UPSC Exam comprises of three stages – Prelims, Mains and Interview. Amongst these three stages, the Mains Examination is the most vital because it comprises nearly 86% marks of the total marks (1750 Marks out of total of 2025 Marks).
In the Mains examination, the candidate is to choose one Optional Subject from the UPSC list of 26 Optional Subjects. Each Optional Subject has two papers of 250 Marks each thereby making about 30% of Mains Exam (500 Marks out of 1750 Marks). A candidate is free to choose any of the listed optional subject irrespective of his/her academic background.
In this blog, we will discuss the important points which you have to keep in mind while selecting an Optional Subject and they are as follows: –
1. Academic Background & Interest Area: –
You can easily identify the subject in which you have a keen interest by going through NCERT books of 11th & 12 th Standard. If you go through the syllabus of the Optional Subject, then also you can get a fair idea about the subject which interests you. It is extremely important that the choice of Optional Subject be made consciously and diligently. For instance: –
(a) If you are from Commerce stream then you can choose between Commerce & Accountancy, Economics, Public Administration and Management.
(b) If you from Engineering domain, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering are tailor made choices offered by UPSC. An Engineering graduate also has the flexibility to choose between Maths, Chemistry or Physics
(c) For students of Medical Science, UPSC offers Medical Science as an Optional Subject.
(d) Students from Science background have many choices to opt from e.g. Botany, Zoology, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Chemistry.
2. Is Optional subject connected with the General Studies syllabus: –
Some of the Optional subjects like Public Administration, Geography, History, Sociology, Political Science, Economics have a component in the GS Syllabus and hence form part of General Studies (GS) papers. Choosing one of these subjects gives an added advantage of covering GS syllabus while preparing for Optional.
3. Whether coaching is available for the chosen optional subject or not: –
Yes, there are many coaching institutes which enable Civil service aspirants to follow the correct strategy for preparing for Optional Subject. Each institute has its own domain expertise based on the faculty they have for the optional subjects. There are very few institutes which offer coaching in subjects like Anthropology, Philosophy, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture etc. Therefore, an aspirant will have to largely depend on self-preparation in such subjects. On the other end of the spectrum, most of the institutes offer coaching in subjects like Public Administration, Political Science, Geography, History, Economics, Psychology, Sociology etc. These subjects are more popular because of syllabus overlap with the GS papers.
You need to identify a coaching institute which has good reputation and proven results of the past. You may ask your friends, family, associates or research yourself over the Internet about which are the Best IAS coaching institutes to teach your selected optional subject. Updated study material from the most reliable coaching centre along with classroom coaching can accelerate your preparations.
4. Result of Optional subject from the past three years : –
A candidate’s performance depends upon many parameters It would be imprudent to choose an Optional Subjest just based on past results. However, for the sake of academic interest, one can check the results which are available on Internet.
5. Strategic Time Management : –
Time is the most important resource for anyone! Preparing an effective and efficient time schedule and self-discipline in adhering to the schedule is an essential prerequisite for achieving success in any exam. Importance of time management for one of the most difficult entrance exam in our country needs no further emphasis. Civil Services exam preparation requires a continuous and effective effort and a balanced routine. To cover the syllabus, plan should be made after truthful self-assessment of own strengths and weaknesses. One should cater for time required for revision and practice through Mock tests. It all melts down to having an effective, practical timetable and its diligent adherence.
We hope this blog is helpful for all the IAS aspirants. To know more aboutAAP IAS Option.
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