OPTIONAL SUBJECT SELECTION FAQ

I am a graduate on Computer Science. I am very much interested to appear for UPSC exam. But now I am in a dilemma to select my optional subject. Engineering and computer students can opt for geography will be easier for science students. If you do good map reading , you can score really well. Then there are some areas in geography , which will be useful for general studies also. The other subject may be sociology/psychology/public administration. To select the option. please go through the detailed syllabus and old questions. that will give an idea to select on appropriate optional.

Has Computer Science been added to the optional subjects in Main examinations?
Not yet. It may or may not come as one of the optionals. It is normally decided by UPSC - whether to include one subject or not.

I am an engineering graduate. I want to take Sanskrit Literature for mains. What difficulties will I face and is coaching necessary for it?
You have to be good in Sanskrit. Good writing skills. In the Literatures, only the writing skill is very important. Some people have this as an inborn quality. You can consult the person who opted for the same recently. To improve the skills, if you feel necessary, you can opt for coaching.

I am an engineering graduate. I want to take Geography as my optional but my medium is Hindi. I came to know that Hindi medium students cannot do well in Civil Service and their score is less than English medium students.
It is not like that. People may be saying that the original standard text books are in English only. It may be difficult for a language student to translate in to his/her language. The other mistakes students used to do that is writing in the language directly in the Exam hall only with out any prior practice.
It is the human tendency that why some one is writing the technical or Science subject in the Indian Language. So, the language person has the draw back in the initial stage itself.
But all are individuals opinion. It varies from person to person. If you believe in you, you can very take the exam in Hindi. Important thing is that you have to have a good practice. If you write/present it in an excellent manner, you are bound to get good marks. So, you can interact with some more candidates, if possible with the similar optional subjects and decide about it. There are many students who cleared the CSE in Hindi Medium after trying their luck in English for one or two failed attempt.
One more thing you have to keep in the mind is that the performance of optional subjects also varies from year to year.

I am student of IIT Delhi pursuing my B.tech in Civil Engineering. I am bit confused about the subjects for CSE , as people insist not to go with civil engg as a subject....and also to take one subject from arts. I have been good in quizzing and geography at my school.
For IIT students, geography will also be a cake walk. This is scoring and safe also. Your quizzing will definitely help here. Whatever you had studied in the schooling only will help you. But it is little advance and those things are really easy. You have to practice good map reading as it has 120 marks out of 600 in the mains.
What your friends say about civil engineering is true. The success ratio of civil engineering is really poor. The trend is humanity subjects. So select a good humanity subject which will be easy for you. When you study with full potential, humanity subjects are really easy. Need little logic that's all.

I am from economics background. I am confused in choosing the second optional whether to take Public Administration or Psychology?
Both psychology and public administration are doing well. You have to choose between the two based on your experience, interest, expertise etc. Read the full syllabus and previous years question papers of both, this will give an idea to select the better one.

I am a fourth year engineering student. I want to know the prospects of opting geography as a subject for the main examination. Also tell me something about the GS paper.
Geography is very good option for science students. Though it is a humanity subject, it has more relevance in science also. The physical geography will be really easy for science graduates have an edge over city/humanity students. If you can do a proper and intelligent map work, you can really score well. Geography study will be useful in general studies also in about 50-60 marks, so geography is a safe and scoring subject for all.
The general studies paper can't be explained in one sentence as paper can not be improved/ studied in short period. The general studies are nothing but whatever we have studied in our school days. Those studies are building blocks of our knowledge. The trend of the present general studies have changed lot. Earlier, the general studies questions were direct but the present day questions are more of an application oriented so one should understand the concept well and should be in a position to apply in practical sense.
For the above reasons, aspirants are first asked to read the NCERT books. Then go for specialized books. The general studies manuals are also nothing but the gist of NCERT books.

Could you please guide me in choosing my optionals between Geography and Psychology for the Prelims? I have studied Science upto 10+2 and BBA in Graduation. Also please tell the time-frame required to complete the course keeping in view the Optional for Pre and Mains (as you suggest) and the strategy to be followed for that?
Both subjects are equally good when we take your basic and degree, both are good combination - from the point of view of Mains. First, go through the syllabus and prelims questions of the previous year, which will give you an idea, as to which subject would be a better choice. Factors such as your interest, basic knowledge, attitude towards the subjects are to be taken care of properly, as that will give an edge to one subject over other.
The question regarding the completion of a subject is really subjective. It depends upon the individual and vary from one person to other. That is why people from the same background and opting for the same subject also get varied marks. It depends on various skills and other attributes of the aspirant as well as the mental make up of the evaluator. Strategy is the common strategy, which is given on the book.

I am a Hindi medium student. I have Public Administration and Geography as my optionals. Please tell me which one shall I opt for the preliminary exam.
For a Hindi medium student, we suggest geography will be a better optional than public Administration you will have good resources for geography also performs better than Public Administration in the civil services.

I am a Hindi medium student. I am an Engineering graduate. I want to know what optionals I should take that will suit my medium, as well as my background.
Geography and Hindi Literature. Geography is safe for you. As far as the second optional is concerned, you can think of taking Public Administration/Sociology/ Philosophy. But follow the strategy given by us properly, so that you select one of the best optionals suited for your success.

I am a Hindi medium student and an engineering graduate. I want to take Indian History in prelims and Philosophy and Sanskrit in mains.
There is no problem, if you can deal all these three subjects. Philosophy is doing well. Why do you want to go for Sanskrit? If you are really good in the Literature, go for it otherwise avoid it. Instead of confusing with History and Sanskrit, you can think of taking Geography. With your Science background, geography will be easier. If you feel, the chances of clearing the Prelims with the History is high, you can go ahead with your present decision.
Before taking the final decision, go through the general strategy given by us. That will clear your doubt.

What are the chances of Zoology subject in Hindi medium for an ordinary B.Sc student ?
The Civil Services Exam is concerned, for the Zoology subject, the Questions are masters level. You can write in Hindi / English. But availability of std books & materials For zoology may be little difficult because of its scientific nature.
As far as, Geography is concern you can very well write it in Hindi. Most of aspirants appear in the exams using Hindi medium.

It has been observed that many toppers are getting around 65% marks only at CSE. Is it not possible to score more than 70%?
If you observe the past record, even getting 60% in all the papers is really difficult. If you see the last year's trend also, the topper got around 60 plus percentage.
This is not the University exam, where you prepare notes and reproduce in the exams to get 90 plus. In the Civil Services, there are criteria fixed by the UPSC for the paper evaluation. UPSC gives a key with some instructions to the Evaluators. They can not award more than 60%. If they award more than that, they have to explain the case also. So, whoever writes extremely well and impresses the examiner, who is also human being will get an edge over others. To clear this, Please read our column "SECRET OF SUCCESS"

I am doing my graduation in Agriculture 3rd year. Help me in choosing the optional for prelim and the mains. What is the success rate of botany as optional and whether it is scoring or not? I am also considering optionals like Sociology and Public administration? Which of these optionals is best considering the fact that my first optional is Agriculture,
Agriculture graduates really perform well in civil services after medical sciences. Both the science and arts subjects are easy for the Agriculture graduates, as they study both in their graduation. So preparation of general studies won't be a problem.
As you are in third year you should start general studies as well. The tips are there in the Book. Just follow it as per the guidance.
As an optional Agriculture is really doing well. The success ratio of Agriculture is about 1:6. to score good marks, follow the strategy given in our website.
The success ratio of Botany is about 1:9 to 1:10.
While selecting the optional one should also consider the following factor.
1. Vastness/Coverage of these subjects.
2. Similarities in the syllabus.
3. Similarities in the question pattern
4. Exam time gap between the subjects. There are times exams are back to back. Persons who need little revision find it difficult if the exams are back to back
5. Usefulness in the general studies preparation.
If we consider all the factors Botany has more close relation with Agriculture as compared to other two. Public Administration is useful in General Studies. Sociology is neither similar nor useful in General Studies.
Other important subject, you missed is Geography. This has similarity with agriculture and useful in the General Studies. Normally agriculture students go for Botany or Geography in general. Other two subjects you have mentioned also are opted by Agriculture students.
Now it is you to decide based on the detailed syllabus, previous years questions and your interest. This will give an idea to select an appropriate subject as second optional.

Your comments on the subjects public Administration and Sociology.
Both the subjects are good. You can go ahead with your preparation. The number of candidates appearing with Public Administration are more than Sociology. In the prelims you have a good chance provided you prepare well. You have to be in top among the Public Administration candidates. As per the UPSC report the success ratio is more for Sociology in the mains than Public Administration. The trend keeps on changing. Now, it is upto you to decide. Even after going through the steps given by us, if you are not clear then do the following.
Just make positive and negative points for both the subjects. Just weigh the subject based on pure objective. ie your success. Study of the Public Administration may be useful in your General studies both in Prelims and Mains.

I am a B.Com Graduate. What subjects I should choose? How to start?
If you are good at, you can opt for Commerce and Accountancy as one of the optionals. It is also doing well
To test your knowledge base, first go through the strategy given in our site. In brief, detailed syllabus and previous years question papers one should be a topper in his own subject, so that the selection also becomes easier.
The second optional may be Public Administrator/Sociology/Psychology/Indian Literature, if you are really good at it. That is good written skills and analytical capacity in the Literature.
The starting can be at any stage. Regarding General Studies, you have to start from scratch if you don't have any idea. Subject also you can start based on the syllabus and previous years question pattern.

I am a 4th Year Law student (Of the five year Law course). How far is the combination of Law and History as optional is advisable? 2) What is the success ratio for these subjects?
Both Law and History are advisable but both have low success ratio. In fact Law is a better optional than History. Normally, 5 year course law graduates used to study History also in their graduation. That is why most of the Law graduates opt for History as this is familiar to them. But one should select some other optional.
The success ratio of History is about 1:35 and Law is about 1:15 there is no subject scoring or not scoring but some subjects have inherent characteristics to impress evaluators. Socially also there are subjects accepted as positive subject in scoralibity.
Law can be one of your optional as you make graduation in Law. You have to present your answer in unique way by proper analysis; expression, presentation etc which can attract the evaluator.
Other combination may be Sociology/Psychology/Philosophy with Law. Otherwise you can take public administration as first optional. Other optional may be sociology/psychology/any Indian literature provided you are good at it. If you are confident in Law, you can go for it also. This can be decided by going through the previous year questions.

I am student of B.A.; LL.B (Hons.), IV Year. I want to know what is the right time for me to start preparation for Civil Services? Which is the best combination with Law? I want to opt from either history or public administration.

Regarding the Civil Services Exam, there is no right time or apt time to start the preparation. In fact the preparation for the General Studies starts at the school level itself. The General Studies questions in the Preliminary are nothing but the basic concepts/applied aspect of the basic concepts studied in the school.
As far as you are concerned, you can start the preparation right now. Now, you can start the preparation for the Law and General studies simultaneously.
As far as the second optional is concerned, you may select Public Administration rather than History. The advantages are
1. Some of the chapters are similar for the both the optionals.
2. Public Administration will be useful for the Mains and Interview as well.
3.This subject will be safer compared to History. But the aspirant is the right person to decide on the optional based on the feedback from successful students, own interest, syllabus and previous years question pattern etc

I completed my B.Sc Biotechnology with Botany Biotechnology and Microbiology as subjects. Please help in choosing optional subjects.
You can select Botany as the first optional as most of the syllabus you must have covered during the graduation. The success ratio of Botany is about 1:9. The second optional may be Zoology. This is also doing well. There is some similarity between these two subjects. The syllabus may be vast. You may think of taking Anthropology. You can understand the scientific terms used in this subject easily. The success ratio is also at par with Botany.
If you feel like taking some humanity subject you can take one of the following subjects. Public Administration/ Sociology/ Psychology. If you are good in one of the listed Indian Literatures, you can also opt for it.

I am a graduate with B.Sc degree and subjects Psychology ,Botany and Zoology. I am planning for moving to Delhi for IAS preparations. Can we choose subjects other than what we had at graduation level. what should be the criterion for choosing the subjects? Also is it more important to finish with your PG before preparing for IAS or even graduates like me can go ahead.
You can select any two subjects from the UPSC's listed optional subjects. This need not be of the subject, which you have studied in the college. Preparation from Delhi will be definitely advantageous for the students, compared to those preparing from remote areas.
There is no basic criteria in the selection, but there are some combinations, which are not allowed. You can not take those two subjects together. The list available in the book.
Though there is no criteria given by the UPSC, students normally prefer to opt for few optionals. You can also keep these points in mind before the selection.
1. May opt for the subjects , which are interesting to you. So that you don't get bored of this year long preparation.
2. Informally people call some subject as popular and some are specialised and some are least popular. The popular subjects are opted by the candidate from any stream. These are like History, Geography, Public Administration, Sociology etc. Technical or specialised subjects are Medicine, All branches Engineering , Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture etc. There are subjects, which are not preferred by majority of the candidates.
3. You should also see that both the optional exams are not held back to back. Normally, the examination schedule drawn based on the number of candidates. Highest number will be held first followed by the next like that.
4. See the books and material availability. You can also see, if there is need for any coaching. If at all you need a coaching, will you get the good coaching centre and the teaching as well?
There are many Coaching Institutes run English medium coaching only. As per our policy, We don't recommend any coaching Institute to the aspirants/ visitors.

In the CSE main exam, on completion of each answer next answer has to be commenced on next page if by over sight this is not adhered to will it be penalized by deducting marks-
There are no such rules and regulations. In the main exam, students are asked to use a separate page for new question because of some technical reasons. ie one has to a fill the page number of a every new question in the first page. The first page with the page details sent to the examiner /evaluator. If the new question is answered in a separate page, it will be easy for the evaluator also to award marks properly. The examiner may make some comments inside the paper. But marks are given in the first page only. If you write two questions in one page, it may create some confusion. But the evaluator, normally doesn't deduct/penalise marks for this over sight

I am doing BA with subjects Education, English, and political Science, Can I appear in CSE with education as optional, is there enough study material available for this subjact, is it scoring? How is English as optional ? what other subject in your opinion is good for me?
There is no optional subject called education in the UPSC syllabus. The syllabus prescribed by the UPSC is available in the Book. First go through it. At BA level, we don't advise you to go for English. The questions are masters level, we suggest you go for Political science as one of the optionals second optional may be Psychology/Sociology one of the listed Indian literature if you are really good at it
We also suggest you to go through the detailed syllabus and previous years questions and decide about the second optional you should select the subject, which is interesting to you so that you can study the subject without any hindrance. You may not lose the tempo of preparation also.

I have secured 2 nd division marks in my 10th examination 48% . Am I eligible for CSE or not. Is it necessary to take coaching for preparation.
You are eligible to write civil services. As per the eligibility criteria prescribed by the UPSC, one should possess a degree, which should be UGC recognised . So your degree must be a recognised by UGC. The UPSC examiner, who will evaluate your main paper never will come to know about your degree and divisions.
As far as Coaching is concerned it depends upon the individual's decision. After selecting the optional, first go through the questions, which will give an idea. Follow the strategy given by us in the Book. This will give an idea where do you stand? Then find out the way to improve yourself. If you have more doubt, then you are welcome

I am working as a software engineer from last 5 years after completing my B.Tech. in Electronics Engg. First, Should I go for it because I am doing the job and can get 5-8 hours max a day for study? Second, which optionals should I go with? i have in mind Geography, Public Administration and Psychology.
It is really interesting that a person, even after working for 5 years coming forward for civil services.
The time of 5-8 hours or working days and 10-12 hours on holidays will be more than enough for an aspirant like you to succeed in the civil services. But we suggest you to go for one month leave before prelims and 2-3 months leave before mains, if you are serious about the exams.
As far as optionals are concerned, we suggest to Engineering graduates to go for Geography as a first option if they don't have any subject in their mind. A month other three optionals you can select either public Administration or Psychology you should select the optional based on your interest and availability of other resources. As per the UPSC record, psychology is better performing subject than public Administration.

Can you please tell me the success ratio of Geography, Sociology and which one is the best scoring subject among the two?
The success ratio of Geography is about 1:10. The success ratio of sociology is 1:9. This success ratio also varies from year to year.
The scoring or not scoring is again subject for discussion. It depends purely on the individual's talent and capacity. In the mains there are about 1000 students appear with Geography and 500 students with Sociology

I just want to know whether my focus should be only on prelims now or I should study for mains syllabus along with prelims .My first optional is Public Administration and second is Geography.
Yes. One's approach to civil services preparation should be holistic approach . The General studies and the optional should be prepared with both prelims, mains, Essay and even Interview point of view. But you can leave the Interview point of view at present once you study well for the mains, that will make you to do the essay part well. The Prelims needs an exhaustive and broad spectrum study but the mains needs intensive and topic oriented. First make a structure for prelims & mains preparation. Then follow it.
The prelims point of preparation needs recollecting capacity and mains preparation needs remembrance capacity. So, you have to blend both the talent. The preparation of Public Administration will help in the Polity part of General studies.

I am doing my 3rd year engineering in electrical and electronics. Suggest me some optionals and their success ratio. I am planning to take up Electrical Engineering and Public Administration as my optionals.
The success ratio of Electrical Engineering is not good. There are 2 - 3 people only clear main exam out of 100 aspirants wrote with Engineering as an optional. So you have to revisit you decision.
Public Administration a good optional and its success ratio is about 1:12. Other optional, you can think of Geography. Its success ratio is about 1:10. In fact, you can go for Geography as a first optional. Other optional you can think is either psychology or Anthropology ( being a science student, you will understand the subject well ). The success ratio of Psychology is about 1:6 The success ratio of Anthropology is about 1:9.

I am a B .Tech (I Year) student. I aspire to be an I.A.S officer. My question is that I have decided to take Geography as the preliminary subject & I am thinking of taking up Electrical as my second option. But the big question is that while I feel confident in Geography as I have been finding it quite easy, I am slightly hazy about
Electrical, as I am finding difficulty in applying the concepts in numericals. Time management is a big issue as I have huge course load.
Time management is a big problem for most of the aspirants. In fact this problem persists with others also. You are very clear about your objective. Then 50% of the problem is already solved.
Your decision about the optionals are really perfect. Geography is a very good optional, safe and scoring also.
Regarding your own subject, Electrical Engineering, good to stick to it for the present. As you are in the first year, there is lot of time to think of other subject. What you have to do now is to study the subject well. Read the full syllabus and have the old question papers also. Sort out the questions of mains as per your college syllabus, so that you can prepare the subject side by side in the UPSC standard. This will make lots of difference ie Normal student's approach and Civil Services' aspirants approach. This will make you an expert in Electrical Engineering also.
You find Geography easy because you had already studied Geography in the school. But, you have never had an exposure to Electrical Engineering. In the process of learning, it will also become easy in due course.
Regarding the General Studies preparation, you have to study the NCERT books again. As you are a Science student, you need not concentrate on Science. Geography is becoming another optional, so there is no need for GS preparation for Geography also. At present you have to concentrate on Polity, Economy, History. Current Affairs will develop automatically, if you keep abreast with latest national and international happenings. Read your tips and follow the same.
Regarding time management,. you have to target all holidays and vocations. Have a timetable for the whole day. One should make his/her own plan to follow it because they only know their positive and negative points. Don't be a bookworm always. Have time games and other entertainment also. These entertainments should be healthy. This should not be an obstacle to your objective. Have a good friends circle so that you can discuss various things. This age is really important, once you miss it, you will never get it back, but the same period of life is delicate, so "HANDLE WITH CARE" . So, one should have a judicious mixture of all the above. Morning hours are really very good for memorizing facts, for your brain is fresh after a good night's sleep. Still, if you find a problem to make a study Schedule, feel free to ask us.

I am an engineering student, doing my second year in electronic instrumentation and control engineering. How to select an optional and mains papers
For the General Studies you can go through the site and follow the tips.
As far as the selection of optional is concerned, you have to follow some basics.
If the subjects are of your interest, you can read the subject without any problem ie continue the same tempo throughout the preparation. Then you have to see the subject, which had some relevance in your career, so that there is no problem in understanding. In case, it is not so, select the subject, which you feel would be easy for preparation. The last and final criterion is - do you have the access to proper and standard books/ guides for your preparation?
Our advice to you in general, is that you can think of taking Geography as an optional. This will be easy for you because of your Science background. If you possess good writing skills, you can think of opting for some humanities subject like Psychology/Sociology/ Public Administration. For the Mains, you may think of opting for one of the Indian Literatures, if you are really good at that Literature. Hindi Literature is not doing well in comparison to other regional Languages.
Whatever the subject, you have to go through the detailed syllabus and the previous year question papers to decide the option. This will give a broad picture about the subject. If possible, you can interact with some successful students in the same subject.
But you are going to prepare, so apply your mind and decide on your own with the all inputs received from different quarters.

I am Hindi medium student . What is the success ratio of Hindi Literature? How can I get 100 % marks in mapping in Geography?
The Success ratio of Hindi Literature is about 1:31. The success ratio of Geography is about 1:9. One can get more than 60% if he/she does the exam well. The scoring of a subject is concerned, it is difficult to tell. If you read the "SECRET OF SUCCESS" Column in the Book. You will get the clear picture of the evaluation also.
As far as mapping is concerned, if depends on the exact marking, notes about the marking ( 25 words ) and key words relating to the point. For example, NARMADA river is asked, you have to mark it properly first. The other key words are west flowing, flowing between, source, length and other key details relating to it. If the key given by the UPSC is fulfilled the evaluator will give 5 out of 6 for one spot. Some one may give 5.5 also not 6 out of 6. Anyhow it is far better than other written answers, which will fetch you around 30-35 out of 60 marks.
The medium of exam is not at all a problem, how do you present your paper, which will make the difference.