The UPSC Civil Services Examination allows candidates to choose one optional subject for the Mains Examination. The optional subject consists of two papers, each worth 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. The choice of optional subject is crucial as it can significantly impact the overall score. Below is a list of the optional subjects available for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination:
Literature
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Maithili
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Marathi
- Nepali
- Odia
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Santali
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
- English
Humanities
- Anthropology
- Geography
- History
- Philosophy
- Political Science & International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
Science
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce & Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geology
- Law
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
Other Subjects
- Management
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Optional Subject
- Interest and Background: Choose a subject you are genuinely interested in and have a background in, either academically or professionally.
- Syllabus Length: Some subjects have more concise syllabuses, making them easier to cover thoroughly.
- Availability of Resources: Ensure there are sufficient study materials, coaching, and guidance available for the subject.
- Scoring Potential: Look at past trends and data to understand which subjects have higher scoring potential.
- Overlap with General Studies: Some optional subjects have substantial overlap with General Studies papers, which can save preparation time.
- Success Rate: Analyze the success rate of candidates in specific optional subjects.
Examples of Popular Optional Subjects
- Geography: Known for its scientific nature and overlap with GS Paper I.
- History: Extensive overlap with GS Paper I, especially in Indian History.
- Public Administration: Popular due to its relevance to the administrative services.
- Sociology: Preferred for its concise syllabus and overlap with GS Paper I and Essay.
- Anthropology: Chosen for its concise syllabus and scoring potential.
- Political Science & International Relations: Overlap with GS Paper II and a good understanding of polity and international affairs.
Candidates should carefully evaluate their strengths, interests, and available resources before choosing their optional subject to maximize their performance in the Mains Examination.