UPSC Exams-Subject Selection-Frequently Asked questions and Free Counselling

I am an engineering student, doing my second year in electronic instrumentation and control engineering. How to select an optional and mains papers

For the General Studies you can go through the site and follow the tips. As far as the selection of optional is concerned, you have to follow some basics. If the subjects are of your interest, you can read the subject without any problem ie continue the same tempo throughout the preparation. Then you have to see the subject, which had some relevance in your career, so that there is no problem in understanding. In case, it is not so, select the subject, which you feel would be easy for preparation. The last and final criterion is - do you have the access to proper and standard books/ guides for your preparation? 

Our advice to you in general, is that you can think of taking Geography as an optional. This will be easy for you because of your Science background. If you possess good writing skills, you can think of opting for some humanities subject like Psychology/Sociology/ Public Administration. For the Mains, you may think of opting for one of the Indian Literatures, if you are really good at that Literature. Hindi Literature is not doing well in comparison to other regional Languages.

Whatever the subject, you have to go through the detailed syllabus and the previous year question papers to decide the option. This will give a broad picture about the subject. If possible, you can interact with some successful students in the same subject.

But you are going to prepare, so apply your mind and decide on your own with the all inputs received from different quarters.