A candidate needs the right kind of training to crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) and get into IAS/IPS/IFS. In this article, we provide details about the 10 best IAS Coaching Centres in India.
The job of an Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer is considered as one of the most prestigious professions in India.
To get into IAS/IPS/IFS, the candidate should crack the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC).
There are many coaching institutes that provide intensive training to help IAS/IPS/IFS aspirants achieve their dream.
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Top IAS Coaching Institutes in India
It takes 2 hands to make a sound. If the student’s efforts are complemented by quality coaching, the chance of success will increase a lot.
In this article, we present the list of the top 10 IAS coaching institutes in India.
1. ClearIAS
ClearIAS, launched in 2012, is one of the most popular coaching institutes in India. ClearIAS is known for its innovative teaching methods, easy-to-learn study materials, and user-friendly interface.
ClearIAS is founded by Alex Andrews George who is a social entrepreneur, teacher, and author. He is one of the expert Civil Service Exam trainers in India. A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training, Alex’s classes, guidance, strategies, study materials, and mock exams have helped many aspirants become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.
The online learning platform of ClearIAS is designed to help IAS/IPS/IFS aspirants succeed in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) by smart study. ClearIAS website is visited by more than 1 million aspirants every month.
ClearIAS offers many online courses – which are affordable despite their top quality.
The most popular course of ClearIAS is the Prelims cum Mains (PCM) program which covers the entire UPSC CSE GS syllabus of Prelims and Mains. The fee of the Prelims Cum Mains (PCM) for 1-year is only Rs 49,000. This is only less than one-third of the fees charged by many traditional coaching institutes.
Once you join the ClearIAS Prelims cum Mains Course, you will get:
- Instant access to 700+ Hours of Expert Classes (recorded) which cover the entire UPSC CSE GS syllabus of Prelims and Mains
- Automatic Access to the latest Current Affairs Classes (Live or Recorded)
- 1500+ Topic-Wise Easy-to-learn Study Materials (PDF)
- ClearIAS UPSC Prelims Online Mock Test Series
- ClearIAS UPSC Previous Year Re-Take Exams
- Doubt Clearing Sessions
- Personal Mentorship
- Interview Guidance etc.
Besides the Prelims cum Mains Course, there are many sub-programs of ClearIAS which are also best-sellers. This includes the ClearIAS Prelims Marks Booster (PMB) Program (fees: Rs.4999), ClearIAS Prelims Online Mock Test Series (fees: Rs.4999) etc. You can know more about ClearIAS programs here.
2. Vision IAS
Vision IAS is a leading coaching institute in Delhi offering comprehensive training and support to aspiring civil servants. Vision IAS has centres in other cities as well.
The institute is known for its experienced faculty and comprehensive study materials. In addition, Vision IAS also provides a wide range of online resources and test series to help students prepare for the IAS exam.
The Prelims cum Mains (PCM) Course of Vision IAS (also known as the foundation course) is priced at Rs.1,90,000. The VisionIAS Prelims Test Series has a fee of Rs.16000.
3. Vajiram and Ravi
Vajiram & Ravi institute is one of India’s most well-known IAS coaching centres. Founded in 1976, this Delhi-based institution has a solid track record of producing highly skilled young civil servants.
The faculty of Vajiram and Ravi is made up of seasoned educators. In addition to classroom instruction, the institute offers a wealth of study materials and practice exams.
The GeneralStudies Prelim cum Main course of Vajiram and Ravi has a fee of Rs 1,75,000.
4. ForumIAS
ForumIAS is renowned for its knowledgeable instructors who give students top-notch guidance. In a short span of time, ForumIAS has established itself as a key participant in the Indian Civil Services Examination coaching market, giving aspirants the resources and direction they need to be successful in pursuing a career in the Indian Civil Services.
The Prelims cum Mains (PCM) Course of ForumIAS (also known as the foundation course) starts from a fee of about Rs.1,45,000.
5. Shankar IAS Academy
Shankar IAS Academy is a famous coaching institute based in Chennai. Now, it has branches in multiple cities. The academy’s goal-oriented approach to preparing students for the CSE is well-known. The Shankar IAS Academy employ cutting-edge teaching techniques to transfer knowledge and aid students.
To provide students with a well-rounded preparation experience, the academy also provides study materials, test series, and mock interviews in addition to regular classroom sessions. Shankar IAS Academy has a track record of generating many successful UPSC CSE candidates.
The Prelims cum Mains (PCM) foundation course of Shankar IAS has a fee of about Rs.1,20,000.
6. Insights IAS
Insights IAS is a Bangalore-based coaching institute and online learning platform.
InsightsIAS started as InsightsonIndia.com website. It was founded by Vinay Kumar GB.
InsightsIAS now has several branches across India and is one of the popular choices for civil service aspirants.
The Prelims cum Mains Foundation program of Insights IAS has a fee of about Rs. 1,25,000.
7. IASbaba
IAS Baba is an institute based in Bangalore. Founded by Mohan Kumar in 2015, IAS Baba has helped many candidates in their IAS/IPS/IFS journey.
The Prelims cum Mains Foundation program of IAS Baba in offline mode has a fee of about Rs.1,14000 while the same program in online mode has a fee of about Rs.93,000.
8. Dristi IAS
Dristi IAS is a well-respected name in the UPSC coaching industry. It provides comprehensive preparation resources, study materials, and test series to help students effectively prepare for the IAS exam. Dristi offers classes in both Hindi as well as English.
The Prelims cum Mains Foundation program of Drishti in offline mode has a fee of about Rs.1,45000. The foundation program in online mode has a fee of about Rs.1,00,000.
9. Rau’s IAS
Rau’s IAS Study Circle was created by Dr S. Rau in the year 1953 as an independent body which later emerged as a famous coaching institute. Over this long period, the Study Circle has evolved into a unique fraternity of educators and students striving together.
The General Studies Foundation Batch of Rau’s IAS Study Circle has a fee of about Rs 1,75,000 while Prelims Test Series has a fee of about Rs 9500.
10. Byjus IAS
Byju’s is an EdTech firm based out of Bangalore. Byju’s IAS offers offline classroom coaching as well as a tablet program.
The fee of the Prelims Cum Mains Foundation Batch in offline mode is around Rs.1,72,000 in Bangalore. The tablet learning program is available for a fee of Rs.90,000.
How should you select the best UPSC coaching institute?
One aspect which every aspirant should look at before joining any IAS/IPS coaching is the relevance of their guidance.
Unfortunately, only a handful of platforms provide the right kind of coaching.
The right coaching should impart to students with both knowledge and exam skills.
Coaching institutes should also adapt to match the latest question standards of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Besides the quality of guidance, the methodology adopted for training is another factor to consider when choosing an IAS coaching institute.
While some coaching institutes go the hard way, platforms like ClearIAS believe in smart work. It’s up to the students to choose what they need to do.
The cost of coaching is also a factor for most students.
While the cost of offline coaching in Delhi and Bangalore is around Rs.1.5 lakh, there are affordable options like that of ClearIAS for aspirants who are comfortable learning online.
Note: The details of all coaching institutes including course names and fee structure are taken from the respective websites on the date this article is created.
Conclusion
The selection of the right coaching institute is not an easy decision to make. There are plenty of options available.
Unfortunately, apart from the top institutions, the quality of coaching in many institutes is questionable.
Nonetheless, there are many positives in this segment.
No institute holds a monopoly with respect to UPSC results.
Top rankers are seen emerging from different institutes in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi.
If you are a hard-working candidate and if you get reasonably good quality coaching, you can secure a top rank irrespective of the place you are from.
Now, as platforms like ClearIAS offer online IAS coaching, you get top-quality guidance at an affordable fee. Besides you can prepare from the comfort of your home!