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The Daily Insight

Is Civil Engineering a good optional for IAS?

Author

Robert Guerrero

Updated on March 09, 2026

Civil engineering as an optional is recommended only for civil engineers as you need in-depth subject knowledge for the two optional papers in the IAS exam. Check the UPSC syllabus for civil engineering optional. As an engineer, you would have studied this subject for four years, so you have a strong foundation in it.

Also, is civil engineering good optional for IAS?

Civil engineering as an optional is recommended only for civil engineers as you need in-depth subject knowledge for the two optional papers in the IAS exam. Check the UPSC syllabus for civil engineering optional. As an engineer, you would have studied this subject for four years, so you have a strong foundation in it.

One may also ask, is public administration a good optional for IAS? UPSC MAINS - Public Administration Syllabus. Public administration is one of the common optional in the UPSC civil services exam for any aspirants. Irrespective of the academic background, any student can attempt for mains for the Public administration exam. Each Public administration paper consists of 250 marks.

Beside above, how can I prepare for IAS optional civil engineering?

Step 3: Prepare a Study Plan Make a monthly plan, weekly plan and daily schedule to prepare UPSC Civil engineering Optional Paper. Allot the time for exam preparation and set the time for playing, eating, watching TV, and studying. Daily prepare a few hours and spend at least 8 hours for IAS exam preparation.

How do I choose a civil service?

Selection of candidates under Civil Services is done through the three stage exams: Prelims, Mains and Interview which are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). There are many questions related to these exams.

Related Question Answers

Which degree is best for IAS?

Sarat Chandra IAS Academy is the best UPSC civil service coaching institute. They also offer 3 year integrated degree along with civil services coaching (BSc or BA). They provide wide variety of course in BA to chose. In these 3 years, they cover the UPSC syllabus very comprehensively in an highly organized manner.

What is the salary of an IAS officer?

Salary Structure of IAS Officers and IAS Career Path – 7th Pay Commission
Grade Pay Scale Grade Pay of IAS officer
Junior Administrative 15600 – 39100 7600
Selection Grade 37400 – 67000 8700
Super Time Scale 37400 – 67000 8700
Above Super Time Scale 37400 – 67000 12000

Which optional subject has highest success rate in UPSC?

Which optional subjects have the highest success rate in IAS/UPSC exam
Optional Subject Candidates Appeared Success Rate
Agriculture 220 18.6
Medical science 98 16.3
Animal husbandry and veterinary science 65 12.3
Economics 326 11.3

Which subject is best for optional for IAS?

If candidates want to know the most popular optional subject in IAS Mains Exam, then definitely geography, history, psychology, public ad and sociology are the best optional subjects. Sociology is very easy to understand, and the topics covered in it are related to the society that we are a part of.

What is the syllabus for UPSC exam?

Both prelims and main exam have different syllabi viz: Stage 1: IAS Preliminary Exam – 2 papers that include General Studies like history, geography, Indian polity, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Decision making and problem-solving, etc. Stage 2: IAS Main Exam – Written exam (9 papers)

How can I become IAS officer after civil engineering?

Those candidate have completed graduation degree from recognized university are eligible for IAS exam. Final year student are applicable for IAS Exam. After completion of B-Tech Civil Engineering , you are applicable for IAS exam. The Candidates age should between 21 years to 30 years for general candidates .

Which is the easiest optional in UPSC?

Top 10 UPSC Optional Subject List with Success Rate
  • Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science - 12.3.
  • Economics - 11.3.
  • Psychology - 10.9.
  • Anthropology - 10.7.
  • Public Administration - 10.5.
  • Political Science - 6.4.
  • Geography - 5.8.
  • Sociology - 5.7.

Is sociology tough optional?

Sociology is considered as a safer optional as it doesn't require any particular knowledge or academic background for its preparation as an optional. It has been proved many times that candidates without any prior knowledge of Sociology have scored well in their optional paper.

Which coaching is best for public administration?

Ranking of Top UPSC Coaching in Delhi – Public Administration Optional
Rank Coaching Name Fee Duration
Rank 1 Analog Ias Academy 5 Month
Rank 2 ALS IAS 100 Session
Rank 3 VajiRam and Ravi 16 Weeks
Rank 4 Vision IAS

Is history a scoring optional in IAS?

Cons of history optional in IAS mains You must have good writing skills to score good marks in history. It is not a scoring subject when you compare it to science or maths. You do need to remember a few dates and names in history. A good memory is required to ace history.

How can I start public administration in IAS?

Strategy for Public Administration Optional
  1. #Be thorough with the basic books and concepts.
  2. #Makes short notes.
  3. #Study optional regularly.
  4. #Remember quotes from thinkers.
  5. #Answer writing practice and Test series.
  6. #Previous year questions.
  7. #Approach like a Pub Ad Student.

What is public administration salary?

The private sector of public administration includes companies and businesses. The average earning potential in this area of public administration for someone who has completed a MPA degree program is very similar to that of the public sector. The average salary is $60,000 with the potential to earn more.

How can I prepare for public administration optional without coaching?

Strategy for Public Administration Optional
  1. #Be thorough with the basic books and concepts.
  2. #Makes short notes.
  3. #Study optional regularly.
  4. #Remember quotes from thinkers.
  5. #Answer writing practice and Test series.
  6. #Previous year questions.
  7. #Approach like a Pub Ad Student.

Which is better sociology or public administration?

Geography,Sociology and public administration have syllabus overlapping with General studies so which is helpful. Geography syllabus is very vast compared to sociology. But geography is a scoring subject. However sociology is less scoring among the three.

Is public administration difficult?

So, with a strong grounding in concepts where most philosophies are on your fingertips, and you can lace them with current events, Pub Ad is not a difficult thing to crack. What is the strategy for preparing for Public Administration as Optional for UPSC?

What jobs are civil service?

Aside from administrative support, there are other key roles which are needed by every civil service department such as finance, human resources and office management. Many civil service departments also have to employ other professionals such as lawyers, doctors, nurses, engineers, geologists and surveyors.

Is civil service a good career option?

Civil Services offer an attractive and challenging career to the ambitious, the aspiring and the talented. The wide variety of jobs within the fold of the Civil Services have relatively greater sphere of authority and power than any other services in India.

Why should you join civil services?

The Indian Civil services encompass all one can aspire for: prestige, job security, salary package, opportunity of foreign tour, job satisfaction, etc. Civil servants in one way decide the fate of the nation as the implementation of all developmental and other government policy rest with them.

Why to join civil services if you can do well by doing social work?

Your job is in the nature of social service. Many billionaires like Bill Gates, Azim Premji spend billions from their own pocket to get the satisfaction of doing the social work. You have the opportunity to do so while in service and you are even paid for it decently.

Which optional subject is best for OAS?

List of Optional Subjects for OPSC OAS Main Examination 2019-20
  • Agriculture. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science. Anthropology. Agricultural engineering. Botany. Chemistry. Civil Engineering.
  • Education. Fisheries Science. Forestry. Geography. Geology. History.
  • Mathematics. Mechanical Engineering. Philosophy. Physics. Political Science and International Relations. Public administration.

How many types of civil service are there?

three types

What are civil exams?

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).

What are civil services?

Civil service, the body of government officials who are employed in civil occupations that are neither political nor judicial. In most countries the term refers to employees selected and promoted on the basis of a merit and seniority system, which may include examinations.