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Optional subjects in UPSC

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Anonymous

8y ago
Updated: 6/27/2025

UPSC offers a broad range of optional subjects for the Mains exam. You need to choose one based on your background, interest, and preparation strategy. Here’s a general list:

Popular Optionals:

  • Humanities: History, Geography, Political Science & International Relations (PSIR), Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology, Psychology.
  • Science & Technical: Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering.
  • Commerce & Management: Economics, Commerce & Accountancy, Management.
  • Literature Subjects: Includes 20+ Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English, etc.

How to choose?

  • Pick what genuinely interests you or matches your academic background.
  • Consider GS syllabus overlap—subjects like PSIR, Sociology, and Anthropology are often preferred for this reason.
  • Look at availability of resources (books, answer writing practice, guidance, etc.).
  • Be realistic about your strengths—some subjects may be high-scoring but have a steep learning curve.

A lot of aspirants from economics or commerce backgrounds opt for Economics as their optional. It's technical but rewarding if your fundamentals are strong. Platforms like ArthaPoint Plus are increasingly being used by students from such backgrounds for structured study plans, especially for Economics optional.

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Arjun Agrawal

Lvl 5
2mo ago

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