Mathematics Optional In UPSC

Here are some help tools for tackling Mathematics in the UPSC exams, ranging from the syllabus to reading list and other tips. These resources on Mathematics also includes IAS Question Papers of Mathematics. We wish you to adopt the best strategy and become successful. We try our best to provide as many resources for your prepration as possible, but if you can add to this list please feel free to send us links or matter.

• Mains Syllabus of Mathematics
• Question Papers of Mathematics
• Suggested Strategy for Mathematics
• Civil Service Exam Book for Mathematics

Choosing Maths Optional Paper for UPSC exam by Mr.K. Venkanna

Though the Civil Services Examination, is the toughest and the longest examination of India, one could sail through this 'hurdle race' via strategic planning, consistent efforts, diligence, a patient and calm approach and most importantly with the belief in one's own potential. The right selection of the optional is the pre requisite of a good rank in CSE. One must choose the optional keeping the following points in mind:

1. A subject of your interest.
2. Scoring pattern of that subject in past few years.
3. The availability of study material and
4. Expert guidance.

Ideally, the students should choose their subject of graduation or post graduation as their optional but then one must check their subject for its viability in the civil services examination keeping in consideration the above 4 points. As per the above mentioned criteria of choosing optional, Mathematics is one of the safest and most scoring optional in the Civil Services Examination. This is the only subject which allows the students a scope to score as high as 350+ marks in a new pattern of examination with one optional subject. The popular trends show that out of every 20 students, at least one student has Mathematics as one of his or her optional subject. Data shows that before the year 2000, The maximum number of students in the Civil services examination were the students who had taken Mathematics as their optional. However, with the change in the CSE pattern, students have started facing difficulty with mathematics as an optional due to the lack of availability of quality guidance and the confusion created by the labyrinth of false propagandist and mercantile, inefficient and inexperienced teachers. However since the last few years, the popularity of the subject has increased as expert guidance keeping in view the need of the CSE is available now.

WHO CAN OPT FOR MATHEMATICS OPTIONAL?

We can broadly categorize the science students, especially the ones from the Mathematics background who are aspiring for the CSE, into two categories. The first category is of those students who opt for Mathematics as an optional in this prestigious examination. The second category is obviously those students. who do not opt for it. Talking about the former category, it is a group of self motivated, diligent students who already have a penchant for this subject. This category usually consists of those students who seem to eat, sleep and drink Mathematics. They are highly passionate about this subject and extremely devoted to it. However, It is the latter category of students who encourage me to delve into their mind set and explore the reasons for their decision. What I have discovered about the same is a disappointing fact of these students being beguiled and demotivated by the 'opinion givers of the society'. Even the illogical CSE theories created by the mercantile propagandists affects the psychology of these students by enticing them to select inconsequential and irrelevant optionals. Either they are discouraged enough to take the plunge with a safe subject which ultimately results in their sad failure despite rigorous hard work, or else they achieve the results only after investing insurmountable energies and irreversible time on a wrong decision.

I have a message for these students – 'Unleash your potential'; Go for something that channels your expertise in its best direction rather than going for something that has not been your area of excellence and interest. Choose the 'stepping stone' not the 'stumbling block'. Overcome your irrational fears and anxieties and make a prudent decision.

Mathematics is the most advantageous and the highest scoring optional. You have been solving Mathematics questions since elementary school. Think about it; After spending more than 15 years in the field of Mathematics, if you are being manipulated to change your path for an irrelevant option with just 6 months or one year of preparation, you are actually leaving your area of proficiency and are indirectly trying to take up the challenge of competing with the masters of their respective fields.

As IAS and IFoS exams are joined together, so there is an opportunity for the Mathematics optional students to write the IFoS exam along with the IAS exam simultaneously.

ROLE OF COACHING

The role of the coaching institute can never be underestimated in the preparation of CSE. Expert guidance is a very crucial aspect for the preparation. The mentor facilitates the process of preparation and enables the student to savour the success in a strategized manner. One can score 80%+ in Mathematics with the help of professionally well equipped and qualitatively upgraded teaching inputs based on most meticulously and scientifically designed comprehensive guidance programme which allows conceptual clarification of all topics. Moreover, coaching institute’s scientifically designed rigorous written tests and feedback mechanism will make the path of preparation easy and the hard work of sincere aspirants will bring the desired success. An academy with its experience and professional efficiency can prove to be a catalyst to ensure absolute proficiency and perfection in the subject. This is mandatory to ensure the updation of the student’s conceptual and analytical knowledge reservoir as per the requirements of the latest emerging trends of the civil services examination.