Selecting the best optional subject for IAS Mains Exam

‘The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives, and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.’ – UPSC Guidelines

To crack the IAS Exam with the best possible option, one must abide by the UPSC guidelines. And to do so, you must master the subject with full dedication while also developing the confidence to go ahead with the chosen option.

Now, with a constant dilemma of selecting the best optional subject for IAS Mains Exam, you must be looking for guidance on ‘Best Optional subject’ or ‘the most scoring optional for Civil Services Exam’. Oblivious to the clutter, free falling advice will confuse you, multiple sources of guidance might sound crucial, but your focus should only be at the end results. This article is devised by the subject experts at Chanakya IAS Academy to help students understand how an optional subject should be selected for the IAS Mains Exam.

Before moving ahead, here are some common queries and their responses, you must read for better insights-

Q. How do I select optional subjects wisely in the civil services examination?

A. Read from the list of optional subjects provided and pick the best 3 that grab your interest, or you have a strong hold on (graduation subject). Try solving previous year papers for each subject and the results will help you decide. You can also simply pick one subject that holds your much interest.

Q. How does one manage to crack the UPSC with botany optional, when the success ratio is very low?

A. Success Ratio is assessed based on students appearing for a particular subject in relation to the selected candidates. However, you must not decide the subject based on success ratio, for, it will fluctuate every year, with changing numbers of aspiring candidates every subject. Hence, choosing botany or any other subject must entirely be your choice! If you have an interest in the subject, you could become one of the successful names in the field. So, if you are confident with the subject, go for it!

Q. Amongst Political and Geography, which is the better option?

A. Both the subjects have their own aspects and it is generally a candidate’s interest that decides ease of studying the subject. However, Geography has been one of the most attempted optional subjects in the past few years, where an abundance of study material, notes, and professional guidance have played an important role in guiding aspirants. Decide from your personal level of interest and existing hold on the subject!

Q. How can I perfect my preparation for civil services exam by taking geology as an optional subject?

A. If you have an interest and a good hold on the subject, only then take it as optional. And revive your existing knowledge again first of all with NCERT books. Then go for the standard book. Here, listening to the topper’s views on YouTube who chose the same optional subject would be helpful. Besides, have a look at the previous year question papers, see what kind of questions are generally asked. Enroll for test series and practice solving question as much as possible.

Q. What should a student consider - The success rate of the subject or the popularity it owns?

The chart clearly displays the popularity of subjects like Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, and Political Science & Psychology with a maximum number of students opting for the subjects. While the success rate for all these subjects, in comparison, is lesser the opted in by lesser students. A subject most opted may have a lower success rate due to high competition while the lowest opted for subjects have a higher success ratio, this variation clearly depicts that the selection of the optional subject must not depend upon anything like popularity or success rate but command over the subject and one’s personal interest, for, everything else can fluctuate, but not your knowledge!

Consider this chart with approximate values, depicting recent year trends in the selection of the optional subjects –

*This is just an approximate chart and the values may differ each year.

Based on all the statistics mentioned above, following are some of the most aspired subjects, you could consider for selecting as the optional subject –

• 1. Geography
• 2. History
• 3. Sociology
• 4. Public Administration
• 5. Political Science

Click Here for relevant guidance on the Optional Subjects under the direction of Subject & Field Experts!

Golden Rules to select your Optional for IAS Mains Exam–

1. Favor your Interest – Which is the subject that grabs your instant attention and you want to know more of it? Or is there any subject, you have always wanted to study? Find your interests and go for it!
2. Existing knowledge of the subject is always a plus – If you have studied a subject in your high school or graduation and you have a considerably stronger hand on the same, do not give a second thought.
3. Ease of access to Study Material & availability of guidance – You must understand that if you go for self-study or enroll for coaching, you will still have to study it all and study sources are extremely crucial in developing first-hand knowledge on it all. Hence, do consider ease of access to the study sources and decent coaching institutions in your vicinity.

A true mentor will empower you by holding your hand throughout your journey of Civil Services Exam preparation.

Having Golden rules to select the best optional for the IAS Mains Exam, in your knowledge, go find your Master Key and unlock the doors to infinite opportunities with the prestigious Civil Services.