LESS IS MORE
BE THE MASTER OF YOUR DESTINY
Achieve excellence in civil services examination with expert guidance for anthropology students, personalised mentorship and comprehensive resources at Vidyarthi Institute of Civil Services, your ultimate preparation partner. Unlike big coaching centres, Vidyarthi ICS is a small-scale, humble and honest effort by Mr. Pankaj Vidyarthi (as a retired civil servant) to mentor and coach the future civil servants of India. This is being handled by him independently, with limited resources and without any external support. His aim is to try his best to support as many civil service examination aspirants in every way possible.
VIDYARTHI ICS
Vidyarthi Institute of Civil Services (Vidyarthi ICS) is the brainchild of Mr. Pankaj Vidyarthi, who is a retired bureaucrat (Batch of 1987), having served the Government of India for almost 35 years. He retired as the Principal Director General of Income Tax, Delhi in 2022.
Mr. Vidyarthi strongly believes that a good strategy is the focal point of preparation for civil services examinations. With ‘less is more’ philosophy at its heart, Vidyarthi ICS aims to assist students identify the best and tailor-made strategies to ensure success in examinations.
Abandoning the traditional rot learning techniques, Vidyarthi ICS shall adopt Oxford style tutorial teaching and mentorship to ensure each aspirant develops a holistic view of the concerned subject. The services of Vidyarthi ICS are twin-fold:
(a) Mentorship - Members of Vidyarthi ICS will be provided personalized and bespoke mentorship by Mr. Vidyarthi to ensure effective preparation strategy, depending on their respective circumstances, strengths, and weaknesses.
(b) Anthropology (optional subject) coaching - small batches of interested students will be personally taught anthropology by Mr. Vidyarthi, in his own unique teaching style.
Elite UPSC Coaching for Success
Mentorship Program
Members of the Vidyarthi ICS will be provided bespoke, tailored, and personalized mentorship on every aspect of the civil services examination. The primary focus would be to provide a suitable roadmap and strategy to aspirants to approach their preparation as well as execution, at the prelims, mains, and interview stage. We understand that civil services preparation can be daunting. Mr. Vidyarthi will use his more than three decade’s experience as a bureaucrat to help you navigate through the difficulties.
ANTHROPOLOGY (OPTIONAL) COACHING
Mr. Vidyarthi had cleared the civil services examination with anthropology as his optional subject. Inspired by his father’s works and legacy in the field of anthropology, Mr. Vidyarthi remained deeply interested in anthropology throughout his bureaucratic career. Having retired, Mr. Vidyarthi aims to help the aspirants to develop an aptitude and insight into the subject. Interested aspirants will be given a holistic view of the anthropology UPSC syllabus. Vidyarthi ICS would conduct tutorial classes for aspirants, such that maximum number of aspirants are successful in the civil services examinations with anthropology as their optional subject.
Our Vision
Less is more when you have the right strategy. Abandoning traditional large scale UPSC coaching practices prevalent, we aim to work closely with students to nurture their potential with adequate attention and detail.
While there is no supplement for hard work and perseverance, we believe that efforts must be tailored, targeted, and personalized. Method to madness is key. What you often hear is that civil services examination preparation is not a sprint but a marathon. However, what often goes unheard is that without the right strategy, you would be running this marathon in a maze. This is primarily why aspirants often take multiple attempts to understand what works best for their preparation. This not only leads to loss of precious time but also financial resources.
At Vidyarthi ICS, our objective is to help you identify the right path to complete your journey efficiently and expeditiously.
One size does not fit all.
A common mistake that traditional coaching techniques make is that they promote a one-size fits all model. An exam as taxing and rigorous, needs bespoke and personalized solutions, which we shall provide at Vidyarthi ICS.
Tutorial style teaching
Drawing from Oxford University’s tutorial style teaching, Vidyarthi ICS will revolutionize the teaching methods adopted by aspirants for civil services examination. Conventional lecture hall approach is outdated and unfairly prejudices aspirants. Tutorials conducted by Mr. Vidyarthi will allow students to gain a principled and holistic understanding of the issues discussed.
Thinking like an anthropologist
Anthropology as an optional subject has immense potential. Vidyarthi ICS will assist aspirants to develop an aptitude and insight into the subject. Holistic learning must be promoted, which allows one to appreciate inter relatedness of concepts, findings, and examples. Aspirants will be taught to think like an anthropologist for optimum for optimum results in the examination.
Pankaj Vidyarthi
Pankaj Vidyarthi is a retired bureaucrat, having served the Government of India for almost 35 years. He retired as the Principal Director General of Income Tax, Delhi in 2022. He is the son of Late LP Vidyarthi, who was a globally renowned and widely influential anthropologist.
Pankaj Vidyarthi holds a BA (Hons) in anthropology from Ranchi University (1983), where he was a gold medalist. He also holds a MSC (first division) in anthropology from University of Delhi (1985). He was awarded the UGC (NET) scholarship and was a junior research fellow in the University of Delhi. At the time, he appeared for the civil services exam, with anthropology as one of his optional subjects. He joined the Indian Revenue Service in 1987.
Vidyarthi’s experience in anthropology is not limited to formal education. Vidyarthi would often accompany his father on field visits to various tribal areas to assist with his father’s research. This allowed Vidyarthi to develop an anthropological lens and an aptitude in the field. Inspired by his father’s works and legacy, Vidyarthi remained deeply interested in anthropology throughout his bureaucratic career.
LATE PROF. L.P. VIDYARTHI
The discipline of Anthropology has been enriched by the contributions of numerous scholars worldwide. In the Indian context, one name that stands out prominently is that of LP Vidyarthi. Prof. Vidyarthi’s contributions, groundbreaking work and dedication to the field have left an indelible mark on Indian anthropology.
Prof. Vidyarthi’s legacy endures through the lasting impact of his work and the scholars he mentored. His contributions extended beyond the realm of academic research; he actively shaped the evolution of anthropological thought in India. Characterized by clarity and scholarly rigor, his writings influenced subsequent generations of anthropologists.
Beyond individual research, Prof. Vidyarthi played a pivotal role in shaping institutional frameworks for anthropology in India. He actively participated in establishing academic departments and research centers dedicated to anthropology, fostering a conducive environment for the discipline’s growth.
Prof. Vidyarthi’s noteworthy contributions lie in his pioneering ethnographic research, focusing on various communities across India. His studies delved into the customs, rituals, and social structures of diverse groups, offering nuanced insights into the rich tapestry of Indian culture. Notable among his works is the comprehensive documentation of the traditions of tribes in central India, shedding light on their unique practices and belief systems.
