A prominent UPSC mentor, SPS Oberoi, has sparked debate by declaring mock tests “useless” for civil services preparation. The former Army officer and mentor at Ekam IAS Academy advises aspirants to simplify their study approach, focusing on foundational texts rather than accumulating vast amounts of material and test series.
Rethinking UPSC Preparation Strategy
In a recent podcast, Oberoi stated that many UPSC aspirants complicate the exam unnecessarily by collecting numerous books, current affairs materials, and mock papers. He emphasized that a solid preparation can be achieved in three stages: mastering NCERT books, taking proper class notes, and using one standard textbook per subject. He cautioned against buying books due to peer pressure or fear of missing out, a common pitfall he observes among students.
The Mock Test Debate
Oberoi was particularly critical of the burgeoning industry around UPSC mock tests. He claimed that these test series often fail to provide relevant questions for the actual exam, citing an instance where a Delhi coaching institute reportedly earned ₹54 crore from a test series for the 2025 UPSC prelims, yet “not even one question came from it.” He urged students to understand that the prelims exam is predominantly static, with 74-78 percent of questions derived from the defined syllabus. Given that the cutoff is often below 50 percent, he argues, chasing numerous test series is largely unproductive.
Current Affairs vs. Current Issues
Another point of contention for Oberoi is the exaggerated emphasis on current affairs for the prelims. He suggested that coaching institutes often create a narrative of current affairs’ extreme importance to generate revenue. Instead, he drew a distinction between “current affairs” and “current issues.” According to Oberoi, the UPSC mains and interview stages are more concerned with broader national debates and issues, such as delimitation or women’s reservation, which serious aspirants would naturally follow. He advises students to trust their NCERTs and standard textbooks, revise them thoroughly, and confidently appear for the exam.