- What is Optional subject?
In the Civil services (IAS) mains examination, along with the General studies papers, candidates must choose an optional paper. As per the interest of the candidate, an optional paper can be chosen out of the subjects allowed by the UPSC.
- What are the optional subjects for IAS Mains examination?
Agriculture
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerce and Accountancy
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and International Relations
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
Literature of any one of the following languages:
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.
- Which optional is good?
To be frank, this is one of the most often asked questions by newbies. And there's no answer to this question because the question essentially doesn't make much sense. The good or bad of an optional depends on the interest of the candidate.
- How to choose an optional?
There are various aspects to look into before selecting an optional, such as
Your familiarity with the subject
Your interest in the subject
Performance of an optional in the recent past
Availability of material and adequate guidance
Peer-group support
Consider all of these factors, weigh their pros and cons and finally come to a conclusion. Many students choose an optional without exercising adequate wisdom and end up changing their optional after a few years of preparation. We recommend you to take up a mini-research by analysing all the above listed parameters
Also, please talk to as many old candidates as possible who have taken the optional you decided to. Don't let one person or one idea influence you. Also, don't get carried away by trivial issues.