Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exam is a daunting task for several reasons:
- Tough competition: The UPSC Civil Services exam is one of the most competitive exams in India, with millions of aspirants appearing for it every year while the success rate is less than 1%.
- Multiple Stages: The Civil Services exam consists of 3 stages (1) preliminary exam followed by (2) mains exam and finally (3) personality test or interview. Aspirants need to clear all the three stages in one go to get selected in to the services. The demand of all these stages is obviously different.
- Vast Syllabus and the need of time management: The syllabus of the exam is vast and covers a wide range of subjects like – history of India and the world, world geography, society, political science and international relations, economics, science & technology, ethics and current affairs across all of them. Aspirants need to manage their time efficiently to cover the entire syllabus, prioritize important themes and devote ample time for revision, practice and course correction.
- Conceptual understanding and not memorizing: The UPSC exam demands aspirants to develop in depth understanding of the various concepts and theories across its vast syllabus. Rote learning does not yield any result in the UPSC exam.
- Changing Pattern: The UPSC Civil Services exam pattern keeps changing and aspirants need to adapt their preparation strategy accordingly.
Overall, preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exam is a challenging task that requires aspirants to be disciplined, focused and well-prepared. What is essential to crack UPSC IAS exam besides a clear framework for preparation is dedication, consistency and mentoring.
Is it necessary to take coaching for UPSC civil services exam?

No, it is not necessary to take coaching for UPSC Civil Services exam. Many candidates have successfully cleared the exam without taking any coaching.
However, coaching can be helpful for those who need structure and pace in their preparation and at the same time access to right study material, guidance and mentoring.
There are several factors that candidates should consider before deciding whether to take coaching or not. Some of these factors include their educational background, familiarity with the exam pattern and syllabus, self-discipline and availability of resources.
Candidates who have a strong academic background and are confident in their ability to prepare on their own may not need coaching.
However, those who are unfamiliar with the exam pattern and syllabus or need guidance in managing their time and resources may benefit from coaching.
Benefits of coaching for civil services exam?
Coaching for Civil Services exam can be extremely helpful for candidates as it provides them with structured guidance and mentoring which can help them in several ways:
- Timely completion of syllabus
- Conceptual understanding delivered by subject specialists
- Constant learning and improvement through periodic testing and review
- Learning environment, peer support and competitive spirit
- Access to to-the-point study material
- Access to mentors who could resolve doubts quickly
- Deep insights, smart study approach and tricks shared by faculty and mentors
- Resources for revision, practice and writing skill enhancement
- Motivation and support
Preparing for the Civil Services exam can be a long and challenging journey, and candidates may face several setbacks and obstacles along the way. Coaching institutes provide a supportive environment that can help candidates in staying motivated and focused on their goals.
Overall, coaching for Civil Services exam can provide candidates with the necessary tools, strategies, and support that can help them in cracking the exam and achieving their dreams of becoming a civil servant.
Here is just a few examples of UPSC toppers who took foundation classroom coaching from Rau’s IAS and cleared the UPSC exam in their first or second attempt:
- Shubhankar AIR 11, CSE 2021, 1st attempt
- Sonali Dev, AIR 41, CSE 2021, 2nd attempt
- Pooja Kumari, AIR 82, CSE 2021, 1st attempt
- Sulochana Meena, AIR CSE 2021, 1st attempt
- Karishma Nair, AIR 14, CSE 2020, 2nd attempt
- Naomi Satam, AIR 162, CSE 2020, 1st attempt
- Bindu Mani, AIR 468, CSE 2020, 1st attempt
- Jatin Kishore, AIR 2, CSE 2019, 2nd attempt
- Arun S Nair, AIR 55, CSE 2019, 2nd attempt
- Nidhin K Biju, AIR 89, CSE 2019, 3rd attempt
- Anu Joshy, AIR 264, CSE 2019, 2nd attempt
- Vikram Grewal, AIR 51, CSE 2018, 1st attempt
- Priyadarshini Bhattacharya, AIR 66, CSE 2017, 2nd attempt
- Rahul Bhat, AIR 68, CSE 2017, 2nd attempt
- Amol Srivastava, AIR 83, CSE 2017, 2nd attempt
- Anuj Malik, AIR 16, CSE 2016, 1st attempt
- Tina Dabi, AIR 1, UPSC CSE 2015, 1st attempt
- Roman Saini, AIR 1, UPSC CSE 2013, 1st attempt