UPSC Philosophy Optional Strategy: Tips for Philosophy UPSC Mains

Preparing for UPSC needs a well-rounded strategy to understand the concepts, along with analytical skills. Philosophy is a vast subject that requires in-depth core thinking and ideas. Choosing philosophy as optional for UPSC Civil Services requires a successful strategy that involves reading, daily writing practice, and constant revision to cover the syllabus completely. In this guide, you will get detailed information about UPSC Philosophy optional strategy to secure good marks.

Popularity of UPSC Philosophy Optional among Candidates

The below table shows the popularity of the Philosophy subject among candidates over the years. Take a look at the information of candidates who appeared and recommended Philosophy optional for UPSC Civil Services exam.

Top Scoring Philosophy Optional Candidates

Here are top-scoring candidates who scored higher ranks by following the UPSC Philosophy optional strategy for the UPSC Civil Services Mains exam.

Strategy for Philosophy Optional

Candidates must be thinking about what is the strategy for philosophy as optional. So here are the best strategies for philosophy optional without coaching that every candidate must follow and achieve better results.

Understand the Syllabus

Students must divide the syllabus into two parts, such as Paper I and Paper II. Paper I, focus on Western Philosophy and Indian Philosophy and Paper II will focus on Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion. By doing so, it will be easy for you to cover the entire syllabus and attempt questions related to these topics.

Choose Right Study Material

Candidates must go for the right study material that is updated with the latest syllabus and exam pattern. Also, consider books and online study materials that are recommended by experts and toppers.

Systematic Reading and Making notes

Students must read each philosopher’s primary concepts and create notes summarizing major ideas and arguments. You can also go to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy for some particular topics and philosophers.

Detailed Study of Topics

Candidates must pick one topic at a time from Indian Philosophy and then move on to Western Philosophy. You should focus on understanding the topic rather than just memorizing it because philosophy is a deep conceptual subject.

Interlink Concepts

Compare and contrast multiple philosophical approaches and thinkers. Create idea maps to find connections between different ideas and connections between two topics for better learning.

Practice and Improve Answer Writing Skills

Candidates must practice writing clear, concise, and logical answers and focus on a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, include quotations and critical thinking in the answers, where appropriate.

Practice Previous Year Papers

Students must practice the UPSC Philosophy previous year papers to understand the exam pattern and the types of questions asked in the examination. This will help students to build confidence and reduce anxiety during the actual examination.

Join Groups and Discussions

Students must join groups and have discussions to debate philosophical ideas. Study groups will help students explain and teach concepts to their peers, which will eventually improve their understanding.

Pros and Cons of Philosophy Optional

There are some pros and cons to Philosophy as an optional subject. Here are some benefits and drawbacks of choosing Philosophy as an optional subject for UPSC Mains exam.

Advantages of Philosophy Optional

• The philosophy syllabus is concise as compared to other optional subjects. This makes it manageable for students to cover within a limited timeframe.
• This subject develops philosophical thinking, enhances analytical skills, and requires a deep understanding of concepts.
• Students can overlap topics in ethics, political philosophy, and social justice with General Studies papers to save preparation time and effort.
• Philosophy study materials are easily available on the market, such as books, notes, and online materials. 
• Candidates can score good marks by writing logical answers with deep understanding and following the UPSC Philosophy Optional Strategy.

Disadvantages of Philosophy Optional

• This subject can be challenging for students who are prone to deep conceptual thinking.
• Students should strike a balance between answering with clarity and philosophical depth.
• Candidates without a philosophy background find this subject difficult in the initial stages.
• Students must have excellent answer-writing skills, which take enough time and practice.
• Philosophy is not as broad as other subjects like public administration and political science, which overlap with general studies.

Philosophy Syllabus for UPSC

The philosophy syllabus for UPSC optional is divided into Paper I and Paper II to make it manageable and easy to cover for the examination. Paper I include Philosophy and Problems of Philosophy, and Paper II covers Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion.

Candidates can check out our detailed page on Philosophy syllabus for UPSC optional and find details to prepare for the examination.

Recommended Books for UPSC Philosophy Optional Strategy

Candidates should choose recommended books to prepare for the Philosophy exam. Here are some of the most recommended books for Paper I and Paper II.

• The Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell
• An Introduction to Indian Philosophy by Satishchandra Chatterjee
• A New History of Western Philosophy: In Four Parts by Anthony Kenny
• An Introduction To Political Theory (8th Edition) by O P Gauba
• Philosophy of Religion by John H Hick Pearson

Students can also check out the dedicated page on Philosophy books for UPSC and find other essential books for their exam preparations.

This is all about the UPSC Philosophy optional strategy that every candidate must follow when preparing for the exam. Moreover, you can download the Testbook App to get more details about other optional subjects and prepare for them accordingly. This app is available on the Play Store for free.