Selecting an optional subject for the UPSC civil services mains exam is a big decision for IAS aspirants. Many aspirants break their heads trying to figure out ‘which is the best optional?’ This is indeed a big decision since the optional subject counts for 500 marks in the final tally. But, it needn’t be a head-scratching quandary. You should spend more time studying! If you just follow a few steps, you can easily decide on your optional subject.
A lot of candidates search for the optional subjects of toppers in a bid to ease their decision-making process. Since the toppers each year showcase an eclectic mix of optional subjects, we are not sure how far this strategy (of going by the toppers’ optional) helps. In any case, we at BYJU’S have published for your benefit several articles featuring the optional subjects of the toppers. Now, a favourite among IAS aspirants is Geography. In this article, you will read about the UPSC toppers with Geography optional subject.
The UPSC result 2018 was declared on April 5, 2019 and the all-India rank three holder Junaid Ahmed had Geography as his optional subject, even though he is an electronics engineer by training. Two people in the UPSC 2017 top ten had Geography as their optional and in 2016 UPSC civil services, Geography figured three times in the top 20 rank-list.
The highest-ranked with Geography optional was rank 4 holder Saumya Pandey. Pandey achieved this feat in her maiden attempt itself, and what’s more, she being an engineer by training doesn’t have a background in Geography.
The following table gives you a list of all IAS toppers (AIR – 1) from 1998 onwards.
UPSC Toppers with Geography Optional
| Year | Name | Optional Subject | Home State | Service Opted |
| 1998 | Devesh Kumar | Chemistry & Geography | Bihar | IAS |
| 2002 | Alok Ranjan Jha | Geography | Bihar | IFS |
| 2005 | S Nagarajan | Geography & Sociology | Tamil Nadu | IAS |
| 2014 | Ira Singhal | Geography | Delhi | IAS |
The most recent case of an IAS topper (AIR 1) with Geography optional was in 2014 when Ira Singhal topped the UPSC civil services. Singhal also doesn’t have Geography as her background.
Geography Optional Toppers
| Year | Name | Rank |
| 2018 | Junaid Ahmed | 3 |
| 2017 | Pratham Kaushik | 5 |
| 2017 | Ayush Sinha | 7 |
| 2016 | Saumya Pandey | 4 |
| 2016 | Shweta Chauhan | 8 |
| 2016 | Athul J | 13 |
| 2014 | Ira Singhal | 1 |
| 2014 | Suharsha Bhagat | 5 |
| 2014 | Charusree Thiagarajan | 6 |
| 2014 | Aditya Uppal | 19 |
| 2013 | Chanchal Rana | 7 |
| 2012 | Mangesh Kumar | 4 |
| 2011 | Abhiram G Sankar | 4 |
| 2011 | Pulkit Khare | 5 |
| 2011 | Amit Khatri | 11 |
| 2011 | Vinay Pratap Singh | 14 |
| 2011 | Rahul Ashok Rekhawar | 15 |
| 2011 | Hephsiba Rani Korlapati | 20 |
| 2011 | V S Choudary Kolasani | 26 |
| 2011 | Haulianlal Guite | 33 |
| 2011 | Shiv Sahay Awasthi | 34 |
| 2010 | Iva Sahay | 3 |
| 2010 | Tarun Rathi | 19 |
| 2010 | Kumar Prashant | 26 |
| 2010 | Anurag Chaudhary | 34 |
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