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Best Optional Subject for UPSC: A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing the right optional subject for the UPSC exam is crucial for scoring high marks and achieving a top rank. With so many options available, it's important to select a subject that not only aligns with your interests but also has a high-scoring potential and available study resources. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the best optional subjects for UPSC, discuss the factors to consider when making your choice, and analyze the trends and success rates of popular subjects. Whether you're looking for the top optional subjects for UPSC or the best scoring optional for UPSC, this guide has got you covered. For a complete list of optional subjects available, please refer to our UPSC Optional Subject List.
Importance of Choosing the Best Optional Subject
The optional subjects in the UPSC exam play a significant role in determining your overall score and rank. Each of the two optional papers carries 250 marks, contributing a total of 500 marks out of 1750. This can significantly impact your final score and ranking. Therefore, choosing the right optional subject is a decision that requires careful consideration and strategic planning.
Selecting an optional subject that matches your interest and strength can make the preparation journey smoother and more enjoyable. It also allows you to leverage your existing knowledge and skills, making the study process less daunting. Moreover, the availability of study materials and coaching can also influence your choice, as subjects with ample resources can provide better preparation support.
Best Optional Subject for UPSC
What makes an optional subject the "best"? Choosing the best optional subject for UPSC involves several key factors:
Interest and Passion: Select a subject that genuinely interests you. If you have a passion for the subject, it will be easier to stay motivated and engaged throughout the preparation process. Passion for the subject can also make the study sessions more enjoyable and less of a chore.
Prior Knowledge: Familiarity with the subject can be advantageous. If you have studied the subject during your graduation or have a strong background in it, you will find it easier to grasp the concepts and perform well in the exams.
Scoring Potential: Analyze past trends and success rates. Some subjects have a higher scoring potential due to their nature and the way the questions are structured. Researching the scoring trends of different subjects can give you an idea of which ones are more likely to help you achieve high marks.
Availability of Study Material: Ensure ample resources are available. Choosing a subject with abundant study materials, reference books, and online resources can enhance your preparation and provide comprehensive coverage of the syllabus.
Coaching and Guidance: Consider the availability of specialized coaching. Having access to experienced mentors and coaching institutes that specialize in your chosen subject can provide valuable guidance and help you navigate through the preparation process more effectively.
Most Opted UPSC Optional Subjects
Here are some of the most popular UPSC optional subjects based on recent trends and feedback from toppers:
1.
Geography: Geography is a popular choice among UPSC aspirants due to its well-defined syllabus, availability of study materials, and overlap with General Studies papers. It covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to both the prelims and mains exams.
2.
History: History is another commonly chosen subject because of its comprehensive syllabus that covers ancient, medieval, and modern history. It helps in understanding the historical context of current affairs and also overlaps with the General Studies papers.
3.
Sociology: Sociology is favoured for its concise and manageable syllabus. It is considered scoring due to its straightforward concepts and the ability to relate them to contemporary social issues, which is useful for both the mains and interview stages.
4.
Public Administration: Public Administration is a popular choice due to its relevance to civil services. It provides insights into the functioning of the government and administrative processes, making it highly applicable to the roles and responsibilities of a civil servant.
These subjects are chosen frequently due to their broad syllabus coverage, availability of resources, and scoring potential.
Factors to Consider for UPSC Optional Subjects
When choosing your optional subject, consider the following factors:
Prior Knowledge: Opt for a subject you are familiar with. If you have studied the subject in the past or have strong foundational knowledge, it will be easier to build upon it and excel in the exams.
Interest and Passion: Choose a subject that excites you. A genuine interest in the subject will keep you motivated and make the long hours of study more bearable. It will also help you stay engaged and focused during the preparation.
Scoring Potential: Research the scoring patterns of various subjects. Some subjects have historically higher scoring potential, which can give you an edge in the exams. Look at the success rates and the average marks scored by candidates in previous years.
Availability of Study Material: Ensure resources are readily available. Having access to good-quality study materials, reference books, and online resources is crucial for thorough preparation. Subjects with ample resources can provide better support and coverage of the syllabus.
Coaching and Guidance: Seek out expert mentors and coaching institutes. Having access to experienced coaches and mentors who specialize in your chosen subject can provide valuable insights and guidance, helping you navigate through the preparation process more effectively.
Time Management: Assess your ability to manage the syllabus. Some subjects have extensive syllabi that require significant time and effort to cover. Consider your schedule and the time you can dedicate to studying the subject to ensure effective preparation.
Overlapping with General Studies (GS): Select subjects that overlap with GS to save time and effort. Choosing an optional subject with content that overlaps with the General Studies syllabus can help reinforce your knowledge in both areas simultaneously, making your preparation more efficient.
Top 10 UPSC Optional Subjects
Here are the top 10 optional subjects for UPSC, considering various factors:
1.
Geography: With its well-defined syllabus and overlap with GS papers, Geography is a top choice for many aspirants. It covers a wide range of topics, including physical geography, human geography, and environmental geography, making it a comprehensive and scoring subject.
2.
Sociology: Sociology is favoured for its concise syllabus and relevance to contemporary social issues. It covers various sociological theories, concepts, and research methods, making it an interesting and scoring subject.
3.
Agriculture: Agriculture is a popular choice for candidates with a background in agricultural studies. It covers various aspects of crop production, soil science, agronomy, and related fields, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
4.
Literature Subject (Any): Literature subjects, such as English, Hindi, and regional languages, are favoured for their well-defined syllabus and scoring potential. They cover various literary works, authors, and genres, making them interesting and scoring subjects.
5.
Anthropology: Anthropology is favoured for its scientific approach and well-defined syllabus. It involves the study of human societies, cultures, and their development, making it an interesting and scoring subject for many aspirants.
6.
Public Administration: Due to its direct relevance to the civil services, Public Administration is a top choice for many aspirants. It covers various administrative theories and practices, providing insights into the functioning of government and public institutions.
7.
Medical Science: For candidates with a medical background, Medical Science is a top choice due to its overlap with their existing knowledge and expertise. It covers various medical concepts and practices, making it a manageable and scoring subject for medical graduates.
8.
Law: Law is a popular choice for candidates with a background in legal studies. It covers various legal concepts, principles, and case laws, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
9.
Psychology: Psychology is favoured for its scientific approach and relevance to human behaviour. It covers various psychological theories, concepts, and research methods, making it an interesting and scoring subject for many aspirants.
10.
History: History is a popular choice due to its comprehensive syllabus that covers ancient, medieval, and modern history. It helps in understanding the historical context of current affairs and also overlaps with the General Studies papers.
These subjects are recommended based on their scoring potential, availability of resources, and popularity.
Best UPSC Optional Subjects for Medical Aspirants
Medical aspirants often prefer subjects related to their field. The top choices include:
Medical Science: Medical Science is the most popular choice among medical aspirants due to its overlap with their existing knowledge and expertise. It covers a wide range of medical topics, making it a manageable and scoring subject for medical graduates.
Zoology: Zoology is another popular choice for medical aspirants. It covers various aspects of animal biology, physiology, and taxonomy, making it an interesting and scoring subject.
Veterinary Science: Veterinary Science is favored by candidates with a background in veterinary studies. It covers various aspects of animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, and related fields, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Animal Husbandry: Animal Husbandry is a top choice for candidates from a veterinary background. It covers various aspects of livestock management, animal breeding, and related fields, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
For those not interested in medical subjects, non-technical subjects overlapping with the General Studies syllabus can be a good alternative. Subjects like Sociology, Public Administration, and Geography are popular choices due to their scoring potential and relevance to the GS papers.
Best UPSC Optional Subjects for Engineering Aspirants
Engineering aspirants have a variety of options to choose from. Popular choices include:
Civil Engineering: Civil Engineering is a popular choice among engineering aspirants due to its relevance to their field. It covers various aspects of structural engineering, construction management, and related fields, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Electrical Engineering: Electrical Engineering is favoured by candidates with a background in electrical studies. It covers various aspects of electrical circuits, systems, and machines, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical Engineering is another popular choice for engineering aspirants. It covers various aspects of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and related fields, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Physics: Physics is a popular choice among engineering aspirants due to its scientific approach and overlap with their existing knowledge. It covers various topics in classical and modern physics, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Chemistry: Chemistry is favoured by candidates with a background in chemical studies. It covers various aspects of organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Mathematics: Mathematics is a popular choice for engineering aspirants due to its definitive answers and scoring potential. It covers various topics in pure and applied mathematics, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
Interestingly, many engineering students prefer non-technical subjects due to their scoring potential and overlap with GS. Subjects like Sociology, Public Administration, and Geography are popular choices among engineering aspirants.
Best Optional Subject For UPSC Based on Toppers of Previous Years
Analyzing the optional subjects chosen by UPSC toppers over the past decade provides valuable insights:
2021: Shruti Sharma (History) - History is a comprehensive subject that covers ancient, medieval, and modern history. It helps in understanding the historical context of current affairs and also overlaps with the General Studies papers.
2020: Subham Kumar (Anthropology) - Anthropology is favored for its scientific approach and well-defined syllabus. It involves the study of human societies, cultures, and their development, making it an interesting and scoring subject for many aspirants.
2019: Pradeep Singh (Public Administration) - Public Administration is a popular choice due to its direct relevance to the civil services. It covers various administrative theories and practices, providing insights into the functioning of government and public institutions.
2018: Kanishak Kataria (Mathematics) - Mathematics is a popular choice for engineering aspirants due to its definitive answers and scoring potential. It covers various topics in pure and applied mathematics, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
2017: Anudeep Durishetty (Anthropology) - Anthropology is favoured for its scientific approach and well-defined syllabus. It involves the study of human societies, cultures, and their development, making it an interesting and scoring subject for many aspirants.
2016: Nandini K. R. (Kannada Literature) - Literature subjects, such as Kannada Literature, are favoured for their well-defined syllabus and scoring potential. They cover various literary works, authors, and genres, making them interesting and scoring subjects.
2015: Tina Dabi (Political Science) - Political Science is a popular choice due to its relevance to the civil services and its overlap with GS papers. It covers various political theories, concepts, and international relations, making it a highly specialized and scoring subject.
These choices reflect a mix of technical and non-technical subjects, indicating the importance of individual strengths and interests.
Conclusion
Choosing the best optional subject for UPSC is a critical decision that can greatly influence your exam performance. By considering your interests, prior knowledge, scoring potential, and the availability of resources, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your strengths and goals. Take your time, research thoroughly, and select an optional subject that will help you achieve success in the UPSC exam.
FAQs
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