Is BA Political Science Worth It for UPSC Preparation?

BA Political Science and UPSC Preparation – Is it the right choice?

Most of the students who start preparing for UPSC have a question in their mind – “Which BA course is best for UPSC?” The most common and practical answer to this question is – BA in Political Science.

What is BA Political Science?

BA Political Science is a three-year undergraduate course in which students study politics, constitution, governance system, international relations and policies in depth. In this course, one gets an opportunity to understand every subject from Indian politics to major events in the world.

The syllabus of this course is something like this:

• Indian Constitution
• Indian Politics and Government
• Political Theory
• International Relations
• Public Policy
• Contemporary World Politics

These are the same subjects that come in UPSC General Studies Paper-I and II.

UPSC and BA Political Science – A Perfect Combination

Now let’s talk about how BA Political Science helps in UPSC preparation.

1. Syllabus Combination

The syllabus of UPSC is very large, but many of the subjects taught in BA Political Science are included in both UPSC Prelims and Mains, such as:

• Indian Constitution and Political System (GS Paper 2)
• International Relations
• Governance System
• Political Theory

Due to this combination, the student does not have to start UPSC studies separately.

2. Benefit in Optional Subject

In UPSC Mains, one has to choose an optional subject. If you have studied Political Science in Graduation, then choosing the same subject for Optional will be very beneficial.

Due to this, you will not have to study a new subject and more attention can be given to the things already prepared.

3. Help in Answer Writing

The quality of answer writing matters the most in UPSC Mains. BA Political Science provides training in writing essay answers. This develops the habit of presenting ideas in a clear form, which is necessary in UPSC.

4. Impression in interview

When you reach the UPSC Personality Test i.e. interview round, then you have a deep understanding of politics and current events. This makes a good impression on the interview board.

For which students is this course right?

• Those who are interested in politics, law, sociology, or government policies
• Those who want to go into administrative services
• Those who enjoy understanding the Constitution and history
• Those who have been dreaming of UPSC since school

Toppers’ advice and examples

Many UPSC toppers have also studied BA Political Science and have chosen this subject as their optional.

Year	Rank	Name	Optional
2021	1	Shruti Sharma	History
2015	1	Tina Dabi	Political Science
2020	4	Yash Jaluka	Economics

Tina Dabi was a student of Political Science and had chosen it as an optional subject. He said that he used his graduation notes to a great extent.

Is Political Science alone enough?

Not at all. Political Science can guide your preparation, but success in UPSC depends on hard work, time management, and continuous practice. Along with BA, you will also have to prepare for current affairs, ethics, and other subjects.

Other BA course options for UPSC

If Political Science is not your first choice, then the other BA courses given below are also considered good for UPSC:

• BA in History
• BA in Geography
• BA in Sociology
• BA in Economics
• BA in Public Administration
• BA in Philosophy

You can choose any of these subjects as optional and understand it in depth during BA.

Conclusion: Is BA Political Science right for UPSC?

If your goal is to pass UPSC and you are interested in politics and governance, then BA Political Science is an excellent option.

This course:

• matches the UPSC syllabus
• gives ease in optional
• strengthens answer writing and reasoning ability
• and develops administrative thinking

But remember that no course can bring success on its own. Hard work, regular practice and smart strategy is the ultimate key.