Anthropology or Pub Ad. which is better optional for UPSC CSE

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Anthropology vs Public Administration Comparison

23 Apr Anthropology or Pub Ad. which is better optional for UPSC CSE

Posted at 23 Apr 2025 in Anthropology, Anthropology Optional Coaching Online, Optional Subjects, Public Administration Optional Coaching Online by
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Anthropology or Public Administration: Which Optional Subject is Better for UPSC CSE?

When it comes to the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), the choice of optional subject often becomes the deciding factor for success in the Mains exam. With 500 marks allocated to the optional subject (250 marks each for Paper I and II), selecting the right optional can significantly impact your overall performance and final rank.

Two popular choices among UPSC aspirants are Anthropology and Public Administration (PubAd). Both subjects have their unique advantages and have produced several successful candidates over the years. But the big question remains — which one is better and more scoring for UPSC CSE?

This article provides a detailed comparison between Anthropology and Public Administration optionals based on syllabus, scoring potential, overlap with GS papers, time investment, and expert recommendations.

1. Understanding the Nature of the Subjects

Anthropology is the scientific study of human evolution, cultural development, biological diversity, and tribal communities. It blends natural sciences with social sciences and is known for being diagram-rich and factual in nature. Best Anthropology optional teacher for upsc

Public Administration focuses on governance, administration theories, organizational behavior, public policy, and the Indian administrative system. It is highly relevant for those interested in civil services and governance-related issues. Best pub ad optional teacher  for UPSC

2. Syllabus Structure and Preparation Time

Anthropology Syllabus (UPSC):

  • Paper I: General Anthropology – Physical Anthropology, Socio-cultural Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, Linguistics
  • Paper II: Indian Anthropology – Tribal Studies, Welfare Programs, Development Issues, Constitutional Provisions

Public Administration Syllabus (UPSC):

  • Paper I: Administrative Theories, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Financial Administration
  • Paper II: Indian Administration – Governance, Accountability, Administrative Reforms, Disaster Management, Law and Order

Preparation Time:

  • Anthropology: 3-4 months with consistent revision and diagram practice.
  • Public Administration: 4-6 months due to its analytical and theory-based approach.

✅ Verdict: Anthropology has a more concise and static syllabus, making it quicker to complete and easier to revise.

3. Scoring Potential and Past Trends

Over the past few years, Anthropology has been considered one of the highest-scoring optionals. Many candidates, including toppers like Anudeep Durishetty (AIR 1, 2017), have scored 270+ marks due to the subject’s static nature and diagram-friendly answers.

Public Administration was once considered the most popular optional, but its scoring consistency has declined due to changing paper patterns and increasing analytical demands. However, aspirants with strong writing skills and deep conceptual clarity still perform well.

As per the best Anthropology optional coaching, Anthropology students with proper answer writing and diagram practice consistently secure higher marks.

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4. Overlap with General Studies (GS) and Essay Paper

Anthropology Overlap:

  • GS Paper I: Indian Society, Tribal Issues, Culture
  • GS Paper II: Welfare Schemes for Tribals
  • GS Paper IV: Ethics, Human Values, Social Justice
  • Essay: Topics related to human development, tribal policies, cultural diversity

Public Administration Overlap:

  • GS Paper II: Governance, Public Policy, Accountability, Civil Services Reforms
  • GS Paper IV: Ethics in Public Administration, Integrity, Work Culture, Governance
  • Essay: Governance, democracy, and administrative reforms

? Verdict: Public Administration has a stronger overlap with GS II and Ethics, while Anthropology offers good coverage of GS I and society-related topics.

5. Answer Writing Approach and Evaluation

Anthropology Answers:

  • Factual and objective writing style.
  • Use of diagrams, flowcharts, tribal case studies.
  • Easy to enrich answers with visual content.

Public Administration Answers:

  • Theory-based, analytical answers.
  • Use of examples from current affairs, committee reports, ARC recommendations.
  • Requires integration of GS knowledge and case studies.

✅ Verdict: Anthropology allows for quicker writing with structured presentation, while PubAd demands strong articulation and analysis.

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6. Background Suitability

Anthropology: Suitable for candidates from science, engineering, medical, and humanities backgrounds. Biology graduates have an added advantage.

Public Administration: Best suited for aspirants interested in governance, administration, and policy-making. Humanities and law graduates may find it more familiar.

7. Coaching and Mentorship Availability

Both subjects have good mentorship and study material availability.

For **Anthropology**, mentors like Dr. Huma Hassan at PlutusIAS are known for providing effective test series and guidance.

For **Public Administration**, several reputed teachers provide structured programs, but success depends heavily on personal answer writing improvement.

Explore the best Public Administration optional coaching for recommended institutes.

8. Time Management and Revision Strategy

Anthropology: Easier to revise due to a static syllabus. Focus on diagrams and case study integration during revision.

Public Administration: Requires regular revision of theories, thinkers, current examples, and practice of case-based answers.

9. Previous Year Paper Trends and Analysis

Reviewing previous year papers helps understand the exam trends and difficulty level. Visit the UPSC official previous year question paper segment to analyze Anthropology and Public Administration papers.

10. Final Verdict: Which Optional is Better?

| Criteria | Anthropology | Public Administration |
|——————————–|—————————————–|——————————————-|
| Syllabus Size | Concise, static | Moderate, theory-based |
| Scoring Potential | High, consistent (270+ achievable) | Moderate, fluctuating with analysis depth |
| GS and Essay Overlap | GS I, II, IV, Essay | Strong overlap with GS II, Ethics, Essay |
| Answer Writing Style | Factual, diagram-based | Analytical, theory-oriented |
| Background Suitability | Science, humanities, engineering | Humanities, law, governance-focused |
| Preparation Time | 3-4 months with revisions | 4-6 months with writing practice |

✅ **Conclusion:**
– **Choose Anthropology** if you prefer concise syllabus, scoring predictability, diagram-based answers, and limited current affairs dependency.
– **Choose Public Administration** if you are passionate about governance, administration, and are confident in analytical writing and integrating current affairs.

Success in UPSC depends on your interest, preparation strategy, and consistent effort, irrespective of the optional you choose.

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