The Prelims are just four months away on May 24, 2026. Most aspirants I speak with are still stuck choosing teachers instead of finishing their static syllabus.
Although there is no single “No. 1 teacher” for all subjects, there are proven educators whose methods align with how UPSC actually tests concepts.
I have seen brilliant minds from tier-2 cities crack UPSC by following the right teachers, not the most advertised ones.
This article will give you subject-wise clarity on who to follow, what their strengths are, and how to avoid common coaching traps.
Best Teachers for UPSC 2026 (Subject-Wise)
The teachers listed below have been validated by recent toppers, including Shakti Dubey (AIR 1, 2024), and are known for converting static knowledge into Mains-worthy answers.
| Subject | Top Choice | Why This Teacher? |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Economy | Mrunal Patel | “Mrunal Handouts” & “Win Series”; simplify economics into common-man logic |
| Indian Polity | M. Puri | Extremely precise, no-nonsense approach; notes detailed enough to replace Laxmikanth |
| Modern History | Pratik Nayak | Visual storytelling with timelines & maps |
| Geography | Sudarshan Gurjar | “Mapping King”: visualization-based teaching |
| Ethics (GS IV) | S. Ansari | Focus on the administrative mindset & answer-writing structure |
| Art & Culture | Nikhil Sheth | Visual-rich teaching using architecture & heritage imagery |
| Environment | Shivin Chaudhary | High-yield, Prelims-focused content |
| Science & Technology | Ayaz Khan | Explains “why & how” for a non-science background |
| International Relations | Pavneet Singh | Structured, Mains-oriented geopolitics analysis |
Most of these teachers offer free content on YouTube, proving that UPSC can be cleared without coaching if you follow the right educators and maintain self-discipline.
Each teacher covered below brings a unique pedagogical approach that addresses specific pain points UPSC aspirants face.
1. Best Teachers for Indian Economy: Mrunal Patel
Mrunal Sir has mentored thousands through his free YouTube lectures and Unacademy courses since 2011.
His teaching style breaks down complex economic concepts using real-life examples like vegetable market pricing to explain inflation.
His “Pillars” framework creates a mental map that helps in both static retention and current affairs integration seamlessly.
2. Best Teachers for Indian Polity: M. Puri
M. Puri sir brings precision that cuts through Laxmikanth’s 700 pages into high-yield, exam-focused notes used by serious aspirants.
His strengths are creating short, article-wise notes that double as both reading material and revision sheets for quick glancing. His classes assume you have read basic Laxmikanth chapters beforehand, so beginners might struggle initially.
3. Best Teachers for Modern History: Pratik Nayak
Pratik Nayak, sir, uses visual timelines and maps to make the freedom struggle chronologically clear in students’ minds.
His storytelling approach connects events like the 1857 Revolt to constitutional developments, naturally creating a “cause-effect” understanding.
His classes are lengthy, sometimes exceeding three hours, which requires dedicated time blocks from students preparing alongside jobs.
4. Best Teachers for Geography: Sudarshan Gurjar
Sudarshan Gurjar sir is known as the “Mapping King” among UPSC communities on Reddit and Telegram groups preparing together.
His strength is making Physical Geography visual through diagrams, reducing rote memorization significantly for topics like monsoons and ocean currents.
He moves quickly through basics, so students weak in fundamental Geography should first complete the NCERTs before joining.
5. Best Teachers for Ethics (GS IV): S. Ansari
S. Ansari Sir focuses on the administrative mindset required for GS Paper IV, not just philosophical theories from thinkers. His answer-writing structure teaches students to apply case studies and thinker quotes contextually.
Some find his approach too structured, limiting creative expression, but it consistently helps students score above 100 marks.
6. Best Teachers for Art & Culture: Nikhil Sheth
Nikhil Sheth, sir, uses architecture images and heritage site photographs to make Art & Culture memorable and visually interesting.
His visually rich PDF notes reduce the burden of remembering temple styles and dance forms by using comparison tables. His content is Prelims-heavy, so Mains aspirants need to supplement with NIOS material for depth and case studies.
7. Best Teachers for Environment: Shivin Chaudhary
Shivin Chaudhary emerged as the 2026 community favorite due to his no-nonsense, high-yield approach to Environment and ecology.
He connects the environment with Current Affairs, like climate summits and government policies, seamlessly for integration.
His fast-paced delivery suits students who already have basic NCERT knowledge of Environmental Science from school days.
8. Best Teachers for Science & Technology: Ayaz Khan
Ayaz Khan sir explains “why & how” behind scientific concepts, making them accessible for non-science background students effectively.
He converts complex topics like CRISPR and quantum computing into simple language for Prelims MCQs preparation. His classes require note-taking skills as he covers vast content quickly without repetitive explanations
9. Best Teachers for International Relations: Pavneet Singh
Pavneet Singh sir, delivers structured, Mains-oriented geopolitics analysis that helps students write 250-word answers with clear frameworks.
His strength is creating region-wise notes (ASEAN, Middle East, Africa) that integrate history, economy, and current affairs together. His content is dense and assumes familiarity with basic IR frameworks like Realism and Liberalism.
Best UPSC Teachers on YouTube (Free Resources)
Best YouTube Channels For UPSC Preparation include Study IQ IAS, Drishti IAS, Sansad TV, Mrunal Patel, and PW OnlyIAS.
Economy-focused channels include Mrunal’s Win Series and Eco Survey by Sriram IAS. Polity channels feature Bharat Suraksha and constitutional case law discussions.
Geography channels like Sudarshan Gurjar and mapping tutorials help visualization. Answer writing strategy channels include the Vision IAS Value Add program for Mains answer evaluation.
Common Mistakes While Choosing UPSC Teachers
Here are some Common Mistakes students often make:
- Blindly following toppers: What worked for an AIR 10 might not suit your learning speed or educational background.
- One teacher for all subjects: No single educator masters all nine GS papers with equal depth and clarity.
- Source overload: Watching five teachers for Polity creates confusion, not clarity, in your understanding.
- Ignoring answer-writing focus: Prelims-only teachers won’t help you score in Mains, where 1000 marks are actually distributed.
The solution is selecting one primary teacher per subject, sticking with them for three months, and evaluating results through mock tests before switching or changing strategies mid-preparation.
Why These Teachers Are Recommended For UPSC? (Methodology)
These recommendations are based on verified data and transparent student feedback mechanisms across platforms.
- Topper Verification: Cross-checked with AIR 1-50 rankers from 2023-2024 batches about their primary teachers.
- Pedagogy & 2025–2026 UPSC Trend: Analyzed if teaching style matches recent Prelims pattern changes and Mains case study demands.
- Student Community Consensus: Reviewed 500+ posts on r/UPSC Reddit, Quora, and Telegram groups about teacher effectiveness.
- Accessibility & Course Logic: Prioritized teachers offering free YouTube content or affordable courses under ₹10,000 for economically weaker students.
This methodology ensures that recommendations serve the majority of aspirants, not just those who can afford ₹2 lakh classroom programs in Delhi.
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Conclusion: The Best Teachers For UPSC Guide You, But Consistency Clears Exams
Choosing the right teacher for each subject saves you from the paralysis of analysis that stops many aspirants from even starting their preparation seriously.
The nine teachers listed above have proven track records in converting conceptual clarity into marks on answer sheets during actual examinations.
Remember that a teacher is only a guide who shows you the path forward. Your 2026 attempt will ultimately be won through self-study discipline, consistent revision cycles, and answer-writing practice under timed conditions.
FAQs
No single teacher covers all nine GS papers effectively; choose subject-specific experts like Mrunal Patel for Economy, M. Puri for Polity, and Sudarshan Gurjar for Geography based on your learning style.
Focus on 20% of high-yield topics that contribute to 80% of Prelims questions and Mains marks, such as Current Affairs-integrated static topics, constitutional provisions, and economic survey data.
Mrunal Patel holds the most recognition due to his free YouTube lectures reaching millions, though fame does not always equal effectiveness for every student’s individual learning needs.
This question confuses SST (Social Studies for school teaching exams like CTET) with UPSC GS preparation; for UPSC, subject-specific teachers mentioned above are more relevant than SST-focused educators.
Mrunal Patel for Economy, Study IQ IAS for multi-subject basics, Sansad TV for Perspective debates, and PW OnlyIAS for daily editorials are top free YouTube resources available.
