Optional Subjects

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) offers a range of optional subjects to choose from, shaping the path to success. Aspirants must make a judicious selection based on passion, scoring potential, and available resources. The right choice can ease preparation, boost confidence, and enhance overall performance. With thorough planning and consistent effort, aspirants can master their chosen optional subject and realize their dream of serving the nation as esteemed civil servants.

The UPSC Mains Exam, the second tier of the IAS exam, provides candidates the liberty to choose their preferred optional subjects. Selecting the best optional subject is crucial as it can significantly impact UPSC aspirants’ scores. In the CSE Main exam, two papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) are dedicated to the optional subject, each carrying 250 marks, summing up to 500 out of 1750 marks in the UPSC Mains Exam. These marks influence the final merit, choosing an optional subject a vital decision.

List of UPSC Optional Subjects

The names of UPSC optional subjects for the UPSC CSE(Main) examination are mentioned in the table below. 

Literature of the following languages is also a part of the UPSC optional subjects for the UPSC Mains exam from which you can choose your best-suited optional subject for UPSC: