UPSC Toppers Optional Subjects 2020-21: A Complete List of Most Chosen UPSC Optionals by Toppers

The Indian Administrative Services test, often known as the IAS exam, is one of the most difficult and prestigious exams in the country. This test is held every year by the Union Public Service Commission to select candidates for the renowned All India Services and Central Civil Services in India.

This test is used by the UPSC to recruit applicants for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), and Central Civil Services, which includes the Indian Foreign Services. IAS officers are in charge of all departments and ministries in the federal and state governments. As a result, the IAS test is highly regarded in the departments.

UPSC Optional Subjects 2020-21

Candidates must pick just one optional topic for the mains test, according to the IAS Exam Pattern. There are two 250-point papers on the optional topic. Applicants have a wide choice of extra topic alternatives to choose from.

The optional topic papers will be subjective and will take three hours to complete. Except for the literature papers, all of the papers will be multilingual (Hindi and English). The optional paper you choose can have a big impact on how well you do on the IAS Exam.

Complete List of Optional Subjects

List of Literature Optional Subjects

Choosing the Right Optional Subject

Here are some of the criteria to consider when selecting the best selection from the UPSC optional topics list:

Incompatibility with the Syllabus

Some optional subjects have themes that are repeated in mandatory subjects. Choosing such courses will reduce your workload and allow you to study many subjects while just focusing on one.

The Syllabus’s Length

The mandatory subjects in the IAS Exam Curriculum are long enough; pick subjects with a smaller syllabus. Choose topics that you can easily absorb in the time allotted.

Resources that are Available

Choose a subject with readily available study materials in the market or on the internet. Selecting subjects with restricted study materials might limit your knowledge, impacting your test preparation. Many Online IAS Courses can provide you with dependable and trustworthy study materials for optional courses.

Knowledge of the Subject

If you are required to take a topic as part of your graduation or post-graduation, that subject may be a suitable fit for you. Otherwise, choose a subject that you can study for a long time without becoming bored.

Also Read: Which Optional Subject is Easy for UPSC? Choose the Most Suitable UPSC Optional Subject! 

UPSC Topper Optional Subjects

Agriculture UPSC Subject

Agriculture is the nurturing of animals, plants, creatures, and other living structures for the goal of producing food, fibre, biofuel, medical items, and other things necessary to support and improve human life.

Agriculture was a key factor in the emergence of stationary human advancement since the production of trained species generated in food surpluses helped civilization’s advancement.

Agriculture Optional Subject Success Rate

Agriculture: Toppers Optional Subject in UPSC

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science UPSC Subject

Humans handle and care for farm animals in animal husbandry. The science of detecting, treating, and curing illnesses in birds and animals are known as veterinary science. It includes the study of anatomy and physiology, as well as the prevention and treatment of animal illnesses. It is among the UPSC’s optional subjects for the CSE mains test. It is a specialised subject that should preferably be studied exclusively by those with a degree in the field.

Animal husbandry and vet science is an excellent choice for applicants with a background in this topic, even if it is not as popular as geography, pub ad, or anthropology.

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Success Rate

From 2010 to 2015, the number of applicants who passed the IAS test with the animal husbandry option is shown in the table below. As you can see, the population hardly exceeds 50 individuals. Nonetheless, the optional has a high success rate, with applicants succeeding in the IAS test with this optional topic every year.

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science: Toppers Optional Subject in UPSC

Anthropology UPSC Subject

Anthropology is a common choice for applicants in the UPSC civil services mains test, especially for those with a scientific or technical background. It’s also a fascinating topic that many people think is worth studying.

Also Read: Anthropology Optional Syllabus: Checkout UPSC 2021 Optional Subject Syllabus

Anthropology Success Rate

Despite the fact that the number of applicants that choose anthropology as an optional study is not as large as disciplines such as public administration or geography, anthropology has a reasonably high success rate of about 10%. According to the most recent statistics, 345 applicants chose anthropology in 2016, with 37 passing the exam, resulting in a success percentage of 10.7%. The table below compares the number of applicants who took the IAS test with anthropology as an optional subject to the number of candidates who passed it.

Anthropology: Toppers Optional Subject in UPSC

Many of the best students chose anthropology as an optional course. Anudeep Durishetty, who received the #1 AIR in the 2017 UPSC test, is the most recent example.

The following table lists a few toppers who chose anthropology as an optional subject.

Botany UPSC Subject

Botany, unlike courses like geography, public administration, and political science, is not a common UPSC civil service optional subject. This is due to the fact that it is a science subject with a unique nature.

Botany optional in the IAS mains is suggested only for those with a background in botanical or biotechnology. Despite this, there are a number of IAS toppers who do not require botany.

Botany UPSC Toppers

Chemistry UPSC Subject

Chemistry is among the optional courses that a UPSC civil service test candidate can choose from. Because it is a core scientific topic, there aren’t many people interested in taking it.

However, several students have received excellent scores in the chemistry optional subjects while simultaneously performing well in the UPSC test.

Chemistry Success Rate

In comparison to courses like public administration or geography, the number of applicants who choose chemistry as an optional is not that high. However, on average, between 70 and 120 individuals choose this choice. According to the most recent available statistics, 124 applicants attempted chemistry in 2016, with just 7 passing.

The success percentages of applicants using chemistry as an option are shown in the table below:

Chemistry: Toppers Optional Subject in UPSC

In the UPSC test, there have been top rankers with chemistry. In reality, Ankur Garg, the first ranker, took chemistry as one of his optionals in 2002. The names of a few toppers are included in the following table, with the chemistry optional.

Civil Engineering UPSC Subject

Civil engineering is one of the elective courses available. This is a rare choice, with less than 100 applicants choosing it each year. Nonetheless, in the UPSC test, it is considered a scoring choice. It goes without saying that only civil engineering graduates should take this optional since it would be difficult for someone with a different background to study what engineers have studied for 4 years.

Civil Engineering Success Rate

Because civil engineering is such a specialised topic, just a few candidates choose it each year. Let’s have a peek at the number of candidates that took this optional and passed the IAS test.

Civil Engineering Optional Toppers

Economics UPSC Subject

Economics is an elective topic that some candidates swear by while others avoid at all costs. It is generally regarded as a difficult subject due to its technical nature.

Economics Optional Success Rate

Toppers with Economics Optional

Electrical Engineering

The UPSC offers electrical engineering as an optional subject for the CSE Exam. Civil and mechanical engineering are other engineering disciplines. Applicants may learn about the benefits of choosing Electrical Engineering as an optional subject in this article, which also answers crucial questions like how many applicants choose this option and pass the test.

Also Read: Uniform Civil Code in India: Suggestions, Challenges and Essay for UPSC Notes

Electrical Engineering Optional Success Rate

IAS Toppers Electrical Engineering Optional

Geography UPSC Subject

This optional subject has a lot of toppers.

UPSC Toppers with Geography Optional

Geography Optional Toppers

History UPSC Subject

UPSC candidates often choose history as an elective. It has a lot of overlap between General Studies Paper I and the UPSC Prelims test as a topic. In any event, if you want to be an IAS officer, you can’t avoid reading history! History is often regarded as a large elective, which deters some students from pursuing it.

History Optional Success Rate

Toppers: IAS Toppers Optional Subject

Also Read: Best Coaching for IAS in India: All Major Cities Covered

Law UPSC Subject

In the IAS mains examination, between 200 and 250 students choose the law option on average. Check out the chart below for the number of persons who took the law optional and passed, as well as the subject’s success percentage in the civil services test.

Law Optional Success Rate

IAS Toppers Optional Subject: Law

Management UPSC Subject

Management, while not a popular optional topic, is usually thought to be a safe choice. Its performance has been constant, and every year, a few applicants who pass the UPSC test opt for the management option.

There is an eerie connection between the duties that an IAS officer must do, such as administration, policy formulation and execution, allocation and use of government finances, and so on, and the tasks that a ‘manager’ must fulfil in a corporate setting.

Management Optional Success Rate

IAS Toppers Optional Subject: Management

Mechanical Engineering UPSC Subject

Mechanical engineering is a professional degree programme that focuses on the design, manufacture, and operation of machines. This is also one of the CSE Main exam’s optional subjects, according to the UPSC. It is among the three engineering topics that engineering graduates can choose from.

Mechanical Engineering Optional Success Rate

Also Read: IAS Toppers Story without Coaching: All You Need for the required Dose of Inspiration

IAS Toppers Optional Subject: Mechanical Engineering

Medical Science UPSC Subject

Every year, around 300 applicants choose the medical science option. Medical science has a relatively high success rate of around 20%. Check out the chart below, which shows the number of candidates who chose the medical science option and how many of them passed the exam.

Medical Science Optional Success Rate

IAS Toppers Optional Subject: Medical Sciences

Philosophy UPSC Subject

Philosophy is a common optional topic, with between 800 and 1000 applicants choosing it as their second choice. There have been toppers who chose philosophy as an optional subject, the most notable of whom is Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, who placed second in the 2015 UPSC CSE.

Philosophy Optional Success Rate

IAS Toppers Optional Subject: Philosophy

Physics UPSC Subject

In the IAS mains test, few people choose physics as an optional subject. This is, without a doubt, due to the subject’s nature. Nonetheless, some top students have used this optional to boost their final marks and achieve a high position. From 2010 to 2015, the chances of success of physics optional are shown in the table below.

Physics Optional Success Rate

Also Read: How to Prepare for IAS during B.Tech First Year without Coaching? Here’s Your Way Out

IAS Toppers Optional Subject: Physics

Psychology UPSC Subject

Few individuals pick physics as an option in the IAS mains exam. Without a doubt, this is related to the subject’s nature. However, some top students have taken use of this opportunity to improve their final grades and earn a high ranking. The table below shows the success rates of physics optional from 2010 to 2015.

Psychology Optional Success Rate

Psychology Optional Toppers

Public Administration UPSC Subject

In the UPSC CSE mains test, one of the most common optionals chosen by applicants is public administration. We’ve seen the highest number of candidates choose this choice for many years.

Public Administration Optional Success Rate

Toppers with Public Administration Optional

Sociology UPSC Subject

UPSC candidates often choose sociology as an elective. Jagrati Awasthi, who placed second in the 2020 civil services test, chose sociology as one of her optional subjects. The subject is unusual in that it appeals to individuals with backgrounds in both social sciences and humanities.

Sociology Success Rate

Also Read: Best Online Coaching for IAS: Which Platforms Should You Try for UPSC

Toppers with Sociology Optional

Zoology UPSC Subject

The UPSC offers zoology as an optional subject for the civil services mains test. It is a prominent optional subject among biosciences students interested in taking the IAS test. Because zoology is a specialised science topic, only life sciences graduates or doctors (MBBS grads) are encouraged to pursue it as an elective.

Zoology Optional Success Rate

IAS Toppers Zoology Optional

UPSC Toppers and Their Optional Subject

Conclusion

You must have seen some of the optional subjects like Geography or Anthropology have more toppers. However, just because these facts are true does not indicate that these subjects are right for you or that they will ensure your success.

As a result, it’s critical to pick an optional subject based on your own expertise and interests. No matter which optional subject you pick, the subject courses of UPSC Pathshala will guide you towards success.

Also Read: A Detailed Guide to Choosing the Best Optional Subject for UPSC Exam

Summary

Article Name

UPSC Toppers Optional Subjects 2020-21: A Complete List of Most Chosen UPSC Optionals by Toppers

Description

If you are looking for information on all the optional subjects, you are at the right place. Get all details including UPSC topper optional subjects here. Click here to read now.

Author

Madhurjya

Publisher Name

UPSC Pathshala

Publisher Logo