How to Prepare Zoology Optional Subject for UPSC

It’s better to keep answers diagrammatic and less verbose. Students should also not hesitate in drawing colour diagrams.

Section A

Non-chordata and chordata:

1. Classification should be done thoroughly as it’s given in Barnes’ textbook
2. Pay attention to general essays rather than type studies
3. Always correlate things from an evolutionary viewpoint -Draw as many diagrams and flow charts as possible
4. Students should cover all theories.
5. In chordate description, compare the phyla phylogenetically and anatomically.
6. Comparative anatomy diagrams should be coloured.

Section B

1. The most scoring parts are Economic Zoology, Bio Stats and Bio-Instrumentation.
2. Students need to focus on topics related to developments in India in Economic Zoology.

Tips for Zoology Paper II

Section A

1. To prepare Cell Biology and Genetics, students need to follow the same advice as provided for these two topics in Botany. However, you need to correlate cellular processes with human physiology and human disease conditions.
2. In Genetics, the student should also mention the possible human welfare applications.
3. Peripheral questions are generally not asked.

Section B Biochemistry and Physiology

1. Practical Biochemical pathway with the structural formula of molecules is important.
2. Prepare from medical biochemistry and physiology books.
3. Represent most information through flow charts.
4. Always draw relevant anatomical diagrams.

Development Biology

1. If physiology and biochemistry are prepared thoroughly, then this part can be prepared only for short notes.
2. Colored drawings are a must. Students need to practice them properly.

Booklist for Zoology Optional

1. Cell and Molecular Biology – De Robertis, C.B. Powar
2. Genetics – P.K. Gupta, Gardner, Ahluwalia, Vir Bala Rastogi
3. Invertebrates – R.L. Kotpal, Nigam, Jordan
4. Vertebrates – R.L. Kotpal, Nigam, Jordan and Varma
5. Comparative anatomy of vertebrate zoology – Kent
6. Animal physiology – H.R. Singh, Vander
7. Biochemistry – Harper, Leninger, Stryer, Rao
8. Embryology – Balinsky, A.K. Berry, Vir Bala Rastogi
9. Organic evolution – Veer Bala Rastogi
10. Ecology – P.D. Sharma, Odum, Vir Bala Rastogi and M.S. Jayaraj, Kotpal and Bali
11. Economic Zoology – Shukla and Upadhaya, Kotpal Series, Kotpal- Khetrapal – Agarwal
12. Ethology – Reena Mathur, Magazines like Science Reporter, Nature etc.
13. General Zoology – Storer and Usurger
14. Physiology – H.R. Singh
15. Evolution – Vir Bala Rastogi
16. A Dictionary of Entomology – Leftwich

Syllabus for Zoology in UPSC civil service Exam

it’s available in the official notification released by UPSC, click here.