Philosophy Optional · Paper II · Philosophy of Religion
Problem of Evil Notes · PYQs
Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Problem of Evil, Unit 13 of Paper II, Section B: the official syllabus, 7 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 21 questions from 2000 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.
7
Free notes
21
Questions listed
14
Asked since 2013
2000–2026
Years covered
On this page
Syllabus Free notes Previous year questions All Philosophy units
Official UPSC syllabus
Problem of Evil: syllabus
The syllabus text for this unit in Paper II, Section B (Philosophy of Religion) of Philosophy Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.
Problem of Evil.
Paper II · Section B · Unit 13
Problem of Evil notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order, written for UPSC Mains in plain language, with diagrams and the previous year questions on each topic.
Free notes
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The Problem of Evil: Meaning and Kinds of Evil, the Epicurus–Hume Dilemma, Why It Arises from How God Is Conceived, Non-theological Evil, Evil and the Profane, and the Bitter Pill
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The Logical and Evidential Problems of Evil: Mackie, the Paradox of Omnipotence, Plantinga’s Free Will Defence, Rowe’s Fawn, Sceptical Theism and Innocent Suffering
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Augustine’s Theodicy: Privatio Boni, Free Will and the Fall, All Evil Is Either Sin or Punishment for Sin, Natural Evil, the Aesthetic Theme and Aquinas
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Free Will and the Greater Good: the Free-Willist View, Man as Co-creator, the Instrumentalist View, Evil as Warning and Discipline, Natural Evil and Is God Its Cause?
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Soul-Making and the Best Possible World: Irenaeus and Hick, Epistemic Distance, Evil and Self-transcendence, Leibniz’s Three Evils, Felix Culpa, Voltaire and Evil as Illusion
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Limiting God and Living with Evil: Process Theodicy, the Finite God, Protest Theodicy, the Suffering God, Faith, and Can God Be Imperfect and Powerless?
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Evil in Indian Thought: Karma and Rebirth, the Brahmasūtra on Partiality and Cruelty, Nyāya, Buddhist and Jaina Critiques, Vedānta, Aurobindo, Gandhi and the Indian–Western Comparison
Free practice
Previous year questions: Problem of Evil
All 21 questions UPSC has set from this unit between 2000 and 2026, grouped by sub-topic with the most-asked first, newest first within each. Questions from 2013 onwards are shown; earlier ones open on a tap.
How often UPSC asks each sub-topic
| Sub-topic | Questions | Since 2013 | Last asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Problem of Evil | 4 | 2 | 2020 |
| Theistic Responses | 3 | 2 | 2016 |
| Augustinian Theodicy | 2 | 2 | 2026 |
| Natural Evil | 2 | 2 | 2015 |
| Value of Suffering | 2 | 0 | 2012 |
| Leibniz · Theodicy | 2 | 0 | 2007 |
| Process Theodicy | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Concept of God and Evil | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Free Will and Evil | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Omnipotence and Evil | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Evil and Religion | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Non-theological Evil | 1 | 1 | 2017 |
Logical Problem of Evil
4 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2020
Asked since 2013 · 2
2020What is the logical problem of evil? Discuss. (15 marks)2014Is evil reconcilable with the benevolent God? (20 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2005–2010 · 2 questions
2010The problem of evil arises when we attribute infinite knowledge, power and goodness to God acknowledging the fact of innocent persons suffering. One cannot be mistaken about one’s own experience and suffering is an experience. Hence, God cannot have at least one of the three attributes; infinite knowledge. power and goodness.” Evaluate this argument (15 marks)2005The problem of evil is the problem of reconciling the imperfect world with the goodness of God.” Critical notes (20 marks)
Theistic Responses
3 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2016
Asked since 2013 · 2
2016“If God is all-powerful, God must wish to abolish all evils; but moral and natural evils are rampant in the world.” How would a theist react to this? (20 marks)2015Do you think that evil is a bitter pill which no theist can easily swallow? Discuss. (20 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2008 · 1 question
2008How can a theist resolve the problem of evil? Does evil not tell upon omnipotence and omniscience of God? Can God be thought of as imperfect and powerless in this regard? Discuss critically for and against the two possible opposite views and justify your own position (60 marks)
Augustinian Theodicy
2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2026
Asked since 2013 · 2
2026In what sense does St. Augustine’s identification of all evil as either sin or as the punishment of sin succeed or fail in providing a coherent account of both moral and natural evil? Evaluate. (20 marks)2023All evil is either sin or punishment for sin. –St. Augustine. Critically discuss. (20 marks)
Natural Evil
2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2015
Asked since 2013 · 2
2015Is God the cause of natural evil ? Explain. (10 marks)2013Do theists succeed in explaining the natural evil in the world as a necessary counterpart to good? (10 marks)
Value of Suffering
2 questions · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2012
2009–2012 · 2 questions
2012God permitted suffering to discipline the human being (12 marks)2009If evil and sufferings are the real experiences of individual self, what role do they play in realising self-transcendence? (20 marks)
Leibniz · Theodicy
2 questions · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2007
2000–2007 · 2 questions
2007God permitted evil to exist in order to bring about greater good, Adan’s fall was felix culpa (happy sin).”-Leibnitz, Critical notes (20 marks)2000Discuss the problem of evil with special reference to Leibniz’s theodicy. (60 marks)
Process Theodicy
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Asked since 2013 · 1
2025Explain the main tenets of the Process Theodicy as an explanation of the problem of evil. (15 marks)
Concept of God and Evil
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2024
Asked since 2013 · 1
2024“The problem of evil is a direct offshoot of how God is conceptualised in a system.” Critically discuss. (15 marks)
Free Will and Evil
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2022
Asked since 2013 · 1
2022If God is the Absolute Creator, then the responsibility of the evil cannot belong to the human agent. Critically examine. (15 marks)
Omnipotence and Evil
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2021
Asked since 2013 · 1
2021Discuss the paradox of omnipotence of God in the context of the existence of evil. (10 marks)
Evil and Religion
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2019
Asked since 2013 · 1
2019What role do the concepts of evil and profane play to provide a firm foundation to religion ? (15 marks)
Non-theological Evil
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2017
Asked since 2013 · 1
2017How do you define a non-theological concept of evil? Explain. (10 marks)
Year-wise question papers
All question papers Topic-wise PYQ bank (both papers) 2026 paper 2025 paper 2024 paper 2023 paper
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Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation
Soul: Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
Philosophy Optional
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