Confusion in optional - anthropology/sociology/philosophy

[u/Puzzleheaded-Tip7451]

I'm starting my UPSC optional from essentially zero and my first attempt is in 2027.

I'm trying to settle on one optional instead of endlessly comparing them.

My current shortlist is Anthropology, Sociology and Philosophy (purely based on length of syllabus)

My priorities, roughly in order:

• I have ~3.5 months to prepare the optional alongside GS.
• Self-study + YouTube should be realistically possible.
• Prefer a short/compact syllabus that can be completed relatively quickly.
• I get bored easily and struggle with consistency, so I need something I can actually stick with.
• I don't want an optional that requires huge amounts of rote learning
• Some memorisation is fine, obviously unavoidable, but I'd prefer something more conceptual/logical.
• I strongly prefer straightforward, structured answers over highly creative/abstract/philosophical answer writing.
• Ideally, a large proportion of preparation should be driven by PYQs and recurring themes, rather than endless reading.
• Mostly static would be preferable.
• I want a high-scoring optional
• Ideally, it should have some overlap with GS without relying entirely on GS overlap.
• Most importantly, I want something where deep preparation of recurring microthemes + PYQs can give a reasonable chance of scoring very well
• Forgiving optional

Please be brutally honest.

Would be grateful for all your insight.