October 6, 2025

Myths Vs. Facts: Clearing The Air About UPSC Examination

The Indian civil service is a prominent job title with a sense of power, authority, competitive pay, and a slew of other perks. More significantly, it empowers hopefuls to participate in shaping the nation’s future actively. However, the UPSC civil services examination is challenging and competitive. Many students abandon their studies in the middle owing to test pressure and a plethora of misconceptions. Should I enrol in a local IAS academy near me? Is it necessary for me to study for 18 hours every day?

We’ve got all the answers to overcome the mythical fear of India’s most challenging exam.

Here are some of the most common UPSC misconceptions debunked.

  • It Is Necessary To Attend A Coaching Institute

Fact: Attending a coaching class offers its own set of advantages, including a personalized study plan, high-quality study materials, mentorship, and more. However, today’s candidates have a variety of choices in contrast to visiting a coaching institution. Take, for instance, free internet resources or even IAS online coaching.

Online coaching can assist you in identifying your strengths and shortcomings and provide you with personalized mentorship to help you develop. All of this while providing you with sufficient flexibility and time for self-study.

  • IAS Aspirants Must Be Well-Versed In Every Subject Matter Under The Sun

Fact: Because of the exam’s unpredictability, candidates frequently believe they should have PhD-level knowledge in every subject under the sun. On the contrary, candidates just need to be well-read, informed, and have a balanced perspective on the topics included in the UPSC syllabus pdf. You must have a general grasp of the topic as well as a fundamental comprehension of the concepts.

  • To Pass The Exam, You Must Be A ‘topper Material’ All-Arounder

Fact: This is another completely false myth. The test assesses your general awareness, analytical skills, and overall capacity to remain cool in stressful situations. Aspirants who take a practical approach to completing the UPSC syllabus and are diligent in learning about the world succeed.

The final phase of the examination does assess your entire personality development. However, you may simply prepare for the interview round by enrolling in an IAS academy.

  • UPSC Cannot be Achieved With A Regular Job

Fact: This is completely incorrect. There are several applicants annually who have a full-time career and have achieved success.

The most difficult challenge for a working aspirant is successfully managing their time. There is also the challenge of reading restricted material. Therefore, these hopefuls must be sure of which materials they must utilise. Consultation with an IAS academy or participation in IAS online coaching for working professionals can be beneficial.

  • To Pass The Civil Service Test, You’ll Need To Study A Lot Of Books & You Need To Study For At Least 16 Hours A Day

Fact: On the contrary, sticking to a small number of books and revising them often is the key to success in UPSC. Additionally, studying for more time than your capacity will only lead to study fatigue. 

Read your NCERT books from classes 8 to 10 carefully since they are enough to give you the basic information on any topic. Keep current with national and worldwide happenings by reading the news daily. Answer as many mocks as you can each day to help you improve your writing pace. Maintain your attention and put in a lot of practice time.

To conclude, forget all the hearsay you’ve heard about the UPSC examinations. Discipline, hard effort, and focused study are all that is required. You can also choose to take a test series to monitor your progress. Choose what makes you comfortable, and you’ll be successful.