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Best Optional Subject for UPSC
Guidelines while choosing Best Optional Subject For UPSC IAS Mains Exam are available here!!! Every year a huge number of candidates apply for Civil service Examinations and submit UPSC Online Application Form on or before the last date. UPSC offers a list of optional subjects for Civil service Examination (CSE) and you need to choose one of the Best Optional Subject for UPSC IAS Mains Exam.
10 Most Opted Scoring Subjects will help the appearing contenders in Civil Service Examination (Mains) 2018 on 01.10.2018 to choose Best Optional Subject. Candidates are suggested to choose the optional subject on the basis of their interest, aptitude, length of syllabus, availability of time. To grab more details regarding Best Optional Subject For UPSC IAS Mains Exam, check this page designed by www.recruitmentinboxx.com team.
Best Optional Subject for UPSC
10 Most Opted Scoring Subjects For UPSC IAS Mains Exam
In 2017 (Best Optional Subject for UPSC)
| Optional Subject | Number of candidates appeared | No. of candidates recommended | Success Rate |
| Agriculture | 220 | 41 | 18.6 |
| Medical Science | 98 | 16 | 16.3 |
| Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | 65 | 8 | 12.3 |
| Economics | 326 | 37 | 11.3 |
| Psychology | 1061 | 116 | 10.9 |
| Anthropology | 345 | 37 | 10.7 |
| Public Administration | 3201 | 337 | 10.5 |
| Political Science | 1320 | 85 | 6.4 |
| Geography | 4049 | 236 | 5.8 |
| Sociology | 1555 | 89 | 5.7 |
In 2016 (Best Optional Subject for UPSC)
| Optional Subject | Number of candidates appeared | No. of candidates recommended | Success Rate |
| Chemistry | 124 | 7 | 5.6 |
| Commerce and Accountancy | 266 | 15 | 5.6 |
| History | 3870 | 212 | 5.5 |
| Law | 365 | 19 | 5.2 |
| Philosophy | 2092 | 84 | 4 |
| Zoology | 484 | 18 | 3.7 |
| Mathematics | 277 | 8 | 2.9 |
Get Here Subject Wise: UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus
In 2013 (Best Optional Subject for UPSC)
| Optional Subject | Number of Candidates Appeared | Number of Candidates Recommended | Success Rate |
| Geography | 3158 | 178 | 5.6% |
| Public Administration | 2840 | 176 | 6.2% |
| Sociology | 1647 | 150 | 9.1% |
| History | 1303 | 100 | 7.7% |
| Philosophy | 736 | 58 | 7.9% |
| Anthropology | 449 | 53 | 11.8% |
| Medical Science | 293 | 48 | 16.4% |
| Political Science and International Relations | 651 | 40 | 6.1% |
| Economics | 188 | 38 | 20.2% |
| Law | 144 | 35 | 24.3% |
Top Literature Subjects As Optional For UPSC IAS Mains Exam
| Literature Optional Subject | Number of candidates appeared | No. of candidates recommended | Success Rate |
| Assamese | 5 | 2 | 40 |
| Punjabi | 19 | 5 | 26.3 |
| Gujarati | 42 | 7 | 16.7 |
| Kannada | 84 | 14 | 16.7 |
| Marathi | 42 | 7 | 16.7 |
| English | 40 | 6 | 15 |
| Urdu | 29 | 4 | 13.8 |
| Tamil | 225 | 29 | 12.9 |
| Sanskrit | 122 | 10 | 8.2 |
| Malayalam | 67 | 5 | 7.5 |
| Pali | 255 | 18 | 7.1 |
| Telugu | 147 | 9 | 6.1 |
| Hindi | 974 | 56 | 5.7 |
Download Free: IAS Preparation Books
What Does The Best Optional Mean For UPSC IAS Exam?
First of all, let us assess the Best Optional Subject for UPSC. With the help of below listed factors you can easily choose The Best Optional Subject For IAS Exam.
- Scoring one?
- Popular one?
- Easy to understand?
- Availability of study materials?
- Availability of Study groups?
- Availability of Best teachers?
- Based on graduation or Post graduation?
- Success rates in the UPSC Results?
#1. High Scoring Subject
- Aspirants must choose the Best Optional Subject for UPSC on high scores achieved in the previous years.
- Never choose the optional subject based on the top scores of the toppers.
- Every year different toppers get different scores in the optional subject.
- There is no standard that every year that optional subject will be high scoring.
#2. Popularity Of The Optional Subject
Most of aspirants choose Best Optional Subject for UPSC as per their popularity ex. few subjects like History, Geography, Political Science, Public Administration are some of the popular optional subjects in the UPSC exam preparation.
Check Updated: IAS Study Material
#3. Understand-Ability Of The Subject
- Many aspirants choose Best Optional Subject for UPSC on the basis of understanding ability of the optional subject.
- You can choose the optional subject based on your understanding and your compatibility of the subject. (But this is one of the criteria for choosing optional)
#4. Based On Availability Of Study Material, Study Group And Coaching
Choosing Best Optional Subject for UPSC on Availability Of Study Material, Study Group and Coaching is advisable and recommendable as without proper study material, peers and good mentor’s one cannot prepare effectively for UPSC Civil Services Examination.
#5. Optional Subject Selection Based On Graduation Courses
To choose Best Optional Subject for UPSC on the basis of graduation and Post-graduation subjects is also good option. For example, if the aspirant has done MBA and he have one of his/her option as Management optional then it will be easy for them to crack UPSC Civil Service Examination.
Do You Know: How To Prepare For IAS Exam
Factors Considers to Choose Best Optional Subject for UPSC
Here, contenders can find the complete information useful while choosing Best Optional Subject for UPSC IAS Mains exam.
- Your interest in the subject
- Understanding ability and confidence level you have on that subject
- Subject integration with GS Syllabus to simplify your GS Preparation
- Analyses previous year Mains question papers
- Mains Syllabus for optional subject
- Role of Current Affairs
- Availability of Good teacher to guide you
- Success Percentage over the years
Also Download Here: IAS Previous Year Papers
Here we have provided the list of Best Optional Subject for UPSC that are choose with the help of UPSC Annual Report which have been opted by maximum number of students and having decent results.
Humanities Based Subjects
| Factors to consider | History | Public Administration | Sociology | Philosophy |
| Overlapping with GS and Prelims | High | High | Medium | Medium |
| Syllabus | Vast | Moderate | Moderate | Definite |
| Faculty Availbalbe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Success rate in 2016 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 10.6 | 7 |
| Success rate in 2015 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 9.1 | 7.9 |
| Success rate in 2014 | 8.3 | 5.1 | 9.2 | 8.9 |
| Role of Current Affairs | No | Yes | No | No |
| Competition | 2000 | 3500 | 2000 | 1000 |
| Factors to consider | Political Science and International Relations | Law | Anthropology | Hindi Literature |
| Overlapping with GS and Prelims | High | None | None | None |
| Syllabus | Definite | Definite | Definite | Definite |
| Faculty Available | Yes | Few | Yes | Few |
| Success rate in 2016 | 6.3 | 17 | 11 | 5.4 |
| Success rate in 2015 | 6.1 | 24.3 | 11.8 | 4.7 |
| Success rate in 2014 | 10.9 | 17.3 | 6.6 | 11.7 |
| Role of Current Affairs | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Competition | 1000 | 200 | 700 | 600 |
Check Now: IAS Preparation Tips for Beginners
The Science Based Subjects
| Factors to consider | Medical Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Overlapping with GS | None | None |
| Syllabus | Definite | Definite |
| Faculties Available | Few | Few |
| Success Rate in 2016 | 19.9 | 6.3 |
| Success Rate in 2015 | 16.4 | 6.7 |
| Success Rate in 2014 | 23.4 | 4.7 |
| Role of Current Affairs | No | No |
| Competition | 250 | 100 |
| Factors to consider | Civil Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Mathematics |
| Overlapping with GS | None | None | None |
| Syllabus | Definite | Definite | Definite |
| Faculties Available | Few | Few | Few |
| Success Rate in 2016 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 10 |
| Success Rate in 2015 | 13 | 11.5 | 6.1 |
| Success Rate in 2014 | 10.6 | 6.3 | 7.1 |
| Role of Current Affairs | No | No | No |
| Competition | 60 | 100 | 300 |
Semi-Humanities Subjects
| Factors to consider | Geography | Psychology |
| Overlapping with Syllabus | Medium | None |
| Syllabus | Vast | Definite |
| Faculties Available | Yes | Few |
| Success rate of 2016 | 7.3 | 15.8 |
| Success rate of 2015 | 5.6 | 9.8 |
| Success rate of 2014 | 7.2 | 7.9 |
| Role of Current Affairs | Yes | No |
| Competition | 3500 | 700 |
Read Also: How Much Time Is Required To Prepare For IAS
Common Queries Regarding Choosing Best Optional Subject for UPSC
Question 1. I don’t want to choose my optional subject based on my graduation course, and I don’t have sufficient knowledge in other optional subjects listed in UPSC notification, Please suggest?
Even you don’t know in detail about the all optional subject, you will definitely have a fair idea on few subject like History, Geography, Political Science etc.
- First of all, you have to shortlist subject.
- Read the complete syllabus of shortlisted subject
- Refer last 3 to 4 years mains question paper
Whichever subject you feed, that I am capable of comprehending from the syllabus and understand the demand of UPSC question means you can start working on that optional subject.
Get Here Marking Distribution: IAS Exam Pattern
Question 2.Can I Choose an Optional Subject based on my senior’s suggestion?
While choosing Best Optional Subject for UPSC, you may concern with your friends and seniors, but the decision should be made from your side. Choose an optional subject based on your interest, recent trends, syllabus and Question paper pattern etc.
Question 3. I chose one optional subject of my interest but now I feel uncomfortable, what should I do?
While choosing Best Optional Subject for UPSC, you need to make a wise decision because optional subject plays very crucial role in UPSC Mains exam. If you feel uncomfortable don’t hesitate to change your optional subject.
Question 4. I am interested in choosing <xyz> optional, but I’m not comfortable in answering the questions?
Since you are interested in reading that shows your comfort level with that subject that means you are facing problem in answer writing skills. Answer writing can be improved by way of writing more answers. So, keep practicing.
Check List Of: Best IAS Coaching Centers in India
Question 5. Suggest some optional subjects, which will be helpful for my General Studies Preparation too.
Best Optional Subject for UPSC having with General Studies syllabus are listed below, so what are you waiting for? Go ahead and choose as per your reference
- Public Administration has overlap with GS paper 2 polity, Governance, constitution and few topics in GS Paper 3 and 4
- Political Science subjects have some overlap with GS paper 2 International Relation section.
- History optional subject takes care of GS Paper 1 history syllabus.
- Geography Optional subject has overlap with GS Paper 1 Geography Syllabus and GS paper 3 Environment section.
- Law optional covers Polity section of GS paper 2.
- Sociology optional takes care of Indian Society section in GS paper 1 and Essay paper.
Question 6. I appeared with <xyz> optional subject in two or more mains but i am not getting good marks and not able to clear mains. Can I Change my optional subject?
This question is really too serious while doing preparation of the UPSC Exam 2018. You must choose the Best Optional Subject for UPSC based on your time availability and compatibility with the new subject.
Read Out: IAS Interview Questions Answers
Final Words!!
Hope, you are satisfied with the above mentioned details regarding Best Optional Subject For UPSC IAS Mains Exam. 10 Most Opted Scoring Subjects helps you to grab more details and to check more updates, you need to be in touch with our portal www.recruitmentinboxx.com
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