Optional Subject Scoring Trends 2015-2024: Which Subjects Are Declining?
18 min read
Jan 26, 2026
The optional subject in UPSC Mains carries 500 marks out of 1750—nearly 29% of your written examination score. Unlike General Studies, where serious candidates often cluster within a narrow 40-60 mark range, optional subjects can create gaps of 80-100 marks between equally dedicated aspirants. This reality makes understanding scoring trends not just academically interesting, but strategically essential.
Between 2015 and 2024, the UPSC optional landscape has witnessed significant shifts. Some once-dominant subjects have seen their average scores decline, while others have experienced quiet resurgences. Scaling controversies continue to generate anxiety, and the choices made by toppers offer both inspiration and occasional misdirection.
This analysis examines a decade of optional subject data—not to prescribe a universal "best" choice, but to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your background, interests, and preparation timeline.
Understanding the Stakes: Why Optional Trends Matter
Before examining specific subjects, it's worth understanding why these trends deserve attention.
The mathematics of UPSC Mains is unforgiving. When GS paper scores for serious candidates typically range between 475-525 out of 1000, and when essay and ethics papers introduce considerable subjectivity, the optional becomes the primary variable under a candidate's control. Historical data shows optional toppers scoring 350-370 out of 500—more than 70% marks—while GS toppers rarely cross 55% of their total.
This scoring differential explains why optional selection decisions often determine final ranks. A candidate scoring 310 in their optional while another manages only 260—despite similar preparation intensity—faces a 50-mark deficit that GS performance alone rarely compensates for.
The Decade in Review: Subject-Wise Performance Analysis
Anthropology: From Golden Era to Correction Phase
Anthropology's trajectory over the past decade illustrates how subject popularity creates its own challenges.
The Peak Years (2015-2019)
Anthropology enjoyed remarkable success during this period. Anudeep Durishetty's AIR 1 in 2017 with Anthropology as his optional, combined with multiple top-20 ranks featuring the subject, established it as the aspirant favourite. The subject's compact syllabus, objective content in biological anthropology, and overlap with GS topics on tribal affairs created genuine advantages.
During these years, average marks for Anthropology hovered around 280-300, with high scorers regularly crossing 310. In 2022, Nidhi Pal (Rank 36) achieved 325 marks—among the highest optional scores that year.
The Decline Phase (2022-2024)
By 2023 and particularly in 2024, Anthropology's golden era had clearly ended. Analysis of CSE-24 results reveals that scoring in Anthropology became notably tougher. The subject's over-population—with thousands choosing it based on past success rates—appears to have triggered stricter evaluation standards.
Expert analysis suggests Anthropology may witness a "longer downturn" as the subject that "clearly enjoyed success for many years is now over-populated." While the subject remains viable, aspirants should expect average scores closer to 260-280 rather than the 290-310 range of peak years.
Current Average Marks: 260-280 (down from 280-300 in 2017-2019)
Sociology: Unexpected Volatility
Sociology's recent performance surprised many observers. Unlike Anthropology, which had clear cyclical patterns, Sociology's decline in CSE-24 was unexpected.
The subject typically maintained stable average scores around 270-290, with approximately 1,800 candidates opting for it annually. Its relevance to GS I, GS II, and Essay paper, combined with a manageable syllabus, made it a reliable choice.
However, CSE-24 witnessed significantly tougher scoring in Sociology. The highest marks in Sociology optional till date remain 329 (Vishal Shah, 2018), but recent years have seen fewer scores above 300.
Analysis suggests this may be a temporary correction rather than a permanent shift. Historical patterns show subjects bouncing back after difficult years—PSIR experienced a down year in CSE-23 but improved significantly in CSE-24.
Current Average Marks: 265-285 (with higher volatility than historical norms)
Political Science and International Relations (PSIR): The Steady Performer
PSIR has demonstrated remarkable consistency across the decade, with three AIR 1 holders choosing it—Tina Dabi (2016), Ishita Kishore (2022), and Shakti Dubey (2024). Both AIR 1 and AIR 2 in CSE-24 had PSIR as their optional.
The subject offers substantial overlap with GS II (Polity and International Relations), making preparation more integrated. Average scores typically range between 270-290, with high scorers reaching 310-330.
PSIR performed better than the previous year in CSE-24 and remained above average, suggesting it may be entering a favorable phase.
Current Average Marks: 275-295
Geography: High Ceiling, High Floor
Geography remains one of the most popular optionals, with over 1,000 candidates choosing it annually. Its diagram-based answers, objective content, and significant overlap with GS I and Prelims create genuine advantages.
However, Geography's comprehensive syllabus demands substantial preparation time. Success rates have fluctuated between 5-7% over the decade, lower than smaller subjects but reasonable given the large candidate pool.
The subject saw improved performance in CSE-24 compared to previous years. Average marks typically range between 270-290, with the distinction between high and average scorers often determined by diagram quality and India-specific content mastery.
Current Average Marks: 270-290
Public Administration: The Quiet Recovery
Public Administration witnessed a significant decline in popularity after 2013, when UPSC reduced optional weightage. The subject that once dominated selections saw its candidate pool shrink considerably.
However, this decline in popularity has coincided with improved performance among those who chose it. With fewer candidates and reduced competition within the subject, Public Administration scores have stabilized. CSE-24 analysis suggests the subject performed well and will likely sustain this improvement.
Its direct application to governance questions in GS II and administrative case studies in GS IV makes it valuable beyond the optional papers themselves.
Current Average Marks: 260-285
Philosophy: The Dark Horse
Philosophy's short syllabus and high marks potential have attracted candidates seeking efficient preparation. AIR 3 in CSE-24 (Dongre Archit Parag) chose Philosophy, demonstrating its continued viability at the highest levels.
The subject showed similar positive trends to Public Administration in CSE-24—fewer candidates but improved performance. Its abstract nature requires strong conceptual clarity and writing skills, but those who master it often score well above average.
Interestingly, data suggests Philosophy's success rate has sometimes exceeded that of technically "easier" subjects like Mathematics, contradicting assumptions that technical subjects inherently score higher.
Current Average Marks: 260-285
History: Making a Comeback
History, despite its vast syllabus, appears to be experiencing a resurgence. Shruti Sharma's AIR 1 in 2021 with History as her optional demonstrated that thorough preparation in this subject can yield excellent results.
CSE-24 analysis indicates History "appears to have made a comeback." The subject's overlap with GS I and Essay topics, combined with current affairs integration possibilities, creates value beyond the optional papers.
Average marks typically range between 260-285, with the challenge being syllabus coverage rather than scoring potential.
Current Average Marks: 260-285
Technical and Science Subjects: High Risk, High Reward
Engineering subjects, Mathematics, and science optionals present a distinct scoring profile. These subjects allow for potentially high marks—even approaching full marks on correctly answered questions—but carry higher preparation burden and evaluation unpredictability.
Aditya Srivastava's AIR 1 in CSE-2023 with Electrical Engineering (scoring 170 and 191 in Papers I and II) and Kanishak Kataria's AIR 1 in 2019 with Mathematics demonstrate these subjects' potential.
However, the candidate pool for technical optionals remains small, making trend analysis less reliable. Success often depends more on individual preparation quality than systemic factors.
Literature Optionals: Hidden Scoring Potential
Literature subjects consistently show high success rates in UPSC data, though the small candidate pools require cautious interpretation. Hindi Literature, in particular, has produced several top rankers.
The primary advantages include shorter syllabi compared to subjects like History, overlap with language papers, and fewer candidates creating less competitive evaluation environments.
Average marks vary significantly by language, typically ranging 265-295.
The Scaling Controversy: Separating Fact from Fear
Few topics generate more anxiety among aspirants than UPSC's scaling or moderation process. Understanding what actually happens helps separate legitimate concerns from unnecessary worry.
What UPSC Actually Does
UPSC employs "statistical moderation by linear transformation wherever considered necessary." This process differs from scaling used in some state PSC examinations.
Moderation addresses evaluation subjectivity—accounting for some examiners being stricter than others—rather than equalizing difficulty across subjects. The head examiner sets assessment standards, periodically reviews additional examiners' work, and makes revisions where necessary.
The Normalised Equi-Percentile method, reportedly used by UPSC, assumes comparability among candidates taking various optional subjects. The formula attempts to ensure that a "tough optional" doesn't systematically disadvantage its takers compared to a "lenient optional."
What This Means Practically
Raw marks undergo processing before appearing on marksheets. Analysis suggests that raw scores around 380-390 out of 500 often compress to 350-360 after moderation in subjects like Economics.
The key insight: moderation compresses outliers but doesn't eliminate them. Candidates scoring significantly above average still maintain their advantage, even if the absolute mark gap narrows.
This explains why pursuing 320+ scores remains worthwhile despite moderation—the relative advantage persists even if the numerical gap changes.
The Real Implication
Rather than worrying about opaque moderation formulae, focus on beating your subject's average by the widest possible margin. A candidate scoring one standard deviation above mean in any subject improves their rank substantially, regardless of how moderation affects absolute numbers.
Topper Analysis: Patterns and Cautions
The Diversity Principle
Analysing AIR 1 holders from 2015-2024 reveals a crucial insight: there is no single "topper's optional."
| Year | Topper | Optional Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Shakti Dubey | PSIR |
| 2023 | Aditya Srivastava | Electrical Engineering |
| 2022 | Ishita Kishore | PSIR |
| 2021 | Shruti Sharma | History |
| 2020 | Shubham Kumar | Anthropology |
| 2019 | Kanishak Kataria | Mathematics |
| 2018 | Kanishka Kataria | Mathematics |
| 2017 | Anudeep Durishetty | Anthropology |
| 2016 | Tina Dabi | PSIR |
| 2015 | Ira Singhal | Geography |
This diversity—spanning humanities (PSIR, History), social sciences (Anthropology), pure sciences (Mathematics), and engineering (Electrical Engineering)—demonstrates that any well-prepared subject can produce top ranks.
The Pattern Behind Success
While specific subjects vary, common threads emerge among toppers.
Their optional choice typically aligned with genuine interest rather than perceived "trend." Tina Dabi described PSIR as her "Ikigai subject"—the intersection of passion, proficiency, and purpose. This intrinsic motivation sustained preparation through difficult phases.
They achieved scores well above their subject's average. Whether through clearer conceptual understanding, better answer presentation, or more effective revision strategies, toppers consistently outperformed their subject cohort.
Their optional preparation complemented rather than competed with GS preparation. Subjects with substantial GS overlap allowed efficient time allocation.
The Caution
Blindly following topper choices often backfires. Anthropology's over-population after Anudeep Durishetty's success illustrates this phenomenon—increased competition and stricter evaluation reduced average scores for subsequent cohorts.
Choose based on your own profile, not someone else's success story.
Strategic Subject Selection: A Framework
Given the trends, controversies, and topper patterns discussed, how should you approach optional selection?
The Foundational Questions
Before examining any subject-specific data, answer these honestly.
What subjects genuinely interest you? Preparation spans months; sustained engagement requires intrinsic motivation. A subject that energizes you after long study sessions offers advantages no success rate compensates for.
What's your academic background? Graduation or post-graduation in a UPSC optional provides foundational advantages—existing knowledge reduces preparation time, and conceptual comfort improves answer quality.
How much preparation time do you have? Vast syllabi subjects like History or Geography require more preparation time than compact subjects like Anthropology or Philosophy. Match subject scope to available timeline.
The Strategic Overlay
After establishing foundational fit, consider strategic factors.
Evaluate syllabus overlap with GS papers. Subjects like PSIR, Sociology, Geography, and History offer significant overlap, making preparation more efficient. This overlap proves valuable beyond time savings—concepts reinforced across papers retain better.
Assess resource availability. Quality study material, accessible guidance, and answer-writing practice opportunities vary by subject. Some subjects have extensive coaching ecosystems; others require more self-study capability.
Consider the candidate pool dynamics. Extremely popular subjects face stricter evaluation environments. Less popular subjects may offer scoring advantages but provide fewer preparation benchmarks and peer discussion opportunities.
The Decision Matrix
Rather than seeking the "best" optional, identify which subjects meet acceptable thresholds across multiple criteria.
A reasonable framework might evaluate subjects on interest level, background relevance, GS overlap, syllabus manageability, and resource availability—selecting whichever subject scores acceptably across all dimensions rather than maximizing any single factor.
Subjects Showing Decline: What the Data Suggests
Based on 2015-2024 analysis, several subjects show declining scoring trends.
Anthropology has experienced the most significant decline, moving from average scores of 280-300 during 2015-2019 to 260-280 in recent years. Over-population and consequent evaluation tightening appear responsible.
Public Administration saw earlier decline in popularity after 2013 syllabus changes, though recent performance among smaller candidate pools has improved.
Geography shows fluctuating rather than declining trends, with recent years showing recovery after difficult phases.
Subjects Showing Recovery or Stability
PSIR demonstrates sustained strength, with excellent topper representation and stable-to-improving average scores.
History appears to be recovering after being considered "too vast" by many candidates, with recent years showing improved representation among top ranks.
Philosophy shows quiet recovery, with smaller candidate pools and improved individual performance.
The Preparation Reality
Beyond subject selection, actual preparation quality determines outcomes. Some aspirants find it easier to stay consistent using structured practice tools like PrepAiro, which help track progress across both optional and GS preparation. However, the fundamental requirement remains deep conceptual understanding combined with extensive answer-writing practice.
No subject choice compensates for inadequate preparation. A well-prepared candidate in a "declining" subject will outperform a poorly prepared candidate in a "rising" one.
The subjects showing decline aren't inherently worse—they've simply become more competitive or faced evaluation recalibration. With thorough preparation, any optional remains viable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which optional subject has the highest success rate in UPSC?
Success rates vary annually, but subjects like Anthropology, Sociology, PSIR, and Commerce & Accountancy have consistently shown rates between 7-11% in recent years. Literature optionals often show higher per-capita success rates, though smaller candidate pools make comparisons challenging. Commerce & Accountancy showed approximately 15% success rate in some years, but again, smaller candidate numbers require cautious interpretation.
Is Anthropology optional declining?
Yes, analysis indicates Anthropology scoring has become tougher, particularly in CSE-23 and CSE-24. After years of producing multiple top-20 ranks, the subject now faces stricter evaluation. However, this represents a correction phase rather than fundamental problem—well-prepared candidates still achieve competitive scores.
Does UPSC do scaling in optional subjects?
UPSC uses "moderation" rather than strict scaling. This process addresses evaluation subjectivity through statistical adjustment, ensuring that examiner strictness variations don't systematically disadvantage candidates. The exact methodology isn't publicly disclosed, but the Normalised Equi-Percentile method is reportedly used.
What optional subject did UPSC 2024 topper choose?
Shakti Dubey (AIR 1, CSE-24) chose Political Science and International Relations (PSIR). AIR 2 Harshita Goyal also chose PSIR. AIR 3 Dongre Archit Parag chose Philosophy, while AIR 4 and AIR 5 chose Sociology.
Which optional subject has maximum GS overlap?
Political Science and International Relations offers substantial overlap with GS II (Polity and International Relations). Sociology overlaps with GS I (Society) and GS IV (Ethics). Geography overlaps significantly with GS I and Prelims. History overlaps with GS I. The extent of actual overlap depends on how you approach preparation.
Can engineering students take humanities optionals?
Absolutely. Many engineering graduates successfully opt for humanities subjects. Aditya Srivastava (AIR 1, 2023) chose his engineering subject, but many engineers choose Sociology, Anthropology, or PSIR based on interest and preparation efficiency.
What is the average score in UPSC optional subjects?
Average scores typically range between 260-290 across popular subjects, with some annual variation. High scorers reach 310-350, while lower scores fall to 220-250. The gap between average and high scores creates significant rank implications.
Should I change my optional if it's showing declining trends?
Not necessarily. Declining trends often reflect over-population or evaluation recalibration rather than fundamental subject problems. If you've invested significant preparation time and have genuine subject interest, continuing may prove more efficient than starting fresh with a new subject.
How important is optional subject coaching?
Coaching can provide structured preparation, answer-writing feedback, and peer benchmarking. However, many toppers have succeeded through self-study with quality materials. The decision depends on subject complexity, available resources, and individual learning preferences.
When should I finalize my optional subject?
Ideally, finalize your optional before or during the early Prelims preparation phase—typically 12-15 months before Mains. This allows sufficient preparation time while maintaining flexibility if initial choice proves unsuitable. Changing optional after significant investment rarely works well.
Concluding Reflections
The UPSC optional landscape from 2015-2024 reveals both patterns and unpredictability. Subjects rise and fall in popularity, evaluation standards adjust to candidate pools, and individual preparation quality consistently trumps systemic advantages.
If there's a single takeaway from this decade of data, it's that the "best" optional subject remains deeply individual. What worked for Anudeep Durishetty or Shakti Dubey worked because of their specific profiles, interests, and preparation approaches—not because Anthropology or PSIR possesses inherent superiority.
Your task isn't finding the universally optimal choice. It's identifying which subject—given your background, interests, timeline, and preparation style—allows you to score meaningfully above that subject's average while maintaining preparation sustainability.
The trends matter. The scaling exists. The topper patterns offer insights. But ultimately, you'll write those papers alone, bringing whatever understanding and articulation you've developed. Choose the subject that lets you bring your best.
The preparation journey demands both strategic thinking and sustained effort. Understanding optional trends provides the former; only you can provide the latter.
