A strong performance on the Optional Papers I and II considerably increases one’s chances of being chosen for the UPSC Civil Services Exam. It raises the Main Exam cut off score, which is getting harder to get by every day. Selecting the most appropriate optional subject is the first step in this direction. This should be done based on the candidate’s educational history, areas of interest and familiarity, and—most importantly—how confident they are about their ability to pass the subject’s exam.
