Civil Services Exam Optional Subjects

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

  1. Assamese
  2. Bengali
  3. Bodo
  4. Dogri
  5. Gujarati
  6. Hindi
  7. Kannada
  8. Kashmiri
  9. Konkani
  10. Maithili
  11. Malayalam
  12. Manipuri
  13. Marathi
  14. Nepali
  15. Odia
  16. Punjabi
  17. Sanskrit
  18. Santali
  19. Sindhi
  20. Tamil
  21. Telugu
  22. Urdu
  23. English

Humanities

  1. Anthropology
  2. Geography
  3. History
  4. Philosophy
  5. Political Science & International Relations
  6. Psychology
  7. Public Administration
  8. Sociology

Science

  1. Agriculture
  2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
  3. Botany
  4. Chemistry
  5. Civil Engineering
  6. Commerce & Accountancy
  7. Economics
  8. Electrical Engineering
  9. Geology
  10. Law
  11. Mathematics
  12. Mechanical Engineering
  13. Medical Science
  14. Physics
  15. Statistics
  16. Zoology

Other Subjects

  1. Management

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Optional Subject

  1. Interest and Background: Choose a subject you are genuinely interested in and have a background in, either academically or professionally.
  2. Syllabus Length: Some subjects have more concise syllabuses, making them easier to cover thoroughly.
  3. Availability of Resources: Ensure there are sufficient study materials, coaching, and guidance available for the subject.
  4. Scoring Potential: Look at past trends and data to understand which subjects have higher scoring potential.
  5. Overlap with General Studies: Some optional subjects have substantial overlap with General Studies papers, which can save preparation time.
  6. 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.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply