Best Optional Subject for BPSC Exam | How to Choose Optional Subject for BPSC Exam

1. INTRODUCTION

Hello friends, I am Dy SP Shahid Eqwal, BPSC 60–62 Batch and BPSC 63 Batch qualified candidate. I secured Rank 39 in the BPSC 63 Batch. I strongly believe that education must be free, fair, and accessible to everybody beyond social barriers. The basic idea behind creating this web page is to disseminate my views for free education.

In this article, I am going to discuss some important criteria to choose the best optional subject for BPSC Exam. Selecting the right optional subject is one of the most crucial decisions in BPSC Mains preparation, as it can significantly influence your overall performance. Before choosing an optional, candidates must clearly understand the BPSC Mains Exam Pattern and the role of the optional paper.

2. NATURE OF OPTIONAL PAPER (BPSC MAINS)

• The optional paper consists of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) only.
• Candidates must secure a minimum of 40% marks to qualify.
• Marks obtained are not counted in the final merit list.
• There is no provision for negative marking in this paper.

3. MOST POPULAR OPTIONAL SUBJECT

A total of 37 optional subjects are available for aspirants to choose from in the BPSC Mains Examination. First, I am listing some of the most popular optional subjects for BPSC Exam. By popular, I mean subjects that are widely chosen by aspirants.

• Geography
• History
• Public Administration
• LSW
• Sociology
• Hindi Literature
• Anthropology

In the succeeding paragraphs, I will discuss the merits of these popular optional subjects. This discussion will help you in choosing the best optional subject for BPSC Exam according to your background and interest.

3.1 GEOGRAPHY

• Geography has a definite syllabus, and questions are asked strictly as per the syllabus.
• You are not required to memorise everything; conceptual clarity is the key.
• Analytical ability is essential for Geography as an optional.
• Aspirants must link current affairs with core geography concepts. Map-based understanding is also important.
• Geography is a semi-scientific subject and is highly popular among engineering, medical, and science-background students.

3.2 HISTORY

• History is one of the most popular optional subjects for BPSC Exam.
• Most aspirants already have basic knowledge of History from school education.
• History is an interesting and high-scoring subject.
• It requires interpretation and analytical writing, along with factual support.

3.3 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

• Public Administration has a small and well-defined syllabus.
• Due to the limited syllabus, it can be covered within six months.
• Self-study is sufficient, and coaching is not mandatory for this optional.

3.4 LSW

• Like Public Administration, LSW also has a concise syllabus.
• It can be prepared in comparatively less time.
• Study material and notes are easily available, making self-study effective.

3.5 SOCIOLOGY

• Sociology is easy to understand, interesting, and scoring.
• It deals with society and social issues, which we experience daily.
• Aspirants must differentiate between abstract theories and practical concepts.

3.6 HINDI LITERATURE

• Hindi Literature has a limited and static syllabus.
• Preparation is interesting and enjoyable.
• Competition is relatively less compared to other popular optional subjects.
• If you are writing the BPSC Mains exam in Hindi medium, Hindi Literature can be the best optional subject for BPSC Exam.

3.7 ANTHROPOLOGY

• Anthropology has a small and interesting syllabus.
• It is a semi-scientific subject and popular among science students.
• Use of diagrams makes learning and revision easier.

4. BENEFITS OF CHOOSING POPULAR OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

Although all optional subjects are good and scoring depends on content quality, popular optional subjects offer certain advantages.

• Study materials like books and notes are easily available.
• Coaching facilities are available if needed.
• Peer discussion and group study become easier.
• Subjects like History and Geography overlap significantly with General Studies papers.

5. OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BASED ON GRADUATION SUBJECT

Many candidates choose their graduation or post-graduation subject as their optional. This is beneficial because they are already familiar with the subject. Humanities graduates, in particular, have an advantage since most popular optional subjects belong to arts disciplines. The syllabus of graduation subjects often overlaps with the BPSC optional syllabus.

6. COMMON MYTH ABOUT OPTIONAL SUBJECT

There is a myth that only popular optional subjects are scoring. This is not true. Many candidates have secured top ranks with less popular optional subjects.

Another myth is that some optional subjects are inherently easy. In reality, dedication and hard work make any optional subject scoring. Aspirants should choose the best optional subject for BPSC Exam based on interest and background, not on rumours.

7. CRITERION TO CHOOSE OPTIONAL SUBJECT

Before choosing an optional subject, consider the following criteria:

• The subject should interest you.
• It should not bore you during long preparation hours.
• It should encourage analytical thinking.
• Study material should be easily available.

CATEGORY-I: UPSC & BPSC ASPIRANTS

If a candidate is preparing for both UPSC and BPSC, the optional subject should be chosen based on UPSC Mains convenience.

CATEGORY-II: OLD BPSC ASPIRANTS

Candidates preparing for BPSC for the last 3–4 years should continue with the same optional subject and avoid changing it.

CATEGORY-III: NEW BPSC ASPIRANTS

Fresh aspirants should prefer History or Geography as the best optional subject for BPSC Exam.

REASON FOR CHOOSING HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY AS OPTIONAL

• Vast syllabus overlaps in BPSC Prelims and Mains
• Readily available study material

7. ROLE OF COACHING TO PREPARE OPTIONAL SUBJECT

Many candidates have cleared the BPSC Exam without coaching. Strong self-discipline and planning are sufficient for most optional subjects. However, for science-based optional subjects, coaching support may be helpful. Always research before joining any coaching institute and ensure time-bound syllabus completion.

8. CONCLUSION

The optional subject plays a vital role in the selection process. Therefore, proper research and careful consideration are essential while choosing the best optional subject for BPSC Exam. I hope this article has clarified all aspects related to optional subject selection. Feel free to comment for further clarification or suggestions.