UPSC Optional Subject List

Table of Content

UPSC optional subjects offer candidates the chance to specialize in areas of interest. This choice adds depth to their preparation, reflecting diverse knowledge and expertise.

The UPSC Mains examination includes optional subjects. In the CSE Main exam, which consists of nine papers, two papers, papers VI and VII, are optional subject papers. Each carries 250 marks. The scores in these optional subjects are considered for the final merit. Hence, the optional subject for UPSC should be decided upon after much deliberation and thought.

UPSC Optional Subject List – CSE Mains examination

The list of the optional subjects in the UPSC CSE Main exam is given below.

Sl. No	List of Optional Subjects in UPSC Main Examination
1	Agriculture
2	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
3	Anthropology
4	Botany
5	Chemistry
6	Civil Engineering
7	Commerce & Accountancy
8	Economics
9	Electrical Engineering
10	Geography
11	Geology
12	History
13	Law
14	Management
15	Mathematics
16	Mechanical Engineering
17	Medical Science
18	Philosophy
19	Physics
20	Political Science and International Relations
21	Psychology
22	Public Administration
23	Sociology
24	Statistics
25	Zoology

List of the literature optional subjects in the UPSC Main examination

The list of the optional literature subjects for the UOSC Main exam is given below.

Sl. No.	List of Literature Optional Subjects in UPSC Main Examination
1	Assamese
2	Bengali
3	Bodo
4	Dogri
5	Gujarati
6	Hindi
7	Kannada
8	Kashmiri
I 10	Maithili
11	Malayalam
12	Manipuri
13	Marathi
14	Nepali
15	Oriya
16	Punjabi
17	Sanskrit
18	Santhali
19	Sindhi
20	Tamil
21	Telugu
22	Urdu
23	English

How to Select the Appropriate UPSC IAS Mains Optional Subject?

Choosing an optional subject involves careful consideration of factors like scoring potential, popularity, personal interest, availability of resources, coaching availability, and background knowledge.

Also check:

Conclusion –

We hope this article has helped provide details about the UPSC optional subjects list. Choosing an optional subject for the main examination is a very important matter. Students feel perplexed to choose the best optional subject for UPSC. Scoring well on the optional paper increases your chances to clear the examination. The optional subject increases your overall score.

Also see:

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Exam

Can Agriculture be considered a good optional subject for the IAS?

The syllabus for Agriculture Paper-1 has similarities with GS in mains and prelims. Due to its relatively contained ...Read full

Which optional subjects are the easiest in the UPSC?

Subjects that have the highest score-making capacity in the earlier exams can be judged as the easiest optional subj...Read full

Which optional has the highest scoring subject?

Optional subjects like accounts, public administration, and agriculture are scoring subjects.

Can I opt for a literature subject as an optional paper even if language was not one of my graduation subjects?

Yes, you can opt for a literature subject as an optional paper even if langua...Read full

How can I choose the best optional subject?

Your interest in the subject can prove it to be the best optional subject for you. You should also consult your ment...Read full