Explore the complete UPSC Optional Subjects List 2025, there are 48 optional subjects in UPSC that you can choose from, understand how to choose the best optional subject for UPSC Mains, and download the optional subjects list in PDF format.
theIAShub | 08 Sep, 2025 | 5589 | 0 |
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is among the toughest and most prestigious exams in India. With three critical stages—Prelims, Mains, and Interview—the Mains examination is the most decisive. Among its nine papers, two are dedicated to an optional subject, making it a vital scoring component. Understanding the UPSC Optional Subjects List 2025 and selecting the right one can significantly impact your final rank and success.
Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC
In the Mains stage of UPSC, Paper VI and Paper VII are based on the optional subject selected by the candidate. Each paper carries 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. This is nearly 25% of the total marks in the written part of the exam, which is why choosing the right optional is critical.
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The UPSC allows candidates to choose one optional subject, which will have two papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) in the Mains examination. However, the commission offers a wide range of choices—a total of 48 optional subjects are available.
Here is the complete UPSC Optional Subjects List 2025 as officially provided by the Union Public Service Commission:
| S.No | Optional Subject | S.No | Optional Subject |
| 1 | Agriculture | 25 | Literature of Assamese |
| 2 | Animal Husbandry & Vet. Science | 26 | Literature of Bengali |
| 3 | Anthropology | 27 | Literature of Bodo |
| 4 | Botany | 28 | Literature of Dogri |
| 5 | Chemistry | 29 | Literature of Gujarati |
| 6 | Civil Engineering | 30 | Literature of Hindi |
| 7 | Commerce & Accountancy | 31 | Literature of Kannada |
| 8 | Economics | 32 | Literature of Kashmiri |
| 9 | Electrical Engineering | 33 | Literature of Konkani |
| 10 | Geography | 34 | Literature of Maithili |
| 11 | Geology | 35 | Literature of Malayalam |
| 12 | History | 36 | Literature of Manipuri |
| 13 | Law | 37 | Literature of Marathi |
| 14 | Management | 38 | Literature of Nepali |
| 15 | Mathematics | 39 | Literature of Oriya |
| 16 | Mechanical Engineering | 40 | Literature of Punjabi |
| 17 | Medical Science | 41 | Literature of Sanskrit |
| 18 | Philosophy | 42 | Literature of Santhali |
| 19 | Physics | 43 | Literature of Sindhi |
| 20 | Political Science & IR | 44 | Literature of Tamil |
| 21 | Psychology | 45 | Literature of Telugu |
| 22 | Public Administration | 46 | Literature of Urdu |
| 23 | Sociology | 47 | Literature of English |
| 24 | Statistics | 48 | Literature of Persian |
The list includes technical, humanities, and literature subjects, offering aspirants flexibility to choose based on their strengths.
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Selecting the right optional subject can be a game-changer in your UPSC journey. Here are strategic factors to help you decide:
| Factor | Description | Examples/Notes |
| Academic Background | If your graduation subject aligns with a UPSC optional, you have an advantage. | Engineering graduates → Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering. |
| Interest & Aptitude | Choose a subject you are genuinely passionate about for long-term motivation. | A subject you enjoy studying makes the vast syllabus manageable. |
| Syllabus Overlap with GS Papers | Subjects overlapping with General Studies can save time and effort. | Geography, Political Science, Sociology, History (help in GS & Essay papers). |
| Availability of Study Material | Opt for subjects with ample resources (books, notes, coaching). | Lack of material can hinder preparation. |
| Success Rate & Popularity | Some subjects historically yield better results (though not a strict rule). | Anthropology, PSIR, Sociology have seen consistent top ranks. |
| Writing Practice & Subjective Nature | Subjects requiring strong articulation suit those with good writing skills. | Philosophy, Psychology—demand clear, analytical expression. |
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These trends show that certain subjects have a higher success rate, but the key still lies in consistent preparation and writing quality.
| Optional Subject | No. of Candidates Appeared | Recommended | Success Rate (%) |
| Anthropology | 1244 | 137 | 11.01 |
| PSIR | 2869 | 260 | 9.06 |
| Sociology | 1895 | 165 | 8.71 |
| Geography | 1806 | 127 | 7.03 |
| History | 1422 | 95 | 6.68 |
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UPSC Optional Papers 2025 are available to download as the examination is concluded on 31 August 2025. The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 comprises two optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII), each carrying 250 marks, totalling 500 marks out of the 1750 marks allocated for the final merit. You can download the UPSC optional paper 2025 from the table given below:
|
UPSC Optional Paper 2025 PDFs Download |
||
| Optional Subject | Paper 1 PDF Link |
Paper 2 PDF Link |
| Political Science and International Relations 2025 | Download link | Download Link |
| Sociology Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| History Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Public Administration Mains Question Paper | Download Link | Download Link |
| Geography Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Anthropology Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Philosophy Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Mathematics Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Law Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Management Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Physics Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Mechanical Engineering Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Medical Science Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Psychology Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Statistics Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Agriculture Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Anthropology Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Botany Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Chemistry Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Civil Engineering Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Commerce and Accountancy Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Economics Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Electrical Engineering Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| English Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Assamese Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Maithali Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Bodo Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Gujarati Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Hindi Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Kannada Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Marathi Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Malayalam Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Kashmiri Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Punjabi Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Sanskrit Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Sindhi Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Tamil Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Telugu Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
| Urdu Mains Question Paper 2025 | Download Link | Download Link |
This depends on your background and comfort level:
Candidates often request a downloadable format will be attached here for convenience. You can easily download the UPSC optional subjects Syllabus PDF from the official UPSC website or compile it based on the table above. Keeping a printed copy helps during planning and revision stages.
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The UPSC Optional Subjects List 2025 offers a broad spectrum of disciplines to suit every academic and interest background. While the optional papers carry only 500 marks, their strategic value cannot be overstated. Understanding how many optional subjects in UPSC are available, evaluating each based on merit, and making an informed decision can elevate your chances of cracking the Mains exam.
Only one optional subject is allowed in UPSC Mains, comprising two papers. Both papers together carry 500 marks.
You can download the optional subjects list PDF from the official UPSC website. It is usually available in the Mains exam notification.
Choose based on your academic background, interest, and availability of study material. Also consider overlap with GS and past success trends.
Subjects like Anthropology, PSIR, and Sociology often show higher success rates. But individual preparation quality matters the most.
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