How Many Optional Subjects in UPSC?
A Complete Guide to Optional Subjects for IAS Aspirants
One of the most common and confusing questions every UPSC aspirant asks—especially at the beginner stage—is:
How many optional subjects are there in UPSC, and how should I choose the right one?
The optional subject plays a decisive role in the Civil Services Examination. Many candidates clear Prelims and even write decent GS papers, but their final rank is heavily influenced by optional subject performance.
This article will explain everything you need to know about optional subjects in UPSC—from basic facts to advanced strategy—so that you can make an informed and confident decision, not a rushed or emotional one.
1. Understanding the Role of Optional Subject in UPSC
Before answering how many optional subjects, let us understand why optional exists in the UPSC exam.
UPSC introduced optional subjects to:
- Test depth of understanding
- Allow candidates to use their academic strengths
- Balance the general nature of GS papers
👉 Optional is the only area where you compete with a limited group of candidates studying the same subject.
2. Brief Overview of UPSC Exam Structure (Context Is Important)
The UPSC Civil Services Examination has three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
- Objective type
- No optional subject
- Only GS and CSAT
- Main Examination (Mains)
- Descriptive papers
- Optional subject is included here
- Decides rank
- Interview (Personality Test)
- No written syllabus
- Optional may influence questions
👉 Optional subject matters only in Mains, but its impact is huge.
3. How Many Optional Subjects Are There in UPSC?
Clear and Direct Answer:
There are 26 optional subjects in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Each optional subject has:
- Two papers (Paper I and Paper II)
- Each paper carries 250 marks
- Total optional marks = 500
These 500 marks can significantly affect your final rank.
4. Complete List of Optional Subjects in UPSC
Here is the official list of 26 optional subjects as prescribed by UPSC:
Literature Subjects (23)
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Maithili
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Marathi
- Nepali
- Oriya
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Santhali
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
- English
Non-Literature Subjects (23)
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce & Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science & International Relations (PSIR)
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
👉 You have to choose only ONE optional subject from this list.
5. Important Rule: You Can Choose Only One Optional Subject
Earlier, UPSC allowed two optional subjects, but this system was changed.
Current Rule:
- Only one optional subject
- Two papers of the same subject
- Both papers are compulsory
👉 You cannot mix two different optional subjects.
6. Why Optional Subject Is So Important in UPSC Mains
Let us understand this with clarity.
Weightage Comparison:
- GS Papers (4): 1000 marks
- Optional Subject: 500 marks
- Essay: 250 marks
- Interview: 275 marks
👉 Optional alone carries almost the same weight as two GS papers.
A strong optional can:
- Compensate for weak GS scores
- Improve overall rank
- Decide service allocation
7. Popular Optional Subjects Among Toppers
Some optional subjects are more popular due to:
- Syllabus overlap with GS
- Availability of guidance
- Predictability of questions
Popular Optionals:
- Geography
- Sociology
- Public Administration
- Anthropology
- PSIR
- History
⚠️ Popular does not mean best for everyone.
8. How to Choose the Right Optional Subject (Step-by-Step Strategy)
This is the most critical decision in your UPSC journey.
Step 1: Check Interest and Comfort
Ask yourself:
- Can I study this subject for 1–2 years?
- Does it interest me beyond exams?
👉 Interest ensures consistency.
Step 2: Analyze Syllabus Length and Depth
- Compare optional syllabus with GS syllabus
- Check how technical or conceptual it is
👉 Smaller syllabus does not always mean easier.
Step 3: Background and Academic Familiarity
- Graduation subject can help but is not mandatory
- Many toppers choose subjects unrelated to graduation
👉 Familiarity helps, but it is not compulsory.
Step 4: Availability of Resources and Guidance
Check:
- Standard books
- Coaching availability
- Test series
- Previous years’ solved papers
👉 Lack of resources can slow preparation.
Step 5: Time Required to Complete Optional
- Science/engineering optionals take more time
- Humanities optionals are comparatively manageable
👉 Choose according to your overall timeline.
9. Common Mistakes Aspirants Make While Choosing Optional
Avoid these serious mistakes:
- Choosing optional because friends chose it
- Selecting optional only because it is “scoring”
- Changing optional midway without analysis
- Ignoring syllabus before choosing
- Overestimating graduation advantage
👉 A wrong optional can cost years of effort.
10. Optional Subject Preparation Strategy (Beginner to Advanced)
Beginner Level:
- Read syllabus line by line
- Understand demand of questions
- Start with basic books
Intermediate Level:
- Answer writing practice
- Topic-wise notes
- Integrate examples and thinkers
Advanced Level:
- Full-length tests
- Revision
- Improving answer quality and presentation
👉 Optional requires depth + practice.
11. Can Optional Subject Affect Interview?
Yes, indirectly.
Interview board may:
- Ask questions from your optional
- Test your clarity and honesty
- Link optional with current affairs
👉 You are expected to know basics clearly, not PhD-level depth.
12. Is Any Optional Subject “Scoring”?
This is a common myth.
Truth:
- No optional is permanently scoring
- Performance depends on:
- Understanding
- Answer writing
- Consistency
👉 UPSC rewards clarity and balance, not subject choice alone.
13. Should You Change Optional If Marks Are Low?
Change optional only if:
- You consistently score very low
- You genuinely dislike the subject
- You have analyzed past mistakes
Do not change optional:
- After one bad attempt
- Based on rumors
- Without expert guidance
14. Final Words: Optional Subject Is a Long-Term Commitment
Let us end with this realistic truth:
Optional subject is not just another paper.
It is a long-term partnership in your UPSC journey.
Choose your optional:
- With clarity
- With patience
- With long-term vision
Once chosen:
- Trust your decision
- Give it enough time
- Revise and practice consistently
