Which Optional would be effective for a science background student for UPSC preparation
The CSE results were announced recently and this year, six out of the top 10 rankers were from engineering backgrounds. As per recent data, the number of engineers qualifying for the UPSC Civil Service examination has increased in the last 10 years.
Which Optional would be effective for a science background student for UPSC preparation
The CSE results were announced recently and this year, six out of the top 10 rankers were from engineering backgrounds. As per recent data, the number of engineers qualifying for the UPSC Civil Service examination has increased in the last 10 years. The same can be said for students coming from a core science background.
UPSC provides a multitude of subjects to choose an optional subject from. So, when making a decision to choose an optional subject one should introspect and figure out the subject they are naturally inclined towards. Keeping in mind their academic background and their interests, students should go through the official notification of the UPSC and eliminate subjects one by one. The list of Optional subjects provided by UPSC are as follows:
- Agriculture
- Animal husbandry and veterinary science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Civil engineering
- Chemistry
- Commerce
- Economics
- Geography
- Electrical Engineering
- History
- Geology
- Philosophy
- Political science and International Relations (PSIR)
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Law
- Mathematics
- Public administration
- Management
- Mechanical engineering
- Medical Science
- Physics
- Zoology
- Statistics
- Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.
From the above list, one can see that there are a lot of subjects that a student from a science or engineering background would be comfortable with. For example, the student can choose their core science or engineering subject that they graduated in or choose another subject from humanities that always fascinated them or they always had an interest in.
Now, let's look at some of the factors in detail that might be useful in deciding your optional subject if you are from a science background.
GRADUATION SUBJECT
If you are still completing your graduation in a science subject and are confident in your ability to tackle the subject as an optional you should start by going through the syllabus of that subject and also analysing the past papers. Taking your graduation subject as an optional subject is beneficial as it will help save time as you would not have to study the basics of the subject. You would also be aware of the standard books on the subject that will help you in preparing the basics. You can also take help from your professors or teachers and can contact them in case of any queries or major doubts.
If we eliminate the other disciplines, the students from science or engineering backgrounds have the following choices.
- Agriculture
- Animal husbandry and veterinary science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Civil engineering
- Chemistry
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Medical Science
- Physics
- Zoology
The same is the case if you have attained a Masters or higher qualification in a science subject. You have spent at least 7 years of your life studying that subject. So, you probably have a good grasp on the subject and have an interest in it too. Students who have completed an MBA after their graduation can take up Management as an optional subject.
Studying a new subject takes time and patience, adding to that the pressure of the already mounting GS syllabus. Choosing a subject you are already familiar with, therefore, has many advantages. However, do not choose a subject that you graduated in just for the sake of it. If you are not interested in the subject or do not have an aptitude for it choose a subject from a humanities background.
INTEREST
Now, in the second case, if you are from a science background and were never really interested in the subject you graduated in and have already forgotten your basics then, there are many choices to pick from. You can choose a subject which you connect with and have an interest in. Go through the list of optional subjects and start eliminating subjects one by one after going through the syllabus. Use your instinct. Narrow the choices down to a few subjects and go through their syllabus and the previous year's question papers in detail. Assess if you have the aptitude for the subject and if possible go through some of the standard books. If you feel that you can take it forward and can study for a year or more, then go for it.
Few humanities or social sciences subjects that are preferred by students from a science or engineering background are
- Geography
- Sociology
- PSIR
- Philosophy
- Public Administration
AVAILABILITY OF STUDY MATERIAL
When choosing an Optional subject, whether you are from a science background or not, it is important that you find suitable and sufficient study material and guidance. It is important to choose a subject for which the material is readily available and you can find the right mentors and teachers to help guide you along the way.
COACHING AVAILABLE IN THE SUBJECT
While coaching is not necessary it does offer you an edge in terms of the valuable guidance and feedback you receive from experts in the field. We at KSG pride ourselves on our ability to nurture your inherent talent and hone your skills. We provide coaching in optional subjects such as Geography, Sociology and PSIR (More details can be found on our website ksgindia.com). Regular tests are conducted and personalised feedback is provided to help correct your mistakes and guide you on the right path. The batch sizes are kept small so that you can interact with the faculty one on one and receive adequate attention.
In the case of other subjects, research on other coaching institutes or try and find mentors to help guide you.
The Optional subject contains two papers; each of 250 marks i.e. a total of 500 marks, which can make or break your result in the most competitive exam of India. It can give you an edge over others and get you a good rank if you prepare it well. Somewhere in your heart, you can judge if you can study a particular subject for a long time, just according to your intuition. Don't take a science subject if you don't have an interest, even if you have done your post-graduation with it. Remember, do not take a subject under the pressure of your parents or peer group, or by some hearsay or the so-called trend. Because at the end of the day, it is you who has to spend time studying a particular subject so you are the best judge of your own ability and your aptitude.
However, if you are still finding it difficult to decide on a subject you can visit us anytime at any of our centres or simply give us a call we will be happy to assist you in the best way possible.
