In recent years, the landscape of UPSC civil services exam has seen a significant shift, with a growing number of aspirants from science and technical backgrounds. The allure of the prestigious IAS tag, coupled with changes in the UPSC exam pattern, particularly the inclusion of mathematical ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning in the CSAT paper, has contributed to this trend.
For more detailed information regarding the exam dates, application procedure, and other pertinent details, you can refer to the UPSC Notification .
The UPSC syllabus predominantly comprises traditional humanities subjects like history, political science, and public administration. However, aspirants are allowed to choose from a diverse list of optional subjects, which includes science and engineering subjects as well. The optional subject carries a weightage of 400 marks divided into two papers, hence choosing the right optional can significantly boost your score in the IAS mains exam. This article aims to guide science students in selecting their optional subject.
Here is a list of optional subjects you can choose from for the UPSC mains exam:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Civil Engineering
- Chemistry
- Commerce
- Economics
- Geography
- Electrical Engineering
- History
- Geology
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Law
- Mathematics
- Public Administration
- Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Physics
- Zoology
- Statistics
Some of the recommended Science Optional Subjects are:
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Civil Engineering
- Chemistry
- Medical Science
- Physics
- Zoology
As evident, there are numerous science and engineering subjects you can opt for as your optional.
If you are currently pursuing your graduation or have recently graduated and have embarked on your IAS preparation , it is advisable to choose your current subject of study as your optional. This not only saves time but also leverages the fact that the subject is still fresh in your mind.
However, if there is a significant gap between your graduation and IAS preparation, three scenarios could arise:
i) You still have a strong grasp of your graduation subjects: In this scenario, it would be beneficial to choose your graduation subject as your IAS optional.
ii) You are out of touch with your graduation subject but still have an inclination towards scientific and technical topics: In this case, it is recommended to choose a subject with a scientific base, such as:
- Anthropology
- Geology
- Geography
- Economics
- Psychology
These subjects can also aid in your preparation for the General Studies papers.
iii) You have largely forgotten your graduation subject: In such a case, it would be wise to choose a subject that is extensively covered in the General Studies papers like history, geography, economics, public administration, or political science. Since you would be starting from scratch, these subjects can help you cover a significant portion of the general studies syllabus.
It is strongly advised to thoroughly go through the UPSC syllabus of each subject before finalizing your optional.
For more information, you can refer to the following links-
- UPSC 2023
- IAS Online Application
- UPSC previous years’ papers
- UPSC Eligibility
- Current affairs
- UPSC Calendar 2022
