Chahal Academy Fees, Admissions, Classrooms, Counselling and Mentorship Review

May 20, 2024

13 Minutes

Chahal Academy Admission Process and Fees Review

Introduction

Hi everyone, I'm Shivom, a content strategist at Josh Talks. I've been tasked with exploring the landscape of UPSC coaching institutes in Delhi to provide aspiring candidates with valuable, firsthand information. Today, I'll be delving into my experience with Chahal Academy, a name that frequently comes up in discussions about personalized mentorship and guidance programs.

With the growing trend of successful candidates emphasizing the importance of self-study supplemented by expert direction, I was particularly interested in understanding how Chahal Academy integrated this approach into its coaching model. Having heard positive feedback about their programs, I was eager to experience their approach firsthand and share my findings with you.

Reaching Chahal Academy

Finding Chahal Academy's office is a breeze. It's conveniently situated right at the entrance of the Old Rajinder Nagar lane, directly adjacent to the Domino's Pizza outlet and just across the street from Rau's IAS.

As I stepped into the office, the friendly staff greeted me warmly and asked me to wait for a moment as the counselor was occupied. In no time, Isha, an aspirant herself and an admission counselor at Chahal Academy, extended a warm welcome. Her approach was refreshingly personable – she offered me a glass of water and engaged me in a conversation about my background and UPSC aspirations.

Having visited numerous coaching institutes in Delhi, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and detail of Isha's questions. She inquired about every aspect of my academic journey and preparation strategy. When I asked about the reason behind such a detailed inquiry, she explained that it was essential for her to understand my individual needs and tailor the guidance accordingly, ensuring the most effective path to success.

This level of personalized attention was a stark contrast to the more generic interactions I'd experienced at other institutes.It immediately instilled a sense of trust and confidence in Chahal Academy's approach.

Chahal Academy's Location

Key Features of Coaching at Chahal Academy

In-House Faculty for Accessible Guidance

At Chahal Academy, all faculty members are dedicated in-house experts who work exclusively for the institute. This unique setup allows students to easily approach teachers throughout the day for doubt clarification and personalized guidance. No appointments are necessary – simply walk into the faculty room, and if the teacher is available, they'll gladly address your questions without any time constraints. Isha said that this fosters a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable seeking assistance whenever needed.

Batch Sizes Tailored to Student Preferences

Recognizing the impact of batch size on learning effectiveness, Chahal Academy offers flexible options. Students can choose from three batch sizes – 50, 100, or 150 – with fees adjusted accordingly. Smaller batches often allow for more individual attention and interaction with faculty, while larger batches might be more affordable. Chahal Academy has done this to ensure that students can select the learning environment that best suits their needs and budget.

Current Affairs Led by Serving Civil Servants

Chahal Academy's current affairs classes are a standout feature. They're conducted by experienced civil servants themselves, providing valuable insights into the nuances of the UPSC exam and sharing effective strategies. These weekly sessions, along with daily MCQs, editorial analyses, and monthly tests, ensure comprehensive coverage of current events. The coaching centre believes approach goes beyond simply teaching facts; it imparts a deeper understanding of how current affairs relate to the UPSC syllabus and how to approach them in the exam.

Three-Fold Guidance System

Chahal Academy's guidance system is truly comprehensive. Students receive support from three key sources: their assigned coach, a personal mentor, and a serving civil servant. Isha mentioned that this multi-layered approach ensures that students have access to diverse perspectives and expert guidance at every stage of their preparation journey.

Structured Classroom Curriculum

Each lecture at Chahal Academy spans 2 hours and 30 minutes, divided into two segments. The first 2 hours and 10 minutes are dedicated to teaching the core syllabus, while the remaining 20 minutes focus on practicing previous years' questions for both Prelims and Mains. This integrated approach helps students apply their knowledge and understand the exam pattern.

Test Series

Chahal Academy conducts daily, weekly, and monthly tests to assess progress and reinforce learning. Daily tests include a Mains question and four Prelims questions, while weekly tests cover the syllabus taught in the past week.Monthly tests follow a similar pattern. The course also includes an all-India prelims test series to simulate the actual exam environment.

CSAT Preparation

Recognizing the increasing importance of the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test), Chahal Academy dedicates four months of the course to focused CSAT preparation through regular sessions and cyclic tests.

Comprehensive Study Material

The institute provides comprehensive study material, including six NCERT compilation books, 16 GS modules, the latest edition of Indian Polity by Laxmikanth, an atlas, and a monthly current affairs magazine. They also offer compiled NCERT notes to streamline students' preparation.

All-Star Mock Interview Board

Chahal Academy's interview board is composed of former civil servants with distinguished careers in various government departments and services. The panel includes individuals who have previously served on the UPSC interview board, bringing their valuable experience and insights to the mock interview process. The diverse composition of the board, including retired officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Information Service (IIS), ensures a comprehensive evaluation of candidates' knowledge, skills, and overall suitability for a career in the civil services. Additionally, Sumesh Chahal, the founder of Chahal Academy, also participates in the interview board, providing valuable guidance and feedback to aspirants.

Chahal Academy's interview board includes:

1. Sh Vinod Zutshi (IAS), Former Tourism Secretary- GOI and Former UPSC Board Member

2. Sh. Vikram Singh (Retd. IPS), Former DGP (Uttar Pradesh).

3. Sh. Anil Ganeriwala (IFS), Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development.

4. Sh. Abhay Khanna (IRAS), CAO (Ministry of Railways) and Former UPSC Board Member

5. Mrs. Veena Jain (Retd. IIS), Former Director-DD News & Ministry of Rural Development. 

6. Sh. Raj Mahtolia (Retd. IFS), Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment.

7. Sh Arun Gaur, Former Joint Secretary (UPSC) and Former UPSC Board Member.

Chahal IAS Fees

Note: The term "Hybrid" means that the students have a choice of either attending a classroom session or watch the live lecture from the comfort of their home. Both the options are available.

Payment Options

Chahal Academy accepts following modes of payment

• Cash
• Credit/Debit Card
• Cheque
• Online Transfer/NetBanking/RTGS/IMPS/NEFT
• Demand Draft
• UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm/Other UPI Apps)

Mentorship Review

Instead of the demo lecture I was expecting, I was offered a mentorship session at Chahal Academy upon arrival. Having heard positive feedback about their mentorship program from other aspirants, I decided to give it a try.

Within minutes, Saumya, one of their mentors, introduced herself. I was immediately struck by her confidence and enthusiasm. She sat me down and began asking questions similar to those Isha had asked earlier. She then explained how she would guide me throughout the year, emphasizing that mentorship could be availed separately, even without enrolling in a coaching program.

Saumya meticulously outlined her approach, mentioning two weekly sessions to track my progress and create a personalized timetable. She also mentioned that if I chose not to join the coaching program, she would create a self-study syllabus and guide me through the entire journey, from covering basic NCERTs to advanced preparation.

I had several concerns, such as whether sessions would be canceled frequently. Saumya assured me that cancellations were rare, usually only due to unavoidable circumstances like illness. She also highlighted the program's effectiveness by sharing positive feedback from other students.

Overall, this was the most comprehensive and insightful mentorship session I've encountered during my research on UPSC coaching. Saumya's approach was both detailed and reassuring, leaving me with a clear understanding of how their mentorship program could benefit my preparation. Had I been an aspirant looking for a mentorship opportunity, I'd definitely have considered taking guidance from Saumya. Surprisingly, Isha told me that she also has signed up for guidance from Saumya.

Classroom Tour

Since Chahal Academy's classrooms are located a short distance away from the main office, Isha kindly arranged a car and driver to take me there for a firsthand look. The classrooms are situated about a kilometer from the office, towards Patel Nagar on Pusa Road.

Nestled in the basement of a building in a clean and well-maintained area, the classrooms were a pleasant surprise. The staff warmly greeted me and the class coordinator gave me a tour. I saw classrooms designed for 50, 100, and 150 students, and I was impressed by the setup, which seemed superior to many other coaching centers in Old Rajinder Nagar. The furniture was new, the rooms were a comfortable size, and each one was equipped with electronic boards for teaching.

I also had a chance to see the faculty rooms where students could go for doubt-clearing sessions. The overall atmosphere was conducive to learning and interaction.

During my tour, I also checked out the washrooms. They were surprisingly clean and well-maintained. Unfortunately, my phone malfunctioned at that moment, so I couldn't take any good pictures, but I can assure you they were in excellent condition.

Also Read: Forum IAS Fees, Fee and Academic Counselling Review

Teaching Review

As part of my exploration of Chahal Academy, I attended an online introductory lecture on Indian Economy by Prakhar Tripathi, a young educator who also teaches Geography at the institute. I chose this particular lecture because it was part of the foundation series, which I had heard was quite comprehensive. I reasoned that attending a foundational lecture would give me a better understanding of the coaching institute's teaching style than jumping into a random topic.

The lecture lasted two hours, during which Prakhar focused on the history of economics. He started from the time of ancient thinkers like Chanakya and Xenophon, explaining how economic systems evolved over time. He covered the reasons behind these changes, how new systems were implemented, and the contributions of key figures who shaped the global economy.

I found Prakhar's teaching style engaging. He made complex economic concepts relatable by connecting them to everyday examples, which was helpful for newcomers like myself. He also kept the class interactive by asking thought-provoking questions and encouraging students to share their opinions. To ensure that everyone was following along, he would pause halfway through the lecture to recap the main points discussed.

However, there were a couple of aspects that could be improved. First, Prakhar assumed that students were taking notes while he was writing on the board, but many were not. While I'm accustomed to taking notes during lectures, some students had to request that he go back to previous slides so they could write down the information. It might be beneficial if he clearly indicated when to take notes or provided handouts for reference.

Second, some of the diagrams he used were quite complex and difficult to replicate in notes. This might pose a challenge for new students who are trying to revise the material later on, as the information was presented in a dense format.

Overall, I enjoyed the lecture and found Prakhar's teaching style to be effective. Since this was the first class, the focus was primarily on building a basic understanding of the subject rather than taking extensive notes. Considering the positives, I would definitely consider taking an economics course with Prakhar Tripathi in the future.

Overall Assessment

Chahal Academy's unique approach to coaching, with its emphasis on in-house faculty, customizable batch sizes, and expert-led current affairs sessions, sets it apart. Their three-fold guidance system and structured curriculum further enhance the learning experience. While their study material compilation may not be entirely unique, the overall quality of their offerings is impressive.

In conclusion, Chahal Academy presents a compelling option for UPSC aspirants seeking personalized guidance, a supportive environment, and comprehensive preparation resources. Their innovative approach and commitment to student success make them a worthy contender in the competitive landscape of UPSC coaching.

Nearest PGs and Library Options

One of the biggest challenges of moving to Old Rajinder Nagar for UPSC preparation is finding suitable accommodation.Knowing this, I decided to explore paying guest (PG) options in the area to help those considering the move.

After asking around, several shopkeepers recommended Krishna PG.Located a short walk from Pusa Road circle, about 700 meters from Karol Bagh Metro station and a kilometer from the Chahal Academy, this PG is in a prime location. It's surrounded by coaching centers and libraries, yet it manages to be on a quiet street in an otherwise bustling area. This makes it a great choice for students who want to be close to their classes and study resources while still having a peaceful place to live and study.

Krishna PG offers a variety of room options:

• Single Sharing: Priced at 28,000 rupees per month.
• Double Sharing: Priced at 16,000 rupees per month.
• Triple Sharing: Priced at 13,000 rupees per month.

This convenient location offers easy access to transportation, eateries, and other essential amenities, making it an ideal choice for UPSC aspirants looking for a comfortable and convenient place to stay during their preparation journey.

Note: These prices are all-inclusive, covering not only the room but also three daily meals and a range of amenities. Each room comes furnished with a bed, mattress, almirah (wardrobe), study table, and chair to ensure a comfortable study environment. Additional shared amenities include a fridge, air conditioning, TV, sofa set, and a glass table, providing a space for relaxation and socializing.

I'll also share some images from the PG for your reference so you can get a better feel for the ambiance and facilities.

While Krishna PG offers comfortable amenities, there are cheaper options available if you're on a tight budget. Finding a room below 10,000 rupees typically involves looking for independent unfurnished rooms on sharing basis. These might require more effort to find and furnish, but they can be a more affordable alternative for those looking to save on accommodation costs.

For those seeking a quiet and productive study environment, there are hundreds of libraries located conveniently close to Krishna PG. Among these, Vidya Library and Gratification Library are particularly noteworthy for UPSC aspirants.

The charges for both Vidya Library and Gratification Library are based on your chosen usage:

• Full-time Seat with Locker: If you plan to study for extended hours each day, the full-time option at 3200 rupees per month provides unlimited access to the library along with a dedicated locker.
• 12-Hour Seat with Locker: For those who prefer shorter study sessions, the 12-hour option at 2200 rupees per month offers access for 12 hours daily, still including a locker for your convenience.

The locker facility is a significant advantage for UPSC aspirants. It allows you to store your books, notes, and other study materials securely at the library, eliminating the need to carry them back and forth to your PG. This not only lightens your load but also saves you valuable time and energy, allowing you to focus more on your studies.

Also read: Khan Global Studies Fees and Review