upsc-exams/upsc-exam-india-civil-services-ias-optional-selections-faq-part-4

FAQ on subject Selection- Part-5

What subjects are advisable for an MBA graduate for IAS exams?

If you are good at Management, you can go for Management. Otherwise you can go with Public Administration. This can be of your first optional. The second optional may be Psychology/ Sociology/ Geography -in the order of preference.

How do the chances to qualifying differ if you take a subject like Management which very few people take? Also why is management taken by only few people even though if is less complicated than other subjects?

The competition is among management students only in the first instance. You have to be in the top among Management students. Normally specialised subjects like Management, Medical Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture are opted by the students from the same background only. Other popular subjects like History, Geography, Public Administration. Sociology are opted by students with different background, When the number of candidates increases, the chances of selection also increases. In the Preliminary selection the percentage of candidates selected from various subjects are more or less the same out of total appearances. There may a little variation. The person scores top in his subject including general studies has the bright chance of selection in the Preliminary. There is a scaling/Normalisation system in the Preliminary Exam, which gives fairness in getting selected from all optionals. In the mains there is no such criteria.

I am doing my final year in MBA. I am keenly interested in CSE. What are the steps I have to take in deciding the papers for the exam?

First of all, you should select a subject which is interesting to you.
Then see whether you have any idea about the subject or not. That will help you to understand the subject easily.
Availability of proper and standard books.
If possible, previous success, or the history of a particular subject
Select a second subject whose exam will come after some gap in the Mains examination, so that you can revise the subject.

Can you give the success rate of management subject and the scoreability and popularity of management in civil services exams vis-à-vis other subjects. Also please guide regarding the time to be allocated for preparing management optionals provided I have already studied management during my PGDM at IIM.

The success ratio varies from year to year and from subject to subject. As per the UPSC record one year it is 1:6. The next year it was 1:31. These are the subjects taken by the specialists only. It depends upon the evaluator also. In the first instance, the number of Main appearance was 59. Next year there are 31 persons. Only one qualified. So, there are many factors involved in it. If you see the Interview of Topper - Manish Kumar, you can see the good score. So, it all depends on the individual's performance. Regarding the time allotment, if you go through the common strategy given by us, you will get an idea where you stand. Accordingly, you have to allot the time. If you are week, give more time and if you are comfortable, give normal time. However, you should not neglect the subject even you have studied well.

I am doing 1st B.Sc(agri). I have much interest in physics. Can I take it as one of the optional?

Don't get in to the problem. You may have interest but it is not practical. it will be suicidal. In Civil Services one should have practical approach. We suggest you to take Botany or Geography as your second optional. Because these two subjects are related to Agriculture. In fact , if you take geography, it will be useful in the General Studies also. So one should adopt a practical and workable strategy

What is success ratio of Chemistry and Telugu literature as optional in mains?

The success ratio of Chemistry is 1:10 and Telugu Literature is about 1:6. This may vary from year to year.

Is Hindi Literature subject good for CSE?

Compared with other Literatures, Hindi is not doing well at all. The success ratio of Hindi Literature is about 1:38.The success ratio of most of the Indian Literatures are about 1:6 to 1:8.

I am graduating in commerce (first year) and I intend to opt for Commerce & Public Admn. as my optionals. I am confused whether to do my CA or PG. Yes.

You can go with commerce and Public Administration. In our opinion, you should go for CA, which has good future. If you compare M.com and CA., CA has better future. Even after completing CA, you can go for Civil services exam. Civil services exams have lots of uncertainties. It is very difficult to as certain the result. Civil services exam is also like a running race. We don't know about other fellow runners. There are many factors involved in one's success most of the factors are uncontrollable. So, first do your CA, then go for Civil Services.

I have done my graduation in Commerce stream and now I wanted to opt for Civil Services Exam is that easy for me to opt for it.

If you are strong in your Commerce Subject you can opt for it as a first optional. Otherwise you can think of taking Public Administration. Lots of study of material is available for the subject. Second optional may be Sociology/ Psychology/Geography (If you can do physical Geography well).Please go through the syllabus old questions before taking decision.

what is the success ratio of students of Commerce & Accountancy, Public Administration, Geography as per the UPSC? I had commerce stream in my class XII. So giving 3-4 months time to the syllabus of Commerce & Accountancy which has not been covered by the class XII Syllabus of CBSE is sufficient for good preparation of the subject. Is the level of toughness of the IAS exam of Commerce & Accountancy is equivalent, less or more tough when compared with C.A. & I.C.W.A exams? Please Advice.

The Success Ratio also varies from year to year. The analysis is based on the latest available record. These all are for the Main Exam only. The Success Ratio of Commerce and Accountancy is 1:9.75; Public Administration is 1:12.69 ; Geography is 1:9.1 The syllabus of Civil ervices Exam is of M.Com standard. We don't think that can be compared with 12th Commerce stream. Regarding the Exams of CA, ICWA one has to pass, so it is tough in that aspect. In the Civil Services, it is the score matters. Here, it is a running race, one has to compete with many for few posts. So, first go through the detailed syllabus and previous years question papers, that will give an idea. Read the Strategy column in related sites. We hope your doubt is cleared.

I am doing 1st year in agriculture. Which choice are better Agriculture and Botany or Agriculture and Geography. Please tell me the ratio of these two combinations.

Both the Combinations are fine. There is about 150 marks out of 600 marks is common in both Geography and Botany, with agriculture. The success ratio of Agriculture is about 1:6 Geography is about 1:10, Botany is also the same, or little more. There is an added advantage if an agriculture student takes geography as a second optional.

1. Geography is a main component in the general studies.

2. Agricultural geography, climatology, Indian agriculture will be easy for agriculture graduates.

3. Geography is scoring and safe optional.

4. If you read geography, you will have wider knowledge base.

5. Very good material is available.

I want to know about Medical Sciences as an optional paper. I am a dental Graduate, currently doing my internship, and my knowledge of medical subjects is confined to in and around the mouth (at the max. about head and neck) even though we read about all the main medical Subjects. I don't want to change my optionals.

There is a strategy already available in the site. First go through it. Then go through the detailed syllabus and the previous years question papers of Medical Sciences. This will give an idea about the subject, whether to select a particular subject or not. Here you have to keep one thing in the mind - only Medical Graduates will appear with this subject. Can you withstand with them? When there is a competition among the specialists, one has to double sure before opting for the subject. One has to top among the fellow optional holders, so that the chances of getting selected is bright. This is a running race, not the qualifying exam/University exam. As far as your second optional is concerned, Kannada will be a better chance because of its high success ratio. For the first optional, you have to think about it. The success ratio of History is far below standard. You can think of opting for Sociology/ Zoology (As this subject will be easy for you as you have some background). Still, whenever you have a doubt, you are always welcome to clear them with us. Please follow the common strategy (Litmus Test ie Reading the detailed syllabus and previous years question papers before jumping into any conclusion) before selecting the subject.