Which is the best place for IAS/PCS coaching Delhi or Allahabad?

Vivek ChauhanLast Updated: 3rd February 2025

4 minutes read

Which is the best place for IASPCS coaching Delhi or Allahabad?

The choice of a city for coaching can be instrumental for any candidate while preparing for competitive exams like IAS or PCS. Students flock to two of the most famous cities: Delhi and Allahabad (now called Prayag). Both cities have a long-standing tradition of being education hubs but provide varied experiences and conveniences. Therefore, what would be a better option for you? Let’s discuss both cities in detail.

Table of Contents

1. Delhi for IAS/PCS Coaching

Delhi is often regarded as the heart of IAS/PCS preparation. The highest number of coaching institutes, seasoned faculty, and aspirants from all parts of India act as the focus for IAS aspirants. Here are some of the reasons that make Delhi a prime destination for UPSC and state civil services aspirants:

Pros of Delhi:

A Great Array of Coaching Institutes: Delhi has a plethora of coaching institutes for IAS and PCS preparations, from weekend to full-fledged one-year courses, providing itself with every sort of educational alternative. Some of the most famous names include Vajiram & Ravi, Rau’s IAS Study Circle, Chanakya IAS Academy, and Vision IAS, to name just a few. Such a great number of coaching institutes allow students to choose among many different teaching methodologies, fee structures, and course contents.

Faculty Staff of Superior Quality: Many top faculties are in Delhi, including former civil servants and domain experts. This gives students another incentive to seek their guidance.

Access to Resources: There exists a huge range of libraries, bookstores, and study materials in Delhi. For any specific book for the preparation of current affairs material, the city has everything for comprehensive preparation.

Networking Opportunities: The city attracts thousands of students from all over India for IAS and PCS coaching. Competitive, too, acts as a networking platform where students search for resources, share them, impart strategies, and express their physical and mental woes.

Close to Government and Administrative Approaches: Students are often fortunate to attend seminars, events, and prominent personalities’ meetings, which may be beneficial for interviews and an uptick in general awareness, in the alleyways of political and official administration in Delhi.

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Negative to Consider in Delhi:

High Cost of Living: If there is something that can justifiably disadvantage life in Delhi, it is the exorbitant living costs. Rent, food, and daily expenses sometimes become too hefty a burden. This can turn out to be a financial encumbrance for those students who have traveled from outside.

Crowdedness: At times, this huge number of students is an overwhelming sight in Delhi. The honking and hollering of the city may make concentration an uphill task for some students.

Competition Levels: The competition is huge due to the bulk of aspirants in Delhi. While this pattern may prove a source of motivation for some, it also stands to be a stressful situation for many others who just cannot stand out.

2. Allahabad (Prayagraj) Overview for IAS/PCS Coaching

While a major center within itself, Prayagraj has also become an important place for civil services coaching, especially for UPPSC entrants. The city has a magnificent academic history and is Provided with many worthy coaching centers.

Advantages of Allahabad:

Much Cheaper: The standard of living in Allahabad is much cheaper than in Delhi. The rent, food prices, and transportation costs are much lower, making this to be a place where a student can plan his survival fairly well.
Serene Environment and Calm: Allahabad, compared to the hustle and bustle of Delhi, is a more peaceful environment that is conducive to serious study, especially for students who wish to be far away from distractions. The simple serenity of the city with its academic activities gives relief to those wanting to be away from the bustling noise of larger cities.
Less Crowded Batches: Most of the coaching institutes in Allahabad have lesser batch strength as opposed to the giant coaching institutes in Delhi. This guarantees greater individualized attention and interaction with faculty, which only benefits students needing adequate instruction.

Cons of Allahabad

Fewer Coaching Options: Even though there are some reputed coaching institutes, the number of available coaching centers is far less in Allahabad than in Delhi. Some students might feel restrained in their choice of coaching institutes or prefer having a wider variety of options.
Limited Networking Opportunities: Notably, while Allahabad remains a popular destination for students from Uttar Pradesh and other neighboring states, it has not attained the status of an All-India Centre such as Delhi. Thus, students willing to come to study from India’s outer areas will not get to experience the same level of diversity or networking as they would have in Delhi.
Fewer Additional Resources: An option in Delhi would offer a plethora of libraries, bookstores, and resources for Civil Services aspirants, whereas in Allahabad, the variety offered is not so great. On the contrary, students might have to rely on online resources or the study materials provided by their respective coaching institutes.

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3. Comparing the Two Cities: Delhi vs. Allahabad

Feature	Delhi	Allahabad (Prayagraj)
Coaching Institutes	Numerous top institutes like Vajiram, Rau’s IAS, Vision IAS, etc.	Fewer institutes, but some reputed ones like Allahabad’s Study Circle
Faculty Quality	Access to experienced faculty, many ex-civil servants	Experienced faculty, focused on state-level exams
Living Costs	High cost of living, expensive rentals	Low cost of living, affordable accommodations
City Environment	Busy, crowded, and fast-paced	Peaceful, calm, and quieter atmosphere
Resources Available	Extensive study material and libraries	Limited resources compared to Delhi
Competition	Intense competition due to a high number of aspirants	Less competition but also fewer options

Conclusion: Which One is Better?

The preference for Delhi or Allahabad may differ from person to person depending on various aspects such as budget, study preference, and quality of coaching. If a student can be unfazed about Delhi’s high cost of living and prefers the exposure to stellar coaching with a lot of competition pressure, going for Delhi makes plenty of sense. On the contrary, if affordability, a serene environment, and a focused approach to the PCS preparation are primarily being considered, then Allahabad makes a pretty strong case.

All in all, clearing IAS/PCS interviews and exams depends on the candidate’s commitment, consistency, and ability to effectively study and utilize resources, irrespective of the location.