The UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on 31st August 2025. This optional subject is a popular choice for candidates with a background in biology, biotechnology, or life sciences. Botany, being the scientific study of plants, covers topics such as plant anatomy, physiology, reproduction, metabolism, and plant diseases.
One of the key reasons aspirants prefer Botany is its well-structured and static syllabus, which makes preparation more predictable compared to dynamic humanities optionals. The subject is considered scoring because of its conceptual clarity, availability of diagrams, and the scope for precise answers.
UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025
The UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on August 31, 2025. Aspirants should focus on concise and structured writing, as Botany is considered one of the more scientific and scoring optional subjects.
| UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025 | |
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
UPSC Civil Services Exam |
|
Optional Papers in UPSC Mains Exam |
2 Papers |
|
Optional Paper I |
Botany Optional Paper-I |
|
Optional Paper II |
Botany Optional Paper-II |
|
Optional Weightage |
25% of the total marks of the Written Exam and Personality Test |
|
Total Optional Subjects in the UPSC CSE Exam |
48 Subjects |
|
Total Marks in Optional |
500 Marks (250 marks each) |
UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025 PDFs
The UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025 consists of two descriptive papers, Paper I and Paper II each carrying 250 marks. To make it easier for aspirants, the table below will track the availability of PDFs for both papers:
| UPSC Botany Optional Paper 2025 PDFs | |
|
Paper |
Download Link |
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UPSC Botany Optional Paper I 2025 PDF (9:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon) |
Available Soon |
|
UPSC Botany Optional Paper II 2025 PDF (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM) |
Available Soon |
UPSC Botany Optional Previous Year Question Papers PDF
The UPSC Botany Optional Previous Year Question Papers are available for aspirants aiming to strengthen their preparation. These papers provide a clear idea of the exam pattern, the depth of subject knowledge required, and the type of questions that are frequently asked.
| Year | Paper I | Paper II |
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2025 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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2019 |
UPSC Botany Optional Previous Year Question Papers Significance
We provide access to these UPSC Botany Optional Previous Year Question Papers in PDF format, making them an invaluable resource for focused preparation. Practicing with previous year papers helps aspirants refine their answer-writing skills, improve time management, and identify important topics.
- By solving the UPSC Botany Optional Previous Year Question Papers, aspirants gain valuable insights into the evolving question patterns.
- Assess your performance by checking how well you can recall, analyze, and present information under exam-like conditions.
- Identify areas of weakness so you can focus more on topics that need improvement.
- Strategically plan your preparation by prioritizing recurring themes and frequently asked questions.
- Understand the paper’s structure and learn how to approach questions effectively, using diagrams, examples, and concise explanations.
Botany as an Optional Subject
- Conceptual clarity - When your basics are strong and you truly understand the concepts, you can explain them in a simple yet thorough way. Examiners reward that.
- Well-structured answers - Organising your response with flow, relevant diagrams, and practical examples makes it easier to follow and usually fetches better marks.
Less subjectivity - Since Botany is science-based, most questions have definite answers. This reduces examiner bias and makes your performance more about knowledge than interpretation.
Last updated on November, 2025
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UPSC Botany Optional Previous Year Question Papers FAQs
Q1. Why should I solve UPSC Botany previous year question papers?+
Q2. How many papers are there in Botany optional?+
Q3. Where can I find UPSC Botany PYQs?+
Q4. Do questions repeat in Botany optional?+
Q5. Which topics are most important in Botany PYQs?+



