UPSC syllabus is generally vast. Optional subjects in the UPSC come across as a relief for many aspirants in this scenario. By selecting the best optional subject for UPSC, aspirants can significantly maximise their score. It is also important to select an optional subject strategically. You should not do that with whim or bias, only to lose the score. But how to select the best optional subject for the UPSC? We shall discuss the factors you should consider before making the choice.
List of Optional Subjects in the UPSC
Source: Official
Selecting the Best Optional Subject for UPSC
Educational Background
When deciding the best optional subject for UPSC, the most obvious choice is to consider your educational background. If you have an educational background that aligns with one of the optional in the UPSC, it makes the preparation effortless. For example, if you’re from an Agriculture or Medical background, the UPSC has both these optionals. There is no need for extensive preparation, except knowing the syllabus and focusing on that part. Optional papers in the UPSC occupy two papers worth 250 each. Thus, you’re at a significant advantage.
Popular optional subjects that overlap with Educational Background are Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Medical Science, Psychology, etc. Conversely, it is better to choose these optional subjects in the UPSC, only if you have a degree in one of these subjects. Otherwise, it is an unwise decision to take, only to decrease your score in the UPSC.
Syllabus Overlap
The most common metric used in selecting the best optional subject for UPSC is syllabus overlap. Certain subjects like History, Geography, Sociology, Public Administration, Political Science and International Relations have an overlapping syllabus. Subjects as they are or conceptss from these subjects are repeated in multiple phases of the UPSC exam or multiple papers of the UPSC Mains.
If you choose one of such optional subjects in the UPSC, it reduces your preparation time and syllabus coverage. You can prepare for the subject at once, and attempt all the questions that come from that, which is not possible if you choose other optional subjects. Indeed, if you select rare optional subjects, it doubles down on your preparation time and effort, which is undesirable. Moreover, focusing on one subject leads to quality performance, not when there are multiple subjects.
Complexity of the Subject
If you have to select the best optional subject for the UPSC, which is different from your educational background or lacks overlap with the UPSC syllabus, go for the easiest. It is a blind shot. For example, when you’re not from an Engineering background, but choose Mechanical Engineering optional, the chances of scoring are very low. Plus, it adds a huge burden on your preparation and syllabus coverage.
There is no point in selecting Electrical Engineering as the best optional subject for the UPSC when you’re from a Mechanical Engineering background.
So, what is the easiest optional subject for UPSC? Anthropology, PSIR, Sociology, Literature, Mathematics and Science subjects are perceived as the easiest and most scoring optional in the UPSC.
Subjects like Mathematics and Science can help students score higher if they overcome challenges like a vast syllabus, complex concepts, and the need for prior knowledge. These technical subjects offer higher marks due to limited subjectivity.
Humanities subjects like Anthropology, PSIR, and Sociology are also considered high-scoring due to their manageable syllabus, overlap with General Studies, and easier concepts.
Literature is seen as scoring for candidates with a strong foundation in their regional language or mother tongue. However, data is limited to conclusively determine their scoring trends due to fewer candidates opting for these subjects.
Personal Interest
Your interest can determine the best optional subject for the UPSC. However, it is a tricky choice. You have to look at the ease of preparation, syllabus coverage and subject itself. The goal is to select a subject that can reduce your preparation time and offer an easy alternative. If your interest also favours a subject with these factors, you may choose that optional.
For example, if you have a degree in Electrical Engineering, still, selecting the same optional in the UPSC might be burdensome because of the vast syllabus. In that case, you might wanna go for History optional, which might interest you. Many students do find History and Geography to be interesting subjects. The historical events or geographical facts are easier to understand and remember too. So, you can select the best optional based on that without much hassle. After all, if you have an interest, it helps you score better in that subject.
Once again, you can consider syllabus overlap to make a better decision among the subjects that you’re interested in. Always check the trend of most selected optional subjects when making a decision based on your interest. Because some subjects can be complex, e.g Psychology.
Scoring Trends and Expert Suggestions
If you’re not aware of the above, you can make a data-driven decision– based on popular trends and expert suggestions. Though there are 48 optional subjects, only a few are most frequently selected as the best optional subjects for UPSC. It could be for various reasons: scoring subject, syllabus overlap, educational background, or any other factor. Analysis of previous year trends shows that some subjects have more success rate than others:
Most Selected Optionals in Previous Years
| Optional Subject | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Geography | 1916 | 1993 | 2669 | 4049 | 4351 |
| Political Science & IR | 1662 | 1317 | 1246 | 1320 | 1107 |
| Sociology | 1263 | 1072 | 1421 | 1555 | 2490 |
| History | 751 | 842 | 1074 | 3870 | 2090 |
| Public Administration | 705 | 726 | 1165 | 3301 | 7077 |
| Philosophy | 439 | 463 | 755 | 2092 | 1116 |
| Psychology | 164 | 128 | 193 | 1061 | 1163 |
Success Rate of Popular Optional Subjects in UPSC
| Optional Subjects | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Candidates Appeared | Passed | Candidates Appeared | Passed | |
| Political Science & International Relations | 1863 | 8.3% | 1662 | 8.2% |
| Geography | 1322 | 7.2% | 1916 | 5.5% |
| Sociology | 1245 | 9.2% | 1263 | 10.0% |
| Anthropology | 1211 | 8.3% | 1189 | 9.1% |
| History | 581 | 4.1% | 751 | 6.8% |
| Mathematics | 580 | 5.8% | 539 | 8.3% |
| Public Administration | 509 | 4.5% | 705 | 8.2% |
| Philosophy | 347 | 7.5% | 439 | 6.2% |
| Economics | 236 | 13.1% | 243 | 10.7% |
| Literature Of Hindi Language | 226 | 8.4% | 191 | 6.8% |
Success Rate of Optional in UPSC 2020
| Optional Subject | Candidates Appeared | Candidates Recommended | Success Rate (%) |
| Political Science & International Relations | 1863 | 154 | 8.3 |
| Geography | 1322 | 95 | 7.2 |
| Sociology | 1245 | 115 | 9.2 |
| Anthropology | 1211 | 100 | 8.3 |
| History | 581 | 24 | 4.1 |
| Mathematics | 580 | 26 | 4.5 |
| Public Administration | 509 | 38 | 7.5 |
| Philosophy | 347 | 20 | 5.8 |
| Economics | 236 | 31 | 13.1 |
| Literature of Hindi Language | 226 | 19 | 8.4 |
| Commerce & Accountancy | 210 | 27 | 12.9 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 201 | 22 | 10.9 |
| Electrical Engineering | 170 | 15 | 8.8 |
| Law | 167 | 23 | 13.8 |
| Medical Science | 162 | 16 | 9.9 |
| Psychology | 155 | 11 | 7.1 |
| Chemistry | 153 | 15 | 9.8 |
| Civil Engineering | 130 | 9 | 6.9 |
| Physics | 130 | 8 | 6.2 |
| Agriculture | 111 | 3 | 2.7 |
| Literature of Malayalam Language | 93 | 10 | 10.8 |
| Literature of Kannada Language | 83 | 7 | 8.4 |
| Literature of Tamil Language | 64 | 4 | 6.3 |
| Literature of Gujarati Language | 49 | 4 | 8.2 |
| Zoology | 41 | 5 | 12.2 |
| Literature of Sanskrit Language | 39 | 1 | 2.6 |
| Management | 38 | 6 | 15.8 |
| Literature of Telugu Language | 36 | 5 | 13.9 |
| Geology | 35 | 2 | 5.7 |
| Literature of Maithili Language | 31 | 3 | 9.7 |
| Botany | 27 | 2 | 7.4 |
| Literature of English Language | 27 | 6 | 22.2 |
| Literature of Punjabi Language | 25 | 3 | 12 |
| Literature of Urdu Language | 11 | 1 | 9.1 |
| Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Literature of Marathi Language | 9 | 1 | 11.1 |
| Statistics | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Literature of Manipuri Language | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Literature of Assamese Language | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Literature of Bengali Language | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Literature of Oriya Language | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Literature of Sindhi (Arabic) Language | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Thus, the above data can help you select the best optional subject for UPSC. You can get teh latest trends from the UPSC website to analyse and guide your decision.
Another way is to ask previous IAS toppers. If you have someone from your friends and family, who cracked UPSC CSE, they can guide you in the best possible way. Or once again, look for topper interviews where you might have info.
Preparation Time
If you have very little preparation time, selecting the best optional subject for the UPSC should ideally be based on what reduces your preparation time.
Conclusion
When selecting the best optional subject for UPSC, reviewing UPSC topper answer sheets is also useful. Understanding how successful candidates structure their answers and present key concepts can guide you in refining your approach. Additionally, joining online forums or study groups focused on your optional subject allows for idea exchange and clarification of doubts. This collaborative learning method can give you fresh perspectives. It is especially valuable for evolving subjects like Political Science or Anthropology.
FAQs
How to choose the best optional subject for UPSC?
To choose the best optional subject for UPSC, consider your interest in the subject, overlap with General Studies, availability of study material, scoring potential, and past performance in similar subjects. Analyze previous years’ trends and syllabi thoroughly.
What is the best UPSC optional subject for self-study?
Anthropology is considered the best optional subject for UPSC for self-study. Philosophy is the next easiest subject if you’re on self-preparation.
What is the best optional subject for UPSC engineering students?
Mathematics is the most preferred optional subject for Engineering students. If not, they can choose respective Engineering optionals in the UPSC, if they’re available. For example, Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering are available among the optionals.
What is the most scoring optional in UPSC for English medium?
Anthropology is considered one of the most scoring optionals for UPSC in English medium due to its clear syllabus, high-scoring potential, and overlap with General Studies.
