The decision of selection of the optional paper for IAS exam is an age old dilemma for Civil Services aspirants. As per the latest syllabus, the number of optional subjects to be selected is reduced to one, but aspirants are still confused if they make right choice or not. Though the weightage of the optional paper is only 500 marks out of 2025 marks as per the latest pattern of UPSC Civil Services exam, it is still a deciding factor in the final ranks due to the unpredictability associated with General Studies Papers (1000 marks GS + 250 marks essay) and Interview (275 marks).

If we analyze the question papers and mark-list of last 5-10 years of UPSC Civil Services Exams, we can collect a lot interesting and valuable data. The UPSC questions have evolved and now the bias is more towards current related aspects of polity, economy, international relations etc than conventional topics. (Please also keep in mind that there is no guarantee by UPSC that the case will remain the same for future exam!) Due to high standard of questions and valuation, the marks scored by top candidates are coming down every year. The percentage of top ranks in IAS exam has come down from 58-60% in 3-4 years back to 50%, while the last rank of a successful candidate in General category is around 40% marks. Toppers mark from Global IAS too trending in the same manner.

Selecting an overlapping optional with General Studies is a good strategy, as the time required to study an optional subject not mentioned as per GS syllabus can be saved. This case not universally applicable though. There are many who made it to the top with optional subjects like Medical Science or Law. None of these overlaps with GS syllabus as subjects like History or Geography do. Never take an optional just for the sole reason of GS overlap. Also never take an optional just based on advice from coaching institute gurus. Trust good mentors, but by this age, you are grown up enough to realize the commercial interests behind promoting each optional subject – be it History, Geography, Sociology, Pub Ad, Psychology or anything like that. Please understand that each and every optional subject is scoring. Due to the scaling effects some optional might not turn high-scoring in some years, but there is no universal trend or theory. You requirement is to score maximum marks for optional subject as well as in GS. Time available, effort required and the possibility of maximum marks are three crucial factors to consider before you select the option.

1. 1. Don’t take an overlapping optional if you are weak in it, there is every chance that it can turn counter productive.
   2. Don’t take an optional subject which require extensive preparation, if the time left before you is limited (say less than 4 months)
   3. A scoring overlapping optional subject, though which might require substantial preparation due to the vast nature of the syllabus can be adopted, if you have – background/previous exposure in the subject, or if there is adequate time left. If you are running short of time, select an optional paper which require less time for a decent level of preparation.
   4. If 1-2 years is available before mains, exam, a hardworking candidate might be able to finish standard text books of almost any optional subject. But compromising GS marks for Optional preparation can also turn suicidal, and hence not advised as per the latest pattern of exam.

In IAS exam preparation, certain optional subjects are very popular. Though the number of candidates selecting each optional for IAS mains can vary year to year .The never ending questions and queries like best optional for IAS, scoring optional, highest success ratio etc queues up every year, but these questions are relative. If you examine the background of toppers in the exam, you will be amazed to see wide representation from almost all optional papers listed by UPSC, and that itself tells half of the story. Please keep in mind that all optional subjects are high scoring if you have knowledge in the subject and if you can answer the questions in an analytical frame of mind in line with the latest requirements of UPSC.

The decision of selecting of the optional is a personal choice of each aspirant according to his/her strengths and weakness. We get many queries from aspirants to select the right optional for them, but normally we don’t give personal advice regarding optional subject selection. Though we try to reply most mails we get, it’s practically impossible for us to know each aspirant personally. We know these queries are quite normal at the early stage of the preparation and we can understand the anxiety of every aspirant. But only you know your strength, weakness, taste and availability of study-materials. We can give broad guidelines, but let the decision be yours. Let this selection of optional subject be part of the decision making process you will be starting soon in your career. The guidelines and statistics listed above by globalias.in might help you clarify a few of your doubts. Do research and take the best decision. All the best!