Minimalist IAS
UPSC Syllabus

Mains Papers VI & VII · official syllabus

UPSC Optional Subjects 2026: All 48 Syllabi

25 subjects and 23 language literatures — each with both papers' syllabus in UPSC's own words.

हिन्दी में पढ़ें

Optional subjects in short

You choose one optional for Mains. It has two papers of 250 marks each — 500 of the 1,750 written marks that decide your rank. The syllabus for every option is in UPSC's notice, pp. 37–154 ↗; each page below sets it out to read.

Humanities & social sciences · 9

Anthropology Overlaps Indian society, tribes and diversity in GS I Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Economics Overlaps the Indian economy, growth and budgeting in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Geography PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY · GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA Overlaps physical and human geography in GS I; environment and disasters in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → History Overlaps Indian culture, modern India and world history in GS I Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Philosophy Overlaps moral thinkers and ethics in GS IV Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Political Science and International Relations Overlaps polity, governance and international relations in GS II Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Psychology Overlaps attitude, aptitude and emotional intelligence in GS IV Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Public Administration Overlaps governance and civil services in GS II; probity in GS IV Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Sociology FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY Overlaps Indian society, social issues and globalisation in GS I Paper 1 & 2 syllabus →

Sciences, agriculture & medicine · 10

Agriculture Overlaps crops, irrigation, MSP and food processing in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Botany Overlaps biodiversity, biotechnology and conservation in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Chemistry Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Geology Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Mathematics Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Medical Science Overlaps health policy in GS II; science and technology in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Physics Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Statistics Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Zoology APPENDIX- II Overlaps biodiversity and conservation in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus →

Engineering · 3

Civil Engineering Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Electrical Engineering Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Mechanical Engineering Paper 1 & 2 syllabus →

Commerce, management & law · 3

Commerce and Accountancy Overlaps the economy and budgeting in GS III Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Law Overlaps the Constitution, federalism and institutions in GS II Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Management Overlaps organisational ethics and governance in GS IV Paper 1 & 2 syllabus →

Literature of languages · 23

Assamese Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Bengali Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Bodo Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Dogri Literature HISTORY OF DOGRI LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE · TEXTUAL CRITICISM OF DOGRI LITERATURE Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → English Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Gujarati Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Hindi Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Kannada Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Kashmiri Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Konkani Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Maithili Literature HISTORY OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE AND Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Malayalam Literature LITERARY HISTORY Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Manipuri Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Marathi Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Nepali Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Odia Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Punjabi Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Sanskrit Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Santhali Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Sindhi Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Tamil Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Telugu Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus → Urdu Literature Paper 1 & 2 syllabus →

FAQ

Optional subjects: questions, answered

How many optional subjects are there in UPSC?

UPSC's list has 26 options: 25 subjects and Literature of any one of 23 languages — 48 choices in all. A candidate takes one.

How many papers and marks does a UPSC optional have?

Two papers — Mains Papers VI and VII — of 250 marks and three hours each, 500 marks in all, counted for your rank.

Which languages can I take as a literature optional?

Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

Can I write my optional in Hindi or another Indian language?

Yes. Apart from Papers A and B, all papers can be answered in English or any one language of the Eighth Schedule. If you write Papers I–V in an Eighth Schedule language, you may still choose to write the optional in English. Literature papers are answered as their syllabus specifies.

Where is the official optional syllabus?

In Section III, Part B of UPSC's notice for each year's Civil Services Examination. For 2026 it is Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSP, pp. 37–154. Each subject page here copies it word for word.