Civil Services Exam – Simplified and Demystified - III

Selecting optional subject

There are many factors that play in selecting your optional paper and this can have a huge impact on your performance in the examination.  The pros and cons of the subject vis-a-vis your strengths and weakness must be evaluated, that too in the changing scenario. Given the huge magnitude of the role an optional can play,

 I took Management as my optional paper. Given huge unpopularity of Management, even MBA graduates don’t risk taking this subject. Aspirants tend to refrain from taking it because –

• Vast syllabus – Management syllabus covers HR, OB, Finance, Marketing, IT, Operations, Statistics, Strategy, International Business, Government Business Interface. Finance, Marketing, Operations, HR – all are full fledged subject in themselves
•  No coaching available
•   No specific books
•   Senior guidance not available
•  No overlap with GS syllabus
• Track record in UPSC – rare species in top 100 rank

Why I took Management?

•  A large part of syllabus was already covered during my MBA
•  Most important – Remember if you are an MBA, you have not only studied Management, but have lived it for two years – some consciously, some unconsciously. But all of us have. Reading is not just restricted to books and classrooms, you have discussions with your friends, and you participated in case study competitions, prepared for placements, made assignments, attended various gyaan sessions and so many guest lectures. All these have enriched you knowledge of this subject far beyond, what you can read in 3 months. I guess you are better positioned to answer any outliers or tough questions in exam from this subject than any other subject
• Assuming I have scored fairly decent in my MBA course, I have a decent command and preliminary knowledge of most of topics
•  I consider Management to be a safe optional – it should not face the kind of onslaught PubAd had in 2012 – because,
• of low number of people – yet to become populated, leave aside over populated
• no coaching available – reason UPSC will show some mercy and kindness
• Importance of management and its knowledge as future administrator
• Risk Mitigation - The knowledge and better grasp of subject will help me in future career in corporate sector, if I fail to make into Civil Services. 

·         Analysing past year papers, I realised UPSC is still asking very surface level questions rather than getting much deeper into it. In one line – Testing the breadth of your knowledge rather than depth.

#8:  People are qualifying from all optional papers. Yes, there are uncertainties involved in it. But, I am a firm believer in choosing an optional which you are strong in and feel comfortable with. Rest all things can be tackled in due course of time. 

According to me, you are best placed to choose your graduation / post graduation paper as your optional. Yes, engineers will tend to disagree with me and I fully support their view point.  Whatever optional you take do make sure you are able to take advantage of your background knowledge. Analyze the syllabus and previous question papers; look around for materials and guidance available. Make extensive use of internet. 

#9: I believe in syllabus based preparation rather than book-based preparation. More important to cover all topics mentioned in the syllabus first, rather focussing on finishing recommended books, where you may end of reading many topics which are not of use in UPSC, especially for management optional.

Next post : What to focus and what to leave for Prelims.