Best Optional Subject for UPSC, Check Scoring Optional Here

Best Optional Subject for UPSC: Selecting the most suitable optional subject for UPSC 2025 is perhaps the most important decision for Civil Services aspirants. The optional paper accounts for 500 out of 1750 marks in the UPSC Mains and forms a considerable portion of your final merit. A high-scoring optional subject can make all the difference and significantly enhance your chances of achieving a top rank in the UPSC CSE 2025.

Best Optional Subject for UPSC

It is simpler for students to achieve high scores in the two optional exams of the UPSC Exam, each of which carries 250 points. In the UPSC Mains, the optional subject totals 500 out of a possible 1750 points. This demonstrates the importance of the optional topic and the importance of selecting the most scoring optional in the UPSC, as it can significantly affect a candidate’s overall rank.

This article provides information on the IAS exam success rates for each optional subject in past years, which will assist candidates in choosing the best optional subject selections. The Best Optional Subject for UPSC is listed here, along with the aspects a candidate should take into account before selecting any optional topic for the most difficult exam in India.

Best Optional Subject for UPSC 2025

No optional subject is simpler for the UPSC. Which optional subject is right for a candidate depends on his or her aptitude, learning capacity, and area of interest. However, candidates should choose an optional subject whose study materials are readily available in the market or on internet channels.

• The weighting of the optional subject is 500 out of 2025 points in the most current civil services exam patterns.
• You need to decide and pick the greatest scoring optional subject, as it is a vital aspect in deciding your final rank.
• The familiarity of the subject and the accessibility of study materials are only two of the numerous factors that go into selecting the Best Optional Subject for UPSC.
• Most applicants choose a topic from their graduate course. However, this isn’t always true or the only decisive aspect.
• There is no need to be concerned if the topic you studied for your graduation is not one of the optional subjects. Any subject can be chosen, and you can still be successful on your first try.

Most Opted UPSC Optional Subject

The Best Optional Subject for UPSC is not necessarily a subject that will earn points. Candidates are capable of achieving high marks in every topic, according to the past performance of the best candidates.

• Technical courses like mathematics can help you achieve good results because each question has a clear-cut solution. In contrast, responses to questions in the humanities are entirely dependent on the examiner’s preferences.
• Some subjects are thought to have low test scores because candidates lack the necessary effort or do not select the appropriate UPSC optional subject for themselves.
• In the grand scheme of things, it may be said that the top UPSC scorers achieved 320+ in both technical and non-technical subjects.
• Candidates have an advantage in the non-technical areas that overlap with the UPSC GS syllabus because they will have extra time for preparation and reading materials. The applicants’ overall Mains score will improve as a result.
• Because the candidate did not make the necessary effort, some subjects are referred to as poorly scored.

Which is the Scoring Optional in UPSC?

Over the years, the vast majority of candidates have chosen Best Optional Subject for UPSC with the highest scoring average. Their syllabus overlaps with that of the Prelims, GS I, II, III, IV, and essays in the UPSC exam. Some candidates believe that the best optional subject for the UPSC should be relevant to the test. Let’s take a quick look at the table below at the optional subjects.

The popular exam technique when selecting the simplest optional subject for the UPSC is to select a subject that overlaps with the UPSC Syllabus, as we have already explained. Even though many applicants have passed the UPSC Exam without selecting these well-liked subjects, this technique might not be effective for you.

Optional Subjects with High Success Rate

The chart below shows that, with a success percentage of 18.8%, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science is regarded as the best topic for the UPSC. Below is a list of the optional subjects’ success rates for the 2019 UPSC exam, as reported by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).

High Scoring Literature Optional Subjects

Candidates who are proficient in literature might choose it as an optional subject. Sindhi (Devanagari) Language has the greatest success percentage of 50% out of all the excellent optional literature subjects listed for the UPSC. The table below shows the success rate for the Literature optional subjects based on the data analysis for the IAS Mains 2019 examination.

List of Top 10 Optional Subjects for IAS Exam

Choosing a high-scoring subject for the UPSC can help candidates achieve a high overall score. Although students must pay attention to the extensive UPSC syllabus, by choosing their preferred optional subject from the list, they can forgo studying a few areas they are weak in. We have compiled a list of the top 10 optional subjects for the UPSC, which are as follows, after taking into account all the facts and data mentioned above and the most recent UPSC Results.

• Sociology
• Geography
• Literature Subject (Any)
• Anthropology
• Agriculture
• Medical Science
• Public Administration
• Psychology
• Law
• History

Final Tips for Choosing Your UPSC Optional in 2025

• Choose what YOU are comfortable with, not what toppers suggest.

• Go through previous years’ question papers and syllabus.

• Pick up NCERTs or a beginner’s book—see if you enjoy reading it.

• Consult toppers’ strategies, but customize your preparation.

Sharing is caring!