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 How to prepare for
Zoology optional for
UPSC IAS Mains Exam
WHAT MAKES ZOOLOGY A SCORING SUBJECT?

Zoology is purely a science subject, emerged as a scoring optional in UPSC

IAS Mains and Indian Forest Service Exam as well. Ideally, this subject
cannot be taken by the students from any background. Aspirants must be a
graduate in Zoology, Medicine, Botany, Life Science, Agriculture, Forestry
etc. The students from non- zoology/ science may find this optional as a
difficult one. For scoring well, you need not choose an easy subject, but
shed your sweat and blood on that subject you have chosen. One must be
thorough with the basic fact and concepts. The conceptual clarity, it will help
you to answer an indirect and twisted question as well.
INTENSE READING
The Zoology optional syllabus includes diverse elements. After analyzing, the
various components in the syllabus one must pick out the right books. This
optional paper demands an intense reading.

IMPORTANCE OF SHORT NOTES

Note making is considered as the essential part of UPSC preparation. The
zoology optional subject is loaded with abundant information and figure. To
retain this one has made short and crispy notes during the preparation. Such
short notes will ensure that your answers in the UPSC Main exam are
covered all the points in a balanced manner and absolute.
ANSWER WRITING

Zoology is related to the animal kingdom and this paper gives us a wide
opportunity to express our ideas. The aspirant should frame answer with
necessary diagrammatic and keep your answers less verbose. Citing brief
and brilliant introduction will capture the attention of the evaluator.
Aspirants should give proper, diagrams, in depth and rigorous information
to show your confidence and knowledge in the subject. While choosing the
terminologies also, cite proper words and terms as it contains many
scientific terms. Try to establish the relationships by using diagrams and
flowcharts.
FIND THE IMPORTANT TOPICS IN PAPER I AND PAPER II

Identifying the most important and fruitful topic in Zoology Paper I and Paper II will enhance
your preparation. Here we are citing some important topics according to the previous year’s
UPSC trend. Aspirants must cover these areas thoroughly.

➢ Economic Zoology
➢ Invertebrates
➢ Ecology
➢ Biostatistics and Bio-instrumentation
➢ Vertebrate Zoology with comparative anatomy
➢ Evolution
➢ Physiology and Biochemistry
➢ Genetics
➢ Developmental Biology
TIPS FOR ZOOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER 1
Aspirants should pay attention to general essays. They must cover all the
theories and must correlate things from the evolutionary viewpoint. While
studying Economic Zoology, the candidate must focus on topics related to
recent developments in India.
TIPS FOR ZOOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER II
In some areas of zoology Paper II, it is significant to express that what we
know and how we know. While answering the zoology optional Paper II,
one should not forget to highlight the human aspects.
ESSENTIAL BOOKS
Aspirants should pick out easy and basic books to build a foundation. This
will help you to conceptual clarity. After that, one can pick out detailed
references books to read. Aspirants should cover the entire syllabus with
the list of books recommended below.

Important Books for Zoology Optional

➢ A Dictionary of Entomology – Leftwich
➢ Biochemistry – Harper, Lehninger, Stryer, Rao
➢ Genetics – P.K. Gupta, Gardner, Ahluwalia, Vir Bala Rastogi
➢ Physiology – H.R. Singh
➢ Animal physiology – H.R. Singh, Vander
➢ Embryology – Balinsky, A.K. Berry, Vir Bala Rastogi
➢ Ethology – Reena Mathur, Magazines like Science Reporter, Nature etc.
➢ Ecology – P.D. Sharma, Odum, Vir Bala Rastogi and M.S. Jayaraj, Kotpal and Bali
➢ Evolution – Vir Bala Rastogi
➢ Organic evolution – Veer Bala Rastogi
➢ Cell and Molecular Biology – De Robertis, C.B. Powar
➢ Invertebrates – R.L. Kotpal, Nigam, Jordan
➢ Vertebrates – R.L. Kotpal, Nigam, Jordan and Varma
➢ Comparative anatomy of vertebrate zoology – Kent
➢ General zoology: Tracy Irwin Storer, Robert L. Usinger
➢ Economic Zoology – Shukla and Upadhaya, Kotpal Series, Kotpal- Khetrapal –
Agarwal