Top Optional Subjects for UPSC 2025 with Highest Success Rate: Toppers’ Insights & Subject-Wise Performance
Abhishek Patel
22/03/2025
Table of Contents
Planning to ace the UPSC Civil Services Exam in 2025? Your optional subject choice could make or break your rank!
Choosing the right optional subject for UPSC 2025 is one of the most strategic decisions in your preparation journey. With 500 marks at stake in the Mains, toppers consistently emphasize the need to opt for a subject that aligns with your strengths and has a high success rate.
This article brings you an in-depth analysis of the most successful optional subjects in UPSC, based on past year trends, topper preferences, and performance data from UPSC reports.
Why Optional Subject Matters in UPSC Mains?
The UPSC Civil Services Mains consists of two optional papers (Paper VI & VII), each carrying 250 marks, totaling 500 marks out of 1750 in the written exam. Optional marks often act as a rank-booster — or the difference between selection and failure.
Top Optional Subjects with Highest Success Rate
Here’s a detailed comparison of high-performing subjects based on UPSC Annual Reports and feedback from top rankers:
| Optional Subject | Success Rate (Recent Years) | Popular Among | Notable Toppers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 8–10% | Science/Engg students | AIR 3 Gaurav Aggarwal |
| PSIR (Pol Science) | 6–8% | Arts & Science | AIR 1 Tina Dabi |
| Sociology | 7–9% | Generalist Backgrounds | AIR 10 Junaid Ahmad |
| Geography | 5–7% | Science/Engg graduates | AIR 2 Anudeep Durishetty |
| History | 4–6% | Humanities students | AIR 4 Saumya Pandey |
| Philosophy | 6–8% | First-time aspirants | Many successful 1st-attempt candidates |
| Law | 5–6% | Law grads | AIR 1 Akshat Jain (Law optional) |
Key Factors to Consider While Choosing Optional
- Interest in subject matter
- Availability of quality guidance & notes
- Syllabus overlap with GS papers
- Performance consistency in past years
- Writing ability and scoring nature of the subject
What Toppers Say About Choosing Optional
“My love for international affairs made PSIR a natural choice. It helped me in GS and Essay too.” — Tina Dabi (AIR 1)
“Anthropology’s concise syllabus and diagram-based answers worked well for me.” — Gaurav Aggarwal (AIR 3)
Best Optional Subjects for Science/Engineering Background
- Anthropology
- Geography
- Sociology
Best Optional Subjects for Arts Background
- PSIR
- History
- Philosophy
How to Prepare Optional Subject Effectively
- Finish the syllabus early — Ideally by September
- Solve PYQs regularly
- Revise 3–4 times before Mains
- Join test series for answer writing practice
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