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Choosing an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your overall performance. After all, the optional papers account for 500 marks out of the total of 1750 marks in the main exam. Therefore, you must choose a subject that you are interested in, have a good understanding of, and can prepare for effectively. Read this blog to find how to choose optional subject, What is the best and most scoring optional subject in UPSC.
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📌 How to Choose Best UPSC Optional Subject -Things to Consider
When choosing the Best UPSC Optional Subject, there are a few key factors that you should consider:
- Interest: Selecting a subject in which you have a genuine interest is the most important step. This will increase the process of learning’s enjoyment and motivation.
- Aptitude: It is important to take your aptitude for the subject into account. Do you have a strong grasp of and the ability to analyse complicated concepts? Can you write responses that are precise and to the point?
- Overlap with General Studies: There are some electives that heavily overlap with the General Studies curriculum. You will be able to prepare more quickly and effectively by doing this.
- Availability of Resources: Make sure you can get high-quality study guides and coaching for the subject you want to study.
What is the Best UPSC Optional Subject? 💯
There is no single best UPSC optional subject. The best optional subject for you will depend on your individual interests, aptitude, and strengths. However, some most scoring optional in UPSC chosen by aspirants include:
- Public Administration: Public Administration is a popular optional subject because it has a lot of overlap with the General Studies syllabus. It is also a relatively manageable subject, with a syllabus that can be covered in a reasonable amount of time.
- Geography: Geography is another popular optional subject because it is a relatively easy subject to understand. It also has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus, especially the GS Paper I.
- History: History is a popular optional subject because it is a very interesting subject. It also has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus, especially the GS Paper I.
- Sociology: Sociology is a popular optional subject because it is a very relevant subject in the current context. It also has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus, especially the GS Paper I and GS Paper II.
- Economics: Economics is a popular optional subject because it is a very important subject in the current context. It also has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus, especially the GS Paper III.
Comparison of UPSC Best Optional Subject
The following table provides a brief comparison of some of the most scoring optional in UPSC:
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Overlap with GS | Availability of Resources |
| Public Administration | Moderate | High | Excellent |
| Geography | Moderate | High | Good |
| History | Moderate | High | Good |
| Sociology | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| Anthropology | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| Political Science | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| Economics | High | Moderate | Good |
| Mathematics | High | Low | Good |
| Law | High | Low | Good |
| Philosophy | High | Low | Good |
| Literature | High | Low | Good |
✅ Pros and ❎ Cons Analysis of UPSC Best Optional Subject
The following table provides a brief analysis of pros and cons for some of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC:
| Subject | Pros | Cons |
| Public Administration | – Has a lot of overlap with the General Studies syllabus. – Is a relatively manageable subject. – Has good scoring potential. | – Can be a bit dry and theoretical. – May not be as interesting as some other subjects. |
| Geography | – Is a relatively easy subject to understand. – Has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus. – Has good scoring potential. – Is a very diverse subject, covering a wide range of topics. | – Can be a bit time-consuming to study, especially if you are not familiar with the subject. – May not be as interesting as some other subjects. |
| History | – Is a very interesting subject. – Has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus. – Has good scoring potential. – Is a very diverse subject, covering a wide range of topics. | – Can be a bit time-consuming to study, especially if you are not familiar with the subject. – May require a lot of memorization. |
| Sociology | – Is a very relevant subject in the current context. – Has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus. – Has good scoring potential. – Is a relatively easy subject to understand. | – Can be a bit dry and theoretical. – May not be as interesting as some other subjects. |
| Economics | – Is a very important subject in the current context. – Has a good overlap with the General Studies syllabus. – Has good scoring potential. – Is a very relevant subject for most IAS aspirants. | – Can be a bit challenging to understand, especially if you do not have a background in economics. – May require a lot of memorization. |
Additional Tips for Choosing UPSC Best Optional Subject
- Talk to other UPSC aspirants and get their recommendations.
- Read reviews of different optional subjects online.
- Attend coaching sessions for different optional subjects to get a better feel for them.
- Don’t be afraid to change your mind if you realise that you have chosen the wrong subject.
The best way to choose an optional subject for UPSC is to carefully consider your interests, aptitude, and strengths. You should also consider the overlap with the General Studies syllabus, the availability of resources, and the scoring potential of the subject. Once you have considered all of these factors, you can make an informed decision about the best optional subject for you.
Study Material for UPSC Optional Subjects 📖
Economics:
How to Prepare for UPSC Optional Economics 2024?
Best Books for Economic Optional for UPSC 2024
Sociology
How to Prepare for UPSC Optional Sociology?
Best Sociology Optional Books for UPSC
History
️UPSC Prelims History Questions: Year Wise Questions
World History UPSC: Topics, Timeline, and Questions
Public Administration
Best Public Administration Books for UPSC
Public Administration Syllabus for UPSC, Strategy, Books
This was all about the “UPSC Best Optional Subject”. For more such informative blogs, check out our UPSC Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.