Optional Subjects in UPSC Mains Examination

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Every year, thousands of aspirants enrol for the UPSC examination and work tirelessly to prepare for it. While detailed guidelines for preparation are widely available on various platforms, selecting the right optional subject remains one of the most crucial and challenging decisions for candidates. This guide offers insights into the importance of optional subjects and how to make the right choice.

Understanding Optional Subjects in UPSC

In the UPSC Civil Services Examination, optional subjects play a key role in determining your final score. Many aspirants find themselves drawn toward the optional subject papers, given their impact on the exam outcome. However, questions like “How to select the right optional subject?”, “What is the list of optional subjects?”, and “Who can help resolve the confusion?” are common. Let’s break it down.

Exam Criteria and Optional Subjects

The UPSC examination is divided into multiple papers, including:

  • 2 compulsory language papers
  • 7 other papers, out of which 2 are for optional subjects.

Each optional subject consists of two papers, each carrying 250 marks, making up 500 marks in total. This means optional subjects account for 25% of the total marks in the UPSC mains. Hence, choosing the right subject is critical for success.

UPSC offers a list of 48 optional subjects, which are broadly categorized into:

  1. Subject-specific optional subjects
  2. Literature optional subjects

How to Choose Your Optional Subject

Choosing an optional subject can be a daunting task. Here are some key factors to consider:

  1. Interest and Comfort
    • Opt for a subject that genuinely interests you. If you enjoy studying a topic, it will feel less like a burden and more like an opportunity to learn.
  2. Familiarity with the Subject
    • Choose a subject where you already have some background knowledge or academic exposure. This gives you a head start and saves time.
  3. Scoring Potential
    • Some optional subjects have a history of yielding higher scores. While this shouldn’t be the sole factor, it’s worth considering.
  4. Overlap with General Studies
    • Subjects like Public Administration, Geography, and History often overlap with the General Studies syllabus, reducing the overall study load.
  5. Availability of Resources
    • Ensure that enough study materials, coaching, and guidance are available for the subject you choose.

Popular Optional Subjects

Here are some of the most commonly chosen optional subjects for UPSC:

  • Public Administration
  • Geography
  • History
  • Political Science
  • Philosophy

These subjects are popular because they are relatively straightforward, have a good amount of overlap with the General Studies papers, and are supported by abundant study resources.

Thumb Rule for Selection

The golden rule is to select a subject you are comfortable with and confident about. If you have a technical background, consider subjects that align with your expertise. If you prefer theoretical subjects, go for topics that interest you and allow deeper engagement.

Remember, the right optional subject is the one that maximizes your strengths and minimizes your weaknesses. Take time to evaluate your options, consult with mentors, and make an informed choice.

With the right optional subject and focused preparation, you can significantly improve your chances of success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

Key Takeaways

  • Optional subjects carry 500 marks in the mains exam, making them crucial for your final score.
  • Choose a subject that aligns with your interests, comfort, and availability of resources.
  • Popular subjects include Public Administration, Geography, History, Political Science, and Philosophy.
  • Use the thumb rule: select a subject you can study comfortably and with confidence.

Resources of optional subjects

Suppose you are looking for optional subjects in UPSC mains and its preparation. Try to focus on the available syllabus and resources for optional subjects. This will help more in selection. Mostly the optional subjects have a lot of data available for you, such as History, Sociology, Geography, and much more. The availability of subjects can help in preparation for the exams.

Thoroughly analyse the subjects. Look over the past papers, the previous exams. Start the subject from the beginning and move with that till the end. After thoroughly analysing the subject, make up your mind and go with the flow.

Competitive Subjects

The other main criteria for you in selection are the competitive subjects. Those subjects which most students take make the overall competition tougher and decrease the chances of a high score. However, if you are rushing for a low, competitive subject, then more chances for a high score. It’s an inverse relation for a scoring higher position.

Proper Guidance

Suppose you are selecting that subject, which has no guidance. This position will make the selection more difficult. Try to focus on that subject that has proper guidance for you. If you plan to choose the optional subjects without guidance, the selection and preparation will become messier.

FAQS

Q1. Which optional subject is easy in UPSC?

Ans. Mostly it depends on your interest. However, sociology and geography are the easiest subjects to score higher marks.

Q2. Which optional subject has the least syllabus in UPSC?

Ans. There are several optional subjects with the least syllabus. Some of the options are Public Administration, Agriculture, medical sciences, and management.

Q3. Which optional subject for UPSC for engineering Candidates?

Ans. There are different options for the UPSC for an engineering candidate. The subjects involve civil engineering, mechanical engineering or chemistry, and physics.

Q4. Which optional subject gives the highest Success Rate?

Ans. The higher success rate goes with Accounts, agriculture, and medical science. However, don’t go with such a flow for the selection.

Q5. Which is the easiest optional subject for UPSC?

Ans. The easiest subject depends on your interest and your educational background. It depends on how you understand the optional subject and how much grip you have on it.

Conclusion

Finally, comes the overlap. The selection of optional subjects depends on you and your interest. Make a fine decision to select optional subjects for making a firm position in the UPSC examination. Go through all details of optional subjects in UPSC and preparation methods.

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