The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) Main Examination allows candidates to choose one optional subject from a list of subjects provided by the UPSC. The list of optional subjects can vary from year to year, but as of my last knowledge update in September 2021, here are some of the optional subjects that were available for the UPSC CSE Main Examination:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
- 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, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.
Please note that the availability of optional subjects may change from year to year, and the UPSC may update the list of optional subjects. Candidates should refer to the official UPSC website or the official notification for the most current and accurate information regarding the optional subjects available for a particular year’s examination.
When choosing an optional subject, candidates should consider their interests, background, and the availability of study materials and coaching, as well as the scoring trends for each subject. It’s important to select an optional subject that aligns with your strengths and helps you perform well in the Main Examination.