UPSC Toppers Optional Subjects: List of IAS Toppers’ Optional Subjects

One of the persistent questions among IAS aspirants is “What is the UPSC Toppers Optional Subjects?” or which is a high-scoring optional subject to crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam. This is a question that perplexes plenty of first-time aspirants as well as the ones who have already written the Civil Services Mains previously. The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is renowned for its rigor and competitiveness. Choosing the right optional subject for UPSC is an important decision for candidates to appear for the Mains stage. It contributes a total of 500 marks in the overall score of 2025; therefore, it can significantly influence a candidate's final score. Each optional subject consists of two papers, each carrying 250 marks. Therefore, a total of 500 marks are accorded to the Optional Subjects. 

• Over the years, certain optional subjects for UPSC have emerged as popular choices among toppers. 
• Anthropology, for instance, has been favored for its concise syllabus and scoring potential. Similarly, subjects like PSIR, Public Administration, Geography, and Sociology have consistently been chosen by top-ranking candidates. 
• IAS Topper AIR 1 Shakti Dubey chose Political Science & International Relations (PSIR) as her optional subject for UPSC CSE 2024, whereas, UPSC Topper 2023 Aditya Srivastava secured the top rank with Electrical Engineering as his optional subject. 
• In 2022, Ishita Kishore topped the examination with Political Science and International Relations. 

Analyzing the UPSC Toppers Optional Subjects chosen by previous IAS Toppers can be insightful for aspirants! However, candidates must self-analyze their UPSC Optional Subjects aligning with their individual interests and strengths rather than following trends to attain success in their UPSC Preparation journey!

UPSC Topper Optional Subject List 2024-25

The Union Public Service Commission recently announced the UPSC CSE Final Result 2024 along with the list of recommended candidates. UPSC Topper AIR 1 Shakti Dubey chose PSIR as her optional subject for UPSC. Generally, the UPSC Toppers optional subjects selection is based on their individual interests, strengths and academic background. UPSC Topper 2025 chose PSIR as her optional subject despite pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. This is an important insight for future aspirants! Analyzing the optional subjects chosen by toppers can be helpful for future aspirants. Check the optional subjects of UPSC Toppers 2025 along with their academic backgrounds in the table below –

However, it's crucial to remember that the best optional subject for each aspirant is one that aligns with their academic background, interests, and strengths. Therefore, thorough research and self-assessment should guide the selection of an optional subject in the UPSC CSE.

Utilize the UPSC Marks Calculator and UPSC Negative Marking Calculator to estimate your Prelims marks!

List of UPSC Toppers’ Optional Subjects Year-Wise [2024-2010]

Over the years, IAS toppers have selected a range of optional subjects for the Civil Services Exam, depending on their academic backgrounds and interests. For instance, in 2024, Shakti Dubey secured AIR 1 with Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) as her optional subject. Similarly, Aditya Srivastava secured AIR Rank 1 with Electrical Engineering as his optional subject in UPSC CSE 2023. Other popular optional subjects among UPSC Toppers include Anthropology, Geography, Sociology, and Public Administration. Analyzing the optional subjects chosen by toppers can provide valuable insights for aspirants in making an informed decision about their own subject selection. 

Go through the following list of UPSC Toppers’ Optional Subjects for IAS Toppers from 2010 to 2024 –

Find out about Geography as an Optional Subject for UPSC!

UPSC Optional Subjects Popular Among UPSC Toppers

Choosing an optional for the Civil Services Exam can be a subjective choice based on the aspirants’ individual strengths, preferences, and academic background. While there is NO right optional subject for UPSC, analyzing past year trends of UPSC Toppers Optional Subjects can provide some direction in choosing your own subject for the upcoming UPSC Exam. The following table shows the subject-wise trends of candidates appeared vs recommended for top optional subject choices over the years –

How Do UPSC Toppers Select Their Optional Subjects?

As per Interviews with UPSC Toppers, it is often observed that they employ a strategic approach when selecting their optional subjects for the UPSC Exam by considering factors beyond personal interest. Their choices are influenced by a combination of academic background, scoring potential, and overlap with General Studies (GS) papers. Here’s an effective strategy that can help you decide your optional subject for UPSC – 

• Toppers often choose subjects that align with their undergraduate or postgraduate studies to leverage existing knowledge. 
• Subjects like Anthropology, Sociology, and PSIR are favored for their concise syllabi and higher. These subjects have consistently produced high marks among toppers.
• Often, IAS Toppers choose their optional subject on the basis of their overlap with GS papers. Subjects such as PSIR, Geography, and Sociology have topics common to GS Papers in IAS Mains. This allows for integrated preparation and saves effort.
• A common trend among UPSC Toppers optional subjects is the availability of abundant study materials. For example, Anthropology has a readily available repository of study resources and expert coaching, making it a popular choice.
• While aligning with academic background is common, some toppers choose subjects based on personal aptitude and interest, even if they are not related to their previous studies. 

By carefully evaluating these factors, UPSC toppers have made informed decisions that align with their strengths and the demands of the examination.