UPSC Maths Optional - Syllabus & Strategy

Choosing an optional is a task in itself! Both the papers together account for 500/1750 marks in UPSC Main Examination. Hence, it should be chosen with utmost diligence. As a general rule of thumb, an optional subject should be a subject of your interest. Maths is one of the popular optional subjects for UPSC Main Examination. However, only the aspirants who have studied this subject their graduation in Mathematics should consider opting it.

Some of the benefits of taking up Maths optional include:

  • Static Syllabus: UPSC Maths Optional has a static syllabus. If you’ve studied this subject in your graduation, you’ll just need to brush up the concepts along with revision. The syllabus is also not linked to current affairs, so you’ll not have to constantly update your notes for revision.
  • Objective hence scoring: Maths, being an objective subject, is extremely scoring. There is just one correct answer, hence, the scope of comparison is less. Since the questions are not subjective or opinion based but factual it is not up to the examiner to give marks if content and presentation are both up to the mark.
  • Memorization is not needed: You obviously will need to memorize the theorems and formulas, but overall, the subject is more logic-based and hence, you will not have to memorize too much information.

Syllabus For UPSC Maths Optional

UPSC Maths Optional Syllabus - Paper 1

Linear Algebra Vector spaces over R and C, linear dependence and independence, subspaces, bases, dimensions, Linear transformations, rank and nullity, matrix of a linear transformation. Algebra of Matrices; Row and column reduction, Echelon form, congruence’s and similarity; Rank of a matrix; Inverse of a matrix; Solution of system of linear equations; Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, characteristic polynomial, Cayley-Hamilton theorem, Symmetric, skew-symmetric, Hermitian, skew-Hermitian, orthogonal and unitary matrices and their eigenvalues.
Calculus Real numbers, functions of a real variable, limits, continuity, differentiability, mean-value theorem, Taylor’s theorem with remainders, indeterminate forms, maxima and minima, asymptotes; Curve tracing; Functions of two or three variables; Limits, continuity, partial derivatives, maxima and minima, Lagrange’s method of multipliers, Jacobian. Riemann’s definition of definite integrals; Indefinite integrals; Infinite and improper integral; Double and triple integrals (evaluation techniques only); Areas, surface and volumes.
Analytic Geometry Cartesian and polar coordinates in three dimensions, second degree equations in three variables, reduction to Canonical forms; straight lines, shortest distance between two skew lines, Plane, sphere, cone, cylinder, paraboloid, ellipsoid, hyperboloid of one and two sheets and their properties.
Ordinary Differential Equations Formulation of differential equations; Equations of first order and first degree, integrating factor; Orthogonal trajectory; Equations of first order but not of first degree, Clairaut’s equation, singular solution. Second and higher order liner equations with constant coefficients, complementary function, particular integral and general solution. Section order linear equations with variable coefficients, Euler-Cauchy equation; Determination of complete solution when one solution is known using method of variation of parameters. Laplace and Inverse Laplace transforms and their properties, Laplace transforms of elementary functions. Application to initial value problems for 2nd order linear equations with constant coefficients.
Dynamics and Statics Rectilinear motion, simple harmonic motion, motion in a plane, projectiles; Constrained motion; Work and energy, conservation of energy; Kepler’s laws, orbits under central forces. Equilibrium of a system of particles; Work and potential energy, friction, Common catenary; Principle of virtual work; Stability of equilibrium, equilibrium of forces in three dimensions.
Vector Analysis Scalar and vector fields, differentiation of vector field of a scalar variable; Gradient, divergence and curl in cartesian and cylindrical coordinates; Higher order derivatives; Vector identities and vector equation. Application to geometry: Curves in space, curvature and torsion; Serret-Furenet's formulae. Gauss and Stokes’ theorems, Green's identities.

UPSC Maths Optional Syllabus - Paper 2

Algebra Groups, subgroups, cyclic groups, cosets, Lagrange’s Theorem, normal subgroups, quotient groups, homomorphism of groups, basic isomorphism theorems, permutation groups, Cayley’s theorem. Rings, subrings and ideals, homomorphisms of rings; Integral domains, principal ideal domains, Euclidean domains and unique factorization domains; Fields, quotient fields.
Real Analysis Real number system as an ordered field with least upper bound property; Sequences, limit of a sequence, Cauchy sequence, completeness of real line; Series and its convergence, absolute and conditional convergence of series of real and complex terms, rearrangement of series. Continuity and uniform continuity of functions, properties of continuous functions on compact sets. Riemann integral, improper integrals; Fundamental theorems of integral calculus. Uniform convergence, continuity, differentiability and integrability for sequences and series of functions; Partial derivatives of functions of several (two or three) variables, maxima and minima.
Complex Analysis Analytic function, Cauchy-Riemann equations, Cauchy's theorem, Cauchy's integral formula, power series, representation of an analytic function, Taylor’s series; Singularities; Laurent’s series; Cauchy’s residue theorem; Contour integration.
Linear Programming Linear programming problems, basic solution, basic feasible solution and optimal solution; Graphical method and simplex method of solutions; Duality. Transportation and assignment problems.
Partial Differential Equations: Family of surfaces in three dimensions and formulation of partial differential equations; Solution of quasilinear partial differential equations of the first order, Cauchy’s method of characteristics; Linear partial differential equations of the second order with constant coefficients, canonical form; Equation of a vibrating string, heat equation, Laplace equation and their solutions.
Numerical Analysis and Computer Programming Numerical methods: Solution of algebraic and transcendental equations of one variable by bisection, Regula-Falsi and Newton-Raphson methods, solution of system of linear equations by Gaussian Elimination and Gauss-Jorden (direct), Gauss-Seidel (iterative) methods. Newton’s (forward and backward) and interpolation, Lagrange’s interpolation. Numerical integration: Trapezoidal rule, Simpson’s rule, Gaussian quadrature formula. Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations: Eular and Runga Kutta methods. Computer Programming: Binary system; Arithmetic and logical operations on numbers; Octal and Hexadecimal Systems; Conversion to and from decimal Systems; Algebra of binary numbers. Elements of computer systems and concept of memory; Basic logic gates and truth tables, Boolean algebra, normal forms. Representation of unsigned integers, signed integers and reals, double precision reals and long integers. Algorithms and flow charts for solving numerical analysis problems.
Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics Generalised coordinates; D’Alembert’s principle and Lagrange’s equations; Hamilton equations; Moment of inertia; Motion of rigid bodies in two dimensions. Equation of continuity; Euler’s equation of motion for inviscid flow; Stream-lines, path of a particle; Potential flow; Two-dimensional and axisymmetric motion; Sources and sinks, vortex motion; Navier-Stokes equation for a viscous fluid.

Booklist for UPSC Maths Optional

Paper-1

LINEAR ALGEBRA

  • SCHAUM SERIES - Seymour Lipschutz 

  • LINEAR ALGEBRA - Hoffman and Kunze 

CALCULUS

  • MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS - S C Malik and Savita Arora

  • ELEMENTS OF REAL ANALYSIS - Shanti Narayan and M D Raisinghania

ANALYTIC GEOMETRY

  • ANALYTICAL SOLID GEOMETRY - Shanti Narayan and P K Mittal

  • SOLID GEOMETRY - P N Chatterjee

ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS (ODE)

  • ORDINARY AND PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS - M D Raisinghania

DYNAMICS AND STATICS

  • KRISHNA SERIES 

VECTOR ANALYSIS

  • SCHAUM SERIES - Murray R. Spiegel

Paper-2

ALGEBRA 

  • CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT ALGEBRA - Joseph Gallian

REAL ANALYSIS - 

  • SAME AS CALCULUS OF PAPER

COMPLEX ANALYSIS

  • SCHAUM SERIES - Speigel, Lipschitz, Schiller, Spellman

LINEAR PROGRAMMING

  • LINEAR PROGRAMMING AND GAME THEORY - Lakshmishree Bandopadhyay

PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

  • SAME AS ODE OF PAPER 1 

  • ADVANCED DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS - M D Raisinghania 


NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

For Numerical Analysis

  • COMPUTER BASED NUMERICAL AND STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES - M.Goyal

  • NUMERICAL METHODS - Jain, Iyengar and Jain 

For Computer Programming

  • DIGITAL LOGIC AND COMPUTER DESIGN - M. Morris Mano

MECHANICS AND FLUID DYNAMICS

  • KRISHNA SERIES

How to prepare UPSC Maths Optional For Main Exam?

UPSC Maths Optional is a preferred choice of optional for engineering students owing to its objective syllabus. Here’re a few topics that will help you in preparation of UPSC Maths optional:

  • Develop Conceptual Understanding: It is important to develop crystal-clear conceptual understanding for a subject as concept-focused as Maths. Hence, first and foremost, develop a good understanding of each of the topic that is a part of UPSC Maths Optional.
  • Revise Optimally: Secondly, it is important to keep revising whatever you’re studying to retain the information. Hence, allocate fixed time for revision for maximum retention of the information. Practice through the previous year full-length papers and mock tests.
  • Be systematic: Presentation matters a lot in UPSC answer-writing. Hence, crack the art of answer-writing for your optional by glancing through toppers’ answer scripts or getting yours evaluated from the mentors. 
  • Do not cram mathematics: Do not try to cram mathematics, rather focus on building the logical flow of the questions. It will help you in solving all the type of questions that are asked in the exam. 
  • Prepare a formula sheet: Maths is a subject of formulas and theorems. It is essential to learn them to solve the questions. Hence, maintain a separate formula sheet or notebook that is handy. Keep revising it from time to time to ensure that you do not forget any important formula. 
  • Avoid Silly Mistakes: Practice enough to ensure that you’re not doing any silly mistakes while solving the questions. 

This was a complete overview of UPSC Maths Optional Syllabus, Booklist and preparation strategy. If you’re still on the fence about your optional selection, you can check out how to choose UPSC Optional subject in the linked article. 

Career Launcher brings to you comprehensive online courses for UPSC CSE Preparation. You can check out the entire course range in the linked article. Do get in touch with our course counselors for more details on our course deliverables.

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