Which optional subject in UPSC has the most overlap with GS in the IAS exam

 

The following subjects are popular among IAS aspirants from both technical and non-technical due to the high overlap with GS or other parts of the UPSC exam:

• Public Administration – Highly relevant, compact syllabus, paper II (Indian Administration) features a lot of overlap with the polity and governance part in GS II.
• Sociology – the study of society, any materials which may be utilized in GS I, Essay, and even in Ethics paper.
• History – relevant for prelims also as GS I.
• Geography -relevant for prelims also as GS I
• Political Science – relevant for prelims also as GS II
• Law – relevant for prelims also as GS II

Important Steps to think about for selecting the Optional Subject in UPSC

First, undergo the list of all the optional subjects.

Consider your most liked subjects. believe every subject during which you exceeded expectations, during which subject you showed more interest, during which subject you bought great marks during your school days.

See which parts of stories you're more curious about. Think about which subjects of GS you wish more. a couple of people like history, some like polity/ sociology and continue pursuing those books as if they're doing masters in those topics. Consider short-listing them as your alternative subject.

Some people have a pastime of reading the literature of their maternal language.

How to Shortlist from the Initial List of Optional Subject in UPSC

Based on the above-mentioned criteria, prepare an inventory of 4-5 subjects that you simply think you've got interested in.

Now, undergo the syllabus of every alternative subject. Read all topics precisely. Underline/ highlight the points that you simply think you recognize something about or have some interest in within the syllabus of every shortlisted optional subject.

Now undergo the previous year’s question papers (3-4 years) of the shortlisted subjects. Read all the questions. but, measure yourself the extent of interest you've got or the knowledge you hold to answer each question.

By following the above points, you'll be ready to understand how compatible you're with a selected subject.

Three More Steps to Shortlist

Finally, the supply of materials and guidance through training matters tons. For a couple of papers, it's hard to urge standard books, for a few subjects tutions might not be available. Non-technical subjects are often prepared by doing self-study provided you consistently work on writing.

By now you'll have an inexpensive picture of selecting between 2-3 papers. as an example, if you're from an engineering background and particularly good at your engineering subjects, within the meantime if you've got broadly read the literature of your language, are going to be in quandary to pick between these two subjects.

In this scenario, the ‘success rate’ counts. Generally, literature subjects have performed well altogether for years. you'll finish up choosing literature of your language as your alternative paper. It’s an honest choice.

Other Factors that Matters While Shortlisting

For a couple of people that have worked during a big company, Public Administration may be a great choice and actually, it's been the foremost chosen option by working aspirants or with the people that have quit their jobs.

Medical students may choose life science, Zoology, or Anthropology as these papers are associated with their field.

Which is that the best optional subject for UPSC for medical students and doctors?

Out of the available options (refer to the table of subjects above), life science may be a natural choice. There are several IAS toppers with a medical background who took life science as their optional.

To some extent, subjects like Zoology, farming , and Veterinary Science also can be considered. However, if a candidate from a medical background isn’t willing to choose life science because of the choice of optional, then non-technical subjects that have some overlap with GS become their choice.

Which is that the best optional subject for UPSC for engineering candidates?

A lot of candidates from an engineering background have performed well within the IAS exam. However, if a candidate wants to settle on an optional subject supported by their previous knowledge, then the choices reduce to Civil, Mechanical, and EE.

Obviously, nobody would like to choose a technical subject unless one studied an equivalent at the graduate level.

Subjects like Maths, Physics, and Chemistry also can be considered. These subjects reduce the subjectivity in marking to some extent, but the preparation time and energy are large. So, it’s always better to travel through the syllabi and past question papers first.

What are the highest 10 optional subjects in UPSC?

After considering the newest UPSC syllabus and up to date IAS results, the highest 10 optional subjects in UPSC are often listed as follows:

• Sociology
• Agriculture
• Medical Science
• Literature
• Anthropology
• Public Administration
• Psychology
• Law
• Geography
• History

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