Choosing an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a crucial decision—it can significantly influence your overall score in the Mains stage. It consists of 2 papers each consisting of 250 marks, total 500 marks. It is observed that optional has very high potential to score high. Aspirants have been scoring 330+ which contributes to higher scores in mains and  hence higher chance of selection and better ranks. Therefore, one should carefully choose the Optional. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed choice:

1. Interest & Aptitude

• Ask yourself: Do I enjoy reading this subject?
• You’ll be studying the optional for hundreds of hours—interest keeps motivation high.
• Try reading the syllabus and a few pages from the standard books of various subjects. See what clicks.

2. Academic Background

• If you have a graduation background in a subject like History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, or any of the sciences, you may find it easier to grasp and recall content.
• This gives a head start in understanding concepts and writing answers.
• But if you are not interested in the subject of your educational background, you can choose from the other available optionals

3. Availability of Resources

• Check for the availability of:

• • Standard books
  • Coaching (if needed)
  • Good test series
  • Online materials (toppers’ notes, PYQs, etc.)

4. Overlap with GS Papers

• Subjects like Public Administration, Political Science, Sociology, Geography, and History overlap significantly with GS papers and even essay topics.
• This can help in saving time and effort.

5. Length & Manageability of Syllabus

• Some optional have compact syllabi (e.g. Anthropology, Philosophy), while others are more extensive (e.g. History, Law).
• A manageable syllabus allows for better revision and answer practice.

6. Scoring Trends (with caution)

• Some subjects (e.g. Anthropology, PSIR, and Sociology) are often considered “high scoring,” but trends change.
• Don’t chase trends blindly—a subject scoring well for others might not work for you.

7. Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

• Look at the last 5 years’ question papers of the subjects you’re considering.
• Can you understand the questions?
• Do you feel confident you could write decent answers with preparation?

8. Peer/Toppers’ Advice (with filters)

• It’s helpful to learn from others’ experiences, but avoid blindly copying.
• What worked for one topper might not work for you.

Common Popular Optional Subject

Subject	Strengths
PSIR	Good GS+Essay overlap, many resources
Sociology	Easy to grasp, short syllabus
Anthropology	Scoring, concise, popular in recent years
Geography	Visual elements, high effort, needs clarity
Public Administration	Concise, Easy, overlap with GS, Essay and Interview
History	Rich content, useful for GS, vast syllabus
Philosophy	Short syllabus, abstract concepts
Literature (e.g. English, Hindi)	Good for those with language strength

Final Tip

• Before finalizing your optional subject, it is advisable to spend a few days (4-5) exploring each shortlisted option through NCERT readings or basic lectures.

List of UPSC Optional Subjects

• There are a total of 48 optional subjects listed under the UPSC Civil Services Examination—25 non-literature subjects and 23 literature subjects. Candidates can choose their optional based on their educational background, interest, and familiarity with the subject.

Optional Subjects

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
3. Anthropology
4. Botany
5. Chemistry
6. Civil Engineering
7. Commerce and Accountancy
8. Economics
9. Electrical Engineering
10. Geography
11. Geology
12. History
13. Law
14. Management
15. Mathematics
16. Mechanical Engineering
17. Medical Science
18. Philosophy
19. Physics
20. Political Science & International Relations (PSIR)
21. Psychology
22. Public Administration
23. Sociology
24. Statistics
25. Zoology

Literature Subjects (Optional)

1. Assamese
2. Bengali
3. Bodo
4. Dogri
5. Gujarati
6. Hindi
7. Kannada
8. Kashmiri
9. Konkani
10. Maithili
11. Malayalam
12. Manipuri
13. Marathi
14. Nepali
15. Odia
16. Punjabi
17. Sanskrit
18. Santhali
19. Sindhi
20. Tamil
21. Telugu
22. Urdu
23. English

SUCCESS RATE OF VARIOUS OPTIONAL SUBJECTS IN UPSC CSE

Success-Rate of Optional in UPSC 2019
Optional Subjects for UPSC	Number of Candidates		Success Rate (Percent)
	Appeared	Recommended
Geography	1916	105	5.5%
Sociology	1263	126	10.0%
Commerce & Accountancy	183	20	10.9%
Economics	243	26	10.7%
Agriculture	124	13	10.5%
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science	16	3	18.8%
Anthropology	1189	108	9.1%
Botany	28	2	7.1%
Electrical Engineering	200	16	8.0%
Chemistry	156	13	8.3%
Geology	30	0	0.0%
History	751	51	6.8%
Law	186	19	10.2%
Management	54	6	11.1%
Mathematics	539	45	8.3%
Public Administration	705	58	8.2%
Civil Engineering	146	15	10.3%
Statistics	2	0	0.0%
Zoology	44	4	9.1%
Political Science & International Relations	1662	137	8.2%
Psychology	164	15	9.1%
Mechanical Engineering	213	12	5.6%
Medical Science	247	26	10.5%
Philosophy	439	27	6.2%
Physics	165	12	7.3%