17 October 2026
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Secrets of The IAS Factory At RCA Revealed!

Indian Masterminds Stories

There is nothing sweeter than success. But, for Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) of Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) University in New Delhi, analysis of failures is what makes the success sweetest.

RCA can be called the nursery of bureaucrats in India. Out of 60 students of the academy who appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) interviews this year, 31 found their names of the list of 1016 successful candidates – a cool success rate of over 50 per cent. The successful candidates  include Nausheen, who got an All India Rank (AIR) 9.

At a time when most education institutions having 10-15 successful students have just been gloating about their ‘stupendous success rate’, RCA was busy analysing why its 29 students couldn’t make the grade. “Failure is a great teacher. Scientists not only analyse but also celebrate their failures. They learn and makes changes in their methodology and ultimately achieve success”, says Prof Abid Haleem, Professor in-charge of the RCA and a renowned scientist himself. 

BETTERING ITS RECORD YEAR-AFTER-YEAR

This is not the first time that RCA has done wonders in UPSC CSE. It has been producing toppers year after year and with every passing year, number of its successful candidates has only been increasing. While in CSE 2021 RCA produced 23 winners, next year its tally went up to 27 and it has bettered its record in CSE 2023 with 31 successful candidates.

Indian Masterminds visited the RCA campus, spoke to the students and the faculty to find out that one secret formula of success which no other coaching institute has been able to crack, despite their hallowed precincts, ultra-modern infrastructures and star faculties.

Please watch the full video for complete information..

The RCA conducts an entrance exam to select about 60 students. The entrance exam is based on the CSE pattern and consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). One paper of the exam includes essay writing. After qualifying in the written exam, candidates appear for a personality test. The duration of the test is 3 hours. There is also a negative marking in the paper. For every three wrong questions, one mark is deducted. The interview is of 30 marks.

RCA Jamia

85 PER CENT SUCCESS ASSURED

After qualifying the entrance test, civil services preparation is done from here. “Cleared our entrance exam ensures almost 85 per cent chances of succeeding at UPSC prelims”, claims Prof Haleem. 

Please also read…

https://indianmasterminds.com/features/video-interview/rca-a-nursery-of-civil-servants/

Applications can be submitted online at the RCA website, jmicoe.in. The RCA offers a comprehensive coaching program that includes lectures, tutorials, and mock tests. The RCA also has two libraries with a wide range of books and journals on competitive exams.

The RCA has a team of experienced faculty who are experts in their respective fields. “The 24*7 library is the biggest help in preparation besides of course the guidance and the atmosphere. I used to go to the library around 8 am to return only around 9 pm. When everybody else around you is studying, you too get inspired to work hard”, says Pratibha, AIR 356.


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