Frequently Asked Questions

The IAS examination comprises of two successive stages. Those who make it through all the stages of the UPSC exam enter into the most coveted services of the Country like IAS, IPS, IFS, IFoS, IRS and others.

UPSC IAS Exam Pattern

The two stages of the Civil Services Exam (IAS Exam) are:

1. Stage I - Civil Services Preliminary Examination

2. Stage II – Civil Services Main Examination

Civil Services Preliminary Examination

Civil Services Preliminary Examination is conducted to select candidates for the Main Examination. It is objective type in nature and consists of two papers carryi... Read more ...

UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam is a screening test to select candidates for Civil Services Main Examination. It comprises of 2 compulsory Papers that are conducted on same day in two – sessions via offline mode (pen – paper).

1. Both the papers of UPS.... Read more ...

Ans.- The Main Exam (Subjective papers of 2000 marks) consists of 9 papers which are usually held from early December for around 5-7 days. Read more....

Ans.- The Interviews usually start 2 weeks after the Main Exam results are announced. Read more....

Ans.- There are many important aspects to be kept in mind while choosing an Optional Subject -
Interest and academic backgrou... Read more....

Ans.- First get familiar with the process of UPSC Civil Services Exam.
Generate interest and curiosity regarding the services and whole exam pro... Read more....

Ans.- The main examination is all about writing answers according to the demand of the questions. Read more....

Ans.- The significance of Current Affairs in this prestigious Civil Services Examination is increasing every year. In both Preliminary Test and Main Exam, majority of the questi... Read more....

Ans.- This is computed on the basis of the total marks scored by candidates in Main Examination (1750) and Personality Test or Interview (275). The final result is declared Read more....

Ans.- UPSC publishes the advertisement for holding the Civil Services Examination every year in the month of February for the Preliminary Test to be held by the end of May of the ne...Read more....

Ans.- Students must be degree holders or graduates (degree recognized by University Grants Commission) to appear for this Examination. Read more....

Ans.- Candidates belonging to General category and OBC (creamy layer) must have attained the age of 21 on 1st August of the year of the Exam but must not have attained the age of 32 on 1st August of the year of the Exam.Read more....

Ans.- General category and OBC (creamy layer) category have a maximum of 6 attempts. OBC (non creamy layer) have a maximum of 9 attempts.Read more....

Ans.- The number of vacancies reported by Union Public Service Commission varies every year.Read more....

Ans.- Every year, for the 1st stage (Preliminary Test), the number of students aspiring for the UPSC Civil Services has gone up to more than 600,000 to 850000 who fill the form and the number of people appearing in the preliminary exam is about 400,000. Read more....

Ans.- The exact schedule of Main exam varies every year and is usually notified by UPSC on its website www.upsc.gov.in. Read more....

Ans.- Students have to choose any one optional subject from a list of the following optional subjects. Read more....

Ans.- Ideally the Main Examination preparation needs to be done before the preparation of Preliminary Examination.Read more....

Ans.- For the convenience of preparation of the students, we have divided our coaching programme into three sessions a year started, in May, July and the last session in the third week of August. The May, July and August sessions focus on General Studies (Prelim cum Main), Optional Subjects and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)... Read more....

Ans.- We conduct three sessions in General Studies (Prelim cum Main) in May/ June, July and August every ye..Read more....

Ans.- “May Session” details will be available on our website www.vajiramandravi.com in February that year. “July Session” Batch details will be available on our website www.vajiramandravi.com in May. “August Session” Batch details will be available on our website www.vajiramandravi.com in July.

Ans.- Paper I – (200 marks) 2 hrs (General Studies)

Paper II – (200 marks) 2 hrs (CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test)

Ans : Subjects offered at Vajiram and Ravi are Public Administration, Geography, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Commerce & Accountancy, Anthropology, Philosophy and Mathematics.

Ans : Vajiram does not have hostel facility however there are plenty of PGs and Hostels available within close proximity to the institute.
Also, Students can contact the following numbers to help with their accommations.
List of PGs and Hostels in Delhi

PG and Hostel list in Chennai will be updated shortly.

Ans.- A student would receive the first package in a week after successful payment is confirmed by the bank.

Ans.- The student would receive the receipt by email for online payment. The receipt would be sent by post along with the first package for demand draft payments.

Ans.- You can change the postal address by communicating to us on vrpostal@gmail.com, quoting your admission number in the correspondence.

Ans.- The schedule of the study material is distributed through the period of August 2016 to June 2017. The sequence of books would be couriered after it is updated based on the past years papers.

Ans.- Vajiram & Ravi’s office in Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi is the only source of purchasing study material. A student can buy study material either by visiting the office or online on www.vajiramandravi.com/postal-series/

Ans.- The study material sold under Vajiram & Ravi's name in photocopy shops and online sites are not verified by us and we cannot confirm that the material is the same as what we give out to our students. So, they could be spurious and fake material sold under our banner, which will cause harm to a students' preparation. Only study material sold at Vajiram & Ravi's office at old Rajinder Nagar,New Delhi and www.vajiramandravi.com are authentic and verified by us.

Ans.- The student may use Visa or Master card powered debit card or credit card of any bank to pay Online for the postal course. Debit cards that are sourced through visa electron or mestro card etc are not allowed.

Ans.- Yes, the whole amount for postal coaching is to be paid in full.

Ans.- Most of the books cater to both the Prelim and Main Exams. However, there are few books that cater to only the four G.S Main papers.

Ans.- The postal course is directed towards the Prelim and Main exams, held in a year. For the year 2016, the Prelim cum Main G.S study material would be circulated upto June 2017. Those students, who wish to extent their attempts to 2018, can contact the office by vrpostal@gmail.com, enquiring about the updated material for the next year.

Ans.- The period between July 2016 to June 2017 contains relevant information to be followed under current affairs. Hence, the subscription period would be open between this period and student applying at a later month would receive the previous magazines from July 2016 to June 2017.

Ans.- Yes, the postal coaching fee would not include the postal charges. However, this process is to be decided by the student at the time of application to the correspondence/postal course.

Ans.- The student can discontinue and cancel the postal course only within a week of joining the postal course, after which the admission would not be cancelled. Also, study material once dispatched will not be taken back, even if it is unused by the student.

Ans.- Class notes and handouts are given exclusively to classroom coaching students and would not be available for postal coaching students.

Ans.- The current affairs magazine is printed and ready for circulation by day 12th of every month. The student should receive the magazine by day 16th of every month.

Ans.- We have postal coaching only for Public Administration optional subject. At present we do not have study material for other optional subjects, in spite of them being taught as part of classroom course at Vajiram & Ravi.

Ans.- The exhaustive study material has been prepared by subject experts based on the demand of this exam and past years’ question papers. However, it is difficult to exactly determine the syllabus of the Civil Services Exam and it would be obscure for any study material to claim that it completely fulfills the needs of this exam.

Ans.- At present we do not have an evaluation process. However, we would be soon beginning a evaluation process for postal course students. Students, who are unable to join the classroom coaching in New Delhi, can evaluate themselves using the Online Tests, Answer writing practice, weekly articles and email support to help out in their preparation.