UPSC Main Examination - Optional Subjects

The UPSC Main Examination consists of 2 Qualifying papers and 7 merit ranking papers listed below:

Qualifying Papers

• English
• Any One Indian Language from the Eighth Schedule of The Constitution of India

Merit Ranking Papers

• UPSC Essay
• General Studies Paper I
• General Studies Paper II
• General Studies Paper III
• General Studies Paper IV
• Optional Paper I
• Optional Paper II

The UPSC Optional Subject list consists of 48 subjects, out of which one can be selected by the candidate for both the papers. Each optional subject comprises of two papers (Paper I and Paper II) each of 250 marks, making it a total of 500 marks

The syllabus of the optional papers is at the honours degree level, which is higher than an undergraduate degree level but lower than a masters degree level. Candidates can also take literature subjects as an optional paper. Your choice of optionals can substantially influence your chances of success in UPSC 2019.