Writing UPPSC in Hindi or English

In most UPPSC examination halls, the majority of answer sheets are written in Hindi. A smaller number are in English, and a few in Urdu. Candidates often ask which medium "scores better". The honest answer: the Commission evaluates content, structure and clarity, not the language. The best medium is the one in which you write most clearly and fastest.

What the rules allow

• Mains answers may be written in Hindi, English or Urdu, as permitted by the notification.
• The General Hindi paper is compulsory for all and counts for merit.
• Check the notification for rules on declaring the medium and using one medium throughout.

How to decide

The test: write the same answer in both languages under time. Compare coverage, clarity and speed.

Here is how the test usually works in practice. Take a 150-word GS question — say, "Discuss the causes of floods in eastern Uttar Pradesh." Set a timer for seven minutes and write it in Hindi. The next day, do the same question in English. Then look at both answers side by side, or ask a friend or mentor to. Which one covers more points? Which reads more naturally? Which did you finish with time to spare? Repeat with two or three more questions from different papers. Within a week, the answer is usually obvious — and it is often not the one candidates expected.

Some candidates discover that they read in English but think and write faster in Hindi. Others find the reverse. A few are genuinely equal in both; for them, the availability of sources and the overlap with UPSC (if they are attempting it) can decide the matter.

Myths to dismiss

• "Examiners prefer English." No reliable evidence.
• "Hindi answers are easier to write well." Only if your Hindi is strong and precise.
• "You must switch to English for technical subjects." Hindi has standard technical terms; learn them.

If you write in Hindi

Strengths: natural expression for most UP candidates; overlap with the General Hindi and Essay papers; many UP sources in Hindi.

Watch out for:

• Technical terms — build a glossary using NCERT Hindi editions and government documents.
• Spelling and grammar — errors distract (see our guide on General Hindi).
• Overly Sanskritised language — keep it clear.
• Mixing English words — use Hindi terms consistently, except where the English term is standard (e.g., GST).

If you write in English

Strengths: wide access to standard books, reports, national newspapers; overlap with UPSC.

Watch out for:

• UP-specific terms — many UP sources are in Hindi; make notes in English.
• Grammar — keep sentences short.
• General Hindi — you still need a strong score in this 150-mark paper.

Build a bilingual glossary

Add five terms a week.

What a strong Hindi answer looks like

Many Hindi-medium answers lose marks not because the content is weak, but because the language wanders. A strong answer in Hindi reads like a good government note: short sentences, standard terms, and no decoration. Compare two openings to a question on groundwater:

• Weak: a long sentence about the importance of water in human civilisation since ancient times, with several Sanskrit quotations.
• Strong: "उत्तर प्रदेश में सिंचाई का सबसे बड़ा स्रोत भूजल है, किंतु पश्चिमी और मध्य उत्तर प्रदेश के अनेक विकासखंडों में जल-स्तर तेजी से गिर रहा है।"

The second opening is direct, uses standard terms (भूजल, विकासखंड, जल-स्तर), and tells the examiner at once that the candidate understands the issue. The same principle applies in English: get to the point in the first sentence.

Presentation tips

• Short paragraphs; clear subheadings.
• Neat handwriting; consistent spacing.
• Underline key terms sparingly.
• Simple diagrams and maps.

Decide early

Choose your medium within the first two months, and stick to it. Switching late costs speed and consistency.