Mangalore's Best Civil Service Academy
Ace IAS Academy, an initiative of Ace Foundation, stands as a premier institution for civil service preparation, renowned for its expert faculty and personalized mentorship. We provide a meticulously designed curriculum that not only delivers in-depth academic knowledge but also builds the practical skills needed to succeed in IAS, IPS, KAS & other government exams. Our tailored approach ensures that each student receives the guidance and support necessary to confidently tackle the challenges of the civil services journey.
At Ace IAS Academy, we are dedicated to fostering excellence, empowering our students achieve their goals and make a meaningful impact on society and the nation.
Our Values
Making Your Learning More Enjoyable
Vision
Ace IAS Academy envisions transforming coastal Karnataka into a recognized center for civil services excellence. By tapping into the region’s educational strength, we aim to raise awareness and aspirations for high-ranking government roles, empowering a new generation of leaders to shape the future of our nation.
Mission
At Ace IAS Academy, our mission is to equip aspirants with the best resources, expert guidance, and a conducive learning environment to excel in high-ranking civil service exams. We are committed to fostering a culture of discipline, dedication, and academic excellence, ensuring that every student has the tools and support needed to achieve their goals.
What you can expect at ACE IAS (ACE CIVIL SERVICE ACADEMY)
Our courses at ACE IAS empower individuals to excel as Civil Servants by addressing key aspects: understanding the requirements of the role, integrating diverse viewpoints, mastering effective answer writing, providing unique insights, cultivating powerful presentation skills, and communicating viewpoints confidently and persuasively. These elements are integral to our mission of preparing confident and effective future civil servants.
Why Choose Us
Experience Interactive Learning
01
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
At ACE-IAS, our programs start by building a strong foundation and progress into advanced sessions, including focused practice for answer writing and essays. We emphasize conceptual clarity and use past exam questions to direct your study efforts effectively
02
Answer Writing and Essay Practice
Our focus at ACE-IAS is on developing effective answer writing skills for the UPSC Mains examination. We emphasize both “How to write” and “What to write,” ensuring answers are crafted within time and word limits. Responses are evaluated to UPSC standards, providing constructive feedback and discussing model answers.
03
TEST & EVALUATION
At ACE-IAS, tests are a crucial part of our classroom program, serving three key purposes: promoting daily study discipline, enabling self-evaluation to track progress, and offering constructive peer comparisons to boost learning. Regular tests are conducted on a subject-wise, sectional, and full-length basis.
04
Library and Study Room
Our library and study rooms offer a focused environment for your preparation. The library provides a rich collection of resources, while our study rooms are equipped for both individual and group study.
05
Interview Guidance
At ACE-IAS, we help you prepare for the IAS interview with personalized coaching that builds your confidence and skills. Through mock interviews and constructive feedback, we work with you to refine your responses and presentation. Our goal is to ensure you feel well-prepared and ready to make a strong impression in the final stage of the selection process.
06
Sessions With Officers
We host exclusive sessions with experienced IAS officers, offering students direct insights into the UPSC journey and the life of a civil servant. These interactive sessions provide practical advice, real-life experiences, and guidance to help students prepare effectively for both the exam and their future roles.
We Also Provide
ACE-IAS provides rigorous preparation for civil services exams with a dedicated team of experienced faculty, guided by eminent academicians and civil servants. The institute emphasizes effective study practices, offers special lectures by current civil servants, and conducts regular tests aligned with UPSC standards. Students benefit from individualized doubt-clearing sessions, stress management modules, and workshops on communication skills. The institute’s state-of-the-art facilities include well-equipped classrooms, a comprehensive library, internet access, and separate hostel accommodations, fostering a conducive learning environment for aspiring civil servants.
Our Team
Qualified faculty for IAS, IPS & KAS academy
He is a seasoned educator and coach with over a decade of experience in mentoring IAS aspirants across India. With degrees in Commerce, Law, Human Rights, History, Public Administration, Religion & Philosophy, and an LLM in Criminology, he brings a rich academic background to his teaching. His expertise in Polity and Governance is unparalleled, complemented by his experience as an advocate and multiple attempts at UPSC-IAS interviews. He teaches Sociology and Philosophy Optional Subjects, as well as Polity and Governance in General Studies, with a focus on exam-oriented preparation. His classes are known for their lively delivery and deep insights into the subjects.
Adv. Idris M S
He is an adventurous academician and martial artist with multiple master's degrees in History, Political Science, Religion and Philosophy, Defence Strategic Studies, Public Administration, and Law. His rich background includes serving as personal secretary to Dr. Shashi Tharoor and being selected for Indian Army Officer’s Training. Known for his unique teaching style, Adv. Manoj employs a diachronic approach to history, making it easier for UPSC aspirants to grasp timelines and events crucial for their success.
Adv. Manoj Madhav
Mr. Ilanchezhian, a former topper in the UPSC CAPF examination and Asst. Commandant of CRPF, brings extensive experience from serving in Naxal belts. Passionate about teaching, he now focuses on Geography for Civil Service aspirants nationwide. Currently serving as Deputy Director in Tamil Nadu Milk Production, he is a key member of ACE IAS Teaching Team, specializing in CSAT and Geography.
Mr. Ilanchezhian K M
Dr. Prakasam is a distinguished Scientist and passionate mentor for civil service aspirants nationwide. With extensive academic credentials including multiple Master's degrees, M. Phil, Ph.D., and UGC NET, he brings over a decade of research and teaching experience. He has excelled in UPSC-IAS interviews thrice and currently serves in ICAR, Government of India. Specializing in Agriculture, Agro-Economics, Environment, and Science & Technology for General Studies, his classes are known for their lively, exam-oriented approach, enriched by his profound insights and deep subject knowledge.
Dr. V Prakasam
Mr. Shanmugapriyan is a passionate teacher. He holds a Degree in Engineering and Masters in Political Science. He is an expert in CSAT especially in Analytical Ability, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Often referred to as ‘The Wizard of Reasoning’ by his students, Shanmugapriyan brings forth years of rich experience in handling aptitude classes for various competitive exams across various institutes all over India. A faculty with a charming wit, he manages to translate the very same charm into decoding and explaining difficult topics to the students in a lucid manner.
Mr. Shanmugapriyan
Ms. Anne D’ Souza is a dedicated teacher with Master's degrees in Commerce and History. Known for her calm demeanor and deep subject understanding, she excels in teaching General Science and its practical applications. Students value her informative and engaging classes, where she integrates current affairs analysis seamlessly. Her commitment to humility and leadership by example underscores her teaching philosophy.
Ms. Anne D’ Souza
Mr. Rajesh is an All India Rank holder of UPSC Assistant Commandant Exam. He holds Masters Degree in Agricultural Science and M. Phil. He has gone to UPSC Interviews twice. He has extensive Knowledge in the areas of Central Paramilitary Force, Law & Order, Internal Security & Agriculture, Environment, Bio Science as well as Applied Science. Mr. Rajesh due to his passion for teaching quit CISF and started teaching for Civil Service aspirants in several Coaching Academies at Chennai. As an ex-officer, he decided to join ACE IAS.
Mr. Rajesh A
Dr. Shiva Kumar is a teacher and a Medical Doctor. He holds Degree in Medicine and Masters in Public Administration. He has gone to the level of UPSC and KPSC Interviews. He teaches BioScience, Environmental Science and Current Affairs for the students of ACE IAS.
Dr. Shiva Kumar Biradar
Mrs. Sowmiya Devi is a passionate teacher and an officer working in leading Public Sector Undertaking, Govt. of India. She holds a Master Degrees in Bio – Technology, Public Administration and M. Phil. She has nearly a decade of experience in Civil Service Exam Preparation and teaching civil service aspirants in many leading institutes in Hyderabad. She has gone to the level of UPSC IAS Interviews Twice. She teaches Public Administration and Current Affairs, Environment, Life Science subjects in General Studies and CSAT. Her in-depth knowledge of subjects makes her classes informative, interesting and Competitive Exam oriented.
Mrs. Sowmiya Devi
FAQ
Got Questions? We've Got Answers
Stage 3: Interview / Personality Test
Stage 2: Main Exam
Stage 1: Preliminary Exam
Paper 1: General Studies (200 Marks)
Paper 2: Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) (200 Marks) - Qualifying Paper (34%)
- Qualifying Paper: English (300 Marks) – 25%
- Qualifying Paper: Regional Language (300 Marks) – 25%
- Essay (250 Marks)
- General Studies Paper 1 (250 Marks)
- General Studies Paper 2 (250 Marks)
- General Studies Paper 3 (250 Marks)
- General Studies Paper 4 (250 Marks)
- Optional Paper 1 (250 Marks)
- Optional Paper 2 (250 Marks)
Students who qualify for Interview are called by the UPSC in January or February. The Interviews usually start 2 weeks after the Main Exam results are announced. The duration of Interviews is around 40 days.
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 by March - April.
Final Ranking and Service allocation are based on the combined marks scored in Main Examination (1750) and Interview (275) and on the preferences given by the candidates at the time of filling up of the Main Examination application form and the Reservation Category to which the candidates belongs.
UPSC publishes the advertisement for holding the Civil Services Examination every year in the month of April for the Preliminary Test to be held in June, of that year. Applications are invited by UPSC till May of that year.
Students must be degree holders or graduates (degree recognized by University Grants Commission) to appear for this Examination. Indian students holding a foreign degree need to ensure that their degree is accredited or recognized by UGC. Those students who are in Final Semester in Degree and have completed 21 years are eligible to appear.
- Candidates belonging to General category 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.
- Candidates belonging to OBC (non creamy layer) category must have attained the age of 21 on 1st August of the year of the Exam but must not have attained the age of 35 on 1st August of the year of the Exam.
- Candidates belonging to SC category must have attained the age of 21 on 1st August of the year of the Exam but must not have attained the age of 37 on 1st August of the year of the Exam.
- Candidates belonging to ST category must have attained the age of 21 on 1st August of the year of the Exam but must not have attained the age of 37on 1st August of the year of the Exam.
- General category and OBC (creamy layer) category have a maximum of 6 attempts.
- OBC (non-creamy layer) have a maximum of 9 attempts.
- For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category candidates, there is no limit on the number of attempts till they attain the age of 37 years.
Students belonging to OBC/SC/ST can give the first 6 attempts as General category candidates (if they so desire) and thereafter they can avail the relaxation in the number of attempts by availing the category benefits.
The number of vacancies reported by Union Public Service Commission varies every year. The number of vacancies per year in the last 3 years had varied between 850 and 1100.
Every year, in the month of June the 1st stage (Preliminary Test) of the Civil Services Examination is held. The number of students aspiring for the UPSC Civil Services has gone up to more than 1,200,000 who fill the form and the number of people appearing in the preliminary exam is almost 600,000.
Out of the 6 Lakhs candidates appearing in the Preliminary Examination, the number of candidates qualifying is dependent on the number of vacancies in the Civil Services advertised that year.
To give an example, if the advertisement is for 1000 vacancies, then about 12,000 candidates would be called (qualified) by the UPSC to appear in the Main exam & the number of candidates who will qualify the Main examination to appear in the Interview would be about 2500.
The exact schedule of Main exam varies every year and is usually notified by UPSC on its website www.upsc.gov.in.
To give an idea following is the usual schedule of the Examination:
- Notification and Form filling for Preliminary Test – February - March
- Date of Preliminary Test – 2nd or 3rd Week of June
- Result of Preliminary Test –1st or 2nd Week of August
- Main Examination commencement – October (duration – 5 days)
- Declaration of Main Examination results – December or January (next year)
- Personality Test or Interview – January and February (next year)
- Declaration of Final merit list – March - April (next year)
The exact schedule of Main exam varies every year and is usually notified by UPSC on its website www.upsc.gov.in.
To give an idea following is the usual schedule of the Examination:
- Notification and Form filling for Preliminary Test – February - March
- Date of Preliminary Test – 2nd or 3rd Week of June
- Result of Preliminary Test –1st or 2nd Week of August
- Main Examination commencement – October (duration – 5 days)
- Declaration of Main Examination results – December or January (next year)
- Personality Test or Interview – January and February (next year)
- Declaration of Final merit list – March - April (next year)
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce & Accounts, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science & International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.
Arabic, Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Chinese, Dogri, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.
Ideally the Main Examination preparation needs to be done before the preparation of Preliminary Examination.
The primary reason being lack of time between Preliminary Exam and Main Exam (which is around 4 months before the Main exam and only around 2 months before the declaration of Preliminary Examination result). This time of (4 months or 2 months) is insufficient for any preparation from ground-up for both the Optional subject and General Studies.
The available time is only sufficient for revision of GS and the Optional subject and appearing in mock tests in GS and the Optional subject. At most the available time is just enough to prepare only GS (Main) and the remaining Optional subject had already been prepared in advance by the candidate.
Hence, students are advised to prepare for the optional subject from September onwards and the GS (Preliminary+ Main) and Aptitude Test from January onwards.
Optional subjects offered at ACE IAS are Sociology, Public Administration, History, Philosophy & Geography.
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is considered to be the mother of all written examinations. It is a curriculum heavy examination, especially at the Main exam stage. A candidate, therefore, has to prepare first for the Main Exam and then for the Prelim (but the preparation goes hand in hand with Prelims and Mains together). This is so because, if one starts his preparation for the Main exam after the having written the Prelim exam, he will have just three months (July to September) to prepare the Optional subject, Essay and General Studies, which is almost impossible to achieve.
The optional subject is of post graduation level and usually, it will be totally a new subject. Based on the rich experience that ACE IAS has gained by guiding Civil Services aspirants, we suggest the following course of preparation for the CSE.
Kindly follow the steps shown below:
Step 1: (Start at least one year before you intend to take the Prelim exam). From the last week of September to January, prepare the optional subject if it is new to you and CSAT.
Step 2: From the Last week of October to May, prepare GS, both for the Prelim and Main exam. If time permits you may revise your optional subject.
Step 3: From last week of March to May revise GS and CSAT for the Prelim exam.
Step 4: From the last week of June to September revise the optional subject, GS and prepare for Essay for the Main exam. The compulsory English and Indian language papers generally do not need any formal preparation. Join a test series for GS and optional subject. Students from North East India are exempted from writing Indian Language Papers.
Note: The above suggestions apply to vast majority of candidates who are preparing full time for the CSE, without taking up any job. For other candidates, the preparation may have to be re-scheduled accordingly. They may consult our Institute for further help.