We began our journey of setting up the offline ForumIAS Academy sometime in 2016. Nobody knew us. I mean we were the folks known for Interview preparation – since thats why we had built the community. So when we started an offline center, 86 people joined us for the Mains, and 74 people got their first Interview call.
Now while the serious crowd knew us, the freshers and newbies did not. So we thought, lets focus on the people who know and follow us, get them to clear the prelims and we’ll have a good number of people with us in the final result. And today we can proudly say that for thousands of students we have been enablers of their success in the Civil Services Examination. We have achieved this without any major noise on Youtube/ Social Media and quietly – often secretly running our Programs.
And we began SFG – sometime in the winter of 2016. And it was this SFG that has enabled so so many people clear their first Prelims that we lost count – be it Minal [ Rank 35] Aditya [ Rank 94], Smriti [ Rank 4], Ishita [ Rank 1], and Shah Margi [ Rank 4] this year among 100 others who were in SFG and have cleared CSE 2024.
Fun Fact 7 about SFG : In 2023, we had only 1 student from Hindi medium who signed for SFG ( and later AWFG ). There was no translation available, and he would attempt the test and somehow manage with the English language solutions. That single Hindi medium students ended up being the second topper of Hindi medium that here. Proof link
The Select Focus Group is a rigorous, test based, prelims preparation program by ForumIAS `that instills the values of hard work, discipline and a competitive spirit – that is so killed by college education – and which is so so important to clear top the mother of all examinations – The Civil Services Examination.
Fun Fact 6 about SFG : We met a bright young girl who had not cleared prelims like 4 times. In the initial attempts, she was working. Then she realized she needs to quit her job. So she quit her job and came to Old Rajinder Nagar, Then two more attempts happened, but she could not clear prelims. Then she came to ForumIAS. She was told to do SFG religiously. And she did it. Her userID in SFG ranklist is crimson and you may check it. She not only cleared Prelims for the first time, but also Mains and secured Rank 175. Proof link 1 | Proof Link 2
About SFG and How it is conducted
SFG is a test based course for Civil Services Prelims where tests are conducted 5 days in a week – at 7AM# – in online and offline mode5 across several cities and centers. You get a daily rank-list in a few hours after you have written the test. You have some awesome post test discussions which you can attend online. You get a weekly ranklist every Sunday – so that you know how you are doing. At the end of the month / 4 weeks, you get a monthly rank-list. At this point, the bottom performing students are required to leave the program so as to not waste their money for a second month. This also ensures that the quality of crowd is maintained – which ensures when you make it to the list – finally – you will meet a lot of your SFG co-aspirants in LBSNAA. You can expect at least a hundred SFG folks every year in LBSNAA. You will know it when you get there.
SFG is conducted in two levels – Level 1 and Level 2. Both will be about 8-9 weeks duration. Level 1 commences from 3rd week of December and ends in the last week of February. Level 2 commences from 1st week of March and ends about 3-4 weeks before the actual prelims. Level 1 has book based questions
Fun Fact 8 about SFG : When Shikhar Mogha ( now serving in IAS ) could not clear Prelims, he rigorously did SFG, cleared Prelims, wrote Mains and then appeared for Interview. During his Interview, he was still writing SFG, including the day his result came. He got Rank 171 and only stopped writing SFG when he found his name in the holy pdf. Proof Link
What it takes to do SFG well?
Someone rightly said that whatever does not kill you, makes you stronger. Honestly, SFG’s primarily tool to ensure your success is to kick out the procrastinator in you – who likes to delay things, blame others and avoid doing hard things ( like the 98%) – and inculcate the right values – hard work, discipline, punctuality and tons of dedication – which ensure you automatically clear this exam. It is true that SFG will make your life difficult, but then it will put you at par with the effort level that future single digit rankers of IAS and IFoS [ Prelims cut off is higher for IFoS ]. In fact hundreds of folks have cleared IFoS in a single attempt – when they cleared Prelims with SFG and then they cleared IFoS with a TOP Rank.
Who shouldn’t join SFG?
SFG isn’t flexible. In fact we started SFG because we met a young bunch of students who had jeopardized their own prelims preparation by being casual about Prelims test papers ( like I-will-write-test-when-my-prep-is-complete ) and writing level 1 tests like one month before the prelims. Look, there are three resources that we need to achieve any objective, and they are time, money and energy. Most people ensure their own prelims failure by compromising on the first two – such as not investing in good courses – and for like years – or not giving prelims enough3 time. And when they finally realize they have no energy left. Do not join SFG if you are still exploring UPSC and are playing around with the exam. The SFG offline has limited seats and leave it for people who may need it more than you do. Also do not join SFG if you are looking for flexibility and doing-things-at-your-own-pace-even-if-it-means-exhausting-attempts
What’s the study plan ?
The study Plan will be updated by 30th October, 11PM. For any suggestions, you can write to ravi@forumias.com4. We read every email, though we may not be able to answer all of them.
Fun Fact 9 about SFG : When a young girl came to ask asking why her friends were able to clear Prelims despite reading the same books, and she wasn’t – even being from an IIT, we told her – its the reading ethics. How well you read something. When she couldn’t follow, we asked her to write SFG. Write she did. Prachi not only topped SFG, but also cleared Prelims with a huge margin – clearing the IFoS Cut off that year – and with the study ethics she developed / regained – she secured Rank 16 in IFoS. Her friends, who recommended her SFG – also got Rank 16 – in IAS – Arth got Rank 16 in CSE 2023 and Ayan got Rank 16 in CSE 2024. Proof Links 1 | Link 2
How can I enroll for SFG?
That’s the thing about SFG. You cannot enroll for SFG. SFG selects You. And once, it does, its on us to train you ( or tell you – that you need to put in more time, effort – and sometimes sincerity – and sometimes bluntly )6 . And train we will – where you will compete with the best of the best – including future and existing selected candidates of both CSE and IFoS. Selections for SFG will be done through an entrance Test. You can register for the entrance test by paying a registration fee of Rs. 700+ GST.
After appearing for the entrance test, you may be categorized in three groups
- SFG – Select Focus Group – in which about 100-200 students will be selected
- RLG – Reserve List Group – in which about 60% of the total students will be selected
- Rejected – Candidates who are not selected for the program. Between 15-30% of candidates appearing for the entrance test are rejected.7
Please note that if you appear for the entrance test in offline mode, candidates securing a position in the top 100 will be allotted to SFG, while the remaining candidates will be allotted to RLG. The SFG is available only in offline mode. However, if you choose to take your regular tests online, you will be required to make payment for the RLG program only. You can then join RLG in either online or offline mode. The purpose of doing this is because a small minority of students cheat in online tests so they can be part of SFG ( which has a bit of less fee compared to RLG ) . When we allowed online students to be part of SFG ( where the fee is less ), they found a moral reasoning in cheating ( the moral reasoning being saving parents hard earned money ). You can see this behavior by checking old rankings where a small number of online students cheat and get 90-95/100 score in daily tests. But the highest score of even IFoS rank-holder writing tests offline does not exceed 70-80/100.
What is the difference between SFG and RLG?
There is no difference between SFG and RLG except the fees. The position in SFG and RLG keeps changing on the basis of your performance. At the end of 1st month, you will be reshuffled and you will have a final allocation of either SFG/ RLG/ Not Selected. Then you will have to renew SFG subscription for the second month and pay fees as per your category. If you are in not selected category, you do not need to pay any fee, and you can leave the program. In other words, you cannot be part of the second month.
How do I register for the Entrance Test?
You can register for the Entrance Test by paying a registration fee of Rs. 944. Click here
What is the fee structure?
The Fee structure for SFG for CSE 2025 was as below. It is likely to increase by 10% to reflect annual increase in costs by way of rentals / human resources cost
SFG – Offline – Rs. 2950 for Month 1 and Rs. 2950 for Month 2
RLG – Online/Offline – Rs. 3422 for Month 1 and Rs. 3422 for Month 2
I am bad at Prelims. Will I survive SFG competition?
Ah, we get you. Look, there are 3 reasons why people are bad at prelims. One, they don’t know the effort they have to put for Prelims. When they come for SFG. They develop this clarity. Two, they lack a peer group which continuously helps in course correction. At SFG sessions, you can see how hundreds of co-aspirants sitting with you make it to Top 100 ranks ( one proof sent by a student )
When people write SFG, they have different levels of problems. While some say that syllabus is too small for the test while others say the syllabus is too vast to be done in a single day. You could lie anywhere in between this spectrum. The truth is – it will depend on what your actual level of preparation is.
In the end, those who conquer the world are the ones who show up, no matter what. Kyunki haar jane me, aur haar maan lene me farak hota hai[8].
Fun Fact 11 about SFG : When a young aspirant came to ask asking why her friends were able to clear Prelims despite reading the same books, and she wasn’t – even being from an IIT, we told her – its the reading ethics. How well you read something. When she couldn’t follow, we asked her top write SFG. Prachi not only cleared Prelims, but also the IFoS Cut off that year – and with the study ethics she developed / regained – she secured Rank 16 in IFoS. Her friends, who recommended her SFG also got Rank 16 – in IAS – Arth got Rank 16 in CSE 2023 and Ayan got Rank 16 in CSE 2024. Proof Links 1 | Link 2
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This post is still being updated
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[3] One particular sincere candidate came to thank us after clearing prelims in 4th attempt. When we asked him, what he did right this time. He said Sir. thanks to SFG this time I cleared. Also I started early in December and gave it full months. When we asked him what happened in 1st attempt – he said he wasn’t serious and was trying out the exam, in the second attempt – he gave only 2 months, in the third attempt, he gave 3 months and the fourth attempts – he gave four months. And in the fifth attempt – when he cleared, he followed SFG and gave 5 months! In case you don’t get the moral – here it is – If you are not able to clear prelims or if you don’t know your prelims preparation status – assume it to be poor. Then do what anyone with poor prelims preparation should do – that is give it more time! People give 5 years to UPSC and call it unpredictable, and yet when it comes to prelims sometimes in 5th and 6th attempt they give it full 4 or 5 months. In case you feel you are at the bottom of the pyramid, do not shy away from giving it even more time.
[4] Kaushik Basu famously said – The design of an airplane cannot be decided democratically. Meaning that some things require specialization and experience. While we will read all your emails and try to incorporate any innovations, we may not be able to make it make everyone happy.
[#] A lot of people wonder why we conduct this Program at 7AM. Actually we we started the program, freshers did not know us. People come to ForumIAS only after trying out other things which have not worked for them – in a way making us the coaching of last resort. In the beginning, we only had people with 4 years or preparation and having failed in prelims 3-4-5 times. They were full of negativity, distrust – both on themselves and their capability as well as ForumIAS as an academy. Failure isn’t always a great teacher, you see. Sometimes, failure pushes us in a negative zone beyond redemption. Most of such aspirants were suffering from depression and mental health problems – and were affected by negativity that is natural to this exam. We wanted people to succeed the first thing in the morning – so they are required to come at 7AM – immediately after rising up. If we did it at 10AM, by that time negativity and procrastination will consume our student and he may not be able to drag himself to the academy. Believe me you, its easier to come and do this at 7AM instead of 10AM – for it isn’t the cold – or the battle outside you need to win – it is the battle inside that you need to win.
[6] When a young girl walked into ForumIAS Academy, worried about Prelims and if she should do SFG, we asked her not only to do SFG later, but what she really needed to do was Foundation. She enrolled for the Foundation Classes at ForumIAS, finished her lectures at 1.5X as much as she could, and then started with SFGs. When she could not score well, she was a little heartbroken, but she persisted. Two years later, when we were felicitating her as she left for LBSNAA, she said – Sir, I did not get into the list that year, but in that one year from that December to next December I at least had an interview call from UPSC. The subsequent year, Nidhi Chaudhary from Alwar got a Rank and joined the IRS.
[7] The purpose of rejections are few. One, it ensures better quality of students. Two, it saves the money of aspirants who are not yet ready and then just want to join SFG because they heard about it from some rankholders and think that just by joining they will clear prelims. The truth is people dont clear Prelims just by joining SFG, but they clear it because they studied and tested for SFG like crazy.
[8] There is a difference between losing and giving up.
