PSIR Optional courses for UPSC CSE 2027
Six programmes run under PSIR Optional at ForumIAS. Which one you need depends on a single question — how much of the subject you already hold, and how far you are from writing it under examination conditions.
Pick the level you are actually at. Every fee below is all-inclusive, and every programme is taught and evaluated by the same faculty.
All six programmes, side by side
| Programme | Level | Starts | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| MagnusThe whole journey at one fee… | 1 | 24 August 2026 | ₹72,000one fee · any mode · all-inclusive |
| CrucibleThe same 100-session foundation, focused purely on the optional … | 1 | 24 August 2026 | from ₹42,000five plans · all-inclusive |
| PSIR OGPPriority-ordered teaching for those who have finished a foundati… | 2 | 5 September 2026 | ₹29,500inclusive of all taxes |
| PSIR OGP PrimeEverything in OGP, plus the revision and simulation layer, so no… | 2 | 5 September 2026 | ₹32,500inclusive of all taxes |
| O‑AWFGFor the aspirant who understands PSIR and simply keeps postponin… | 3 | 3 August 2026 | ₹13,49937 tests |
| O‑AWFG PrimeAnswer writing and full exam testing in one cycle.… | 3 | 3 August 2026 | ₹17,99947 tests |
| ATS — Augmented Test SeriesRigorous testing with no teaching layer, for those whose answers… | 3 | 9 August 2026 · Sundays | ₹12,99912 tests |
Level 1 teaches the subject. Level 2 teaches it again through writing. Level 3 only tests. Nothing here needs to be bought twice — each level assumes the one before it is already done.
Foundation 2027
The complete official syllabus, Paper I and Paper II, taught from the ground up across 100 in-depth sessions — with answer writing inside every class from the first week, not saved for the end. Two programmes sit on this same base.
Magnus
The whole journey at one fee — the optional, its application across the rest of the Mains, and support that continues to the Interview.
Batch 2 starts 24 August 2026
What you get
- 125 sessions covering the entire Paper I and Paper II syllabus
- Answer writing inside every class, from the first week
- Class notes, revision material and PYQ coverage throughout
- Evaluation by a team of experts under the strict guidance of the faculty
- Support that continues through Mains and into the Interview
Join this if
You are starting PSIR from the beginning, or you have read on your own and never had the subject taught in order.
Look elsewhere if
You have already completed a foundation and only need writing practice. OGP at Level 2 is built for that.
Crucible
The same 100-session foundation, focused purely on the optional papers, in five plans so you pay for the mode you will actually use.
Batch 2 starts 24 August 2026
What you get
- 100 sessions and the same faculty as Magnus
- The full syllabus, Paper I and Paper II, taught in order
- Answer writing built into the teaching, not bolted on at the end
- Five plans — online, offline and combinations — priced for the mode you choose
Join this if
You want the foundation itself and nothing beyond the optional papers, and you would rather not pay for what you will not use.
Look elsewhere if
You want the wider Mains application and the Interview support as well. That is Magnus.
OGP 2027 — Optional Guidance Programme
For the aspirant who has attempted the examination at least once, or who has finished a foundation elsewhere. The whole subject is covered again, but through writing — taught, practised, tested, and evaluated one to one, across 600+ questions.
AWSM stands for Answer Writing Structure & Methodology. These are the classes that turn a topic into the questions it is actually likely to be asked as, and then teach the step-by-step frame for answering them — with answer scripts to work from. It is the spine of OGP: 35 AWSM classes across the two papers.
PSIR OGP
Priority-ordered teaching for those who have finished a foundation or studied on their own, with a test after every class and PYQ coverage running throughout.
Starts 5 September 2026
What you get
- The whole syllabus covered again, ordered by what the examination actually asks first
- A test after every class — the class is not finished until it has been written
- 35 AWSM classes, 35 daily answer writing tests and 2 full-length tests
- 600+ questions across the two papers
- One-to-one mentorship, with the correction discussed rather than only marked
- Previous year questions worked through as part of the teaching
Join this if
You have attempted CSE at least once, or you have finished a foundation, and your marks are not moving because you are not writing enough.
Look elsewhere if
You have never been taught the subject in order. Start at Level 1.
PSIR OGP Prime
Everything in OGP, plus the revision and simulation layer, so nothing is met for the first time in the examination hall.
Starts 5 September 2026
What you get
- Everything in PSIR OGP
- 35 AWSM classes, 35 daily answer writing tests, 8 revision tests, 2 full-length tests and 2 optional simulators
- A structured revision cycle after the syllabus is covered
- Full-length simulation under examination conditions
- Priority evaluation and closer mentor contact
Join this if
You are aiming at 300+ in the optional and you want the revision and the simulation planned for you rather than improvised in the last month.
Look elsewhere if
You are already writing regularly and revising on your own. Plain OGP will do.
Test Series 2027 — Cohort 5
No teaching layer. This is where an answer meets the clock, the word limit and an evaluator. Three formats, depending on whether the gap is in writing regularly, in revision, or in full-length stamina.
O‑AWFG
For the aspirant who understands PSIR and simply keeps postponing the writing.
From 3 August 2026
What you get
- 35 answer writing tests across Paper I and Paper II
- 2 optional simulator tests
- Detailed model answers with every test
- Expert evaluation with one-to-one mentorship
Join this if
You know the subject well enough. What is missing is the habit of writing it down, week after week, and being told where it falls short.
Look elsewhere if
You have not covered the syllabus yet. Testing before teaching wastes both.
O‑AWFG Prime
Answer writing and full exam testing in one cycle.
From 3 August 2026
What you get
- 35 answer writing tests
- 8 revision tests
- 2 full-length tests and 2 optional simulators
- Detailed model answers and expert evaluation throughout
Join this if
You want the writing practice and the revision and the full-length testing to run as one planned cycle rather than three separate purchases.
Look elsewhere if
You only need full-length testing at this stage. ATS is the sharper tool.
ATS — Augmented Test Series
Rigorous testing with no teaching layer, for those whose answers read well at home but lose marks under the clock.
From 9 August 2026 · Sundays
What you get
- 4 sectional tests
- 6 full-length tests
- 2 optional simulators
- Detailed model answers and expert evaluation
Join this if
Your preparation is complete and the problem is the examination hall — the clock, the word limit, the order in which you attempt.
Look elsewhere if
You are still learning the syllabus, or you are not yet writing regularly.
Three more programmes are being built
They are listed here so that nobody enrols in something now that would have been better served by waiting a few weeks.
Which one is for me
Answer the question honestly and the programme picks itself. There is no level that suits everyone, and there is a real answer that says none of them yet.
Before you decide
I am starting PSIR from zero. Where do I begin?
Level 1. Foundation 2027 teaches the entire official syllabus, Paper I and Paper II, in order across 100 sessions, with answer writing built into the classes from the first week. Batch 2 starts on 24 August 2026. Magnus and Crucible share the same teaching; they differ in what sits around it.
I have attempted CSE once and my optional marks are stuck. What now?
Level 2. OGP 2027 covers the whole syllabus again, but through writing — a test after every class, 600+ questions, and one-to-one evaluation. It starts on 5 September 2026. Most aspirants whose marks have plateaued are not short of reading; they are short of written, corrected practice.
I only need testing, not teaching. Which one?
Level 3. O‑AWFG if the gap is writing regularly (37 tests, from 3 August 2026). O‑AWFG Prime if you want writing, revision and full-length testing as one cycle (47 tests). ATS if your preparation is done and the problem is the examination hall itself (12 tests, from 9 August 2026, on Sundays).
Is the offline batch different from the online one?
No. The same faculty teaches the same sessions. Offline runs at Old Rajinder Nagar; the plans differ in mode and price, not in what is taught.
Who evaluates the answers?
Evaluation is done by a team of experts, working under the strict guidance of the faculty, and every test carries a detailed model answer. Mentorship is one to one. The point of a correction is that it is discussed, not only marked.
Are the fees inclusive?
Yes. Every fee on this page is all-inclusive. Crucible is offered in five plans so that you pay for the mode you will actually use.
Can I see the teaching before I decide?
Yes. The first open class of Foundation 2027 is on YouTube in full, and ten years of previous year questions with flow snapshots and handwritten answers are in the PYQ Vault, free and without sign-up.
They wrote this paper
Their answer copies are published in full. The point of putting them up is not the ranks; it is that you can read what a scoring PSIR answer actually looks like, in the handwriting it was written in, before you decide anything.
- 65Rakhi
- 96Kashish Kalra
- 96Aditya Acharya
- 102Ritwik Rai
- 130Preeti
- 295Anirudh Jain
- 365Niharika Sinha
- 417Swarnim B
- 453Shiksha Pathak
- 481Shashwat P
- 808Aditi Patel
- 809Amit Negi
Study material you can use whether or not you enrol
Still not sure which level you are at?
A counselling call is free and takes fifteen minutes. You will get a straight answer about which programme fits your stage — including the answer that you do not need one yet.
admissions@forumias.academy