UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026 Subject Wise, PDFs, Strategy

UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026: In the UPSC Civil Services Exam, candidates must choose one optional subject for the Mains examination. This optional subject consists of two descriptive papers, each carrying 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. These marks play a crucial role in deciding the final rank.

While General Studies papers are common for all aspirants, the optional subject gives you a chance to gain a competitive edge. Many toppers have secured top ranks mainly because of their strong performance in the optional paper. That is why understanding the UPSC optional syllabus in detail is essential.

Read on for a complete UPSC optional subjects list for 2026, and syllabus links for each subject.

What Is the UPSC Optional Paper?

The optional paper is part of the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination. It consists of two papers, each carrying 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. These 500 marks are added directly to your final merit list score.

This makes the optional paper extremely important.  The optional syllabus is fixed and clearly defined. This helps in structured preparation. Many aspirants score 280–320+ marks in their optional, which creates a big gap in the final ranking. That gap often decides whether you get IAS, IPS, or another service.

Your optional subject should match your interest, academic background, and availability of resources. Understanding the UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026 early helps you plan better and avoid last-minute confusion.

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Total Number of Optional Subjects in UPSC 2026

UPSC offers a wide range of optional subjects to suit aspirants from different backgrounds. As per the official notification of the previous year, there are 48 optional subjects available for the Civil Services Mains Examination. Out of these:

• 25 are non-literature subjects
• 23 are literature subjects, based on specific languages

You can choose only one optional subject, which will have two papers: Paper I and Paper II. Both papers follow the same optional subject syllabus notified by UPSC.

The UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026 remains largely stable over the years. However, aspirants must always rely on the latest notification for the updated syllabus.

Complete List of UPSC Optional Subjects 2026 

There are a total of 48 optional subjects offered by the Union Public Service Commission for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2026. Below is the complete UPSC optional subjects list for 2026:

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
3. Anthropology
4. Botany
5. Chemistry
6. Commerce and Accountancy
7. Civil Engineering
8. Economics
9. Electrical Engineering
10. Geology
11. Geography
12. History
13. Philosophy
14. Public Administration
15. Political Science and International Relations
16. Psychology
17. Physics
18. Sociology
19. Law
20. Mathematics
21. Management
22. Medical Science
23. Mechanical Engineering
24. Statistics
25. Zoology
26. Assamese
27. Bodo
28. Bengali
29. Dogri
30. English 
31. Gujarati
32. Hindi
33. Kannada
34. Kashmiri
35. Konkani
36. Malayalam
37. Maithili
38. Marathi 
39. Manipuri
40. Nepali 
41. Odia 
42. Punjabi 
43. Sindhi
44. Sanskrit 
45. Santhali
46. Tamil
47. Telugu 
48. Urdu

UPSC Mains Syllabus Optional Subject 2026

UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026 can be divided into non-literature and literature subjects, and has remained largely unchanged over the years. Candidates can find the UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026 PDF on the official UPSC website or get a direct link to each subject from below. The syllabus clearly outlines the topics for Paper I and Paper II of each optional subject:

Non-Literature Optional Subjects

There are around 25 Non-Literature Optional Subjects, including disciplines from social sciences, humanities, science, engineering, medicine, and commerce:

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Literature Optional Subjects

The Literature Optional Subjects allow candidates to choose the literature of any one language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, along with English. These subjects focus on literary history, major works, authors, genres, and critical analysis.

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When Should You Start Optional Preparation for UPSC 2026?

Ideally, you should finalize your optional subject before starting serious General Studies preparation. Many UPSC toppers begin their optional preparation in the very first phase of their journey. Starting early helps you build a strong foundation and understand the subject in depth. If you begin on time, you can complete the entire optional syllabus before the Prelims exam, which is a major advantage.

Completing the optional syllabus early gives you enough time for answer writing practice, revision, and mock tests after Prelims. Optional subjects demand conceptual clarity and analytical thinking. They cannot be prepared in a hurry. Rushing optional preparation after Prelims often creates unnecessary pressure and affects performance. Early planning not only reduces stress but also allows you to focus fully on Mains preparation with confidence.

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