11-09-2024
04:30 AM
UPSC Optional Subject List is released by the officials every year in the official notification. One crucial aspect of the UPSC exam is selecting an optional subject for the Mains examination. This decision can significantly impact a candidate's chances of success and must be made after careful consideration. UPSC optional subjects must be selected for Papers 6 and 7 in the Mains exam. Each of these papers carries 250 marks.
This article will delve into the realm of optional subjects for UPSC, highlighting their importance and providing insights to help aspiring candidates make informed choices.
There are a total of 48 optional subjects in the UPSC Mains exam, which includes 25 core subjects and 22 literature optional.
There are a total of 48 subjects included in the UPSC optional subject list, out of which candidates are required to choose only one. While choosing an optional subject is subjective and should align with an individual's interests and abilities, candidates have historically favoured certain subjects. Some popular UPSC optional subjects include:
The UPSC Mains examination is known for its vast syllabus covering a wide range of subjects. While candidates must clear compulsory papers, optional subjects offer an opportunity to showcase expertise and interest in a particular field. These subjects allow candidates to delve deeper into a subject of their choice and enable them to leverage their existing knowledge and skills to their advantage.
Moreover, selecting an optional subject for UPSC that aligns with one's background or academic strengths can enhance overall performance and confidence during the examination.
Preparing for the optional subject in the UPSC examination requires a systematic and focused approach. Here are some preparation tips to help you effectively tackle your chosen optional subject:
According to the last Report released by the Department of Personnel & Training, the success rate of the Optional Subjects for the 2019 UPSC Mains Exam is given below.
Success-Rate of Optional in UPSC 2019 | |||
Optional Subjects for UPSC | Number of Candidates | Success Rate (Percent) | |
Appeared | Recommended | ||
Geography | 1916 | 105 | 5.5% |
Sociology | 1263 | 126 | 10.0% |
Commerce & Accountancy | 183 | 20 | 10.9% |
Economics | 243 | 26 | 10.7% |
Agriculture | 124 | 13 | 10.5% |
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | 16 | 3 | 18.8% |
Anthropology | 1189 | 108 | 9.1% |
Botany | 28 | 2 | 7.1% |
Electrical Engineering | 200 | 16 | 8.0% |
Chemistry | 156 | 13 | 8.3% |
Geology | 30 | 0 | 0.0% |
History | 751 | 51 | 6.8% |
Law | 186 | 19 | 10.2% |
Management | 54 | 6 | 11.1% |
Mathematics | 539 | 45 | 8.3% |
Public Administration | 705 | 58 | 8.2% |
Civil Engineering | 146 | 15 | 10.3% |
Statistics | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
Zoology | 44 | 4 | 9.1% |
Political Science & International Relations | 1662 | 137 | 8.2% |
Psychology | 164 | 15 | 9.1% |
Mechanical Engineering | 213 | 12 | 5.6% |
Medical Science | 247 | 26 | 10.5% |
Philosophy | 439 | 27 | 6.2% |
Physics | 165 | 12 | 7.3% |
Other Related UPSC Optional Syllabus | ||
---|---|---|
UPSC Civil Engineering Optional Syllabus | UPSC Management Optional Syllabus | UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus |
UPSC Statistics Optional Syllabus | UPSC Electrical Engineering Optional Syllabus | |
UPSC Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional Syllabus |
Q1. What are the Optional Subjects in UPSC?
Ans. Candidates who clear Prelims and are going to appear for the Mains exam need to select an Optional Subject on which 2 papers will be there for 250 marks each. The selection of an optional subject is an important decision as it can impact a candidate's performance and overall success in the UPSC exam.
Q2. Which Optional Subject is best for UPSC?
Ans. The choice of the best optional subject for UPSC Mains is subjective and depends on various factors such as an individual's interest, aptitude, and preparation capabilities. Subjects like History, Geography, Public Administration, Political Science and International Relations, and Sociology have been popular among candidates due to their relative scoring potential and availability of study material.
Q3. What are the 26 Optional Subjects in UPSC?
Ans. The 26 optional subjects in UPSC are Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology, and Literature of various languages.
Q4. What was Ishita Kishore Optional Subject in UPSC?
Ans. Ishita Kishore’s optional subject in UPSC was Political Science and International Relations (PSIR). She was an Economics graduate from SRCC, Delhi University, but took PSIR as her optional subject because of the overlap of its syllabus with GS papers.
Q5. Which is the most Scoring Optional Subject in UPSC?
Ans. Based on the feedback of selected candidates, the list of most scoring optional subjects in UPSC Mains includes Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science and International Relations, and History.
Q6. How to Select Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains?
Ans. When selecting optional subjects for UPSC Mains, candidates should consider their interest, aptitude, and background knowledge. They should analyze the syllabus, check the availability of study material, and scoring potential of the optional subjects of their interest.
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