Optional Subjects

Choosing the right optional subject is one of the most important decisions in UPSC Civil Services preparation. Since candidates are allowed to select only one optional subject, this choice can significantly impact the final rank. At CSMP IAS Lucknow, we guide aspirants in understanding the UPSC Optional Subjects list, syllabus requirements, scoring potential, and preparation strategy to help them make an informed decision for the UPSC Mains Examination 2026.

How Many Optional Subjects Are There in UPSC?

UPSC provides a choice of 48 optional subjects for the Civil Services Mains Examination. Out of these, 25 are core (non-literature) subjects and 23 are literature subjects. Candidates can choose any one optional subject, irrespective of their graduation background. Over the years, subjects like Geography, History, Sociology, Political Science & International Relations, Public Administration, and Anthropology have remained popular among aspirants due to syllabus overlap and availability of guidance.

List of UPSC Optional Subjects (Core Subjects)

The following optional subjects are available for the UPSC Mains Examination. CSMP IAS provides guidance and coaching support for selected optional subjects based on faculty expertise and student demand.

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.

UPSC Literature Optional Subjects

Candidates can also choose literature of the following languages as their optional subject in the UPSC Mains Examination:

Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.

Best Optional Subject for UPSC – How to Decide?

There is no single “best” optional subject for all candidates. Many IAS toppers have scored 320+ marks in both technical and non-technical subjects. The key lies in choosing an optional subject that matches your background, interest, and preparation capacity. At CSMP IAS, mentors help aspirants evaluate optional subjects based on practical factors rather than trends alone.

Technical subjects such as Mathematics and Engineering are considered scoring due to objective answers, while humanities subjects offer better overlap with General Studies and Essay papers. The right optional subject is the one you can study consistently and confidently.

Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Optional Subject

Before finalizing an optional subject, aspirants should carefully consider the following:

• How vast is the syllabus of the optional subject?
• How much time can you realistically dedicate to optional preparation?
• Do you have prior academic background or familiarity with the subject?
• How much overlap does the optional have with GS Prelims and Mains syllabus?
• Are coaching, study material, and guidance easily available?
• Are you genuinely interested in studying the subject long-term?

CSMP IAS provides one-to-one counseling to help aspirants answer these questions and make the right choice.

Most Popular UPSC Optional Subjects

Based on past trends and student preferences, the following optional subjects are commonly chosen by UPSC aspirants:

Sociology, Public Administration, Geography, History, Political Science & International Relations, Anthropology, Law, Psychology, Agriculture, and Literature subjects.

Optional Subjects with High GS Syllabus Overlap

Some optional subjects overlap significantly with the General Studies syllabus, saving preparation time and improving answer quality:

Public Administration – Strong overlap with GS Paper II (Polity & Governance).

Sociology – Useful for GS Paper I, Essay, and Ethics Paper.

History – Relevant for Prelims and GS Paper I.

Geography – Helps in Prelims and GS Paper I.

Political Science & IR – Useful for Prelims and GS Paper II.

Law – Relevant for Prelims and GS Paper II.

Economics, Philosophy, and Agriculture are also good options depending on background and interest.

UPSC Optional Subjects – Success Rate (Reference Data)

Success rates vary across subjects and years. While some subjects show higher success ratios, CSMP IAS emphasizes that answer quality, clarity, and consistency matter more than statistics. A well-prepared candidate can score high in any optional subject with the right strategy and guidance.

How to Choose the Best UPSC Optional Subject – CSMP IAS Guidance

At CSMP IAS Lucknow, we help aspirants choose the right optional subject through academic counseling and strategic planning. Factors considered include syllabus length, overlap with GS, availability of resources, personal interest, and long-term consistency. Aspirants are advised not to select an optional solely based on toppers’ marks or popularity, as a wrong choice can cost an attempt.

UPSC Optional Subject Preparation Tips

Effective optional subject preparation requires a focused and disciplined approach:

• Understand the syllabus thoroughly and use it as a checklist
• Follow limited but standard study material and reliable sources
• Practice answer writing regularly to improve structure and presentation
• Attempt previous years’ question papers and mock tests
• Revise topics weekly and monthly for better retention
• Integrate current affairs wherever applicable to enrich answers

CSMP IAS provides structured optional coaching, study material, answer writing practice, and continuous evaluation to help aspirants master their optional subject for UPSC Mains.

CSMP IAS Lucknow – Expert Guidance for UPSC Optional Subject Selection & Preparation