Aspirants
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat's record with the optional across three examinations, and his published strategy and booklist.
Record with the Optional
| Examination | Optional(s) | Optional marks | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| J&K Combined Competitive Examination 2010 | Public Administration; Veterinary Science | 425 / 600 | Rank 22 |
| Indian Forest Service Examination 2012 | Zoology; Veterinary Science | 198 / 400 | AIR 23 |
| Civil Services Examination 2016 | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | 304 / 500 | AIR 10 |
Marks as stated in his first-person essays for Insights IAS (2017, 2018) and the UPSC final marks list.
His Published Strategy
Dr Bhat's approach, set out in his 2018 essay, rests on the standard veterinary curriculum rather than coaching material: reading the prescribed textbooks for each paper, preparing concise notes topic by topic against the UPSC syllabus, practising answer-writing with previous years' questions, and revising the notes rather than the books in the final months. He is direct about material: "Stop searching for so-called IAS/IFS veterinary material. It does not exist anywhere."
- Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry: Main Examination strategy and booklist
- Topper's Strategy: Rank 10 with Veterinary Science, in the fourth attempt
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science a good optional for UPSC?
It is a specialised optional suited to graduates in veterinary science, animal husbandry and allied fields. Dr Bilal Bhat scored 304 out of 500 with it in the Civil Services Examination 2016 (All-India Rank 10), and had earlier used Veterinary Science as an optional in the J&K KAS examination (2010) and the Indian Forest Service examination (2012).
Is there special coaching material for the AH&VS optional?
In his published strategy Dr Bhat advises against searching for special 'IAS/IFS veterinary material', which he says does not exist; standard veterinary textbooks and self-made notes covering the syllabus are sufficient.
Where is Dr Bilal Bhat's AH&VS booklist?
In his essay 'Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry IAS Mains Strategy', published by Insights IAS on 24 June 2018, linked on this page.