Drishti IAS Fees 2024, Fee Structure and Academic Counselling Review - GS (Prelims + Mains) + Optionals

November 30, 2023

12 Minutes

Introduction

My name is Shivom Sharma and I work at Josh Talks. As a UPSC Content Strategist and someone who tried the UPSC exam before, I was tasked with reviewing the admission process and the fee structure of various UPSC coaching institutes in Delhi and outside. I decided to review Drishti IAS fees and the admission process. Even though almost all the details of their courses were on their website, I felt a review wouldn't be honest unless I experienced it myself. So, I decided to go to Drishti IAS’s Karol Bagh center to see how a fresh graduate, who doesn't know much about the exam, would feel on their first visit. In this blog, I’ll tell you about my experience at Drishti IAS.

The First Glimpse

As I walked down the lively street filled with hopefuls aspiring to become IAS officers, the Drishti IAS institute building stood out. Nestled in Old Rajinder Nagar, known as the UPSC hub, it seemed like Drishti IAS had painted the town in its colors. The area was full of their numerous hoardings, and even the Karol Bagh metro station displayed their logo. I must say that Drishti has truly made its mark and stands as one of the best ias coaching in Delhi. Upon entering, I was directed to the basement for admission-related inquiries. Before reaching the institute, I thought of booking a telephonic appointment. I called their official number twice but surprisingly, nobody answered. The building had elevators, and I used one to reach the main office. The office was impressive, featuring a spacious waiting area with a large sofa and tables. As soon as I stepped in, a staff member confirmed that it was my first visit and guided me to the waiting area. He handed me an inquiry form, which required basic details, including name, DOB, contact details, preferred mode of preparation and preferred language. After a brief wait, the staff member returned and escorted me to a counsellor named Lokendra Singh.

Drishti IAS Admission Counselling

To get the best idea at the counselling process, I mentioned that I was a 29-year-old employed in a company with flexible working hours. I explained that I was a UPSC aspirant who had attempted the exam once through self-preparation but couldn’t continue due to personal reasons. To gather detailed information about the institute's courses, I emphasised having only two attempts left and expressed the need for a comprehensive program covering all GS papers, Essay, CSAT, Optional, Mains, and Current Affairs within a limited timeframe. He analysed my position and recommended a course titled General Studies Foundation Course - Prelims and Mains.

Drishti IAS Fees 2024, Fee Structure and Payment Modes

For the course recommended by the counsellor, the fee structure is listed below. Please note that this course does not include a CSAT course or an Essay course. Since there are various course combinations available, I'll share the Drishti IAS fee structure with you. Notably, this data has been directly taken from the hard copy of the fee structure provided to me by the counsellor.

Here’s the fee breakdown of the course, titled General Studies Foundation Course - Prelims and Mains, that was offered to me by the counsellor:

Drishti IAS offers a variety of courses for UPSC preparation, such as CSAT courses, Essay courses, Test Series, other Foundation courses, and optional courses. You can check the table below to find the most suitable course for you and see its corresponding fee.

Additionally, the institute provides combo courses that bring together different aspects of UPSC preparation. You can check the table below to learn more about these combined courses.

On asking, the counsellor agreed that he can get the installment deadline extended by 5 days but not more than that. It's important to note that if a student fails to pay the installment on specified time, they won't be allowed in the classroom, and they'll lose access to the online portal.

I'll also include pictures of the Drishti IAS fee structure hard copies at the end of this blog for your reference. Those copies were provided to me by the counsellor.

Drishti IAS Fee Payment Modes

Drishti IAS fees can be paid through multiple channels, including

• Credit/Debit Card.
• Cheque.
• Demand Draft.
• Net Banking.
• UPI

Drishti IAS Fee Discounts and other Details

The institute doesn't have a tie-up with external installment providers, but it does offer installment options for students, allowing them to pay the fee over the first four months of preparation, as shown in the table and pictures above.

In terms of discounts, there was a straightforward discount of 10,000/- in Drishti IAS fees, clearly visible in the fee structure printout. Furthermore, opting for a one-time payment entailed an additional discount of 15,000/-.

I got home and tried asking the counsellor for a better deal, but he said no extra discounts were allowed, just the ones mentioned in the fee details.

Drishti IAS Regional Centres Fee Structure and Admission Counseling

Drishti IAS Prayagraj Fees

Drishti IAS Lucknow fees

Drishti IAS Jaipur fees

Drishti IAS Indore fees

Key Points from Discussion with Drishti IAS Regional Centers

• Batch Commencement: The upcoming online batch for 2026 will commence on May 29 and will feature live sessions broadcasted from Karol Bagh.
• Recorded Lectures: Enrolled candidates will gain access to recorded lectures for a duration of 3 years, providing them ample time for revision and review.
• Monthly Current Affairs Magazine: Aspirants will receive a monthly current affairs magazine delivered to their address, ensuring they stay updated with the latest news and events relevant to the UPSC exam.
• Prelims Test Series: The course encompasses a comprehensive Prelims Test series comprising 90 tests, including 75 Prelims tests and 15 CSAT Tests, designed to assess and enhance the candidates' preparation for the preliminary stage of the UPSC exam.
• Mains Test Series: Following the completion of the syllabus, candidates will have the opportunity to take part in 24 Mains Full-length tests, which will help them gauge their preparedness for the mains examination.
• Answer Writing Assessment: Drishti IAS also offers the unique feature of getting 500 Mains Answers checked by invigilators, providing valuable feedback and insights to improve answer writing skills.
• Doubt Clearing: To assist candidates in resolving their queries and concerns, Batch Coordinators are appointed for each batch, ensuring personalized support and guidance throughout the preparation journey.
• Optional Subjects: Optional subject fees vary but generally range around Rs. 50,000, with CSAT fees set at Rs. 10,000, making the program accessible to a wide range of aspirants.
• No live lectures for Ethics & Essay Preparation: Lectures on Ethics, delivered by Dr. Vikas Divyakirti, will be in recorded form, as he is currently not actively taking lectures. Similarly, Essay lectures will also be available in recorded format.
• Faculty: While specific faculty members were not named, the counselor mentioned that the teachers will be different from those at Drishti Delhi.

My Notable Observations from Drishti IAS Counseling

After conducting thorough research on different UPSC coachings, I found Drishti's admission counseling to be exceptional. However, my experience with their regional centers was less than satisfactory. When inquiring about their regional centers, I discovered a significant problem. Calls made from distant cities to Drishti's regional centers were being routed to Delhi. While the counselors in Delhi were knowledgeable and explained everything well, they seemed unaware of the local challenges faced by aspirants in other cities.

For instance, I mentioned my intention to move from Ujjain to Indore, but the counselor, being based in Delhi, was unable to provide specific information about accommodation, nearby libraries, and the best places to live after enrolling. Similarly, I encountered the same issue with other branches, including Jaipur, Prayagraj, and Lucknow. It was clear that if someone from the respective institute had answered my call, they would have been able to provide much more relevant information tailored to the local context.

Overall, while Drishti's counseling services are commendable, there is room for improvement in ensuring that aspirants receive location-specific advice and support when contacting regional centers.

Study Strategy

Listening to my situation, the counsellor, who was also an aspirant, suggested a coaching strategy tailored for me.

• He recommended enrolling in their General Studies Foundation Course for Prelims and Mains, curating an 18-month plan.
• According to his plan, I could join the latest batch of Drishti IAS General Studies Foundation Course - Prelims and Mains, starting on November 29, 2023, with classes scheduled from Monday to Saturday, 6 pm to 8:30 pm.
• Hybrid Course:
  The counsellor highlighted that the course included live classroom lectures and the option to attend remotely if needed. He emphasised that recorded lectures, with unlimited viewing, would be accessible until December 2025.
• His Strategy: His plan involved starting GS preparation immediately, joining the next Optional Batch, and continuing both prelims and mains coaching for six months. The next six months would focus on GS coaching, allowing ample time for optional revision and preliminary exam preparation.
• Resource Guidance:During the discussion, the counsellor highlighted that Drishti IAS enphasizes leaving all external books and resources aside and asks students to study their books exclusively. While this strategy might work for some, I don’t think it’ll work for everyone. Explore our detailed guide to discover the best books for UPSC preparation.
• CSAT preparation was recommended after the Prelims of 2024 for a better understanding of the paper. Essay classes, comprising 12 lectures, were all advised for later.
• Mentorship: Throughout the course, dedicated mentors with a minimum of 3 UPSC Mains exams under their belt would guide and assess regularly through weekly tasks, clearing doubts, and providing guidance via Whatsapp, voice calls, and Zoom sessions.
• Course Timeline: The counsellor assured that batches, designed for 12-15 months, generally finish on time. Even if there are delays, essential subjects are covered first to avoid complications for the students in prelims. Subjects like Ethics, Essay, and International Relations, exclusive to the mains syllabus, are covered later.
• Other Inclusions:
  The course features 29 subject modules, 7 books of Previous Year Questions (Prelims Practice Series), 5 books (Mains Capsule Series) covering the entire Mains syllabus, two 3-year current affairs crash courses for prelims and mains, weekly current affairs classes, and a monthly magazine, Drishti Current Affairs Today. This course also offers doubt sessions and guidance on answer writing for UPSC.

Towards the end of the session, I asked him about Dr Vikas Divyakirti’s role in the course and the counsellor told me that he will be the one teaching Ethics in this course.

Preparation and Coaching Strategy prepared by Drishti IAS Counsellor

Although taking guidance from a counsellor can come handy, you can also curate a personalized strategy for yourself using my detailed blog titled Expert’s guide on How to Prepare for UPSC. Check it out for more information.

Drishti IAS Trial Class Experience

The counsellor gave me a chance to attend a live class to get a feel for their teaching style. It was 10:45 am, and the class was set for 11:30. I entered the room, choosing a seat in the front row.

• The room was big, having a capacity of around 250 people , with screens for those in the back.
• The teacher, Mr. Sanjay Moga, had a digital whiteboard with two large screens on each side for better visibility.
• It was an Indian Economy class, and even though you can't judge teaching quality in one session, I found the 150-minute class satisfying. Mr. Moga entered with a smile, addressing all the doubts before starting. Some students asked directly by raising their hands, while others had written their questions on paper and placed them on his desk. He announced that he’ll start the class only after all the doubts have been addressed.
• He not only cleared doubts on economics but also on time management and other concerns. One student had asked that she was feeling demotivated while preparing. Mr Moga recommended several ways to get rid of that feeling, like meeting the people who motivate her or include some hobbies into the study schedule. He also told her to meet him after the class for a few minutes. Although I am unsure if he knew someone was there for a demo, he shared useful tips for effective UPSC preparation after the doubts were cleared.
• The topic was Income Tax in India, and he covered all the important points, not allowing writing while explaining. He recited class notes and had students write down a few important things, including several abbreviations that had appeared in the news recently.
  Overall, I liked the teaching method, but it's worth noting that students didn't receive any printed material or handouts after the class. The chairs were comfortable, with bag holders at the bottom, a thoughtful touch that avoided the hassle of placing bags on laps, something I had noticed in crowded classes. Kudos for that.

Drishti IAS Demo Card for Trial Class

My Review

As a UPSC aspirant seeking counselling and admission, I had a smooth and well-planned experience at Drishti IAS. The infrastructure, including the waiting area, counselling section, building, washrooms, and classrooms, was nice. I appreciated that the counsellor understood my position and didn't push for a more expensive combo course, which included CSAT or Essay, even though batches with those combinations were available at this point. This decision felt like a positive aspect of their approach.

I found Drishti IAS fees to be competitive, aligning with other top UPSC coaching centres but they prioritise student experience and make sure it remains great.

However, with a batch strength of 250, the classrooms can get crowded when full, limiting opportunities for students to stand up, ask questions, and engage interactively with teachers. This can defeat the whole purpose of the traditional offline classes. To enhance the classroom experience, Drishti IAS could consider increasing the number of batches and reducing batch sizes, providing students with a more interactive and personalised learning environment.

Coaching is just an added advantage in UPSC preparation. This exam can be cracked without coaching classes. Check out my detailed blog on Arpit Gupta IAS and how he successfully cleared the exam without coaching. Watch Arpit Gupta’s UPSC

Reference pictures showing the hard copies of Drishti IAS fee structure

Drishti IAS Fee Structure (Courses)

Drishti IAS Fee Structure (Combo Packages)