Select subjects you like for the Mains
Suman K. Jha

FOR a large number of graduates, including engineers, medical and management students, the Civil Services remain the main career option. But then, clearing the civil services exams calls for a lot of smart work, strategic planning, and a well-defined roadmap.

Needless to add, the exercise involves the selection of two optional papers for the Main examination (after the Preliminary Test). And, for many a student – especially the uninitiated — this is a Herculean task. More so, in the case of engineers and doctors, many of who seek a "softer" second optional i.e a subject from among the social sciences.

Trend track

So, after endless rounds of discussions, visits to coaching shops, and taking note of the prevalent "trends" (the syllabus being short; an optional being more/less scoring; a subject being technical/non-technical`85 and so on), most of the aspirants zero in on two subjects required for the Mains. This is a flawed strategy, and must be avoided.

Consider this: If you were to peruse the list of UPSC toppers in the last few years, you would find a rainbow coalition, so to speak, of optional subjects. Of course, engineers have done exceedingly well, but so have students with subjects as varied as English Literature, Agriculture, and of course, the traditional disciplines (Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, and so on).

Matter of marks

In other words, you mustn’t be unduly concerned about whether an optional would help you get good marks! For, all of them can be equally high scoring. So, how should you go about choosing your optional subjects, particularly the second one?

Even if you are an engineer or a doctor, you must have been fascinated by some of the non-science subjects at the school level. And, you probably also rued the fact that you couldn’t pursue the discipline because you had to settle for a "safer" career (engineering, medical or whatever). So, this is the time to make amends!

Love thy subjects

But, what if you are equally interested, say, in more than two subjects? The safest route in such cases would be to go through their question papers of the last few years, apart from some of their basic NCERT books. The moot point is that love for a subject — and that alone —should be the deciding factor. (And, not what a coaching institute or anyone else thinks is "good" for you.)