How to Prepare UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject 2024 – IAS Mains

UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject: Check out How to Prepare UPSC Philosophy Optional subject 2024 – Study Strategy. UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional subject Preparation Tips are provided here. UPSC Notification 2022 has released. Today we’ve provided a Preparation strategy for UPSC Philosophy optional Paper. UPSC has already announced the IAS / Civil Services Exam Dates (यूपीएससी मेन्स फिलॉसफी वैकल्पिक विषय). Before going to start the preparation strategy for UPSC, know UPSC Mains Syllabus. You can check Suggested Strategy for Philosophy optional for the UPSC IAS mains exam.

UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject

UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject: Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. The term was probably coined by Pythagoras (c. 570 – c. 495 BC). Philosophical methods include questioning, critical discussion, rational argument, and systematic presentation. With the right approach, it is possible to clear this exam in the first attempt but don’t get depressed if you fail.

• know your UPSC Civil Services Exam syllabus
• Select Best Reference Books
• Prepare a Study plan
• Prepare own Preparation Notes
• Practice Previous Question Papers
• Practice few Mock Test Papers

Why Philosophy optional?

Philosophy has the shortest syllabus than that of other subjects. It is a scoring optional. The entire syllabus can be completed in just two and a half months. Availability of good coaching centers and study materials. The second paper is relatively open-ended. It involves topics that can be answered in the exam even with general knowledge. Current affairs do not play any part in this subject. This should come as quite a relief to aspirants. Studying philosophy is especially helpful in the ethics paper. A lot of good study material is available for philosophy.

UPSC Preparation Tips

UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject: UPSC Aspirants should follow exam tips to write the exam. Preparation tips are needed for any exam. UPSC exam should be conducted once in every year. Planning and hard work are very important to face any competitive exam. Below are some of the tips for preparation. The Paper I of Philosophy Optional paper is which is like Indian and Western philosophy. But Paper-II of Philosophy optional is more general that is about political science, sociology.

Step 1: Know UPSC Philosophy syllabus

In the previous article, we’ve provided UPSC Mains Philosophy Syllabus. You can check and find what are the applicable topics and chapter for UPSC IAS Mains Exam.

Check– UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 – IAS Mains Optional Subjects

Step 2: Select Best Reference Books for UPSC Philosophy

To prepare UPSC Philosophy Optional Subject, UPSC aspirants should prepare some reference books. We’ve already provided UPSC Reference Books for All optional papers. You can check our best-recommended books for the IAS exam at the given link below. The suggested books are included in optional and language Subjects.

Check – UPSC Mains Philosophy Reference Books

Recommended books for Philosophy:

• An Introduction to Indian Philosophy- S Chatterjee
• A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy- C Sharma
• A History of Philosophy-Frank Thilly
• A Critical History of Western Philosophy- Y Masih
• Contemporary Western Philosophy- Dr. B.K. Lal
• An Introduction to Political Theory by O P Gauba
• Introduction to Religious Philosophy By Y Masih
• Philosophy of Religion by John H. Hick

Step 3: Prepare a Study Plan

The study plan is very important for every exam preparation. It plays a key role in the success of getting a good score in the UPSC exam.  Prepare a study plan for the UPSC exam. Make a monthly plan, weekly plan and daily schedule to prepare UPSC Philosophy 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.

UPSC Philosophy Preparation Plan for 3 months

If you have 3 months of preparation time for the UPSC Mains exam, You can prepare 8-9 hours per day.

Step 4: Prepare UPSC Philosophy Important Topics

Philosophy Paper I and Paper II Important Topics

There are two sections in the paper I: Indian and Western philosophy. Indian philosophy has different schools of thought/philosophy such as Samkhya, Yoga, Nyasaa, Vedanta, etc. You will also have to study Indian thinkers like Buddha, Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Mahavira Jaina, etc., Paper I is purely conceptual and there is no as such applied part. Aspirants cannot write their own philosophy. Paper-II is more general. Here, you should try to find out the philosophy behind issues.

For instance, you should know the difference between political science, sociology and socio-politico philosophy. Two sections of paper II: ‘socio-politico philosophy’ and ‘philosophy of religion’. As you know the marks of the optional paper are crucial to deciding your ranking in the final list, you to have to perform exceptionally well in the paper of your choice. Since the rest of the papers are compulsory for all, its only the optional paper that can make or break your fortune. So don’t try to do selective reading and gamble, as there is only one optional paper now.

Final Step: Prepare UPSC Philosophy Previous Question Papers & Practice papers

UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject: Download UPSC Mains Philosophy Question Papers. We’ve provided UPSC mains Philosophy Previous Question papers for download in PDF format.

Click Here: UPSC Mains Philosophy Question Papers Download in pdf

Who should opt for Philosophy?

From the inception of the UPSC Examination, it has been one of the most scoring subjects in the UPSC IAS Mains Exam. It has given spectacular results. Among the humanities subjects, it has the potentiality of scoring good marks. Philosophy is one of the optional subjects offered by the UPSC in the civil services mains exam. It is increasingly becoming popular among IAS aspirants for a variety of reasons. Philosophy features as many toppers’ optional subjects regularly. It can be opted by candidates from virtually any academic background.

How much time does it take to prepare?

UPSC Mains Philosophy Optional Subject: 4-5 months, if you study Philosophy 12-15 hours per week. This should be enough. Also, it depends on how much can you recall your graduation concepts.

Ideally, aspirants need 4-5 months to complete the optional subject solely. Here we are giving the best suitable strategies for Philosophy optional for the UPSC IAS Mains Exam.

• Aspirants should have an exhaustive knowledge about the syllabus of Philosophy optional.
• Candidates should know the basic concept of Philosophy to tackle Paper-II.
• Make short notes, flowchart and diagram will preparing. These short notes will help in revision time.
• Aspirants should guarantee that they are emphasizing sustainability and economic dimensions also.
• Get conceptual clarity on the ideals and prepare yourselves for a lot of writing practice.
• The essential part of UPSC IAS Exam preparation is solving the previous year’s UPSC Mains questions papers. Philosophy also aspirants should go through the Previous year question paper to extract an idea about exam patterns, trends, etc.

This article titled “How to Prepare UPSC Philosophy Optional subject 2024 – Study Strategy – Suggested by Toppers ” gives detailed information about the tips for the preparation of the UPSC 2024 (यूपीएससी मेन्स फिलॉसफी सब्जेक्ट) exam for all optional papers. Additional information like Reference books for UPSC Mains, IAS Previous question papers are also given above. Students should follow those tips and prepare well for the exam and download the links for more information about UPSC.