Best Optional Subject for UPSC: An Ultimate Guide

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is a highly sought-after exam that draws aspirants from various backgrounds and professions. While the exam is known for its rigorous syllabus and challenging nature, choosing the right optional subject can play a crucial role in a candidate’s success.

With the optional subject carrying a weightage of 500 maximum marks, it can make a significant difference in a candidate’s overall score and rank.

Thus, selecting the best optional subject for UPSC is not just important, but also a critical step toward achieving success in the exam.

In this article, we will delve into some of the best optional subjects for UPSC that can give aspirants an edge in their preparation and help them score well.

From Humanities to Science and Technology, we will explore a diverse range of subjects that can offer ample scope for candidates to showcase their proficiency and excel in the UPSC exam. So, let’s dive into the world of optional choices and uncover the ones that can lead aspirants to the path of success.

Why it is Essential to Choose the Best Optional Subject for UPSC Mains Exam?

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most competitive exams in the country, and every year, lakhs of aspirants appear for it to realize their dream of serving the nation. However, with the vast syllabus and intense competition, choosing the right optional subject can make all the difference in a candidate’s success.

The optional subject carries a weightage of 500 marks, and a high score in this section can significantly boost a candidate’s overall score and help them secure a good rank. Therefore, it is essential to select the best optional subject for UPSC, which aligns with a candidate’s strengths, interests, and academic background.

The choice of optional subjects plays a significant role in determining a candidate’s success in the exam. It can impact a candidate’s score, rank, and career aspirations. Moreover, selecting the right optional subject can also help candidates balance their preparation for the exam and improve their chances of qualifying for the interview round.

Therefore, it is crucial to make an informed decision while selecting the optional subject for UPSC. Candidates should consider several factors such as their interest, availability of study material and coaching, the scoring potential of the subject, and their academic background before making the final choice.

In conclusion, the selection of the best optional subject for UPSC is an essential step toward achieving success in the exam. It is a decision that should be made after careful consideration of various factors, and it can significantly impact a candidate’s future. So, choose wisely and pave the way for a successful career in civil services.

Also read: How Many Optional Subjects In UPSC?

Choosing the Optional Subject

You have a wide selection of theoretical subjects to pick from because the UPSC CSE exams are not standardized. Whether you choose to take them will depend on your preference, as well as your strengths, weaknesses, and availability of study material.

The ideal way is to research and consider all possible options before you make a decision.

To find out the ideal optional subject, you should analyze the syllabus thoroughly and the question papers from previous years. By doing so, you can gauge your decent level of knowledge and interest. Only then should you take the plunge and enlist in the chosen optional subject.

Take time to make the final decision.

There are several questions one can ask themselves and the answers to those questions will streamline the process of choosing the best optional subject for UPSC.

1. How many hours can you devote to preparation?
2. How vast or comprehensive is the optional subject’s syllabus?
3. How much of your background knowledge is at the graduate level?
4. Are the necessary learning resources readily available?
5. What part of the curriculum overlaps with GS Subject papers?
6. Are you genuinely interested in and eager to learn about the subject?
7. Have you looked at the grade trends, the level of difficulty, and the papers from the prior year?

By responding to these inquiries, you will be able to choose the best optional subject for the UPSC with less uncertainty and thus have a starting point for your list of optionals to study.

Which Optional Papers Have the Highest Success Rate in the IAS/UPSC Examination?

As an aspirant, you may be wondering: which alternative choice has the best rate of success? The good news is that there are several options available. The trick is to choose wisely!

First of all, determine which alternative paper interests you the most. Then, eliminate the ones you cannot study in a reasonable amount of time, or which require an academic background.

The following tables detail the success rate of optionals in UPSC CSE Mains, including literature for the year 2019:

Optional Subject	Number of Candidates (Appeared)	Number of Candidates (Recommended)	Success Rate (Percent)
Geography	1916	105	5.5%
Geology	30	0	0.0%
Sociology	1263	126	10.0%
Agriculture	124	13	10.5%
Political Science and International Relations	1662	137	8.2%
Psychology	164	15	9.1%
Public Administration	705	58	8.2%
Anthropology	1189	108	9.1%
Mathematics	539	45	8.3%
Management	54	6	11.1%
History	751	51	6.8%
Law	186	19	10.2%
Medical Science	247	26	10.5%
Economics	243	26	10.7%
Botany	28	2	7.1%
Chemistry	156	13	8.3%
Physics	165	12	7.3%
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science	16	3	18.8%
Electrical Engineering	200	16	8.0%
Civil Engineering	146	15	10.3%
Philosophy	439	27	6.2%
Statistics	2	0	0.0%
Zoology	44	4	9.1%

Note: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has revised the success rate of the optional subjects for the UPSC Mains 2019 examination. This information can be seen in the most recent UPSC 71st Year report.

The following table indicates the percentage of students who passed each Literature optional in the 2019 IAS mains examination:

Literature Optional	Number of Candidates (Appeared)	Number of Candidates (Recommended)	Success Rate (Percent)
Kannada	124	17	13.7%
Malayalam	105	13	12.4%
Bengali	1	0	0.0%
Assamese	3	0	0.0%
English Language	31	3	9.7%
Hindi	191	13	6.8%
Tamil	77	5	6.5%
Urdu	18	2	11.1%
Punjabi	18	1	5.6%
Sanskrit	53	2	3.8%
Maithili Language	53	2	3.8%
Gujarati	85	3	3.5%
Telugu	32	1	3.1%
Manipuri	7	0	0.0%
Oriya	3	0	0.0%
Marathi	6	0	0.0%
Sindhi(Devanagari)	2	1	50.0%

The Year 2017

Here are the optional subjects that have the highest percentage of success in the UPSC Exam are tabulated below:

No.	Optional Subject	Candidates Appeared	Candidates Recommended	Success Rate
1	Accounts	224	28	12.5
2	Agriculture	89	11	12.4
3	Botany	44	5	11.4
4	Mechanical Engineering	170	19	11.2
5	Psychology	193	21	10.9
6	Medical Science	313	32	10.2
7	Public Administration	1165	119	10.2
8	Physics	140	14	10
9	Electrical Engineering	193	19	9.8
10	Anthropology	880	85	9.7
11	Sociology	1421	137	9.6
12	Political Science	1246	117	9.4
13	Civil Engineering	124	11	8.9
14	Chemistry	126	11	8.7
15	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	23	2	8.7
16	Management	86	7	8.1
17	Philosophy	755	53	7
18	Economics	233	16	6.9
19	Mathematics	441	26	5.9
20	Geography	2669	147	5.5
21	History	1074	59	5.5
22	Geology	37	2	5.4
23	Law	3041	43	4.1
24	Zoology	484	18	3.7
25	Statistics	3	0	0

The following table provides information regarding the percentage of candidates who passed the IAS Mains Literature optional in 2017:

Language Papers	Candidates Appeared	Candidates Recommended	Success Rate
Bodo	1	1	100%
Punjabi	39	6	15.4%
Urdu	26	5	19.2%
Sindhi	2	1	50%
Malayalam	111	8	7.2%
Gujarati	101	8	7.9%
Maithili	78	5	6.4%
Hindi	267	19	7.1%
Sanskrit	70	5	7.1%
English	21	2	9.5%
Kannada	115	4	3.5%
Tamil	107	5	4.7%
Manipuri	13	1	7.7%
Marathi	17	0	0%
Oriya	5	0	0%
Assamese	3	0	0%
Bengali	3	0	0%
Nepali	1	0	0%
Telugu	72	1	1.4%

The Year 2016

No.	Optionals	Candidates Appeared	Candidates Recommended	Success Rate
1	Agriculture	220	41	18.6
2	Medical science	98	16	16.3
3	Animal husbandry	65	8	12.3
4	Economics	326	37	11.3
5	Psychology	1061	116	10.9
6	Anthropology	345	37	10.7
7	Chemistry	124	7	5.6
8	Political science	1320	85	6.4
9	Geography	4049	236	5.8
10	Sociology	1555	89	5.7
11	Public administration	3201	337	10.5
12	Commerce & Accountancy	266	15	5.6
13	Mathematics	277	8	2.9
14	Law	365	19	5.2
15	Philosophy	2092	84	4
16	Zoology	484	18	3.7
17	History	3870	212	5.5

The success rates for the 2016 UPSC Mains Literature examination are shown in the table below:

Optional Subject	Candidates Appeared	Candidates Recommended	Success Rate
Hindi	974	56	5.7%
Telugu	147	9	6.1%
Pali	255	18	7.1%
Malayalam	67	5	7.5%
Sanskrit	122	10	8.2%
Tamil	225	29	12.9%
Urdu	29	4	13.8%
English	40	6	15%
Marathi	42	7	16.7%
Kannada	84	14	16.7%
Gujarati	42	7	16.7%
Punjabi	19	5	26.3%
Assamese	5	2	40%

Note: If you have a strong academic background, you can consider the one in which you are well-versed. Many IAS aspirants have achieved higher scores in subjects that aren’t commonly chosen. This doesn’t mean that you should choose an optional stream just because it has a higher success rate.

What Optional is Taken the Most Often by IAS Candidates?

IAS hopefuls have shown a remarkable degree of consistency over the years with regard to the selection of a selective group of subjects.

The fact that these alternative papers have the highest number of applicants is due to the fact that their curriculum overlaps with that of other portions of the CSE exam (like UPSC Prelims, GS I, II, III or IV, Essay paper).

Optionals	(Approx) Number of Aspirants	Syllabus Overlaps with
History	3500	Prelims, GS I
Geography	3500	Prelims, GS I and GS III
Political Science	1800	Prelims, GS II
Philosophy	1000	GS IV, Essay
Public Administration	3000	Prelims, GS II
Sociology	1800	GS I, GS II, Essay

This table now shows the optional subjects in order of their scoring potential, with the highest potential subjects listed at the top. This can be useful for aspirants who are looking to maximize their scores in the UPSC exam.

Note that the choice of subject for the optional exam should still be based on individual interests, strengths, and availability of study material and coaching.

Also read: Toppers Optional Subject in UPSC

What are the Highest-Scoring Optional Subjects for the IAS?

Some alternative papers have a higher pass percentage than others. However, if we consider the broader perspective, both technical and non-technical courses have yielded excellent results for UPSC top scorers, with scores of 320 or more.

Candidates may perceive certain papers as having low scores due to a lack of effort or choosing an optional subject that doesn’t align with their strengths.

Philosophy is one of the optional papers with a concise syllabus, making it easier for candidates to cover the material.

Technical papers like Mathematics are generally regarded as advantageous because of their lower “subjectivity quotient.”

In other words, compared to humanities subjects, examiner preferences, and biases have less influence on the candidate’s score.

However, non-technical subjects offer plenty of study material, which can lead to a higher overall score in the Mains, especially those that overlap with the General Studies syllabus.

Also read: Most Scoring Optional Subject In UPSC

Which is the Best Optional Paper for UPSC?

There is no one “best” optional subject for UPSC IAS Exam that can be recommended universally to all aspirants. The optional choice for UPSC should be made based on a candidate’s interest, academic background, and the subject’s scoring potential.

Every optional course has its pros and cons, and the best subject for one candidate may not be suitable for another. Therefore, candidates should select the subject that aligns with their strengths and interests and can help them score well in the exam.

There are several well-known alternative subjects that aspirants often choose for the UPSC Mains exam. Some of them are History, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Public Administration, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Literature in either English, Hindi, or Urdu.

These subjects have been known to provide good scores, and there is adequate study material and IAS coaching classes are available for them.

However, the choice of an optional field is a personal one, and candidates should make an informed decision based on their own strengths and interests. With the right choice, candidates can pave the way for a successful career in civil services and serve the nation with dedication and excellence.

Which UPSC Optional Papers Overlap the Most with General Studies?

Following is an optional list for UPSC Exam that IAS aspirants from both technical and non-technical domains frequently choose.

These subjects may seem more popular among IAS aspirants due to their substantial overlap with the General Studies papers or other areas of the exam.

1. Public Administration: It has a highly relevant and compact syllabus. Its paper II (Indian Administration) has a lot of overlap with the governance and polity part in General Studies Paper 2.
2. Sociology: This subject deals with the study of society and offers a lot of material that can be used in GS I, essays, and even in Ethics papers.
3. History: This subject is relevant for prelims as well as GS I.
4. Geography: This subject is also relevant for prelims as well as GS I.
5. Political Science: This subject is relevant for prelims as well as GS II.
6. Law: Law is also relevant for prelims as well as GS II.

Apart from these, there are several other optional disciplines at UPSC that are also good to study, including economics, philosophy, and agriculture.

Ultimately, it is essential to choose a subject that aligns with your strengths and interests while also providing you with the best chance of success in the UPSC exam.

The optional subject of choice at IAS that is also good to study include philosophy, economics, and agriculture.

How to Narrow Out the Best UPSC Optional Paper?

Choosing the right optional subject for the UPSC CSE Mains examination can be a challenging task. To make the process easier, you can follow these steps:

1. Begin by creating a list of 4-5 subjects that you are interested in. Next, read the syllabus for each of the subjects carefully, and mark the topics that you are familiar with or interested in.
2. Once you have narrowed down your list, it’s time to review the previous year’s papers for each of the subjects. Try to answer the questions to the best of your ability and evaluate your level of knowledge and interest in each subject.
3. Consider the availability of study materials and guidance for each subject. Some subjects may have more comprehensive study materials or coaching available, which can make preparation easier.
4. Keep in mind that some subjects are more technical than others and require self-study. Consider your strengths and weaknesses while making your final decision.
5. Finally, consider the success rate of each subject in previous years. Literature subjects, for example, have traditionally performed well. If you have a good command of your native language, you may want to consider choosing the literature of your language as your optional paper.

By following these steps, you can shortlist the best optional subject for the UPSC exam based on your interests, strengths, and the availability of study materials and guidance.

Additional Considerations for Shortlisting

Public administration is an excellent alternative for some people who have worked in large corporations. It also has really been the option that working candidates or individuals who have worked in the past have most frequently chosen.

The papers in medical science, zoology, or anthropology may be chosen by medical students. This is because these papers are associated with their specialty.

Also Read: How To Select Optional Subject For UPSC Exam?

Top 10 Optional Papers for UPSC

The top 10 optional subjects for the UPSC can be ranked as follows after taking into account the statistics provided above, the most recent UPSC CSE curriculum, and the most recent IAS results:

1. Sociology
2. Agriculture
3. Medical Science
4. Literature Subject (Any)
5. Anthropology
6. Public Administration
7. Psychology
8. Law
9. Geography
10. History

IAS applicants should nevertheless treat the data with caution because they are still only broad indicators. The best elective for applicant A may not be the same for applicant B. So, the ideal subject for the IAS Mains Optional must be determined from the viewpoint of the individual.

Which IAS Optional Subjects are the Best for Doctors and Medical Students?

Medical Science is the obvious pick among the various possibilities. Several IAS best performers with medical backgrounds choose medical science as their optional.

In some cases, courses in veterinary science, animal husbandry, and zoology can also be taken into consideration. In contrast, non-technical courses that overlap with GS become the candidate’s choice if they are unwilling to choose medical science as their optional subject.

Which are the Best Optional Papers for UPSC for Engineering Hopefuls?

Several applicants with engineering backgrounds score highly on the IAS exams. However, there are relatively fewer alternatives for engineering subjects, mainly civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, if a candidate wants to select an optional course depending on their prior expertise.

If one does not have graduate-level knowledge of the paper, one may be reluctant to pursue a technical field.

Mathematics, physics, and chemistry are a few additional options. Although there is still some subjectivity in the marking, these subjects take a lot of time and effort to prepare for. Thus, it is usually preferable to review the IAS curriculum and sample questions beforehand.

Related Posts:

Physics Optional Syllabus For UPSC	Agriculture Optional Syllabus For UPSC
Chemistry Optional Syllabus For UPSC	Zoology Optional Syllabus For UPSC
Maths Optional Syllabus For UPSC CSE	English Literature Optional Syllabus For UPSC
Botany Optional Syllabus For UPSC	Electrical Engineering Optional UPSC
Mechanical Engineering Optional For UPSC CSE	Civil Engineering Optional For UPSC

Best UPSC Optional Subject for Self-Study

Choosing the best optional subject for UPSC is subjective and depends on the individual’s interests, aptitude, and background. However, some of the optional subjects that are considered popular and suitable for self-study are:

1. History: History is a popular choice as it involves reading and analyzing events from the past, which can be studied independently.
2. Geography: Geography is another subject that can be studied independently, as it involves understanding the earth’s physical and cultural features.
3. Political Science: Political Science is a subject that can be studied independently, as it deals with political systems, institutions, and theories.
4. Public Administration: Public Administration is a popular subject among aspirants with a background in management, as it deals with the administration and governance of public institutions.
5. Sociology: Sociology is a subject that involves the study of society, culture, and social structures, which can be studied independently.

Ultimately, the choice of the optional subject depends on the individual’s strengths and interests. It is important to choose a subject that one is passionate about and can study consistently.

Which Optional in UPSC has the Shortest Syllabus?

Of all the optional papers for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, philosophy has the smallest syllabus. When compared to the remainder, other options including Anthropology, Sociology, and Public Administration are likewise thought to have a smaller curriculum.

Also read: Easiest Optional Subject For UPSC

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best optional subject for UPSC Exam is subjective and varies from individual to individual. While some aspirants may find certain subjects more suitable based on their background, interests, and aptitude, others may prefer a different subject.

However, one should choose an optional subject that they are passionate about and can study consistently.

It is also essential to keep in mind that each optional subject requires thorough preparation and understanding of the exam syllabus to score well in the UPSC Exam. Therefore, aspirants should choose a subject that they can commit to and prepare accordingly to achieve success in the UPSC Exam.

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