Thousands of students work day and night every year to clear the UPSC exam. They leave their homes, forget comfort, and devote themselves to one goal. But only some make it to the final list.
That’s why smart aspirants always have a back-up plan.
• Plan A: Clear UPSC and become an officer
• Plan B: take an online course that could help establish a good career if UPSC does not turn out.
It is not giving up, it is being prepared for different possibilities. So, if you are a UPSC aspirant and want to prepare your Plan B, this blog is for you. Here, we have discussed the top online courses you can pursue while preparing for UPSC.
Table of Contents
• Smart Strategy for UPSC: Why Plan B Matters
• Top 8 Online Courses for UPSC Aspirants
• Diploma Courses for UPSC Aspirants
• Weekly Study Calendar to Balance UPSC + Courses
• Final Thoughts: Fail-Proofing Your UPSC Journey
• FAQs
Smart Strategy for UPSC: Why Plan B Matters
Every year, thousands of aspirants risk it all on UPSC - giving up time, career, and comfort for one end goal: being a civil servant. While not everyone clears UPSC, we all know not clearing UPSC doesn’t mean defeat.
What it essentially means is that you need a contingency plan. This is where online courses come in. They offer:
• Flexibility
• Costing opportunities
• Career prospects
• And, you can do it without compromising your preparation.
Top 8 Online Courses for UPSC Aspirants
Here are the top 8 online courses that you can pursue as a UPSC Aspirant. You can consider them as your back up plan.
1. Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• This program is for 2 years degree delivered in online, distance and offline modes.
• But for UPSC aspirants, an Online MBA is a good option to pursue while continuing with their preparation.
• An online MBA is a really smart second option since you will not be in physical classes. You get to participate in:
• Live sessions + Recorded lectures
• Self paced study
• Subject such as HR, Marketing, or Public Policy with strong connections to the UPSC GS & essay papers
• Best for: Aspirants wanting to take on leadership roles or have a corporate safety net.
• Pro tip: Pick an MBA in Public Policy or complete an MBA in Rural Management to overlap UPSC prep.
2. Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• This is an easy one when it comes to UPSC prep.
• Why? Because public administration is:
• A popular optional subject
• Relevant in GS II & Governance topics
• Closely related to actual IAS duties
• Doing an online MPA from IGNOU, Online Manipal, or Amity Online could double up your prep.
3. Content Marketing
• Surprised by this online course? Don’t be
• UPSC answer writing is all about clarity, structure, and relevance to the audience, everything that you’re taught in content marketing.
• Skills that you can learn:
• SEO writing
• Building audience engagement
• Data based storytelling
• Platforms: Learnurture, Coursera, Great learning
• Best for: Creatives who plan to go back to freelance or remote work after their UPSC attempts.
4. Business Analytics
• Data is the new power and even in governance.
• Nowadays, analytics does not need any introduction.
• With the likes of Excel, SQL, Power BI, and Python you can carve out a career in:
• Government consulting
• Development research
• NGO analytics
• It touches upon UPSC syllabus topics such as Economics, Environment and Budget analysis.
5. Cybersecurity
• If you’re from an IT background or just tech curious, this is gold for you.
• Governments are in more need of cyber warriors than ever. They even have UPSC going digital now!
• Learn also:
• Network security
• Ethical hacking
• Information Security
• Top providers: Google, Coursera, Amity University
• Bonus Point: It is job ready, high paying, and in demand in countries all over the world.
6. MA in Sociology, Political Science, Psychology
• This degree is the most preferred Plan B for UPSC aspirants.
• Why?
• Overlaps with optional subjects
• Provides a post grad degree
• Fits naturally with GS Paper I & II
• Universities like IGNOU, Sikkim Manipal and Amity offer online & distance MA degrees.
7. Masters of Science (MSC)
• If you are coming from a scientific background, and have chosen a science related optional subject in UPSC, then pursuing an online MSC is an ideal choice for you and your optional subject includes:
• Zoology
• Botany
• Physics
• Geography
• Then the MSC option ties into both your UPSC preparation and academic study.
8. Accountancy or Mcom
• Commerce optional? This is for you.
• While you prepare for UPSC, consider:
• A short course in Tally or GST
• Online MCom Degree
• Financial analyst certifications
• This combination allows you to:
• Succeed in UPSC
• Gain Entry level roles in finance sector
• Start your own tax or accounting practice
Diploma Courses for UPSC Aspirants
Short on time? Here are quick alternatives to degrees:
• Public Policy
• Duration: 3–6 months
• Platform: edX, Coursera
• Benefit: Boosts GS II knowledge
• Data Analytics
• Duration: 6 months
• Platform: Google, Coursera
• Benefit: Tech backup for job roles
• Journalism & Media Ethics
• Duration: 3 months
• Platform: Swayam
• Benefit: Great for Essay & Ethics prep
• Conflict Resolution
• Duration: 4 months
• Platform: FutureLearn
• Benefit: Sharpens IR and governance prep
These can be completed side-by-side with your main UPSC study schedule.
Weekly Study Calendar: Balance UPSC + Online Course
Planning is everything. Use this weekly planner to manage both effectively:
Monday
• UPSC Focus: GS I + Newspaper Analysis
• Online Course Time: 1 Hour at Night
Tuesday
• UPSC Focus: GS II + Current Affairs
• Online Course Time: 1 Hour Post Dinner
Wednesday
• UPSC Focus: Optional Subject + PYQs
• Online Course Time: 30 mins Quick Rev.
Thursday
• UPSC Focus: Ethics/Essay Writing
• Online Course Time: 1 Hour Recorded Class
Friday
• UPSC Focus: GS III + MCQs
• Online Course Time: Practice Assignments
Saturday
• UPSC Focus: Revision + Notes Making
• Online Course Time: Skill-based Lecture
Sunday
• UPSC Focus: Mock Test + Feedback Review
• Online Course Time: Self-Paced Learning
Stay consistent, and you won’t need to sacrifice one for the other.
Final Thoughts: Fail-Proofing Your UPSC Journey
Many of us forget that UPSC is not the only option to serve the nation or to make a good life for ourselves. The preparation has already made you smarter, sharper, and a whole lot more thoughtful than 90% of graduates.
If Plan A does not work out, Plan B can always work. Look at:
• Kapil Sibal, who entered law then politics
• Arvind Subramanian, was India’s Chief Economic Adviser
• Ravish Kumar, who made his way into journalism, and won the Ramon Magsaysay Award
None of them cleared UPSC, yet each one of them made a difference. So, why not you?
FAQs
Q1. What to do if you can’t clear UPSC?
If you can’t clear the UPSC, do not lose heart, and go for Plan B, you can either apply for other government examinations with a similar syllabus, do an online course, diploma course, have the option to teach or do something with a Non-governmental organisation. In addition to that, there are many more options available.
Q2. Which course is best before UPSC?
A Bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, history, public policy, governance, geography or anything similar is an ideal option for clearing the UPSC.
Q3. Is it possible to clear UPSC with a job?
For sure, with a structured plan, online coaching, and disciplined weekends you can do both.
Q4. Is it okay to have a Plan B while preparing for UPSC?
Not just fine, it's good. Having Plan B doesn’t mean you don’t trust yourself. It means you are prepared for life, whatever it throws at you layer upon layer.
