Plutus IAS Fees 2024 and Admission Counselling Review - One-year GS Foundation Course

December 21, 2023

8 Minutes

Introduction

Josh Talks has always been inclined towards helping people realise their potential and we have done this in different ways. Be it through our events or success stories or providing job opportunities to women, we’ve always strived to help India to level up.

During this journey, we recognized the aspirations of hundreds of thousands of students in India who aspire to crack Civil Services and genuinely need support in achieving their goals. To address this, we conceived an idea to provide honest and verified information about various coaching institutes and offer guidance to aspirants who may find themselves stuck while contemplating exam preparation. This initiative is our way of helping aspiring individuals navigate their path to success.

This article is a part of the initiative and I, Shivom Sharma, a Content Strategist at Josh Talks, reached Plutus IAS, a well-known UPSC coaching institute that has recently gained popularity among aspirants. Keep reading to know more.

Reaching Plutus Admission Office

Even though I had Googled the location of the institute and found that it was near the Karol Bagh Metro Station, I struggled to pinpoint the exact location of the building. I’d like to mention that its quite difficult to spot their office through the Google Maps location, you’ll have to ask around. While scanning around, a gentleman approached me and asked me if I was looking for Plutus IAS. He literally caught me off guard and offered to guide me to the office. Apparently, their associates keep roaming around the gate and help people reach the office.

The institute's office was not in a fancy standalone building; instead, it was situated in the underground floor of a building, which appeared to be a shopping complex (I could discern this, being a civil engineer). The building lobby was a bit crowded at that time and I took the stairs down to reach the main office. In contrast to the more sophisticated setups of Drishti or NEXT IAS, Plutus IAS had a simpler office, giving off the vibe of a typical government office.

Counselling

There were three counselling desks at the office, and I was directed to one where Aditi, an admission counsellor, warmly welcomed me. During our brief introduction, I mentioned that I'm 29 years old, aiming for the 2025 Prelims, and looking for a course that finishes the syllabus 3-4 months before the prelims, allowing ample time for self-study.

Aditi introduced me to Plutus IAS’s One-year GS Foundation Course. Notably, this counselling experience was the most detailed and comprehensive so far. Aditi, unlike any other coaching institute, thoroughly satisfied my curiosity. She explained every minute detail of the course, showcasing handwritten notes, printed materials, course books, Mains papers, test series, current affairs handouts, and a monthly magazine on current affairs. Aditi also delved into the teaching methodology, emphasizing how teachers at Plutus focus on each student, in contrast to other institutes where overcrowded classrooms can hinder personalized attention.

While leaving the institute, Aditi handed over a Plutus IAS Monthly Current Affairs magazine along with the brochure, neatly packed in a nice bag – a thoughtful gesture that added a positive touch to the overall experience.

Course Details (One-year GS Foundation Course)

Course Schedule

Plutus IAS maintains a structured weekly schedule in its curriculum. From Monday to Friday, there are 4-hour classes each day. Saturdays are dedicated to tests and doubt sessions with faculty. One-on-one sessions with faculty members are also available to students at any time, which is a common practice at the institute. Saturdays also include a current affairs class, allowing students to create personalized class notes. Sundays are kept free for students to relax and revise.

Multiple Modes

Plutus IAS offers its courses in three different modes

• Offline Mode
• Online Mode
• Hybrid Mode

In the hybrid mode, students have the flexibility to either attend live classes in a physical classroom or watch online lectures if they are unable to come to the institute. While this option may be slightly more expensive than others, it proves to be more practical for students with varying needs and circumstances.

Batch Strength

This feature distinguishes Plutus IAS from other coaching institutes across India. The average batch size at Plutus IAS ranges from 40-50, including students from both online and hybrid modes. Typically, the in-class strength is not more than 25, allowing their teachers to evenly focus on each student.

This strategy ensures minimal disturbance for students and enhances the likelihood of active participation in discussions and engagement with the teacher.

Recorded Lectures

Plutus IAS offers recorded lectures to students in case they miss the classes. These recorded sessions remain accessible to students for 1.5 years, extending until they take the prelims exam. Notably, the lectures come with unlimited viewing hours, a feature that sets Plutus IAS apart from many institutes that impose restrictions on viewership.

Personal Mentorship

Plutus IAS, like several other institutes, provides mentorship support to students, where students can connect with a set of mentors that guide them in their preparation and strategy. These mentors are selected from a pool of previous aspirants, who have reached the interview stage in the UPSC CSE at least once.

Doubt Sessions with Faculties

This is another distinctive aspect of Plutus. Students have the option to schedule one-on-one doubt sessions with faculty members, receiving personalized guidance for their queries. While this opportunity exists in other institutes too, Plutus IAS aims to give every student a fair chance by keeping an extremely limited batch strength. I also got a list of their faculty members, which I’m listing here.

Motivational Workshops

The institute regularly organizes motivational workshops, inviting successful and accomplished individuals from various fields to share their insights and experiences.

Other Courses

Fee Structure

Fees for the course recommended to me:

For other courses

Plutus IAS Fee Payment Modes

If you choose Plutus IAS, you can make your fee payments through the following modes:

It is to be noted that the fees of Plutus IAS are non-transferable and non-refundable under any circumstances.

Plutus IAS Fee Discounts

The counsellor told me that students can avail a discount of 30,000/- on one-time payments and 10,000/- on installment options.

Optional Subjects Coaching at Plutus IAS

Plutus IAS provides coaching courses for 11 optional subjects, which are listed below:

Classroom Tour & Lectures

When I inquired about the trial class, Aditi initially didn't provide a clear answer. However, towards the end of our discussion, she kindly offered to give me a tour of the classrooms and ongoing lecture sessions to provide insight into Plutus' operations. Escorted to the fourth floor, the classrooms turned out to be ideal for UPSC aspirants, each accommodating around 20 chairs, with a dais featuring a digital whiteboard at the back. However, climbing five floors through stairs was definitely a task. While I couldn't personally experience the teaching methodology, the infrastructure inside the classrooms seemed promising. Notably, the building cleanliness left something to be desired, with several cloud kitchens along the stairs. I’m attaching some pictures of the institute for your reference.

Upon returning to the counselling desk, Aditi promptly forwarded the reference material from the institute on my WhatsApp as well to aid in my decision-making process. This comprehensive set of materials included PDFs, lectures, checked answers, class pictures, and current affairs material. I will attach a few pictures and a PDF for your reference, providing a more in-depth understanding of the institute's methodology.

Paper Checking at Plutus IAS

Conclusion

Plutus IAS stood out in two key aspects: the impressive and unmatched batch size in the class and the counselling experience. While I can't speak for every counsellor, Aditi was exceptionally thorough about all the course details. She consistently checked if I had any doubts, providing a level of detail that, as an aspirant, I consider crucial, especially given the investment in high fees.

Although I can't provide a detailed assessment of the teaching quality and interaction in their classroom sessions, I found the online lectures to be good. From an aspirant's perspective, I believe Plutus is a must-try, particularly for the ample room in the class and individual attention that every student receives.

FAQs

1. Q. What is the batch size of Plutus IAS?

A: Plutus IAS maintains a class size of 40-50 students per batch, including online students, classroom students and hybrid mode students.

1. Q. Who teaches Anthropology optional at Plutus IAS?

A: At Plutus IAS, Dr Huma Hassan, a gold-medalist from JNU, teaches Anthropology Optional subject. She is recognised as one of the best faculties for Anthropology coaching for UPSC.

1. Q. Who is the Sociology optional faculty at Plutus IAS?

A: Sociology Optional is also covered by Dr Huma Hassan.