We face innumerable queries regarding the choice of Optional for UPSC Mains. It's a common folly to choose the optional quite late in the day - and by then it assumes Himalayan proportions ! However, going by the change in syllabus of General Studies in Mains exams, it is quite prudent now to choose HISTORY as an optional subject as it has become 'the' optional ! In GS I, one has to study Indian National Movement, India after independence, World History and Indian Culture [a large part of Medieval & Ancient India]. Needless to mention the fact that the full Indian history is a part of the Prelims GS paper too.
In this context, please have a look what some of our members had to say!
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"Initially when I opted for History as an Optional Subject, I was not very sure about it. The part that worried me was mugging up of dates & events. However a year into it & classes at Trademark have fine-tuned my perspective. Now I know History is not mere facts, rather its the exquisite study from an unbiased perspective of the tides of time that have unmade & made the world as we know it now. It was foolish of me to expect History as a finite subject. Now I realize, History as a subject is continuous & ever evolving. As my optional subject, I am really in love with it.
Attending the History classes at Trademark have enriched my understanding. The best part is me being in love with the subject i loathed in my school days. Classes at Trademark are the best History classes I have ever had. Its just because of these classes that I delved deeper into the subject, I started reading books on World History (a thing I had never done before), I tried to read about characters like Napoleon, Mussolini and Hitler.
Opting for History as my Optional Subject sure has given me a lot of knowledge & made me far less ignorant than I was a year before."
- Ms Nilanjana Guha
"History as an optional subject is scoring and very interesting for a student to study.
As far as teaching of history in Trademark is concerned then I personally don't think there is a better place to study History other than trademark.
Faculty here teaches extremely well ending up getting the most uninteresting topic to be extremely interesting and keeps us hooked to the sessions that and thus helping every student be a part of the discussion.
Even people who do not belong to Arts background generate immediate interest towards the subject.
I would recommend any and every student who plans to take up history as optional for upsc to come and study in Trademark."
- Ms Madhurima Sengupta
"History is probably the best optional as it helps in writing any question of not only history but economics,constitution,geography,culture and social welfare. It also helps in Prelims as 10 to 11 questions directly comes from history.
No doubt teaching of History at Trademark is best in West Bengal and without much doubt can say in India also.
The way History is taught at Trademark can not be described in words.The rational,logical and emotional factors of human beings which actually creates history is taught here. As E.H.Carr said in "What is history",read the historian before reading history,i.e. what we learnt here."
- Mr Sambuddha Mandal
"Studying History is fun. What I felt earlier that History is nothing but facts, but after one year of studying at Trademark what I understand is that History is every thing 'but' facts. Whether you crack UPSC or not, but studying for UPSC itself is a memorable journey. Journey becomes experience and fun while your companion is great. History is the companion.
Teaching of History at Trademark is fabulous. Had I got this sort of guidance all through my school life I would have definitely been a better student and moreover a better individual. Then, I would have rather taken up humanities than engineering!"
- Mr Biprashis Das
"In my opinion, history is among few subjects which UPSC itself stresses upon probably due to its wider acceptability in public affairs.History is exciting and a reliable subject for UPSC as it fetches good marks in optional papers. It also has a wide advantage in General Studies for Mains as well as Prelims. Almost all the syllabus of optional paper covers GS paper 1. Standard materials are also easily available.
Trademark has taken the growing challenge posed by UPSC and widened scope of History as an optional subject. Trademark gives right direction and required guidance to the aspirants who take History as the optional paper.Meticulous guidance and personal effort by the Faculty at Trademark is enough to score well in history."
- Mr Chandan Sen
"History as an optional subject in UPSC CSE is a very good choice.In prelims we have to study History along with other subjects.In main GS paper-I is mainly composed of History.In essay writing also History is needed.And as an optinal subject it can be said that if you love studying History then it is a very good subject. Materials are easily available.And at last it can be said that if History as an optional subject can't make u a prince it wont make you a pauper either.
History is very well taught at Trademark. Teachers are very well versed in the subject. And it is taught according to UPSC requirements."
- Mr Tuhin Shubhra Hira
"Yea, I have chosen History as my optional subject in UPSC & WBCS both, and also taking the preparation of that subject under the supervision of Trademark IAS. I hope, I would finish my preparation fully as per the guidance of Trademark"
- Mr Nilay Sengupta
