Which degree course is best for IAS after 12th science

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Updated on Nov 27, 2025 13:06 IST

How to get away with the question on which degree course is best for IAS after 12th science? The simple answer to this is what subjects you like the most to read about and subjects where one already has a strong foundation. In this Shiksha article, we will discuss the best degree for IAS after 12th science, steps for IAS preparation after 12th, IAS eligibility after 12th, and more.

The chances of cracking the civil service competitive exam take more than hard work. It demands commitment, social understanding, time management, presence of mind, mental and physical well-being and perseverance. Those who prepare with full dedication for civil service, even if they do not clear their exam, but if they prepare well, no matter which profession they enter into, they will do well.

Looking at some of the optional subjects for UPSC mains, we find Geography, Sociology, Public Administration, and History as some of the most popular choices amongst civil aspirants. Due to the UPSC syllabus overlap with graduation, Geography is the most popular optional subject in the UPSC Main. One of the most popular courses is the BA in political sciences for IAS.

Table of contents

Why is choosing the best degree for IAS after 12th Science important?
What are some of the best Graduation Options for IAS?
Top 5 Best Degrees for IAS after 12th Science
What are the Pros and Cons of the Science Stream for IAS?
5 Tips to Prepare Well for IAS

Why is choosing the best degree for IAS after 12th Science important?

Here are some of the major points for those who are searching for the answer to which degree course is best for IAS after 12th science.

It is better to understand that what subjects you choose for your degree later become your optional subjects during UPSC preparation.
It can improve your knowledge regarding the optional subject because you have already read about it during your graduation.
Time plays an important role during UPSC preparation, and therefore, choosing the graduation subject as your optional subject can save a lot of time.
It can improve your understanding of the General Science paper.
It can improve your preparation for the UPSC Exam and reduce your stress of understanding a subject from the core.

What are some of the best Graduation Options for IAS?

Check out the list given here to know some of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC mains that can be given preference when pursuing a graduation degree.

Top 5 Best Degrees for IAS after 12th Science

Those who are doing IAS preparation after 12th and want to explore some of the most popular graduation courses for UPSC aspirants must check out the top 5 best degrees for civil service preparation.

Humanities: This is one of the most popular amongst UPSC students because subjects include sociology, history and political science.
BA Political Administration: The UPSC syllabus overlap with graduation syllabus of this course, and therefore, this course can be one of the first choices when it comes to graduation courses.
LLB (Law): This degree can help improve the understanding of governance and polity as well.
Science and Engineering background: Students who studied PCM and PCB in their classes 11 and 12 or chose engineering as their graduation course are eligible for the civils preparation.
BA Economics: Those who want to improve their hold on GS and economics should go for this degree.

Why is selecting humanities for IAS helpful?

Some of the major reasons that students who choose humanities for their IAS preparation benefit are that a major part of the questions that are asked in the UPSC come from the humanities subject. Having a strong grip on humanities makes it easier to get good marks in the optional papers. Also, there are so many coaching centres and good study material available to prepare well.

What are the Pros and Cons of the Science Stream for IAS?

Students must understand themselves by looking at the pros and cons of choosing the science stream in classes 11 and 12.

Pros of the Science Stream for IAS	Cons of the Science Stream for IAS
Students who studied PCM and PCB develop strong analytical skills. They are good at problem-solving and thinking logically in various scenarios.	Science subjects are not general in the UPSC syllabus because many questions are asked from humanities such as geography, history and polity.
A science background is beneficial for those who want to pick Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering as their optional subjects.	Students need to invest extra time to prepare well for History, Polity, and Sociology.

5 Tips to Prepare Well for IAS

Check out the following points to understand the points that can be beneficial to improve your overall preparation for IAS.

First, understand which subject is best for IAS, then choose wisely which one you personally love to read.
It is advisable to choose a subject that contains a topic similar to the UPSC syllabus.
Make sure you get the best study material and make your own personal notes to cut the revision time and retain important topics.
Choose subjects that can get you maximum scores in the optional paper.
Try to choose subjects that do not consume too much time.

Hope this article helps future IAS aspirants to make a better decision while choosing the best degree for IAS after 12th science.

About the Author

Ishita Chauhan