Each year lakhs of students write the UPSC examination, which is considered one of the most coveted examinations for Indian residents. The examination is divided into three stages, Prelims, Mains and the Interview round and to ace the examination, a candidate has to pass all these stages with flying colors.
In the UPSC Mains examination, a candidate has to choose an optional subject and it has been observed choosing the correct optional subject can help in creating a stark difference in the final mark sheet.
Curious to understand which optional subject to choose and how you should advance your studying strategy, then stick to the end of the article as we share all the details.
Why is choosing the correct optional subject important?
The marks of the optional subject may weigh 500 marks out of 2025 marks, however, play a crucial role in the final marks breakdown. The marks break up include 1000 marks General Studies, 250 marks Essay and 275 marks Interview. Choosing the correct optional subject helps you to score high marks in the Mains examination.
If you find your graduation subject in the given list of optional subjects, then it is recommended to choose the subject that you already know or some other similar subject. Choosing an optional subject that will not encroach on your General Studies preparation is usually recommended.
You can always choose technical subjects like Mathematics over non-technical subjects like humanities-based ones as it will help you to score high marks or you can select optional subjects that overlap with GS papers.
Best optional subject to choose
Firstly, go through the list of optional subjects available for the UPSC examination and while deciding, select the optional subject which
- Piques your interest
- Overlaps with GS papers. Optional subjects that overlap with GS papers are Public Administration, Sociology, History, Geography, Political Science, Law, Economics, Agriculture and Philosophy.
- Studied during graduation or any other related subject
- The subject that has optimal study material available online and offline
Considering the general trends of UPSC over the years, choosing Public Administration has given the highest success rate, however, to further elaborate, here are a few pointers for you to consider
- If you are medical students / doctors: Medical Science, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science and Zoology
- For engineering candidates: Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
- Top 10: Anthropology, Public Administration, Psychology, Law, Geography, History, Sociology, Agriculture, Medical Science and Literature
Bottom Line
While choosing the optional subject, it is important to keep some pointers in mind. It might happen that there are 3-4 optional subjects that have piqued your interest or you are well acquainted with. In such a situation, it is foremost requested to go through the syllabus for each and decide which can fit into your GS studies preparation strategy.
Once you have finalized your optional subject, you can then start your preparation in an organized manner. Prepare your basics by reading your NCERT books and then you can move on to the required textbooks for your subject.
You can take the aid of various educational videos available online to navigate through your coursework. Practice previous year's question papers and give mock exams to assess your preparation and gauge the important topics that need to be covered. Also, do not forget to remain updated with current affairs, especially in the subject you have chosen as your optional.