How to prepare for Economics Optional for UPSC CSE?

An understanding of economy is a prerequisite for an Indian Administrative Officer (IAS officer). Economics is an inherent part of governance and policy planning. Studying Economics as an optional subject for UPSC CSE diversifies the perspective of aspirants for all the stages of the exam. ‘Economics’ is the subject that brings together all the other major areas of the syllabus- history, sociology, geography, polity and environment.

It is interesting to note that most of the candidates who have cleared the exam with Economics as their optional subject have also performed fairly well in their UPSC CSE Personality Test. Out of the 19 candidates who have cleared UPSC 2022 with Economics as their optional subject, 11 have scored more than 180 marks in their Interview. Mahima Kasana (AIR-141, 2022), Mannat Luthra (AIR- 382, 2022) and Akshita Yadav (AIR- 649, 2022) have scored more than 200 in their Personality Tests.

        

Why should one choose Economics as an optional subject for UPSC CSE?

  • Around 25-30 questions are asked in UPSC CSE Prelims each year. Apart from this, out of 20 questions in GS Mains Paper III, 7-8 questions are framed from the topics related to Indian Economy. This shows the added advantage for aspirants preparing Economics as an optional subject for UPSC CSE.
  • Preparing Economics as an optional subject gives aspirants a broader perspective of events happening around them and makes them better prepared for the Interview stage of UPSC CSE. For example, an aspirant with Economics optional can add economic perspective to the social, environment and international issues better than aspirants with other optionals.
  • Studying Economics as an optional subject saves the aspirants’ time as a large part of GS Paper for Prelims and Mains syllabus can be prepared along with the optional subject’s preparation.
  • Economics is a dynamic subject and invokes genuine inquisitiveness in the aspirants for things happening around them on a daily basis.
  • The learnings from Economics as an optional subject for UPSC CSE stay with the aspirants for the entire course of their lives. The knowledge can be applied in any area of day-to-day life and this makes the aspirants more aware as citizens.

How to prepare Economics Optional for UPSC CSE?

  • Aspirants preparing Economics as an optional subject for UPSC CSE should start by understanding all the topics mentioned in the prescribed syllabus. The familiarity with the syllabus will help in selecting the right books and resources that should be used for the preparation.
  • Graphs are a significant part of Economics syllabus and should be practiced frequently. Understanding and using graphs for economics are a prerequisite for writing good answers in UPSC CSE Mains.
  • Aspirants should begin their preparation by strengthening their hold on the basics of the subject. For this, they should start by studying NCERTs of class XI and XII.
  • Study material for preparing Economics as an optional subject for UPSC CSE should be chosen carefully. Content that can be useful for both optional subject and GS Papers should be considered over topic specific books and resources.
  • Answer writing with a carefully designed time management strategy is important for scoring more than 280 marks in Economics as an optional subject. Relevant data and statistics, especially from government records and the Economic Survey, catering to different parts of the syllabus should be used in answers for value addition.
  • Editorials from the newspapers can be extremely useful for forming an opinion on different economic issues. This will not only help in GS Papers and optional papers but fetch extra marks in essays as well. Having an opinion on various economic issues can help in better articulation during the UPSC CSE Interview stage as well.

Economics Optional Foundation Course for CSE-2024

  • All the concepts of Economics as an optional subject will be simplified by the best faculty for the subject- Mr. Vibhas Jha in the Economics Optional Foundation Course for CSE-2024 offered by NEXT IAS.
  • The course has been designed by the expert in the field and offers an excellent preparation strategy not only for UPSC CSE, but contains full coverage of IES syllabus and RBI Grade B and DEPR (Deptt of Economic and Policy Research) exams with no extra charges.
  • The course offers 40 hrs of extra teaching for those appearing in the IES and RBI Grade-B (DR) DEPR exam.
  • Notes and study material for the course are provided that cover all kinds of topics from previous years’ papers.
  • Carefully curated 8 tests help in multiple revisions of the subject by providing valuable feedback.
ENROLL For the Course
 
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