optional subjects

With 48 subjects to choose from, which optional subject would be best if you're appearing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)'s Civil Service Exam (CSE) mains? Here's what these civil servants had to say.

Optional papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) of the UPSC Mains examination carry 500 marks. This accounts for almost 25 per cent of the total marks (2025), which is a combination of the written and personality tests.

“Be extremely precise and specific about your optional subject. Remember that the difference between aspirant ‘A’ and aspirant ‘B’ actually lies in which optional subject they choose.”