is listed below, newest year first, with the marks it carried. Filter by microtheme to see one idea across all the years.
By Team MaargX UPSC · UPSC Mains 2013-2025
Short answer: UPSC has asked 6 questions on Emotional Intelligence (syllabus item 4 of GS Paper 4) between 2013 and 2025, worth 60 marks in all, about 1 questions a year. The most-asked microthemes are EI: Concept and utility (3), EQ vs IQ (1), EI × Crisis of Conscience (1), EI in Administration (1). The busiest year was 2023 (1 questions, 10 marks).
UPSC syllabus, GS Paper 4, item 4: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Find Questions by GS Paper, Syllabus Topic and Microtheme
Step 1 paper → Step 2 syllabus topic → Step 3 subject → Step 4 microtheme. Each step opens after the one before it.
Emotional Intelligence: questions year-wise with marks
2023 1 question · 10 marks
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What really matters for success, character, happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills – your EQ- not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests." Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
2021 1 question · 10 marks
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In case of a crisis of conscience does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical and moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine.
2020 1 question · 10 marks
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What are the main components of emotional intelligence (EI)? Can they be learned? discuss.
2019 1 question · 10 marks
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"Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you." Do you agree with this view? Discuss.
2017 1 question · 10 marks
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How will you apply emotional intelligence in administrative practices?
2013 1 question · 10 marks
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What is 'emotional intelligence' and how can it be developed in people? How does it help an individual in taking ethical decisions?
No question matches these choices. Try another year or microtheme, or reset.
Emotional Intelligence at a Glance
| Syllabus item | GS Paper 4, item 4 (Ethics) |
|---|---|
| Questions asked | 6 (2013-2025), about 1 a year |
| Total marks | 60 marks |
| Last five years | 2 questions, 20 marks (2021-2025) |
| Usual weight | 10 marks (6 questions) |
| Directive words | Discuss (2), Examine (1) |
| Busiest year | 2023 (1 questions, 10 marks) |
Year-Wise Summary
| Year | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2021 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2020 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2019 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2017 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2013 | 1 | 10 marks |
| Total | 6 | 60 marks |
Microthemes in Emotional Intelligence
These are the ideas inside this topic, most asked first. Select one to see all its questions year-wise with marks.
- EI: Concept and utility 3 · 30 marks
- EQ vs IQ 1 · 10 marks
- EI × Crisis of Conscience 1 · 10 marks
- EI in Administration 1 · 10 marks
Other Topics in GS Paper 4
- 01. Ethics and Human Interface 31 · 315 marks
- 02. Human Values 13 · 130 marks
- 03. Attitude 15 · 150 marks
- 05. Moral Thinkers and Philosophers 32 · 320 marks
- 06. Aptitude and Foundational Values 14 · 140 marks
- 07. Public Service Values and Ethics in Administration 35 · 350 marks
- 08. Probity in Governance 20 · 200 marks
How to Use Mains PYQs Topic Wise
- Start with the microthemes. Open a topic and read its microtheme list. The ones with the most questions are the ideas UPSC returns to.
- Read the demand words. Note how questions begin: discuss, examine, critically analyse, comment. Each asks for a different answer structure.
- Write by marks. A 10-mark question needs a tight answer of about 150 words, and a 15-mark question about 250 words.
- Cover all years of a microtheme. Write the oldest and the latest question on the same microtheme, and see how the angle changed.
- Revise and rewrite. Revise the topic from the notes, and write the same question again after a week.
For the method in full, read the Mains answer writing strategy. The official papers are on our UPSC PYQs page.
Questions are shown as printed in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) General Studies papers of 2013-2025. The grouping into topics and microthemes is by Team MaargX UPSC. Check any wording against the official paper on upsc.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Mains questions have been asked on Emotional Intelligence?
6 questions on Emotional Intelligence appeared in UPSC Mains GS Paper 4 between 2013 and 2025, worth 60 marks in all. That is about 1 questions a year. Every one of them is listed on this page, year-wise with its marks.
Which Emotional Intelligence microthemes does UPSC ask most often?
The most-asked microthemes in Emotional Intelligence are EI: Concept and utility (3), EQ vs IQ (1), EI × Crisis of Conscience (1), EI in Administration (1). The number in brackets is how many questions each has had since 2013. Use the microtheme filter to see all of them together, year by year, with marks.
In which year was Emotional Intelligence asked the most in UPSC Mains?
The busiest year for Emotional Intelligence was 2023 (1 questions, 10 marks). The lightest was 2023 (1 questions, 10 marks). Treat these swings as noise: UPSC does not repeat a fixed pattern, so cover the whole topic.
How many marks do Emotional Intelligence questions carry?
Of the 6 questions on Emotional Intelligence, 6 of 10 marks. Plan your word limit by marks: 10-marker answers run to about 150 words and 15-marker answers to about 250 words.
What kind of questions does UPSC ask on Emotional Intelligence?
The directive words in the 6 questions on Emotional Intelligence are Discuss (2), Examine (1). Match your answer to the word: discuss and examine want both sides with a conclusion, while comment and critically analyse want a reasoned stand.
Is Emotional Intelligence important for UPSC Mains?
In the last five years (2021-2025) UPSC asked 2 questions on Emotional Intelligence, worth 20 marks. In the first five years (2013-2017) it asked 2, worth 20 marks.
Which GS paper does Emotional Intelligence belong to?
Emotional Intelligence belongs to UPSC Mains GS Paper 4, titled Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. The questions on this page are all from that paper.
How should I use these Emotional Intelligence PYQs?
Read the microtheme list first, then pick one and write two or three answers in the time limit. Compare each with what the question demands (discuss, examine, critically analyse). Revise the topic from the Maarg Manthan notes and write the same question again after a week.
Official Sources
These are the primary sources behind this page. Rules, dates and papers can change, so confirm them on the official pages.
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers (Archives)
- UPSC: Revised Syllabus and Scheme
- UPSC: Civil Services Examination Rules