Source: swarajyamag.com
UPSC Civil Services Examination tests all the aspects of candidates. Apart from the General Studies (GS) subjects, there is one optional subject that students have to prepare. Both optional subject and essay can decide the fate of the candidate. All the toppers have good marks in these two that compensate for lesser marks in any GS paper.
It is important to understand the requirements of UPSC in optional subject. In the notification, UPSC states that the level of expertise in optional subject required is that of graduation with honours. Therefore, while attempting questions, students must remember that answers for the optional subject should reflect higher level of knowledge and understanding than general studies paper. It is important to quote important thinkers, theories and sophisticated terminologies. Candidates should try to maintain a separate copy for quotes.
Extra marks can be gained by connecting, even the static-looking theoretical questions with current affairs. This shows that the candidate has a command of the subject.
Candidates should try to follow a dedicated magazine/ selected scholars or experts in the field of the chosen optional subject to have an edge over others in their answers. They shouldn’t attempt to copy the words of the scholar in verbatim, as that would take up a lot of time. Just the idea, along with important keywords used by the scholar will do.
It is very important to learn and absorb the core-material (class notes, self notes etc) of the optional subject. Unlike GS papers, where there is higher uncertainty, in optional subject, you can find several questions directly from your notes. Therefore, it is important to revise the material several times. It is also extremely helpful if one attempts previous years’ question papers in optional subject.
