Vajiram and Ravi vs Raus IAS vs Chanakya

The path to successfully become an IAS officer is often discussed on online forums and in friend circles as stuff of pure legend. Every year, roughly 200 well read applicants become IAS officers to join the administrative branch of a country with over a billion people.

There are also some who aren’t as aware of the process behind selection of IAS officers. The entire procedure is listed under the forthcoming title.

IAS Selection Procedure

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the government body which organizes the entire selection procedure of IAS officers. The procedure is explained step-by-step below.

1. The UPSC Selection process is a 3-stage evaluation procedure.
2. The first stage is the Civil Services Examination (CSE). CSE is essentially a preliminary exam conducted to find the best candidates from a stockpile of applicants which apply. It follows a MCQ format with a maximum score of 200. The CSE exam itself is divided into two sections, General Studies and Aptitude. 

General Studies usually comes from current affairs and social sciences. There is no limit to the extent or depth of question which appear in the GS section. Topics such as Indian history, polity, governance, economic and social development, ecology and more find their way into the GS paper. This section comprises of 100 marks and lasts two hours. 

The Aptitude section contains questions based on logical reasoning and quantitative aptitude. Some questions are also drafted from language skills in English and Hindi. It too carries 100 marks and lasts two hours. 

Each wrong answer carries a 1/3^rd negative marking system. Performance in CSE or Prelims in not counted in the final selection process as it is considered only a qualifying exam. 

3. The second stage is the UPSC Mains Examination. Candidates who successfully clear the Prelims exam appear for UPSC Mains. Performance in Mains is counted in the final UPSC selection procedure. 

4. The last stage is the interview round which is chaired by retired administrative officials, well-read experts and academicians. Technically, the interview isn’t really one at all. The panellists aim to conduct a straightforward discussion with the candidate to get a feel on his/her personality and aptitude to execute the official functions of an IAS officer.

The panel does not aim to test the candidate’s skills in his/her subject matter. They only wish to gain insight into the psyche of the candidate and whether he or she will be able to hold an office in the administrative branch of the government.

The interview carries 275 marks, which when added to the total for mains exams brings the aggregate to 2025 marks.

The Clamour for Exclusivity and the obsession behind UPSC IAS exam

What is the verdict of normal Indians on government-run offices? Ok, how about government schools? Government hospitals get a bad rep as well. Why is it that practically all services the government provides are considered abhorrent, but government jobs are considered a boon?

This is where a lesson on the power of exclusivity comes into question. In India, the reason behind the popularity of most institutions rests upon their exclusivity. From the top engineering colleges to the Indian Cricket team, the main factor which sets these individuals apart from the general public is their belongingness to an exclusive club of professionals.

IAS candidates sew their dreams on a similar banner. The chance to be amongst the elite is too tempting a prospect for many. This is not to suggest that only candidates searching for fame apply for IAS vacancies every year. However, the appeal of being amongst an elite group of 200 in a country populated by more than a billion Indians plays a huge part in building the clamour around IAS.

Is it wise to spend years preparing for IAS exams?

While such popularity for IAS amongst the youth is encouraging, it will be wise not to confuse blind ambition with enthusiasm. Many students waste year upon year trying to clear the exam.

Many online forums will tell you anything is possible if you work hard. When you seek motivation in a world filled with endless reasons to feel deflated and defeated, such forums build renewed hope amongst many candidates.

We on the other hand won’t give you hope. We won’t say you can make it no matter what.

Sounds strange and cynical? Keep reading.

Unlike any other exam which sticks to a given set of topics, the IAS exam, the prelims in particular, contains questions with no apparent boundary. Topics such as history, polity, geography and current affairs are not straightforward and contain questions which can literally come from anywhere. Rather than invoking token motivational phrases and speeches, ask yourself. Can you do it? Do you have the patience?

Many students cite the example of candidates who made it against all odds. One shouldn’t read too much into success stories of a select few. This is like putting your entire savings into buying lottery tickets because the lottery winner told you there is a chance you can hit the jackpot. This is not to say IAS selection is similar to winning a lottery, but the odds of success are unsurprisingly similar.

The impact of coaching classes on IAS preparation

Practically every competitive exam in India has a set of coaching centres teaching aspirants how to pass the exam. This practise also finds a place in IAS preparation. Many big names dominate the IAS coaching industry such as Vajiram, Rau’s and Chanakya.

The impact of such coaching institutes is erringly similar to the transformation which has taken place in engineering and MBA entrance exam preparation. With the help of comprehensive study material and question analysis, the approach to IAS preparation has changed significantly in the past few years.

To match the sophisticated level of preparation amongst aspirants, UPSC in turn has had to tighten the screws and design even more tasking question papers to make sure the quality of aspirants coming through is beyond reproach.

This article will further delve into the various IAS coaching centres to understand their unique qualities and previous year performances of certain IAS coaching centres.

Vajiram and Ravi

Quite easily one of the most famous names in IAS coaching in Delhi and around India, Vajiram is a well known player in this segment of the coaching industry. Almost every year, the top ranked students come from Vajiram. In 2016, 16 of the 20 top rank holders in the final merit list came from Vajiram including AIR-1 Tina Dabi.

The demand for Vajiram is so widespread that admission to the institute if granted on the basis of ‘first-come-first-serve’.

The fees for the 36 week long prelims + mains classroom course is Rs. 1,54,000 including GST.

Students who wish to study individual subjects can also join, with fees for each subject amounting to Rs. 48,000 including GST.

Vajiram & Ravi has only one centre in India. Old Rajinder Nagar in Delhi is the hub for IAS coaching in Delhi and Vajiram is seated in the same locality.

Rau's IAS

Rau’s IAS is one India’s oldest IAS coaching institutes. Having been in business for the past 64 years, Rau’s still remains a big draw amongst IAS aspirants. Results however have dipped for Rau’s in the past few years, suggesting a growing sense of lethargy and moroseness around the institute.

Chanakya IAS Academy

Another major player in the IAS coaching industry, Chanakya IAS Academy is a well respected name amongst the general population of UPSC aspirants. With 5 Chanakya students amongst the top 10 of UPSC 2016, there is little doubt over the resources and credibility of the institute.

Chanakya IAS courses include a one year long classroom programme covering all three stages of the UPSC examinations; prelims, mains and interview. Known as the Foundation course, most toppers from Chanakya are products of this very programme. Furthermore Chanakya IAS also offers two year foundation course to students in college and three year foundation course to students who have just completed their schooling. These courses are especially for students who have made a stern decision to accept civil services as their life’s first occupation.

Unique Shiksha

A relatively new institute, Unique Shiksha has changed the dynamics of IAS coaching since its inception. Based in Delhi, Unique Shiksha has risen through the ranks in the last few years. This success can be attributed to the core essence of the course they are providing which eliminates all the perceived weaknesses of other coaching centres.

All of Unique Shiksha’s are located in the Delhi-NCR region, the main centre being at the IAS coaching hub in Karol Bagh.

ALS IAS Academy

The stock of ALS amongst IAS aspirants has risen starkly over the past few years as old bastions such as Rau’s and Chanakya have receded to some extent. Having built a successful training model around a rigorous teaching regime and sound psychological guidance, ALS has become a mainstay in the IAS coaching factory.

Like Unique Shiksha, ALS also has two full time courses, one of them being dedicated to weekend batches. Additionally it also organizes a crash courses known as GS Main Fast Track and GS Current Affairs Crash Course for Prelims.

Sriram’s IAS

Sriram’s IAS is one of the few IAS coaching institutes in Delhi which can really match the popularity and clamour generated by Vajiram & Ravi. Success in results over the years has been one of the major reasons behind the continuous rise of Sriram’s IAS.

With the change in pattern of IAS exams a few years ago which moved away from knowledge based evaluation to analytical skills assessment, Sriram’s IAS became a big beneficiary as its study model is based upon inculcating a deep sense in solving ability.

It offers two full-time courses, one dedicated to CSAT and the other providing training for both prelims and mains. Besides full-time courses, Sriram’s IAS also offers training for optional subjects to aspirants who have cleared prelims.

The fees for CSAT dedicated full-time course is Rs. 1,85,000 and Rs.1,48,000 for prelims + mains course.

Elite IAS

Last but not the least is Elite IAS, a fairly popular institute in Delhi. Like most IAS coaching institutes in Delhi, Elite IAS also offers a number of courses based upon different student requirements.

Though it isn’t as popular as Vajiram or Sriram’s IAS, Elite has created a niche brand by marinating a small batch size and targeting a highly focussed study regime to gain top results. The past few years have seen a number of instances where Elite IAS students have made it to the top rankings.

Elite IAS courses include two full time courses, one of them covering one additional optional subject for mains and interview training known as Upgraded Foundation Course and the other called General Studies Integrated Course.

The fee of the Upgraded Foundation Course is Rs. 1,65,000 and fee for GS Integrated course is Rs. 1,30,000.

Other Institutes

To collate all institutes providing IAS preparation is impossible due to their vast number. Some other institutes which hold great prominence for IAS coaching, but haven’t been mentioned are given below.

1. Khan Study Group
2. Brain Tree
3. Shankar IAS
4. Abhimanyu IAS
5. Chronicle IAS

While these institutes haven’t been mentioned above, they too are very popular amongst IAS aspirants around India.

Vajiram & Ravi vs Rau’s IAS vs Chanakya IAS

We finally arrive to the final comparison between all the IAS coaching institutes discussed previously. The table below gives the comparison based on four key factors.

1. Track record (selections in IAS)
2. Quality of teaching and material (according to student reviews)
3. Outreach across the country
4. Perception amongst students