The Optional is the only type of subject that aspirants get to choose in Civil Services Exam and whose marks are considered in merit calculation. All the remaining papers are either the same for everyone or are only qualifying in nature. Optional subject exam is the key to success in the UPSC CSE. In GS Mains exam, you may not be able to make much of a difference but in Optional, you can even have a lead of 20-50 marks if the choice is good and the efforts have been put in the right direction.

Features of Optional Course

1. Complete and Comprehensive coverage of the syllabus.
2. Focus on conceptual clarity along with developing analytical ability.
3. Notes shall be provided in dictation along with pdf for certain topics.
4. Emphasis on understanding the topics in interdisciplinary manner.
5. Teaching as per the demand of examination and recent trends of the optional paper.
6. Discussion of previous year questions after every topic.
7. Doubt solving sessionand personalized mentorship.
8. Integration of concepts with current affairs.
9. Emphasis on Diagrams, Case studies and Map marking while teaching.
10. Special attention on presentation of answer with relevant diagrams.

It is rightly said that Optionals play a decisive role in the selection as the marks obtained in the Optional papers can land an aspirant in or out of the final UPSC merit list. As is well known for, holding 500 out of a total of 1750 marks, optional plays a major role in determining an aspirant’s rank in the UPSC CSE examination. Hence, giving it adequate attention and focus becomes non-negotiable.