**How can personal anecdotes be skillfully used in UPSC essays without overshadowing facts?**
To skillfully incorporate personal anecdotes in UPSC essays, aspirants should ensure these stories are relevant and directly support the main arguments. The anecdotes should serve to illustrate key points or humanize abstract concepts, without overshadowing factual information. Maintaining a balance is essential; aspirants should aim for a 50-50 ratio between personal experiences and empirical evidence. Additionally, using anecdotes as discrete examples rather than central themes can enhance the narrative while still grounding the essay in a solid factual framework.