Pros and Cons of Taking Geography Optional for the UPSC Exam

Pros and Cons of Taking Geography Optional for the UPSC Exam

Pros and Cons of Taking Geography Optional for the UPSC Exam

Geography is one of the most recommended optional subjects in the UPSC Civil Services Exam. Several toppers take this optional subject in UPSC CSE just to make sure that they clear the exam. While numerous applicants depend on Geography for their optional, numerous others don't view this as the perfect optional subject for them. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of taking Geography as an optional for UPSC exam, and will offer aspirants a response to their enquiry, is geology a decent optional for IAS.

Selecting the optional subject for the UPSC civil services exam is a personal choice. Every individual has its unique strengths and weaknesses; and especially when it comes to clear the UPSC exam. Apart from this, candidates also have different educational and professional backgrounds. A candidate must know the pros and cons of a particular optional subject and if the pros outweigh the cons, he/she can zero in on that subject. But before moving into the Pros and Cons section, let’s check other aspects of the subject.

Why is Geography chosen by candidates?

Scientific subject and candidates don’t need to learn a lot.
Availability of coaching and study material is very high.
Success Rate of the subject is very high.
Topics are connected with the GS Paper 1.

What makes Geography Optional Complicated?

The changeability of the subject –From the past few years, UPSC has asked questions based on contemporary issues and theories. So aspirants should not rely only on books and materials.
Unconventional Questions asked in the UPSC exam –In the UPSC exam, some questions are asked beyond books and syllabus. These questions are pretty unconventional and difficult to predict.

Geography Optional Subject a Complete Analysis

Pros of Taking Geography Optional for UPSC Exam

The definite syllabus of Geography makes it easy for the candidates and encourages them to go for self-study for Geography optional.
Geography is easy to understand and more scientific subject, that’s why it is preferred by many aspirants from science, medical and engineering backgrounds.
Only concepts need to be understood and you are ready for the exam.
There is no shortage of study material and several books are available for Geography.
Geography optional syllabus has tremendous overlap with General Studies both in prelims and the mains.
With the dynamic questions, Geography also has a lot of connection with subjects like economics, environment, ecology and environment.
Aspirants can also use what they learn in Geography subject in their essay paper on various topics.
Even in the UPSC personality test, Geography will be useful to clear the exam, as the board can ask questions on the local geography of a candidate’s home town like soil, vegetation, minerals, etc.
Geography is a most-promising scoring subject because unlike subjects like humanities, there is not much scope for interpretation. More than this, the diagrams, flowchart, etc. can be used to get more marks.
The map-based questions are also scoring and easy to answer.

Cons of Taking Geography optional for UPSC Exam

The biggest negative point about Geography is that it covers a huge section of syllabus.
The competition in this optional subject is gigantic as compared to some other optional subjects.
The subjects are too lengthy and sometimes it becomes difficult to memorize a lot of information at one go.

Best Ways to Prepare Geography Optional Subject

Below you can find the preparation strategy, which one should follow while preparing for UPSC Civil Services Exam.

Go through NCERT Books sincerely
Refer to Atlas
Must have Current Affairs update
Explore news from your surroundings
Newspapers are your best friend

Practice answer writing on regular basis

PRELIMS 2023