Courses
UPSC – OPTIONAL
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) allows candidates to choose one optional subject for the UPSC Mains examination. The optional subject carries 500 marks, and candidates need to appear for two papers of the chosen subject. Here is a brief explanation of the UPSC Optional Subject and a list of some common optional subjects along with their brief descriptions:
- Agriculture: It covers various aspects of agriculture, including agronomy, plant breeding, soil science, horticulture, etc.
- Anthropology: Anthropology is the study of human societies, cultures, and their development over time.
- Chemistry: This subject includes various topics related to chemistry, including inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.
- Commerce and Accountancy: It covers areas like accounting, financial management, auditing, and business laws.
- Economics: It deals with economic theory, micro and macroeconomics, public finance, etc.
- Geography: It covers physical, human, and economic geography, along with the study of maps and map-making.
- History: The subject involves the study of ancient, medieval, and modern history, including world history.
- Law: This subject covers various aspects of law, including constitutional law, international law, and administrative law.
- Management: It includes topics related to business and management principles.
- Mathematics: Mathematics optional covers various mathematical topics, including algebra, calculus, and statistics.
- 11. Medical Science: This subject includes topics related to medical science and healthcare.
- Philosophy: It involves the study of philosophical ideas, thinkers, and theories.
- Physics: This subject includes topics related to classical mechanics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, etc.
- Political Science and International Relations: It covers political theory, comparative politics, international relations, etc.
- Psychology: This subject involves the study of human behavior, emotions, and cognitive processes.
- Public Administration: It covers topics related to public administration, governance, and public policy.
- Sociology: This subject includes the study of society, social institutions, and social processes.
- Statistics: It covers topics related to statistical methods, analysis, and applications.
- Zoology: Zoology optional covers various aspects of animal science and zoological studies.
Candidates should choose their optional subject based on their interest, background knowledge, and the availability of study resources. It is advisable to opt for a subject that the candidate feels confident about and can score well in. UPSC does not recommend any particular optional subject as being better or easier; the key to success is thorough preparation and understanding of the subject chosen. Before making a final decision, candidates should carefully analyze the syllabus and past question papers to assess the suitability of the optional subject.