Importance of the Optional Subjects

Importance of the Optional Subjects

The Mains part of the UPSC CSE decides the actual rank of a candidate and therefore is the most significant aspect of the examination. Even after clearing UPSC CSE Prelims multiple times, candidates find it difficult to secure a rank. The selection of optional subjects plays a critical role in this aspect.

Out of 1750 marks in the written papers of the UPSC Main examination, only 500 marks are allotted to the Optional subject. However, when it comes to analysing the final scorecards, we find that candidates fetch over 33% of their scores from the optional subject itself.

Anything around 40% marks in the GS subjects is a good score, but anything less than 50% in the optional is not good enough. Thus, we can comfortably say that optional subjects can often be a rank-deciding factor in this examination.

Public/Civil service values in Ethics & Public administration: Status & problems;

Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions.

Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;

Accountability and ethical governance;

Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance;

Ethical issues in international relations and funding;

Corporate governance.

Probity in Governance:

Concept of public service;

Philosophical basis of governance and probity;

Information sharing & transparency in government, Right to information,

Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charter,

Work Culture, Quality of Service delivery,

Utilization of public funds, Challenges of corruption.

Case studies on above issues.

Factors considered for selecting Optional subject

Candidate must have an Aptitude for the subject: A candidate must not get stuck with a subject which doesn't suit them. Going through the syllabus gives a rough idea about the nature of the subject, and therefore, this must be the first step before choosing an optional subject.

Length of the syllabus: For many, a few optional subjects are too lengthy to cover, which makes it difficult for the student to both complete the syllabus as well as revise it on time.

Availability of Study material and a peer group also plays a vital role in the preparation. If a candidate chooses an unpopular Optional subject, there is a high chance that they have to prepare the whole subject solitarily without a peer group or support from a teacher.

Overlap of the syllabus with General Studies is another factor to be considered. For example, the syllabus of Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) covers the syllabus of GS 2 completely.

Historic Success Rates: Every year, around 7.5% of all who write the Mains examination are recommended by UPSC for selection. However, many optional subjects are not able to achieve a success rate of even 7% for many years.

Commentary by the previous toppers is also essential to grasp the nuances of a subject. Although there can be more than one strategy to approach a subject, the solutions experienced candidates give to various challenges in a subject cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, candidates must always be mindful that the nature of the subject might change in 3-4 years.

Checklist to select the Optional Subject

Generally, technical and professional subjects have higher rates of success. However, they are difficult to follow and have minimum overlap with the Gener- al Studies papers.

It is necessary that a candidate remains confident and motivated enough to pursue the study of the optional subject during preparation. Thus, choosing optional should be done with patience and after giving enough thought.

A candidate can follow the following steps before making a choice:

Step 1: Analyse the syllabus and check what you know already. You can also check the previous year's papers to check the difficulty level of the subject.

Step 2: Check the reviews by the previous toppers.

Step 3: Search for the study material and peer groups (if you like to study in groups).

Step 4: If you think you would need to join a coaching class, search for classes and take their demo lectures.

Once all the above factors are considered, a candidate is well-equipped to make a choice. If some degree of confusion still persists, you might consult a mentor who has either attempted the UPSC CSE exam in previous years or has taught such candidates. But in any case, never go against your gut feeling.