How to choose the optionals? That's one question that haunts every applicant many times, loose precious time waiting for that decision to happen.
As per nwe exam plan UPSC has done away with opional paper at the preliminary stage, students should perhaps find it easier way to get down to preprations straight away. Even then, One must chooose one's subject well ahead of time, so as to have ample time to arrange study matterial and books, and also to form study groups.
Normally applicants decides optionals, which one is familiar with, or has at least studied till the graduate level. If you are not familiar with the paper, you must not select the subject as an optional.
The choice must not only be as per the interests but also be based on the study material and proper guidence available.
The science and engineering students chooses the subjects like grography, political science, psychology history, sociology, anthropology, and public administration because there is a huge amount of study content available in these subjects.
One must keep in mind that being proficient in a subject, but lack of touch may make it tougher to crack technical subject where freshers may do better. The competition is among the people who have opted for the same subject. One should top in his/her subject to succeed in the examination. The Point is, if you are an electrical engineer with 2 years of experience go for a new subject like pub adm or sociology.
Analyse the syllabus of previous years and the question papers, and analyse past trends. Get some feedback/advice from seniors and fellow students who are well versed in the subject. Remember no subject is bad. History is good if you can spend more than 4-5 hours everyday. Geography is a good option if you can spend at least 4 hrs every day. Pub Ad, more than 3 hours. Sociology, more than 2 hours and so on.... So, it all depends on how much time you can spend a day and your liking of the subject. You have a very good memory then a technical subject may help else a social subject would be better. Lastly look for overlap in subjects like, sociology and pubad; history and political science etc.
Subject Combinations not allowed by UPSC for IAS exam
The following are some combinations that the UPSC does not allow:
Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration
Commerce and Management
Anthropology and Sociology
Maths and Statistics
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Management and Public Administration
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science
Any two branches of engineering.
Combination of two literatures.
