First Principles IASlearning from first principles

UPSC CSE

Founded and run by the people who teach.

First Principles IAS teaches each subject from the ideas it rests on, then builds up to the facts, maps, current affairs and answers the exam asks for. Taught online, for serious aspirants anywhere in India.

How every topic is built

Four layers, from the base: 01 principle, what must be true, and why; 02 concept, how the system works; 03 application, maps, current affairs, policy, data; 04 answer, what you write or choose in the exam hall.04 · ANSWERwhat you writeor choose inthe exam hall03 · APPLICATIONmaps, current affairs,policy, data02 · CONCEPThow the system works01 · PRINCIPLEwhat must be true, and why

What a first principle is. A basic, undeniable truth a subject rests on: the point where the chain of “but why?” stops. A law of physics, the balance of supply and demand, a provision of the Constitution, the way air, water and land move, what historical sources can actually prove about the past.

How we bring it into the classroom

  • We update before we teach: every class is rebuilt from the latest papers and developments.
  • Knowledge first, then technique: elimination and keywords, built on knowledge, never in its place.
  • Practice that tests the principle: a practice set after every class that checks understanding, not memory.
  • Online, run like a classroom: live classes, quizzes, weekly tests and doubt clinics, from Kohima to Kozhikode.
What is meant by learning from first principles? →

Courses

2026–27 cycle
  • 01Prelims · all subjects

    Prelims from First Principles (PFP)

    The whole Prelims syllabus taught from the beginning, with a short quiz in every class, a weekly test, and current affairs through to the examination.

    Starts
    16 November 2026
    Teaching
    Two classes of two hours a day, six days a week, for three months
    Testing
    Class quizzes, weekly tests and all 35 tests of the Prelims Test Series
    Full programme
    ₹29,999 · plans from ₹14,999, inclusive of all taxes
    Enrolment
    Opens 1 November 2026

    Payment and course access are handled by our learning platform, Vidsafe. Prices include all taxes. Refund policy

    Programme and plans → for Prelims from First PrinciplesProspectus for Prelims from First Principles, PDF, opens in a new tab
  • 02Part of Prelims from First Principles

    Modules

    All twelve modules are included in Prelims from First Principles, and each can also be bought on its own.

    • Geography
    • Indian Economy
    • Mapping Intensive
    • Science & Technology
    • Environment & Ecology
    • Polity & Governance
    • Ancient, Medieval and Art & Culture
    • Modern Indian History
    • PYQ Lab & Exam Technique
    • CSAT Intensive (Paper II)
    • Current Affairs from First Principles
    • Budget and Economic Survey
    Module prices → for Modules
  • 03Part of Prelims from First Principles

    Current Affairs from First Principles

    Current affairs taught once, through the year: the 2026 backlog, the Budget and Economic Survey, monthly roundups and a final sprint before the paper. Included in every plan from GS Complete upward, and sold on its own.

    Sessions
    31
    Price
    ₹6,999, inclusive of all taxes
    Enrolment
    Opens 1 November 2026

    Payment and course access are handled by our learning platform, Vidsafe. Prices include all taxes. Refund policy

    Course details → for Current Affairs from First Principles
  • 04Prelims · GS and CSAT

    Prelims Test Series

    Sold on its own in three forms. Prelims from First Principles (PFP) and PFP + Mentoring include all 35 tests, and PFP (GS only) the 25 GS tests; the other three plans can add the series at its own price. Enrolment opens 1 November 2026. 35 tests, released from Tuesday 15 December 2026 to 30 April 2027, attempt any of them until 20 May.

    GS only
    25 tests · ₹4,999
    CSAT only
    10 tests · ₹2,999
    Combined
    35 tests · ₹6,999
    Prices
    Inclusive of all taxes

    Payment and course access are handled by our learning platform, Vidsafe. Prices include all taxes. Refund policy

    Test series details → for Prelims Test SeriesProspectus for Prelims Test Series, PDF, opens in a new tab
  • 05Optional

    Optional subjects

    The optional carries 500 of the 1,750 marks in the written Mains, and choosing it is one of the first decisions that matters. We help you choose on evidence: your academic background, how much the syllabus overlaps with General Studies, and how the paper has been set in recent years. Once you have chosen, we support it through the syllabus, previous year questions, answer writing and tests.

    Explore optional subjects → for Optional subjects

Free resources and programmes

All free

Faculty

  • Abhishek Kumar

    Abhishek Kumar

    Founder · Science & Technology, Ecology & Environment, Physics Optional

    • Education B.Tech Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
    • Teaching Ten years in civil services preparation
    • Also Designing prelims and mains test series; mentoring for Mains and Essay

  • Faculty profile coming soon

  • Faculty profile coming soon

Free

A current affairs digest across the whole syllabus.

Read the latest: 1 to 30 September 2026

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