UPSC Civil Services Mains Optional Papers List 2024
UPSC Civil Services Mains Optional Papers List 2024: UPSC Civil Services Mains Optional Papers 2024: Check UPSC Mains Optional Papers List in Civil Services Exam. You can Check IAS Mains Syllabus in detail. IN UPSC IAS Mains Exam, there is only ONE optional subject to choose from the list of optional subjects which are given below. It comprises of two papers each of 250 marks. So the optional paper has a total 500 marks. The scope of the IAS Mains syllabus of optional paper is higher than the bachelor’s degree but lower than the master’s level.
UPSC Civil Services Mains Optional Papers – Civil Services Exam
The question papers for the mains optional paper examination will descriptive in nature. Each paper for UPSC mains exam will be of three hours duration. The question papers, other than the literature of language papers will be set in Hindi and English only. The optional paper plays an important role in the IAS mains exam. If candidates score decent marks in both general studies paper and optional paper they can easily crack the UPSC IAS Exam.
SN NO | List of optional subjects in UPSC | Detailed Syllabus for 2020 |
1 | Anthropology | Syllabus |
2 | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Syllabus |
3 | Agriculture | Syllabus |
4 | Botany | Syllabus |
5 | Commerce & Accountancy | Syllabus |
6 | Civil Engineering | Syllabus |
7 | Chemistry | Syllabus |
8 | Economics | Syllabus |
9 | Electrical Engineering | Syllabus |
10 | Geography | Syllabus |
11 | Geology | Syllabus |
12 | Law | Syllabus |
13 | History | Syllabus |
14 | Management | Syllabus |
15 | Mathematics | Syllabus |
16 | Mechanical Engineering | Syllabus |
17 | Medical Science | Syllabus |
18 | Philosophy | Syllabus |
19 | Physics | Syllabus |
20 | Political Science & International Relations | Syllabus |
21 | Zoology | Syllabus |
22 | Public Administration | Syllabus |
23 | Sociology | Syllabus |
24 | Statistics | Syllabus |
25 | Psychology | Syllabus |
List of Literature optional subjects in UPSC
The aspirant can opt for the literature subject as their optional subject for UPSC Mains, only if they have to hold a degree in the literature of that specific language as the main subject. This paper will have two papers. Each paper is of 250 marks each. The languages prescribed here are belonging to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
SN NO | List of Literature optional subjects | Detailed Syllabus for 2022 |
1 | Assamese | Syllabus |
2 | Bengali | Syllabus |
3 | Bodo | Syllabus |
4 | English | Syllabus |
5 | Gujarati | Syllabus |
6 | Hindi | Syllabus |
7 | Kannada | Syllabus |
8 | Kashmiri | Syllabus |
9 | Konkani | Syllabus |
10 | Maithili | Syllabus |
11 | Malayalam | Syllabus |
12 | Manipuri | Syllabus |
13 | Marathi | Syllabus |
14 | Nepali | Syllabus |
15 | Oriya | Syllabus |
16 | Punjabi | Syllabus |
17 | Sanskrit | Syllabus |
18 | Santhali | Syllabus |
19 | Sindhi | Syllabus |
20 | Tamil | Syllabus |
21 | Telugu | Syllabus |
22 | Urdu | Syllabus |
23 | Dogri | Syllabus |
For viewing the detailed syllabus of each IAS Mains Optional, please visit www.upsc.gov.in
Basis of Selection IAS Mains Optional Paper
As per new IAS Exam Pattern, the number of optional subjects for UPSC exam to be chosen by the candidate for the Mains exam has decreased to one. The civil services mains exam General Studies papers account for 1000 marks and the two Optional Papers account for 250 marks each. Therefore, it is very important for an aspirant to consider various pros and cons before choosing an optional subject for IAS Mains.
The following qualities are required for the selection of UPSC Civil Services Mains Optional Papers.
- Self-Interest on the subject
- Specifically defined and comparatively small syllabus
- Easy availability of study material and notes
- Scoring nature of the subject
- Availability of experienced guideline
- Education background (commerce/engineering/medicine etc.)
Here you can check each optional paper syllabus in detail and download UPSC Mains Syllabus in pdf format also. The decision of selecting the optional is a personal choice of each aspirant according to his/her interest on the subject.