The optional paper is worth 500 marks (2 papers × 250) and often decides your rank. Each subject gets five guides — syllabus, booklist, paper analysis, strategy and 2021-2025 PYQ trends.
25 subjects with 5 guides each. Click any subject to explore its preparation roadmap.
Paper I: Ecology, soil, crops. Paper II: Livestock, extension, horticulture.
Dairy, poultry, livestock production, veterinary public health, animal nutrition.
Physical, social, cultural anthropology + tribal India. High scoring for beginners.
Plant diversity, physiology, ecology, genetics, economic botany.
Physical, inorganic, organic chemistry — concept-heavy scoring optional.
Structures, geotechnical, transportation, water resources, construction.
Financial accounting, auditing, costing, taxation, organisation theory.
Micro, macro, Indian economy, international economics, growth & development.
Circuit theory, power systems, machines, control, electronics.
Physical & human geography, Indian geography, maps. Popular GS-overlap optional.
Mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy, economic geology, geomorphology.
Ancient, medieval, modern Indian and world history. Strong GS-I overlap.
Constitutional, international, criminal, law of contracts/torts, mercantile law.
OB, HRM, marketing, finance, strategy, operations, international business.
Linear algebra, calculus, ODEs, mechanics, numerical analysis — deterministic scoring.
Mechanics, thermodynamics, machine design, manufacturing, IC engines.
Anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, medicine, surgery, obs-gyn, paediatrics, PSM.
Indian & Western philosophy, socio-political philosophy, philosophy of religion.
Classical, EM, quantum, stat mech, thermodynamics, atomic/nuclear, electronics.
Political theory, Indian govt/politics, international politics, India & the world.
General, cognitive, social, developmental, abnormal psychology + Indian context.
Admin theory, Indian administration, governance, public policy. High GS-II overlap.
Sociological theory, research methods, Indian society, social change. Scoring.
Probability, stat inference, linear models, sampling, design of experiments.
Invertebrates, vertebrates, physiology, genetics, ecology, ethology, economic zoology.
Read our framework for picking an optional that matches your interest, background and scoring potential.