UPSC coaching fees 2026: Vision IAS ₹1.4L vs self-study from ₹2,567. Compare and start saving today.
"How much does UPSC preparation cost?"
This is one of the most searched questions by aspirants. And the answers vary wildly — from ₹10,000 to ₹10 Lakhs.
Let's break down the real costs of UPSC preparation in 2026.
| Preparation Mode | Total Cost (1-2 Years) |
|---|---|
| Premium Delhi Coaching | ₹4-8 Lakhs |
| Mid-tier City Coaching | ₹2-4 Lakhs |
| Online Coaching (Live) | ₹50,000-1.5 Lakhs |
| Online Notes + Test Series | ₹20,000-50,000 |
| Pure Self-Study | ₹10,000-20,000 |
| Course | Fees | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| GS Foundation (Offline) | ₹1,25,000 | 1 year |
| GS Foundation (Online) | ₹85,000 | 1 year |
| Prelims Test Series | ₹12,000 | 3 months |
| Mains Test Series | ₹18,000 | 4 months |
| Complete Package | ₹1,50,000+ | 1-2 years |
Hidden Costs:
| Course | Fees | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| GS Foundation | ₹1,30,000-1,50,000 | 1 year |
| Evening Batch | ₹1,10,000 | 1 year |
| Test Series Only | ₹15,000-20,000 | Season |
| Optional Subjects | ₹30,000-50,000 | 6 months |
| Course | Fees | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| GS Foundation (Hindi) | ₹90,000 | 1 year |
| GS Foundation (English) | ₹95,000 | 1 year |
| Online Course | ₹65,000 | 1 year |
| Test Series | ₹10,000-15,000 | Season |
This is where most aspirants underestimate costs.
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PG/Shared Room | ₹8,000-15,000 | ₹96,000-1,80,000 |
| Single Room | ₹12,000-20,000 | ₹1,44,000-2,40,000 |
| Food (Mess) | ₹4,000-6,000 | ₹48,000-72,000 |
| Food (Outside) | ₹8,000-12,000 | ₹96,000-1,44,000 |
| Transport | ₹2,000-3,000 | ₹24,000-36,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹2,000-3,000 | ₹24,000-36,000 |
| Total | ₹24,000-43,000 | ₹2.88-5.16 Lakhs |
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PG/Shared Room | ₹10,000-18,000 | ₹1,20,000-2,16,000 |
| Food | ₹6,000-10,000 | ₹72,000-1,20,000 |
| Transport | ₹2,500-4,000 | ₹30,000-48,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹2,000-3,000 | ₹24,000-36,000 |
| Total | ₹20,500-35,000 | ₹2.46-4.20 Lakhs |
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₹7,000-12,000 | ₹84,000-1,44,000 |
| Food | ₹5,000-8,000 | ₹60,000-96,000 |
| Transport | ₹1,500-2,500 | ₹18,000-30,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹1,500-2,500 | ₹18,000-30,000 |
| Total | ₹15,000-25,000 | ₹1.80-3.00 Lakhs |
Formula: Coaching Fees + Living Expenses + Books + Test Series + Miscellaneous
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Coaching (Vision/Vajiram) | ₹1,30,000 |
| Living Expenses | ₹3,50,000 |
| Books & Materials | ₹15,000 |
| Test Series (Extra) | ₹30,000 |
| Optional Subject | ₹35,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹20,000 |
| Total | ₹5,80,000 |
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Coaching (Mid-tier) | ₹70,000 |
| Living (Shared PG) | ₹2,50,000 |
| Books & Materials | ₹10,000 |
| Test Series | ₹15,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹15,000 |
| Total | ₹3,60,000 |
| Platform | Course Type | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Vision IAS Online | GS Foundation | ₹85,000 |
| Unacademy Plus | Complete Course | ₹45,000-75,000/year |
| Drishti IAS Online | Foundation | ₹65,000 |
| BYJU's IAS | Complete | ₹1,00,000+ |
| Study IQ | GS Course | ₹25,000-40,000 |
| Platform | Course Type | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Test Series Only | Prelims + Mains | ₹15,000-25,000 |
| Current Affairs | Annual | ₹3,000-5,000 |
| Subject-specific | Per Subject | ₹5,000-10,000 |
The most economical option (and increasingly the smartest):
| Resource | Cost |
|---|---|
| NCERTs | Free (download) or ₹2,000 (buy) |
| Standard Books (6-7) | ₹3,000-4,000 |
| Newspapers (Annual) | ₹3,600 |
| UPSC Academy 1-Year | ₹2,567 (includes notes, tests, PYQs) |
| Total | ₹11,167-12,167 |
Or with Lifetime Access:
| Resource | Cost |
|---|---|
| NCERTs | Free (download) or ₹2,000 |
| Standard Books (6-7) | ₹3,000-4,000 |
| Newspapers (Annual) | ₹3,600 |
| UPSC Academy Lifetime | ₹6,000 (everything forever) |
| Total | ₹14,600-15,600 |
We believe quality preparation shouldn't cost lakhs. That's why we offer India's most affordable comprehensive UPSC preparation.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Year Access | ₹2,567 (was ₹5,999) | First-time aspirants, testing the waters |
| Lifetime Access | ₹6,000 (was ₹9,999) | Serious aspirants, best value |
What you get in BOTH plans:
What you save with 1-Year Plan:
What you save with Lifetime Plan:
Our prices are already so low that EMI isn't necessary:
| Mode | Fixed Cost | Variable Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Premium | ₹1,50,000 | ₹4,00,000 | ₹5,50,000 |
| Delhi Budget | ₹70,000 | ₹2,80,000 | ₹3,50,000 |
| City Coaching | ₹60,000 | ₹2,00,000 | ₹2,60,000 |
| Online Live | ₹65,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹85,000 |
| UPSC Academy | ₹2,567 | ₹10,000 | ₹12,567 |
| Pure Self-Study | ₹5,000 | ₹15,000 | ₹20,000 |
Most aspirants need 2-3 attempts. Here's the 2-year cost comparison:
| Mode | Year 1 | Year 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Coaching | ₹5,50,000 | ₹4,00,000 | ₹9,50,000 |
| Online Coaching | ₹85,000 | ₹50,000 | ₹1,35,000 |
| UPSC Academy (Lifetime) | ₹6,000 | ₹0 | ₹6,000 |
The lifetime plan pays for itself if you need more than one attempt (which most aspirants do).
If you quit your job:
Calculation for IT professional (₹6 LPA):
Poor living conditions in coaching hubs:
If you don't clear:
Let's calculate Return on Investment:
Delhi Coaching:
Online Platform:
Self-Study with Quality Notes:
Conclusion: The success rate doesn't significantly change based on investment. What matters is:
Total: ~₹6,200 | Can you clear with this? Yes, absolutely!
Total: ~₹16,600 | This is the sweet spot for smart aspirants.
At this point, you have choices:
Not recommended: Spending more doesn't proportionally increase success chances.
Don't buy:
Do buy:
Share costs:
Our honest recommendation:
| Your Situation | Recommended Budget | Our Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Student (no income) | ₹5,000-15,000 | UPSC Academy 1-Year (₹2,567) + NCERTs |
| Working Professional | ₹10,000-25,000 | UPSC Academy Lifetime (₹6,000) + Books |
| Full-time Aspirant | ₹15,000-40,000 | Lifetime + Standard reference books |
| Has budget, wants best | ₹25,000-50,000 | Lifetime + Multiple test series |
Key principle: Success in UPSC correlates more with study hours and strategy than with money spent.
Spending ₹5 Lakhs on Delhi coaching doesn't give you 10x better chances than spending ₹6,000 on UPSC Academy.
The difference? One keeps you near family, employed, and financially stable. The other might drain your savings before you even give your first attempt.
Choose wisely. Your bank balance (and mental health) will thank you.
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