The 10 Best Upsc Podcasts (2026)

With over 250 episodes in its library, UPSC Podcasts has built one of the largest audio archives for civil services aspirants in India. The show primarily curates and repurposes discussions originally aired on Rajya Sabha TV and All India Radio, which makes it a surprisingly rich source of policy-level conversations you would otherwise have to hunt down on government channels.

The format is straightforward -- each episode runs 8 to 15 minutes and typically features interviews with senior bureaucrats, secretaries, and subject matter experts. You will hear the Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology discuss India's biotech roadmap, or a sitting minister break down FDI policy changes, all presented without heavy editing. The production is minimal and sometimes a bit rough around the edges, but that is part of the appeal. You are getting direct access to the voices that shape policy.

Topics skew heavily toward governance, international relations, and economic affairs. There are episodes on the US-Taliban peace deal's implications for India, MSME sector challenges, and manufacturing infrastructure during COVID-19. The content maps well to General Studies Paper II and III, especially Indian polity, governance, and international relations.

The show was most active between 2019 and 2020, so recent episodes are sparse. But the back catalog remains genuinely useful for building conceptual understanding. If you are the kind of aspirant who learns well through expert discussions rather than textbook summaries, this is worth a deep scroll through the episode list. Pair it with your newspaper reading for a more layered understanding of how policy actually gets made in India.

The IAS Companion is a focused, lecture-style podcast that has built up 179 episodes covering essential UPSC concepts from Prelims all the way through the interview stage. What sets it apart from most UPSC shows is its deep commitment to the Psychology optional paper. The recent episodes (EP 65-79 and beyond) systematically work through the entire Psychology syllabus -- sleep and dreaming theories, anxiety disorders, personality approaches from Freud to Rogers, social psychology concepts like attribution theory and prejudice.

Each episode runs between 6 and 14 minutes, which is perfect for those study breaks between reading sessions. The host takes a structured, numbered approach to topics, almost like a professor working through a lecture series. There is no banter or filler. You get the concept, the key thinkers, the exam-relevant angles, and then the episode ends. It is efficient in a way that respects your time.

Beyond Psychology, the show covers broader IAS preparation ground -- fundamental rights, governance frameworks, and social issues that map to the General Studies papers. The host clearly understands what UPSC actually tests versus what students waste time memorizing.

New episodes were dropping daily through mid-2024, which shows serious dedication. If you are taking Psychology as your optional subject, this is probably the single best audio resource available. Even if you are not, the social psychology and personality episodes are directly relevant to GS Paper IV (Ethics). The bite-sized format means you can knock out two or three episodes during a morning walk without feeling overwhelmed.

For Telugu-speaking aspirants, this podcast from Dinesh Dintakurthi and Kathanika Media fills a gap that English-dominated UPSC prep often ignores. With 148 episodes and a 3.7 rating on Apple Podcasts, it has earned a loyal following among candidates preparing for UPSC as well as state-level exams like APPSC and TSPSC.

The content range is impressive. Dinesh covers everything from Vedic period history and the Mauryan empire to modern democracy discussions with guests like Dr. JP Narayan. Recent episodes tackled TGPSC Mains question-and-answer sessions, British Raj policies, and comparative analyses of OPS versus NPS pension systems. Episodes vary widely in length -- some are quick 5-minute concept explanations while others run close to 40 minutes for deeper discussions.

What makes this show particularly valuable is that it does not just translate English content into Telugu. The host approaches topics with cultural context that resonates with aspirants from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The constitution episodes, for example, connect abstract articles to real governance situations these listeners encounter in their states.

The show updates semi-weekly and has been consistently active from 2019 through 2024, which is rare longevity for an Indian podcast. Dinesh also offers mentorship (there is a phone number in the show notes), suggesting he is genuinely invested in his listeners' success rather than just building a content library. If you are comfortable studying in Telugu, this might be the most comprehensive UPSC audio resource available in the language.

StudyIQ has been a major name in UPSC coaching on YouTube for years, and their podcast arm -- hosted by Avlokit Meshram -- brings that same systematic approach to audio. The show delivers 78 episodes in Hinglish (a natural Hindi-English mix that most North Indian aspirants actually speak), walking through the UPSC syllabus topic by topic.

The structure is methodical. Episodes follow a sequential path through Indian Polity, starting from the Preamble and working through historical constitutional acts (1773 to 1947), fundamental rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, and citizenship concepts. Later episodes branch into comparative constitutional analysis and the right to privacy. Each episode runs 6 to 24 minutes depending on the topic's complexity.

This is revision-focused content. The host assumes you have already read Laxmikanth or a similar polity textbook and need to consolidate your understanding. Concepts are explained with enough detail to be useful but not so much that you are drowning in information. The Hinglish delivery feels natural -- not forced or overly academic -- which makes it easy to listen to during commutes or while cooking.

The show benefits from StudyIQ's broader content ecosystem. If a podcast episode sparks a question, you can usually find a corresponding video with visual aids on their YouTube channel. For Hindi-medium aspirants who struggle with purely English resources, or English-medium aspirants who just think more comfortably in Hindi, this is a solid syllabus revision companion. The Polity coverage alone makes it worth a subscribe.

Learn With JJ from CNA Academy serves a unique niche -- it is one of the very few podcasts that covers both UPSC and TNPSC (Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission) preparation in a single feed. Across 71 episodes, the show blends audio book segments with topical discussions, and the result feels more like a patient tutor than a rushed lecture.

The subject matter spans a wide arc. You will find episodes on the Anti-Defection Law and government schemes like E-Shram Portal and PM Poshan, sitting alongside deep dives into the Sangam Age, the Chola dynasty, and Jainism's history in Tamil Nadu. There are also episodes on Bharathiyar, Dr. Ambedkar, and urban planning reforms. The current affairs episodes cover things like the Mercer Global Pension Index, which shows the host is thinking about what actually appears in UPSC papers rather than just covering headlines.

Episode lengths vary from 3 to 22 minutes, with the shorter ones typically covering a single scheme or concept and the longer ones tackling historical periods that need more context. The show was active from 2020 through 2023.

For aspirants based in Tamil Nadu who are simultaneously preparing for state and central services, this dual focus is genuinely helpful. You do not have to juggle separate podcasts for TNPSC history and UPSC polity. The audio book format also means some episodes work well as a companion to your static subject reading -- put it on while reviewing notes and let the concepts reinforce each other.

Run by Abhyankar's IAS -- a coaching institute with real skin in the game -- UPSC Prep Decoded takes a slightly different approach than most aspirant-run podcasts. This one has institutional knowledge behind it, and you can hear it in how topics are framed. The show does not just explain concepts; it explicitly connects them to exam strategy.

Across 61 episodes updated weekly, the podcast covers government policies, current schemes, and exam-relevant analysis. Recent topics include BRICS expansion and India's foreign policy positioning, generative AI applications in India's economic growth, food safety versus food security distinctions, and the historical context of the sedition law. These are not random current affairs picks -- they are the kind of nuanced topics that show up as essay questions or GS Mains answers.

Episodes run 5 to 18 minutes, with production credits going to Risha Bhosale for sound editing, which gives it a slightly more polished feel than many independent UPSC shows. The host also dedicates episodes to preparation strategy itself -- Prelims analysis, current affairs study methods, and even physical and mental wellness for exam aspirants. That last part matters more than most coaching content acknowledges.

The institutional backing means the content reflects what has actually worked for students who cleared the exam through Abhyankar's program. It is not theory about preparation; it is advice filtered through actual results. If you want a podcast that treats UPSC prep as a professional project rather than a hobby, this one delivers.

Poonam's UPSC Current Affairs podcast is a no-nonsense daily prelims revision tool that packs a lot of information into compact episodes. With 45 episodes and a perfect 5-star rating (from its sole reviewer, but still), the show focuses squarely on the kind of factual current affairs knowledge that the Prelims paper demands.

The format is built for efficiency. Each episode delivers daily prelims notes covering topics like GSLV MK III launches, encephalitis syndromes, zoonotic diseases, DNA technology legislation, and economic concepts like bond yields and fiscal deficit calculations. Constitutional articles get individual attention too -- you will find episodes breaking down Article 292 and Article 248, plus the doctrine of harmonious construction, all explained with exam-day precision.

Episode lengths swing dramatically, from quick 2-minute concept bites to 51-minute deep sessions. The shorter episodes work as flash cards for your ears. The longer ones are more like comprehensive revision sessions for entire topics. The daily update schedule means the content tracks closely with what newspapers were printing at the time.

The show is most useful if you are in the thick of Prelims preparation and need audio reinforcement of facts you have already encountered in your reading. Poonam does not spend much time on analysis or opinion -- this is about locking in the factual knowledge that MCQ questions test. It is the kind of podcast you put on while doing chores, letting the repetition build your recall. Practical, direct, and exactly what Prelims season requires.

Oradigicle Podcast tries to be a one-stop shop for UPSC, IAS, and PCS aspirants, and while its 11 episodes make it a smaller show, the content range is surprisingly varied. The podcast bounces between UPSC question banks, current affairs analysis, geography fundamentals, and even technology explainers -- including a ChatGPT episode that landed before most coaching platforms were talking about AI.

The standout episodes cover geography in a series format (Earth, oceans, mountains, plateaus), which maps directly to the GS Paper I syllabus. There are also timely current affairs picks like the Hindenburg-Adani controversy and the Air India 470-aircraft procurement deal. The Draft Heritage Sites and Relics Bill episode shows the host has a good eye for legislation that slips past most aspirants' radar but could absolutely show up in Prelims.

Episodes are primarily in Hindi and range from very short to about 13 minutes. The production is basic but functional. The host does not waste time on intros or self-promotion, which you will appreciate when you are trying to absorb information quickly.

The show was active through early 2023, so the most recent current affairs are dated. But the geography series and the question bank episodes remain useful regardless of when they were published. For aspirants preparing for PCS exams alongside UPSC, the dual focus is a nice bonus. Think of this as a supplementary resource rather than your primary podcast -- something to fill gaps in your preparation with topics you might not find covered elsewhere in audio form.

The UPSC Podcast from Sapien Happy takes an unusual approach that some aspirants will love and others might find too simple -- it is essentially an audiobook version of the Spectrum Modern History textbook (23rd Edition). The host reads through chapters at a steady pace, and the idea is that you either listen along while reading or use the episodes at 1.5x speed for revision.

Across 10 episodes ranging from 8 to 37 minutes, the show covers critical Modern History territory: the Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Civil Disobedience Movement, Round Table Conferences, the emergence of Swarajists and socialist ideas, and Congress rule in the provinces. These are bread-and-butter Prelims and Mains topics that every aspirant needs to nail.

The production is about as minimal as it gets. No background music, no commentary, no analysis -- just a clean reading of the text. Some people will find this boring. But if you have ever wished someone would just read Spectrum to you while you jog or commute, this is exactly that. It is also useful for visual learners who want to reinforce what they read by hearing it spoken aloud.

The show has not been updated since September 2020, and it covers only a portion of the Spectrum textbook. You will not find post-independence history or the freedom movement's later phases here. Still, for the chapters it does cover, having an audio version you can replay on demand is genuinely handy. Treat it as a targeted revision tool for the specific Modern History chapters it addresses.

UPSC Daily is one of the newer entries in the UPSC podcast space, launching in late 2025 with a clear mission: link every news story directly to your GS syllabus and show you exactly how it connects to previous year questions. That is a smart framing, because most aspirants struggle not with reading the news but with figuring out what to do with it in an exam context.

The show keeps episodes tight -- 6 to 10 minutes each -- and follows a daily format. Each episode takes the day's most exam-relevant stories and maps them to specific GS topics, suggesting how you could use the information for value addition in Mains answers. The constructive approach (focusing on government achievements and policy outcomes) is worth noting; it reflects the positive framing that UPSC often rewards in answer writing.

What really stands out is the companion website at upscdaily.pro, where transcripts are available for every episode. This means you can listen during your commute and then quickly review the text version when you sit down to make notes. That audio-plus-text workflow is underrated for retention.

The show is young with just 5 episodes so far, but the concept is solid and the execution is clean. The host clearly understands that busy aspirants do not have 45 minutes for a podcast -- they need dense, actionable information delivered fast. If UPSC Daily maintains its daily publishing schedule and keeps the syllabus-linking format consistent, it could become a daily habit for serious aspirants. Worth subscribing now and watching it grow.