Integrated Prelims cum Mains Program – 2026 2.0

Program Details

Integrated Prelims cum Mains + Mentorship Program – 2026 2.0

Starting Date - 24th July 2025

Key Features:

• 46 Prelims Tests
   Each test consists of 100 high-quality, UPSC-standard multiple-choice questions.
   
• 37 GS Mains Tests + 8 Essay Tests
   Includes a mix of Mini and Full-Length Tests designed to build conceptual clarity and exam readiness.
   
• Test Breakdown:
   
  • 25 Mini Tests – 10 Questions per test
     
    • 5 Questions (10 Marks) + 5 Questions (15 Marks)
       
  • 12 Full-Length Tests – 20 Questions per test
     
    • 10 Questions (10 Marks) + 10 Questions (15 Marks)
       
• Three-Phase EBS Approach:
   
  • Essential, Breakthrough, and Simulation rounds for structured and progressive preparation.
     
• One-on-One Mentorship
   Personalized guidance to address individual strengths and areas for improvement.

• Time-bound & Comprehensive Evaluation
   Detailed feedback with actionable insights for improvement.

• Daily Answer Writing Practice
   Regular evaluation of Secure initiative answers by experienced mentors.

Starts on : 24th July 2025

Fee: Rs 26000/- (Inclusive of all taxes)

Discounts:

• Early Bird Offer: 10% off till 20^th July 2025

• Old Subscribers Discount:10%

All the OGP & CORE students of INSIGHTSIAS and subscribers of various test series programs (Prelims or MAINS) will get an exclusive discount of 10%

Detailed explanation of the timetable and tips to follow the timetable:

1. Timetable is so designed that we complete every subject in 3 rounds

• 1st Round is Essential round where you can expect questions mostly to check your conceptual understanding.
• 2nd Round is Breakthrough round where you will apply knowledge and skills to solve the questions (link for skills & intelligent guessing is given at the end of the document)
• 3rd Round is Simulation round where the entire paper mimics UPSC Prelims Paper and prepares you to tackle any kind of question.

2. Time Gap Between tests in Essential round is kept 10 days (in 95% of the cases except during Sundays and Festivals & Revision Test) as it is the 1st time that you will be covering the syllabus. Even if you are not able to complete the syllabus, do not panic, as you will be covering during the Revision tests and also the 2nd round.

3. Time Gap between the tests in Breakthrough round is reduced to 7 days (except GS-4 MAINS TESTS) having known that you would have covered the syllabus during elementary round. Again, Revision Tests of Breakthrough round will equip you with confidence of having covered the syllabus 4 times by now. In the Breakthrough Round you will also be covering important releases by Government from which questions are mostly expected every year – INDIA YEAR BOOK , ECONOMIC SURVEY & BUDGET.

4. Before the start of the Simulation Round, we will be providing you classes with tips and techniques in scoring high in prelims and also a few other important classes.

5. The Simulation Round Mimics the UPSC exam and ensures you are well prepared for any kind of paper in the exam. We try to nudge you with the difficulty level and out of the box questions.

–Alternate Simulation Tests will have GS as well as CSAT on the same day so that you get acclimatized to the UPSC Prelims exam.

The Mains Simulation Round will be conducted in two phases: the first set before the UPSC CSE Prelims Examination, and the second set after the Prelims.

6. Note on Sources Mentioned:

• In all cases except otherwise specifically mentioned we will follow New NCERTs
• Economy:  New edition of Ramesh Singh will be referred.
• Modern India: Refer to either the Latest edition of the Spectrum Publication or Struggle for India’s Independence – Bipin Chandra.
• Current Affairs: We will be covering Current Affairs of the intervening period between tests for all the upcoming tests from multiple sources. However, depending on the importance and need we may cover current affairs of previous months’ too.
• Map Based Questions: We suggest students to complete on exercise of Map work of all important political and physical geography. Emphasis should be on political and physical maps of places in news.

In due course of time we will compile the important places in news and how to practice map-based questions on them.

Other parts of the syllabus: (National Parks/Biosphere Reserves etc. + Regional and International bodies + Tribes of India): We will share a break-up of the plan and resources to study and attempt this part of the syllabus in due time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IPM 2026 by InsightsIAS?

IPM 2026 is an Integrated Prelims-cum-Mains Test Series designed by InsightsIAS. It combines a single, unified timetable, mentorship, MCQ + Mains answer writing tests, and AI-powered analytics to help aspirants prepare for UPSC CSE 2026 in a holistic and strategic manner under the guidance of Founder & Director of INSIGHTSIAS Mr. Vinay Kumar G.B

What was the hit ratio of Insights IAS Test Series in UPSC Prelims 2025?

Our UPSC Prelims 2025 preparation tools — including the Subject-wise Prelims Test Series, I-WIN Daily Tests, Step-Up Simulations, and Daily Quizzes — helped aspirants tackle even the most analytical questions in the actual exam.

We’re proud to say that a significant number of questions in Prelims 2025 closely matched the themes, tones, concepts, and facts covered in our initiatives. From Polity and Environment to Science & Tech and History, aspirants recognized familiar concepts thanks to our structured, targeted preparation.

We’ve compiled several question matches between the UPSC Prelims 2025 and our Test Series, Quizzes, and Daily Initiatives.
Explore the full hit ratio and detailed mapping here:
Read More

When does the IPM 2026 course start?

The course begins on 15th June 2025.

What kind of mentorship is provided?

Mentorship is one-to-one Mentors help in strategy, motivation, doubt clarification, and answer writing improvement.

Who is this course ideal for?

This program is ideal for UPSC CSE 2026 aspirants who wish to follow a single timetable to prepare both for Prelims and Mains in an integrated manner and benefit from regular testing, mentorship, and feedback.

How do i avail Mentorship?

Subscribers (both Online & Offline) are required to book an appointment for mentorship from the MAINS test series portal. a) Online Students would be receiving a call from INSIGHTSIAS at the scheduled time. (Each session of mentorship is for maximum of 30 minutes) b) Offline Students are required to visit INSIGHTSIAS Centre to avail mentorship.

What is the fee for IPM 2026?

The original fee is Rs. 26,000 (including GST).

Is there any Early Bird or Old Student Discount?

Yes. Early Bird Offer: Rs. 23,400 (till 27 May 2025) Old Subscriber Discount: Rs. 23,400 (valid till end)

What are the AI-Powered Analytics features in IPM 2026?

They include: Performance overview Time management insights Benchmarking vs toppers Answer strategy analysis (knowledge, guesswork, logic) What-if simulations Topic/category breakdown

How is the IPM test series structured?

It follows the EBS Approach: Essential Round – Builds basic conceptual clarity Breakthrough Round – Tests application + Current Affairs integration Simulation Round – Mimics real UPSC exam conditions

Does IPM cover both Prelims and Mains?

Yes. Each subject is covered in a layered manner across both Prelims (MCQs) and Mains (Descriptive) formats, aligned through a single timetable.

Is there an extra charge for AI analytics?

No. All AI-powered analytics are free for IPM 2026 Prelims subscribers.

How is the evaluation done for Mains tests?

Answer booklets are evaluated: Within 5–7 working days if written late, Before next test if written on the scheduled date Evaluation covers structure, content, language, ethics, and value-added inputs.

Are the tests flexible or fixed-date only?

Tests are flexible and can be taken any time before Mains 2026. However, evaluation timelines are quicker for scheduled test takers.

Will synopsis or study materials be provided?

Yes. Synopsis for every test INSTA 30 for monthly current affairs INSTA Boosters for static revision (2 months before Prelims) Value-added INSTA Mains material before Mains

Are current affairs and government reports included?

Yes. Tests include relevant current affairs, and major government sources like India Year Book, Economic Survey, and Budget are covered during the Breakthrough round.

Where can I download the timetable?

The timetable PDF can be downloaded from the official IPM 2026 course page or links provided on InsightsIAS website and course portal.

What all do I get as a part of the IPM Subscription?

a) Mentorship : One-on-one test-based mentorship (Before and after the test) & Group mentorship for Mains tests for students taking tests on the scheduled date. b) Detailed Synopsis. (soft copy only) c) Evaluated answer booklet within 6 Working days from the day of submission. d) All India Ranking. e) Detailed Performance analysis f) Value Addition material - PRIME Notes (Soft copy) g) Zoom Session by Vinay Sir & experts every 15days h) Take away from IPM subscription. Free I-WIL MAINS TEST SERIES after Prelims-2025 targeting MAINS 2025 if all the tests are taken on the scheduled date along with a score of 10% of the total marks in every test.

Why is the IPM named as Revamped IPM this time? What is new?

Based on a survey conducted among students, faculties, and mentors, we've introduced the following features to enhance holistic preparation: 1. Focus on Weightage: Subjects are prioritized according to their weightage in the UPSC Exam. This approach boosts students' confidence, allowing them to strategically address their strengths and weaknesses in high-reward subjects early in the preparation process. 2. Incremental Improvement: Begin with mini-tests and gradually progress to full-length tests for each subject. This method benefits both beginners and experienced candidates by avoiding an overwhelming start with the entire syllabus or full-length tests, fostering steady progress. 3. Group Mentorship for Scheduled Test Takers: This feature incentivizes students to take tests on the scheduled dates, ensuring discipline. Students can meet with mentors for doubt clarification on the same day. 4. LIVE Test Discussions for FLTs in the Essential Round: After completing each subject, students can participate in live discussion sessions to address all their doubts. 5. Regular Follow-Ups by Assigned Mentors: Experience has shown that some students hesitate or lack the discipline to fully utilize mentorship opportunities, missing out on valuable expert guidance. This time, we will actively follow up with calls and emails to keep you on track and disciplined. 6. Orientation Sessions: Before each subject begins, orientation sessions will be provided to ensure you prepare effectively and in the right way.

Can I join the test series after it has started?

Yes, you can join the test series anytime.

Gallery

One-to-One Mentorship

Daily Prelims and Mains Tests

Toppers session