PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 31 -- Biology continues to hold greater appeal among UP Board intermediate students, with the number of those opting for the subject remaining nearly three times that of students choosing mathematics for the 2027 board examinations. According to the registration figures released by the UP Board, 11,63,401 students have opted for biology this year, against 3,99,965 who have chosen mathematics. The trend reflects a sustained preference for biology over mathematics among intermediate students over the past several years. Of the total 24,38,883 students registered for the 2027 intermediate examinations, 15,63,366 have opted for the science stream. Biology accounts for the largest share of science students. Education experts attribute the preference to the wider range of career opportunities available after studying biology. Apart from MBBS, students can pursue BAMS, BHMS, dentistry and veterinary sciences. Other options include paramedical courses, healthcare, agriculture, animal husbandry and basic sciences, shared Swastik Bose, principal of Anglo Bengali Inter College. Conceding the trend, UP Board secretary Bhagwati Singh said: "There are more career options in biology compared to mathematics. Students also generally tend to have a fear of mathematics. Perhaps this is why the number of students opting for biology is higher." The trend is also evident in the registration figures for previous years. While the number of students opting for mathematics has declined from 4,99,484 in 2023 to 3,99,965 in 2027, biology enrolment has remained above 10 lakh throughout the period, records show. Sociology most popular among humanities students Among humanities subjects, sociology has emerged as the most preferred choice, with 4,22,590 students opting for it for the 2027 examinations. It is followed by political science with 3,60,344 students and geography with 3,17,036. A total of 2,17,983 students have opted for home science, while 2,17,226 have chosen economics. Sanskrit has 71,225 registered students. The commerce stream has a total of 55,243 registered students....