Understanding cognitive biases is essential for UPSC aspirants as it helps them recognize and mitigate distorted thinking patterns that may affect their judgment and decision-making. By identifying biases such as confirmation bias or anchoring, candidates can approach their study materials and practice questions with a more critical mindset. This awareness facilitates better evaluation of information, leading to improved comprehension of complex issues. Moreover, understanding cognitive biases aids in crafting balanced essays that account for multiple dimensions of a topic, thus improving performance in the essay and general studies sections of the UPSC exam.