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Which BA is best for UPSC aspirants?

Blog Date
January 22,
2025

The Union Public Service Commission, UPSC, is one of the most competitive exams in India for various governmental posts, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The UPSC exam is a pillar for anyone who wants to work in public service; it demands students to possess analytical prowess, general knowledge, and mastery in a lot of subjects across the board. Several Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs, from arts and humanities to science and commerce, are good pathways for UPSC. Let us explore these BA options for UPSC preparation in this blog.

A complete list of BA subjects: Specializations, syllabus and more

Best BA course for UPSC

Choosing the right BA degree is a good starting point for an aspiring IAS officer since this degree is designed to align directly with the UPSC curriculum. Here are some of the most popular BA programs that not only build relevant knowledge but also enhance analytical abilities beneficial for the UPSC exam:

  1. BA in Political Science
  • Political science deals with themes of governance, international relations, public administration, and dynamics of Indian politics, which are incorporated into the General Studies subject and optional syllabi of UPSC.
  • This degree provides students with knowledge in political theory, government running, and fundamental ideologies, which are important for UPSC.
  1. BA in History
  • This program focuses on ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history and assists candidates in understanding the historical Indian background.
  • It helps students develop their historical time perspective to answer questions on Indian heritage and world history in the UPSC syllabus.
  1. BA in Economics
  • Economics offers information on the structure of the Indian economy, national and international policies, development frameworks, and budget planning.
  • Economic development, budgeting, and statistics are part of UPSC exams, so having a degree in this field might prove beneficial, especially when the student decides to take up Economics as an optional subject.
  1. BA in Geography
  • Geography is part of General Studies as well as an optional subject of the UPSC civil services examination.
  • This degree involves physical and human geography, which is useful in answering questions on world and Indian geography and climate, which are all important UPSC areas.
  1. BA in Sociology
  • Sociology is the study of social institutions and cultural and societal issues.
  • Subjects involving population analysis, social organizations, and emerging questions like poverty levels or urbanization draw a close resemblance to the UPSC General Studies and essay sections.
  1. BA in Public Administration
  • Public administration examines the processes through which governments are run, decisions and actions are made and implemented, and problems are solved or prevented.
  • Since public administration is applicable to government agency operations, it may prove useful to students who wish to join the civil service as administrators.

Eligibility of UPSC exams

UPSC Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit21 to 32 years
Age RelaxationOBC – 3 yearsSC/ST – 5 years
Minimum Educational QualificationGraduation
Number of AttemptsGeneral/EWS – 6OBC/PwBD – 9SC/ST – unlimited
NationalityIndian

UPSC qualification

  • Educational: A degree from a recognized university
  • Final-year Candidates: Eligible for Prelims but must prove qualification for Mains
  • Professionals with Govt.-recognized qualifications: Eligible
  • Medical Students (MBBS final year): Eligible if they submit course completion proof

UPSC nationality criteria

  • IAS, IPS, IFS: Indian citizen
  • Other Services: Indian citizens or specific categories from Nepal, Bhutan, or certain other countries intending to settle in India

UPSC attempt limits

  • General Category: 6 attempts until 32 years
  • OBC: 9 attempts until 35 years
  • SC/ST: Unlimited until 37 years
  • PwBD: 9 attempts until 42 years
  • EWS: 6 attempts until 32 years

Restrictions on applying for UPSC exam

  • IAS/IFS Officers: Cannot reappear once appointed
  • IPS Officers: Cannot select IPS if already appointed

UPSC physical eligibility

  • Physical Fitness: Necessary for roles like IAS and IPS
  • Medical Test: Required for successful CSE candidates
  • Physical Standards: Height, weight, and chest measurements for IPS and certain other services as per UPSC guidelines

Choosing the right BA course for UPSC

Interest is the first condition when selecting a BA specialization; then comes the degree curriculum’s compatibility with the UPSC syllabus. A program that teaches overlapping BA subjects for UPSC success should be preferred, as it offers a competitive advantage when studying for the UPSC.

To make the right decision on which optional subjects to go for in UPSC, you have to find out which of the optional subjects are similar to the BA course that you have chosen. For example, Political Science, History, Geography, and Sociology are popular BA streams suited for UPSC. Based on your interest and each subject’s curriculum and relevance in UPSC, you can opt for any area of your choice.

UPSC toppers with BA degree

TopperYearDegree
Iqbal Dhaliwal1995BA Economics
Mona Pruthi2005BA Economics
Tina Dabi2015BA Political Science
Shruti Sharma2021BA History

Is an online degree valid for UPSC?

Yes, online degrees are valid for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, provided the degree is awarded by a university recognized by the UGC (University Grants Commission) and is obtained as per the rules laid down by the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) or other relevant regulatory bodies.

The following are the criteria for online degrees to be valid for UPSC-

  1. Recognition of the institution:
    The online degree must be from a recognized institution approved by the UGC for offering online or distance education.
  2. Minimum educational qualification for UPSC:
    Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Online or regular mode doesn’t matter as long as the university is recognized.
  3. Verification:
    During document verification in later stages of the selection process, the degree certificate and university recognition will be scrutinized. Ensure that your degree and the mode of study comply with the eligibility norms.

Pursue online BA from SMU while you prepare for UPSC

The online Bachelor of Arts (BA) offered at Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) is a program that aims to offer learners core knowledge in English, Sociology, and Political Science. This program is fully online and UGC-entitled, and SMU has a NAAC A+ accreditation. This means the course curriculum and delivery method meet national educational standards.

The course ensures students get a quality education similar to that provided in the traditional offline mode. By the end of the online BA, students become experts in the specialization field. It makes them well-equipped to handle various careers that require decision-making, the ability to work well with people, and good communication skills.

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA) with combination of English, Sociology, and Political Science
  • Institution: Sikkim Manipal University (SMU)
  • Accreditation: UGC-entitled, NAAC A+
  • Duration: 36 months
  • Eligibility: 10+2
  • Fee: INR 13,500 per semester (Total INR 81,000); EMI starts at INR 2,083/month

Conclusion

Selecting the correct BA degree can be one of the first and most significant moves to UPSC as it provides candidates with knowledge of areas that are similar to the UPSC syllabus. Given that the UPSC is a professional examination, programs such as SMU’s online BA allow aspirants to further their education while preparing for the test and, in the long run, their careers.

Disclaimer

Information related to companies and external organizations is based on secondary research or the opinion of individual authors and must not be interpreted as the official information shared by the concerned organization.


Additionally, information like fee, eligibility, scholarships, finance options etc. on offerings and programs listed on Online Manipal may change as per the discretion of respective universities so please refer to the respective program page for latest information. Any information provided in blogs is not binding and cannot be taken as final.

  • TAGS
  • bachelor of arts
  • Online Bachelor of Arts
  • online degree
  • UPSC

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