UPSC: IAS is one of the most challenging and competitive exams in the world for acquiring some prestigious job positions in the Government sector. Every year, lakhs of students appear for the exam, but only a few hundred people ace it. Some prepare for the exam with years of hard work but still fail to achieve success, while some start preparations in a limited time and ace it. It's all depending on the approach in preparation. Many students dream of becoming IAS, while some switch professions. If students have completed 12th and want to become an IAS, understanding and analyzing which graduation subjects can help students with IAS preparation is the best way to approach this. This guide will provide an in-depth analysis of which subjects can help students become IAS.

Top subjects that help in IAS preparation

Here is the list of a few subjects that are part of the UPSC exam curriculum:

• Humanities and Arts Stream:The humanities and arts stream is one of the most valuable and practical options for becoming an IAS. Many subjects, like history, polity, etc., are studied in the stream that is part of the IAS exam curriculum. They are comprehensive subjects for establishing and understanding the society, country, culture, and governance. Moreover, these subjects develop critical and analytical thinking skills for IAS preparation. So, students can start preparing early with this stream and simultaneously manage graduation.
• Political Science:Political Science is another one of the major subjects in the IAS exam that students must study. If students are opting for political science in their graduation, most of students preparation for this subject is done while students graduate. Moreover, ideologies, theories, and many more sub-subjects in political science are essential for the IAS exam.
• Economics:Economics is another wise choice for preparation for the IAS exam. The subject as a part of graduation can contribute to preparing for the IAS exam. A bachelor's degree in economics will help IAS aspirants understand policy formation's economic intricacies. They help parents understand the dynamics, development economics, fiscal policies, and other aspects of the economy.
• Geography: Geography is another one of the promising options to opt for graduation if students are preparing for the IAS exam. The course provides insight into the socio-economic elements of regions and nations, physical environment, geography, resource management, and other data.

Subjects in UPSC exam

To find various subjects for graduation, students need to understand the subjects in the exam curriculum. Students can choose any of these subjects in graduation for more benefits. So, here are various subjects to check out:

General Studies Syllabus

• Political Science
• Psychology
• History
• Public Administration
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Geography
• Economics
• Sociology
• Philosophy
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Agriculture
• Physics
• Zoology
• Mathematics
• Medical Science
• Statistics
• Law
• Anthropology
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Electrical Engineering
• Geology Geology
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Optional Studies

• Agriculture
• Anthropology
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Botany
• Civil Engineering
• Chemistry
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Electrical Engineering
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Geology
• Law
• Mathematics
• Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Philosophy
• Medical Science
• Physics
• Psychology
• Political Science & International Relations
• Public Administration
• Statistics
• Sociology
• Zoology
• Assamese
• Bodo
• Bengali
• Dogri
• Hindi
• Gujarati
• Kannada
• Konkani
• Kashmiri
• Maithili
• Manipuri
• Malayalam
• Marathi
• Oriya
• Nepali
• Punjabi
• Santhali
• Sanskrit
• Sindhi
• Telugu
• Tamil
• English
• Urdu

What is the success rate of graduation courses taken by IAS aspirants?

Many aspirants preparing for IAS opt for a similar graduation subject; this significantly impacts their exam preparation. Some subjects like history and politics are essential. When taken as graduation subjects while students prepare for IAS, these subjects can provide promising results. According to the 71st annual report by the Union Public Service Commission, 2302 candidates were present for interviews, and 922 candidates were recommended. Humanities as a graduation subject has 48.4%, and science as a subject has a success rate of 39.1%. However, graduation subjects do not guarantee success but can help prepare for the exam.

Bachelors vs Masters

Many students switch their subjects in their master's to prepare for IAS, while many decide to prepare for IAS after their master's. Some students appear for IAS after a bachelor's, while some appear after a master's. On close analysis, it can be said that students with masters have a higher success rate than those with bachelors. However, candidates appearing for IAS after a master's are less than 250(27.1%) in 2019 compared to bachelor's 672(72.9%).

How Can Overlapping Subjects in Graduation and IAS Exams Help Aspirants?

There are many reasons aspirants can benefit from overlapping the subjects. So, here is how:

• Building A Base: The students can develop a strong base for exam preparation if they have similar subjects. The transition from graduation to IAS preparation can be smooth as students will start preparing with similar basics; for students who have graduated in history, starting preparation will find political, history, and humanities subjects easy. While students graduating in architecture will find it challenging to start with history and political science, they will require more time to develop their basics. Therefore, having the same subject can save them time in grasping the basics of subjects in the IAS exam.
• Enhanced expertise: When students study similar subjects, their basics are already done in their graduation. During IAS preparation, they can approach subjects with more expertise and understanding. Students can enhance their knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. Moreover, their time to solve questions related to the subject will be easier.
• Similar to optional subjects: Some subjects like geography and history are not only part of the leading exam but are also optional for students. Choosing such subjects in graduation will benefit students in two ways. Also, reduce some of the burden of preparing for the IAS exam.
• Balancing Studies and Preparation:The best part of opting for similar graduation subjects is balancing the graduation studies and UPSC preparation.Students having different graduation subjects and preparing for the UPSC exam during their graduation will find it challenging to balance their studies and prepare simultaneously; however, students with similar subjects will find it more effective and easy to balance graduate studies and IAS preparation.

How to choose a subject for graduation similar to UPSC?

To choose a subject, there are a few things aspirants have to keep in mind, these are:

• Understanding the complexity of the subject, their weightage in the exam, and the level of preparation required.
• Compare it with optical subjects, and see if it overlaps main subjects, optional or not.
• Students need to make sure they have an interest in the subject.

Final Thoughts

These are some reasons students can opt for the same subjects in graduation and IAS preparation. The best way to choose a similar subject is by analyzing the curriculum and subjects of the exam and finalizing the topics that interest students. These subjects can vary as an aspirant based on their interest. However, students opt for similar subjects as it does not guarantee success.