To answer this question, one must understand the UPSC exam pattern. The IAS exam comprises three stages, namely Prelims, Mains and Interview. Out of which, marks in Mains and Interview form the basis of Final Merit List.
To be a part of the final list of recommended candidates, usually close to 50% marks are needed in total (Mains + Interview). The GS part in Mains is diverse and comprehensive, so it becomes essential from the exam point of view to identify key areas which can fetch more marks with reasonable effort.
Broadly speaking, there are three focus areas for candidates who wish to score high marks without getting bogged down by the vast UPSC syllabus.
- Interview (275 marks) – 20-odd minute discussion with the UPSC panel
- Essay (250 marks) – two essay topics of 125 marks each
- Optional (500 marks) – two papers of 250 marks each