List of Optional Subjects In IAS Mains

You will learn about the UPSC CSE optional topic list and get some advice on how to choose an optional for the IAS mains examination in this article.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the prestigious Civil Services Examination, which consists of three phases. Aspirants who have only recently started their preparations typically have a number of inquiries, including “How many subjects are on the IAS Exam?” and “How many optionals are there in UPSC?” This article makes an effort to set the record straight and get students acquainted with the topics that will be on the IAS Exam. The mains (written) examination administered by the UPSC consists of nine different papers. This comprises two papers that qualify for the ranking and seven papers that will be used to determine the rating. Continue reading if you want to find out what the IAS’s optional subjects are.

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How many optional subjects for IAS?

The number of optional subjects for the UPSC test that a candidate is allowed to choose from in order to prepare for the Mains exam has been reduced to one in accordance with the new IAS exam format. The General Studies papers in the main examination for the civil service are worth a total of 1000 points, while each of the two optional papers is worth 250 points. Before deciding on an optional subject for the IAS Mains exam, it is essential for a candidate to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each available option.

The annual UPSC Notification provides a rundown of the number of optional subjects, along with a synopsis of each subject’s curriculum. This page will provide you with information on the number of optional papers that are included in the UPSC examination.
This section provides a comprehensive rundown of all of the disciplines that can be taken as electives for the UPSC IAS Mains Exam. Candidates interested in learning more about the UPSC Syllabus and the IAS Exam can gain this information by reading the article that has been provided.

General Studies Paper I to IV for IAS Mains Exam

The Four General Studies Papers are:

What is the Optional Subject in IAS exam?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) gives a list of optional subjects for the civil services test. Candidates are required to pick one optional subject in order to proceed to the main exam. The elective topic consists of two separate papers, and each each paper is worth 250 marks. Candidates have the opportunity to select one or more of the optional subjects from a list that also covers literary subjects. (English and Indian languages).

The type of the papers for the examination will be descriptive. The duration of the mains examination for the UPSC will be three hours for each paper. The only languages that will be used for the question papers are Hindi and English. The exception to this rule are the literature and language papers. The optional paper is a significant component of the overall UPSC mains examination.

How many optional subjects are there on the UPSC exam? / What are the available options for the UPSC? The number of available electives for the IAS exam is broken down into the following table.

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UPSC Civil Services Optional Subjects/Optional List for UPSC:

List of literature optional subjects in UPSC

Candidates for the UPSC Mains Examination have the option of selecting a literature topic as their optional, even if they did not study that language during their time in high school or college. There are going to be two different papers. Each paper is worth a total of 250 points. The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is where we may find the languages that are required for this.

How to choose the right optional subject for the UPSC IAS Mains exam?

Aspirants have a great deal of perplexity regarding the appropriate optional subject, and they frequently concentrate on a few criteria for selecting an optional subject for the IAS exam. Students commonly consider the following criteria when selecting an optional:

A subject that receives a grade

• Most renowned one
• A topic that is simple to comprehend or that they find intriguing.
• The topic for which study guides and notes are readily accessible
• Optional for which the finest training is offered
• The subject in which they have a degree or advanced degree
• The elective subject with which the greatest number of candidates have passed the IAS main exam.

However, candidates must choose from the following optional subjects:

• Interesting to research or holding your attention
• Have readily available study resources
• That deepens your understanding of the topic or encourages you to consider it from a different angle.

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FAQ about UPSC Mains Optional Subjects

What is the success rate of optional subjects in the UPSC exam?

In the IAS mains examination, the success rate for a few Literature papers was found to be the highest based on data from 2016 and 2017. However, considering that only a small number of applicants choose these courses for the UPSC mains exam, the success rates listed here should only be used as a general reference.

Which subject is best for IAS Mains optional?

The courses that share a significant portion of their curricula with General Studies are frequently seen as safe bets. However, other considerations, such as personal choice, the availability of study materials, the structure of the curriculum, and so on, are equally as significant.

Is Psychology a good optional for IAS?

In 2017, a total of 193 candidates had opted for this optional out of which 21 were recommended for the UPSC interview round. That gives it a success rate of 10.9% that year.  Psychology is an interesting subject with a scope of citing real-life examples. However, there is no significant overlap with the General Studies syllabus for both UPSC Prelims and IAS Mains.

Is Agriculture a good optional for IAS

Agriculture has recently gained popularity as a scoring optional subject for the UPSC mains examination. There is substantial duplication of content between the Agriculture Paper 1 syllabus and the General Studies syllabus for both the main exam and the preliminary exam. Nevertheless, there are some Botany-related ideas in Paper 2. The reasonably manageable workload contributes to the course’s widespread appeal.

Is Geography a good optional for IAS?

Aspirants to the IAS sometimes choose to focus their studies on geography as one of their optional subjects. One of the most important factors contributing to its popularity is the great degree to which the Geography optional subject overlaps with that of the GS 1 and CSE Prelims test. Ira Singhal, who achieved AIR 1 in 2015, was successful in the exam using the same optional. Having said that, the extensive curriculum can be difficult to navigate.

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