Overview
The MaargX GS Foundation Course (2 Year) is a 24-month online course for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, built in four phases: core subjects, Mains-specific subjects, CSAT and a final answer-writing phase. Phases 1 to 3 add up to 96 weeks, 490 classes and 980 hours of live teaching. Phases 1 and 2 run at one class a day, in 2-hour classes.
Alongside the classes, students get daily answer writing, 10,000+ topic-wise MCQs in an AI-powered LMS, a performance dashboard and mentor access anytime.
Course at a glance
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Duration | 24 months (96 weeks of teaching in Phases 1 to 3), then a flexible answer-writing phase |
| Total teaching time | 980 hours across 490 classes |
| Class format | Live online classes in a controlled learning zone, in 2-hour classes (one a day in Phases 1 and 2) |
| Phases | The Cores, The Advanced, The Inevitable Aptitude (CSAT) and The Answer Writing Strategy |
| Answer writing | Mains Test Series (16 sectional tests), Essay Test Series (10 theme-based tests) and weekly essay-crafting workshops |
| Practice | 10,000+ topic-wise Prelims MCQs in the AI-powered LMS |
| Support | Let's Talk faculty portal, peer mentorship pods and a Doubt Resolution Desk |
| Study material | Complete hard copy and soft copy |
How it differs from the 1-year course
Both courses carry 980 hours and 490 classes of teaching. The GS Foundation Course (1 Year) delivers them in 12 months at two classes a day. The 2-year course spreads them over 24 months at one class a day, gives CSAT two months instead of one, and adds a fourth phase devoted to answer writing.
Related courses and resources
For a longer plan, see the Three Year Foundation Batch. For extra practice, see the GS Mains Test Series, the Prelims Test Series (GS & CSAT) or the CSAT Batch + Test Series.
Curriculum
Phases Compared
The first two phases shift the course from foundations to advanced mastery. Phase 3 prepares students for CSAT, and Phase 4 is devoted to answer writing.
| Detail | Phase 1: The Cores | Phase 2: The Advanced | Phase 3: The Inevitable Aptitude | Phase 4: The Answer Writing Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination focus | Prelims cum Mains overlap | Strictly Mains specifics | CSAT mastery and testing | Mains and essay answer writing |
| Duration | 14 months (56 weeks) | 8 months (32 weeks) | 2 months (8 weeks) | After syllabus completion, on a flexible schedule |
| Hours and classes | 560 hours, 280 classes | 320 hours, 160 classes | 100 hours, 50 classes | Mentored guided self-preparation |
| Pace | 1 class a day, 2 hours a day | 1 class a day, 2 hours a day | 2-hour classes (50 classes over 8 weeks) | Flexible, as per the candidate's strategy |
| Knowledge application | Broad conceptual understanding | Analytical, ethical and situational reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English Comprehension | Write, get instant evaluation, refine with mentors |
| Subject nature | Static and foundational (History, Polity, Geography) | Dynamic and applied (Security, IR, Governance) | Integrated with a dedicated CSAT Test Series | 16 Mains sectional tests and 10 essay tests |
Phases 1 to 3 together make up 24 months, 96 weeks, 490 classes and 980 hours.
Answer Writing
Phase 4, The Answer Writing Strategy, is a mentored, guided self-preparation phase that begins once the syllabus is complete. The schedule is flexible and follows each candidate's own strategy.
The phase runs as a three-step cycle: write, get instant evaluation, then refine with mentors.
Write
- Mains Test Series with 16 sectional tests.
- Essay Test Series with 10 theme-based tests.
Instant evaluation
Answer Writing Studios evaluate written answers instantly.
Mentored refinement
Essay-crafting workshops are held every week, so students can improve each answer with mentor guidance.
Current Affairs
Current affairs run on a six-day cycle, with a daily class covering newspapers, editorials and MCQs. The newspaper sources are The Hindu, The Indian Express and PIB.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Economy |
| Day 2 | Polity |
| Day 3 | Science and Technology |
| Day 4 | Environment |
| Day 5 | International Relations |
| Day 6 | Doubt resolution and weekly test |
The course also includes EEE classes (Editorial, Explained and English) and mapping modules covering state-wise and international places in the news. You can follow MaargX UPSC's daily UPSC current affairs articles and the Maarg Manthan knowledge hub as well.
AI & LMS
Saarthipedia, UPSC Preparation Reimagined with AI, is the platform behind the course. It has three parts: an engine, a database and a dashboard.
The engine
An AI-powered LMS that covers the entire landscape of Prelims, Mains and current affairs.
The database
10,000+ topic-wise Prelims MCQs, integrated directly into the AI-powered LMS.
The output
My Performance Dashboard gives AI-based progress tracking and strategic interventions, so students can see where to focus next.
Mentorship & Support
Four support channels surround every candidate, each with a clear job.
- Academic navigation: faculty interaction through the Let's Talk portal for conceptual clarity.
- Strategic guidance: a Doubt Resolution Desk with mentor access anytime.
- Skill building: weekly MCQ skill-development classes with UPSC Prelims PYQ analysis.
- Peer accountability: P2P mentorship pods for academic and strategic alignment.
Mains Studio adds daily answer writing through DPPs (Daily Practice Problems).
What's Included
The Foundational Ecosystem rests on three pillars: academic rigor, AI and tech enablement, and mentorship and evaluation.
Academic rigor
- General Studies live classes in a controlled learning zone.
- EEE classes: Editorial, Explained and English.
- Mapping modules: state-wise and international.
- Complete study material in hard copy and soft copy.
AI and tech enablement
- Saarthipedia, UPSC Preparation Reimagined.
- AI-powered LMS.
- Performance dashboard.
Mentorship and evaluation
- Mains Studio: daily answer writing DPPs.
- Faculty Let's Talk portal.
- P2P mentorship pods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MaargX GS Foundation Course (2 Year)?
It is a 24-month online course for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, built in four phases: The Cores, The Advanced, The Inevitable Aptitude (CSAT) and The Answer Writing Strategy. It combines live classes, AI-powered tracking and a full Prelims and Mains strategy.
How many hours and classes does the 2-year course have?
Phases 1 to 3 have 980 hours and 490 classes over 24 months and 96 weeks. Phase 1 has 560 hours (280 classes), Phase 2 has 320 hours (160 classes) and Phase 3 has 100 hours (50 classes). Phases 1 and 2 run at one class a day, in 2-hour classes.
Which subjects are covered in each phase?
Phase 1 covers Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Art and Culture, Environment, and Science and Technology. Phase 2 covers twelve Mains subjects, including Governance, Ethics, International Relations, Internal Security and Disaster Management. Phase 3 covers CSAT.
What is Phase 4, The Answer Writing Strategy?
Phase 4 is a mentored, guided self-preparation phase after the syllabus is complete, on a flexible schedule. It includes a Mains Test Series of 16 sectional tests, an Essay Test Series of 10 theme-based tests, instant evaluation in Answer Writing Studios and weekly essay-crafting workshops.
How is the 2-year course different from the 1-year course?
Both carry 980 hours and 490 classes of teaching. The 1-year course delivers them in 12 months at two classes a day, while the 2-year course spreads them over 24 months at one class a day, gives CSAT two months instead of one, and adds the Answer Writing phase.
Does the course include CSAT?
Yes. Phase 3 is a two-month CSAT phase of 100 hours and 50 classes, covering Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning and English Comprehension. It is integrated with a dedicated CSAT Test Series.
How is current affairs taught?
A daily class covers newspapers (The Hindu, The Indian Express and PIB), editorials and MCQs. The week runs on a six-day cycle: Economy, Polity, Science and Technology, Environment and International Relations on Days 1 to 5, and doubt resolution with a weekly test on Day 6.
What is Saarthipedia and the My Performance Dashboard?
Saarthipedia is the AI-powered platform behind the course. Its LMS holds 10,000+ topic-wise Prelims MCQs, and the My Performance Dashboard gives AI-based progress tracking and strategic interventions.
What mentoring and doubt-clearing support is included?
Students get faculty interaction through the Let's Talk portal, a Doubt Resolution Desk with mentor access anytime, weekly MCQ skill-development classes with Prelims PYQ analysis, and peer-to-peer mentorship pods.
How can I enrol in the GS Foundation Course (2 Year)?
Use the Explore Course / Enroll Now button at the top of this page, or call MaargX UPSC on +91-7877885089 or write to contact@maargxupsc.com.
