One app for all your study abroad needs
The optional subjects carry 500 marks, or roughly 25% of the total marks awarded for the written exam and personality test.So candidates for the UPSC should carefully evaluate their choices because they will have a substantial impact on their merit scores. Philosophy is one of the optional subjects available for the UPSC Exam in 2024.One of the requirements for preparing for the UPSC Mains exam is answering Philosophy Optional PYQ. Students can familiarise themselves with the format, degree of difficulty, and kinds of questions that will be asked on the actual exams by using these practice papers.
Table of Contents
Philosophy Optional PYQ: Download Now
Candidates who have chosen philosophy as their optional should analyze the Philosophy Optional PYQ to understand better the format, questions to expect, and other aspects of the exam. Philosophy is a very optional subject and has high weightage since it covers five to six themes that are either directly or indirectly repeated in the exam every year. Through the UPSC Philosophy Previous Year Question Paper, students can evaluate their speed, accuracy, time management, and the themes they should focus on for their optional philosophy paper.
| Year | Philosophy Optional PYQ Paper 1 | Philosophy Optional PYQ Paper 2 |
| 2022 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2021 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2020 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2019 | Click Here | Click Here |
Must Read: Top Ten Documentaries on India for UPSC Preparation
Tips and Tricks to Study Philosophy Optional PYQ
The advantage of comprehending UPSC Philosophy Optional Question Paper Trend Analysis is that it will enable candidates to prepare for this optional more efficiently. But there is a particular method as to how one should approach Philosophy Optional PYQ.Below we have listed out the same:
- Prioritize topics based on their weightage in the exam and your proficiency.
- Allocate more time for areas you find challenging.
- Regularly practice answer writing for both optional and GS subjects.
- Stay updated with current affairs through newspapers, magazines, or online portals.
- Take regular breaks to avoid burnout and maintain productivity.
- Stay consistent with your study schedule and remain focused on your goal.
Must Read: How to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC?
Schedule of Previous Year Philosophy Optional Toppers
Preparing for the UPSC exam with Philosophy optional requires a structured approach, especially when balancing it with General Studies (GS) for both prelims and mains. Here’s a daily timetable to help you manage your studies effectively:
| Time | Activity |
| 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM | Wake up, freshen up, breakfast |
| 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Philosophy Optional: Revision and Study |
| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | GS Prelims Preparation: Solve MCQs |
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Break |
| 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Philosophy Optional: Study and Practice Answers |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break |
| 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | GS Mains Preparation: Essay, Ethics, etc. |
| 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Philosophy Optional: Revision and Practice |
| 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Break |
| 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | GS Prelims Preparation: Current Affairs |
| 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Dinner Break |
| 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM | Revision: Philosophy and GS Subjects |
| 11:00 PM – 6:00 AM | Sleep |
Must Read: Booklist for Philosophy Optional: Paper 1 + Paper 2
Booklist for Philosophy Optional Paper 1
The first optional paper on philosophy addresses the issues and background of philosophy. Indian philosophy and Western philosophy make up its two divisions. The major schools and philosophers of philosophy from the past to the present, including Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Russell, Wittgenstein, and Sartre, are covered in the section on Western philosophy. The six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy—Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta—as well as the heterodox schools—Buddhism, Jainism, and Charvaka—are covered in the section on Indian philosophy. Moreover, this subject covers areas like metaphysics, logic, ethics, epistemology, and philosophy of language
| Title | Author | Direct Link to buy |
| A Critical History of Greek Philosophy (Plato and Aristotle) | W. T. Stace | Buy Now |
| A History of Philosophy (Relevant Chapters from volumes I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX & XI) | Copleston | Buy Now |
| A New History of Western Philosophy | Anthony Kenny | Buy Now |
| An Introduction to Indian Philosophy | Datta & Chatterjee | Buy Now |
| A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy | C. D. Sharma | Buy Now |
| Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy | Oxford | Buy Now |
| A History Of Western Philosophy | Bertrand Russell | Buy Now |
Must Read: Top Ten Documentaries on India for UPSC Preparation
Booklist for Philosophy Optional Paper 2
The second optional paper on philosophy is divided into two sections: philosophy of religion and socio-political philosophy. The ideas and theories of social and political philosophy, including those related to justice, equality, rights, liberty, democracy, secularism, nationalism, feminism, and multiculturalism, are covered in the section on socio-political philosophy. The arguments for and against God’s existence, the existence of evil, the characteristics of God, the relationship between faith and reason, the ideas of the soul, liberation, and rebirth, and a comparative analysis of the world’s major religions are all covered in the section on philosophy of religion.
| Title | Author | Direct Link to Buy |
| Philosophy of Religion | John Hick | Buy Now |
| Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction | Michael B. Wilkinson | Buy Now |
| Social & Political Philosophy | O. P. Gauba | Buy Now |
| Political Theory, An Introduction | Rajeev Bhargava & Ashok Acharya | Buy Now |
RELATED POSTS
FAQs
Difficulty in philosophy optional varies based on individual interest and background. It can be challenging but rewarding with proper preparation.
Success rates for philosophy optional can vary among candidates, influenced by preparation, understanding of concepts, and exam strategy.
Philosophy can be a scoring optional for those who have a strong grasp of its concepts and can articulate them effectively in exams.
Coaching for philosophy optional isn’t necessary but can provide structured guidance and resources for better understanding and preparation.
This was all about the “Philosophy Optional PYQ”.For more such informative blogs, check out our UPSC Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.