For two decades, Race2Excellence has opened doors to learning for students, families, educators and institutions. Today our programmes reach 3 million people across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. Learning for life, nationwide.
Race2Excellence Pvt. Ltd. builds and runs every initiative below, from a ten-year student journey to India’s largest civil service learning platform for students.
Educationist and international trainer. Founder of Race2IAS, Project GEMS, Testination and CUET Guru, and Chairman of Race2Excellence Pvt. Ltd.
Read the founder’s story →Our journey began in 2004 and led to the founding of Race2Excellence Pvt. Ltd. in 2018. From our headquarters in Edappally, Kochi, we serve the learning needs of the 21st century, building knowledge, skill and aptitude.
Our founding vision, to promote excellence, has reached over 3 million people: students, educators, government employees, managers and professionals. A skilled team of trainers and consultants designs practical, interactive programmes that lead to real outcomes.
A society where people can discover their abilities, keep learning, and contribute with knowledge, confidence and responsibility.
To support learning through education, training, mentoring and practical experiences, with families, institutions and organisations.
Former Director General of Aeronautical Systems, DRDO, with eminent civil servants and educators on our Advisory Board.
Meet our Advisory Board →Drag or use the arrows to travel from 2004 to today.
Race2IASRace2IAS makes the civil service examination known to every part of society and brings its preparation to the grassroots. Since 2016 it has reached more than 1 lakh students in India and abroad.
Every village. Every background. Every child who dares to dream.
A child cannot dream of what they have never seen. For too long the civil service has been visible only to a few: children in big cities, from families who already know the way. A village child with the same ability often never hears of it, or hears too late.
Race2IAS makes the dream visible. We give school students real exposure to the civil service, to the officers who serve in it and to how India is governed, so the dream can take hold early. We take it to villages, small towns and schools across India, so a child’s background never decides how big they may dream.
Our aim is to build India’s future IAS officers: honest, capable and committed to the people, who will lead India towards becoming a developed nation.
To catch a dream, a child must first see it. Race2IAS gives every child that first sight, and walks with them until an honest officer stands ready to build a developed India.Our guiding conviction
Prelims, Mains and a Personality Test on the UPSC pattern, launched in 2017. Two age groups, Classes 6–8 and 9–12. Serving and retired civil servants run the Personality Test.
IAS@School
Project GEMS
A ten-year student development journey that begins in Class 7 and runs alongside school, connecting academic growth, mentoring, leadership and career exploration.
The 2026–27 intake is for students now in Class 6.
Discover your potential. Develop your abilities. Discern your purpose. Serve the world.
Every child is a precious gem, with unique talents, dreams and possibilities. Education is more than marks: it is a lifelong journey of discovering potential, building character, understanding the world and finding purpose.
Rooted in strong values and a vision of holistic growth, GEMS believes true excellence is the harmonious development of the whole person.
Every child has potential. Every potential deserves opportunity. Every opportunity requires guidance. And every achievement should contribute to a life of purpose.Our guiding conviction
GEMS Xplore visits, camps and monthly challenges, all year round.
TestinationAccessible preparation for Civil Service, KAS and other public service exams, in your hand. An annual subscription with video classes, current affairs updates, study material, live sessions and periodic exams. Project GEMS is its pioneer course.
CUET GuruPreparation for the Common University Entrance Test, for students heading to central universities.
Training for students, teachers, parents and organisations across India, from age 3 to the boardroom.
Talks, games and activities around 10 good qualities, introduced so they become lasting habits.
A one-day workshop on the qualities students need to meet the challenges life brings.
Induction for arts, science and professional colleges: academic and soft-skills training, plus one-to-one counselling with experts.
A 3–7 day workshop for secondary, higher secondary and college teachers, with resources for better classroom communication.
Teaching approaches, participation and connecting learning with students’ experiences.
Specialised training so parents can guide children to a bright future and an all-round development.
Leadership, communication and team development for managers and employees at every level.
Job-readiness training in technical institutions.
Infopark KochiThe Infopark Job Fair in Kochi drew nearly 10,000 registered job seekers. We also organised the Times Job Fair in Koratty.
Kerala’s largest online quiz show for school students, with questions in the style of the civil service prelims.
A mega quiz for CBSE schools across Kerala, from Class 5, organised by the Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complexes and coordinated by the Race team. It is the only quiz with a separate competition for school teachers, and it was telecast on television with Flowers channel as broadcast partner.
A spelling bee that builds English language practice and spelling skills.
Schools, colleges, universities and organisations we have worked with.
Civil servants, scientists and educators who guide our work and inspire the students we serve.
Dr. Tessy Thomas, affectionately known as India’s “Missile Woman,” is a distinguished aerospace engineer and former Director General of Aeronautical Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Born in April 1963 in Alappuzha, Kerala, she embarked on her scientific journey at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before joining DRDO in 1988. Under the mentorship of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, she played a pivotal role in the development of the Agni missile series, serving as the Project Director for Agni-IV and Agni-V. Her expertise in solid propellant systems and guidance technology was instrumental in enhancing India’s strategic missile capabilities. In 2018, she became the first woman to lead a missile project in India and later served as Director General of Aeronautical Systems until her retirement in 2023. Dr. Thomas’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award and recognition as a Woman Pioneer at the ET Prime Women Leadership Awards in 2023.
Sri. P.C. Cyriac, a former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, is widely recognized for his pivotal role in shaping the state’s administrative and developmental landscape. During his tenure, Mr. Cyriac was instrumental in driving key infrastructure projects, including the expansion of transportation networks and urban development initiatives that helped boost Tamil Nadu’s economy. His leadership in managing the state’s response to natural disasters, such as floods and cyclones, also set new standards in disaster management. Under his guidance, the state made strides in enhancing educational reforms and improving healthcare services, leading to better outcomes in both rural and urban areas. His strategic decision-making and meticulous governance contributed to Tamil Nadu’s robust economic growth, making him a respected figure in India’s civil service.
Dr. K.B. Valsala Kumari IAS (Retd.) is a distinguished civil servant known for her courageous leadership and lasting impact on public welfare in Kerala. As District Collector of Pathanamthitta, she led a pioneering sanitation mission at Sabarimala—introducing eco-friendly toilets, reviving the polluted Pamba river, and founding the Sabarimala Sanitation Society. She held key positions including Revenue Divisional Officer, Civil Supplies Commissioner, Land Revenue Commissioner, and Secretary to Government across multiple departments, retiring as Principal Secretary in the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management. Post-retirement, she served as Executive Director of Kudumbashree, empowering women through self-help initiatives. She was also the first Secretary of the Kerala State Women’s Commission and served on the Government-appointed Hema Committee to address issues faced by women in cinema. As a member of the Administrative Reforms Commission sub-committee, she contributed to strengthening governance systems. Currently, she continues her service by supporting senior citizens and underprivileged school children, while actively participating in initiatives like Race2IAS.
Smt. Sheela Thomas IAS (Retd.) is a 1985-batch IAS officer who has played a pivotal role at the national level, notably serving as Chairperson of the Rubber Board of India, the statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, where she led regulatory and developmental initiatives for the country’s rubber industry. She also held the position of Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), representing India on the global stage. In the Government of Kerala, she held critical administrative offices including Additional Chief Secretary in the General Administration Department and NORKA, as well as Secretary to the Chief Minister. She led key departments such as Agriculture; Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs; Transport; Co-operatives; Industries & Commerce; and Information & Public Relations. She also served as Director of Census Operations and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Additionally, she was Member Secretary of the Kerala Administrative Reforms Commission, contributing to governance improvements at the state level. Currently, she is the Chairperson and Managing Director of Kerala Rubber Limited (KRL), where she focuses on value-added strategies, rural livelihoods, sustainability, and women’s empowerment.
Adv. K.M. Antony, IPS (Retd.) is a former Indian Police Service officer known for his integrity, courage, and outstanding service in the Kerala Police. As Superintendent of Police, he held key roles in the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Crime Branch, and the State Special Branch. He led several high-profile investigations, including major corruption and custodial death cases, earning a reputation for fearless and impartial policing. Post-retirement, Antony pursued a career in law and continues to offer legal consultation, especially in matters related to policing and criminal justice. He remains an active public voice in law enforcement discourse, often appearing in media discussions and regional platforms. His commentary on current affairs, often featured in news outlets and online media, reflects his continued commitment to public safety and ethical governance. In addition to his legal and public roles, he loves to interact with students and young minds, sharing his experiences to inspire the next generation.
Dr. Nirmal Ouseppachan, a 2019-batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, is a shining example of self-belief, service, and steady perseverance. Hailing from a coastal village in Alappuzha, Kerala, his journey was not marked by early academic stardom but by quiet determination and purpose. The spark was lit in Class 8 when a school headmaster encouraged him to dream bigger—a dream he never let go. Though not a school topper, he pursued medicine with dedication and eventually chose civil service to create a wider social impact. With disciplined preparation, he cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination and began his journey in administration. He served as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Kotkapura, Faridkot, and simultaneously held the post of Registrar of the Health University, Punjab, where his grounded leadership and people-first approach earned wide respect. He later served as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, contributing to district-level development and governance. In March 2025, he was appointed Additional Secretary (Coordination) and Officer-on-Special-Duty to the Chief Minister of Punjab, playing a pivotal role in strategic planning and interdepartmental coordination. From a small village in Kerala to the administrative corridors of Punjab, Dr. Nirmal’s story is one of resilience, humility, and an unwavering commitment to public service.
Dr. P.A. Mathew is a renowned academician, educationalist, and the Founder and Chairman of Grace International Academy. With over 15 years of teaching experience, he has guided more than ten thousand students in top institutions like Christ University (Bangalore), Symbiosis University (Pune), and FISAT (Cochin). He began his academic journey at Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, and went on to complete his graduation and post-graduation in Economics from Madras Christian College. He later earned a PhD in International Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He is a seasoned researcher who has published papers on economy, business, and society in reputed journals both in India and abroad. His academic work also focuses on the issues faced by overseas nationals—aptly captured by the term Diaspora. A recognized expert on the Chinese economy and society, his research explores China’s state policies, societal changes, and broader implications. Another core area of his research includes the geopolitics of trade and investment in Asia. A prolific writer, Dr. Mathew regularly contributes to leading magazines and newspapers, and his views are widely respected in academic and policy-making circles.
Mr. Jinto Mathew, an acclaimed international trainer, educational strategist and visionary leader, is the Chairman of Race2Excellence Pvt. Ltd.
With over 22 years of experience, Mr. Jinto Mathew has conducted more than 5,000 training sessions across India and abroad, impacting over 5 lakh individuals across educational institutions, corporate sectors and government departments.
He is the Founder of Race2IAS, India’s largest civil service learning platform focused on school students, which has empowered 1 lakh students to dream big and prepare early for leadership and government careers. He has also trained government officials from various administrative and development departments, specialising in leadership development, organisational growth and innovative learning strategies.
Race2IASRace2IASIndia’s largest civil service learning platform for school studentsProject GEMSProject GEMSA ten-year student development journey from Class 7TestinationTestinationAn AI-integrated learning platformCUET GuruCUET GuruSpecialised mentoring for the Common University Entrance TestThe philosophy, core framework and highlights of Project GEMS, a long-term student formation initiative of Race2Excellence.
Since 2004, Race2Excellence has worked to build knowledge, skill and aptitude in students, educators and professionals. Both flagship programmes stand on this foundation. Project GEMS is our ASK project: a ten-year formation journey that grows a child’s Aptitude, Skill and Knowledge together. Race2IAS takes that foundation to every school in India and turns it towards one of the nation’s highest callings: honest, capable public service.
“Forming young minds, shaping strong character, and inspiring lives of purpose.”
At Project GEMS, we believe that every child is a precious gem, gifted with unique talents, abilities, dreams and possibilities. Education is not merely the acquisition of knowledge or the pursuit of academic success. It is a lifelong journey of discovering one’s potential, developing character, understanding the world and finding purpose in life.
Rooted in strong values and inspired by the vision of holistic human development, Project GEMS seeks to nurture young people who are intellectually capable, morally grounded, spiritually enriched, socially responsible and confident about their future.
Our philosophy rests on the conviction that excellence is not limited to academic achievement; true excellence is the harmonious development of the whole person.
Project GEMS is Race2Excellence’s ASK project. Everything a GEMS student does, from a ten-minute daily test to a national camp, is designed to grow three things together. Marks follow; the person comes first.
Discovering how each child thinks and where their natural strengths lie, so study and career choices fit the student.
Building 21st-century skills by doing: speaking, leading, creating, collaborating and solving real problems.
Thirty minutes a day of steady learning that runs ahead of the classroom and opens a window on the wider world.
GEMS asks children to dream big: the best chairs in the country, a life of purpose. But big dreams are reached through small steps repeated every day. Our learning design draws on the habit science popularised by James Clear in Atomic Habits: lasting change comes not from occasional bursts of effort but from tiny improvements, about 1% better each day, that compound over years. A ten-year journey is the perfect ground for compounding.
One clear class and one test each day on the Testination app, so learning has a set time and place.
Short, engaging videos, current affairs, challenges, camps and a community of GEMS friends.
Bite-sized classes and quick tests: small enough to never skip, big enough to add up.
Instant scores, Ignite Points, certificates, attendance awards and mentor encouragement.
Bigger dream. Smaller steps. Thirty minutes a day, every day, for ten years: that is how a child becomes a Gem Citizen.
The GEMS learning habit
Project GEMS begins in Class 7 and accompanies students through a ten-year developmental journey. Meaningful transformation does not happen through isolated programmes, occasional motivational sessions or examination-focused coaching alone. It requires consistent guidance, meaningful experiences, personal attention and opportunities for gradual growth.
The GEMS journey connects four essential dimensions, repeated and deepened every year until a student becomes a Gem Citizen.
Build knowledge and awareness
Explore talents and possibilities
Develop values and character
Use one’s abilities for others
Cultivating curiosity, critical thinking, academic discipline, independent learning, and the ability to understand and respond to a changing world.
Nurturing integrity, compassion, humility, responsibility, respect, and a commitment to doing what is right.
Helping every student identify their strengths, interests, talents, limitations and aspirations while building confidence, resilience and self-discipline.
Expanding horizons beyond textbooks through real-world experiences, interaction with inspiring personalities, awareness of global developments and exploration of emerging opportunities.
Preparing young people to take initiative, work collaboratively, care for others, protect the environment and contribute meaningfully to society.
Enabling students to explore higher education, scholarships, professions and emerging career pathways so they can make informed choices aligned with their abilities and aspirations.
Creating a supportive ecosystem of mentors, parents, educators and peers where every child is known, encouraged, guided and accompanied throughout their journey.
Every parent dreams of seeing their child grow with confidence, purpose and a bright future. Project GEMS guides students on this journey, helping them build strong academics, leadership skills and discipline, and a clear pathway to India’s most respected careers.
Future-ready learners strong in academics, values and service.
NMMS, USS, ISRO YUVIKA, Olympiads and more.
Through CUET and other national entrance exams.
Future IAS/IPS officers, defence personnel, bankers and leaders in central & state services.
Strong subject learning through projects, blended classes and personalised assessments.
Time management, emotional awareness, goal setting and resilience through camps and workshops.
Communication, digital skills, creativity, entrepreneurship and problem-solving through activities and team challenges.
Camps, volunteering, field visits, internships and social impact projects.
Training for NMMS, USS and NTSE, with guidance for applications, essays and interviews.
Project GEMS offers daily video classes, quick tests, AI-based assessments, personalised mentorship, daily current affairs and concise study materials, all on the Testination app, about 30 minutes a day, helping every child learn with clarity and confidence. Alongside this, students grow through year-round activities:
Project GEMS helps every student grow in knowledge, skills and values through a balanced, future-ready curriculum. We blend academics, personal growth, skill-building and real-world exposure to create confident, capable learners.
Academics mixed with skills and experiences
Interactive content, projects and activities
For every child’s pace and interest
Communication, creativity, problem-solving, digital skills
Empathy, teamwork and social responsibility
In 2026, every GEMS student received regular one-on-one support from a dedicated mentor. Each child has someone to listen to them, support them and guide them, strengthening their confidence and helping them make steady progress in academics and personal growth. These sessions helped students:
A GEMS student should gradually grow into a young person who:
To nurture a generation of intellectually excellent, morally grounded, spiritually enriched, socially responsible and future-ready young people who use their knowledge, talents and opportunities to transform their lives and contribute to the common good.
To accompany students from adolescence into young adulthood through a sustained ten-year formation journey that integrates academic enrichment, personal mentorship, values formation, leadership development, real-world exposure, career discovery and family participation.
Every child has potential. Every potential deserves opportunity. Every opportunity requires guidance. And every achievement should contribute to a life of purpose.
Our guiding conviction
Project GEMS does not seek merely to produce high achievers. It seeks to form good human beings who become capable professionals, responsible citizens, compassionate leaders, and people of purpose.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, NEP 2020 and AI-enabled learning.
Why Race2IAS exists, what it believes about children and public service, and how the exam is built around that belief.
Since 2004, Race2Excellence has worked to build knowledge, skill and aptitude in students, educators and professionals. Both flagship programmes stand on this foundation. Project GEMS is our ASK project: a ten-year formation journey that grows a child’s Aptitude, Skill and Knowledge together. Race2IAS takes that foundation to every school in India and turns it towards one of the nation’s highest callings: honest, capable public service.
“Every village. Every background. Every child who dares to dream.”
Race2IAS rests on one conviction: the capacity to serve a nation can be noticed, named and nurtured long before anyone sits the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Everything else (the exam, the classes, the prizes, the journey to Delhi) follows from that belief.
A child cannot dream of what they have never seen. For too long the civil service has been visible only to a few: children in big cities, from families who already know the way. Race2IAS makes the dream visible. We give school students real exposure to the civil service, to the officers who serve in it and to how India is governed, so the dream can take hold early.
An exam without a philosophy becomes a hurdle; children learn to clear it and forget it. A philosophy gives the exam a purpose a child can feel: I am not only being tested; I am being shown who I could become. Our aim is to build India’s future IAS officers: honest, capable and committed to the people, who will lead India towards becoming a developed nation.
A civil servant is not first a person who knows many facts. A civil servant is a person entrusted with public power who uses it for others. Knowledge matters, but it serves something deeper. Race2IAS names four qualities:
Knowing the country: its history, constitution, economy, people and present.
Reasoning through a problem, weighing options and deciding fairly.
Explaining, persuading and listening, in writing and in speech.
Integrity, empathy and placing the public good above private gain.
The UPSC examination is built around these four: Prelims tests awareness and reasoning, Mains tests expression and depth, and the Personality Test looks for character. Race2IAS mirrors that architecture deliberately, so a school student meets the real shape of public service, not a simplified imitation.
A school exam asks: what have you learned? An aptitude test asks: what could you become? Achievement looks backward, rewarding the syllabus already covered. Aptitude looks forward, searching for the curiosity, reasoning and steadiness that predict growth. That is why the Race2IAS paper blends general awareness with CSAT-style reasoning: awareness shows whether a child is paying attention to the world, reasoning shows whether the child can think within it. Neither depends on being the class topper. A child who has never ranked first in school can discover through Race2IAS that she has the mind of an administrator. The test is designed to find talent that report cards miss.
Most Indians first hear of the civil services after graduation, when the choice feels sudden and the preparation enormous. Race2IAS moves that first encounter to Classes 6–12, and takes it to villages, small towns and schools across India, so that a child’s background never decides how big they may dream. Talent is spread equally across India; opportunity is not. Race2IAS carries the opportunity to where the talent already is.
A child who stands at Rashtrapati Bhavan at thirteen carries that picture for years. Aspiration begun young becomes identity, not pressure.
Reading a newspaper, questioning a claim, writing a clear paragraph: practised from Class 6, they are second nature by college.
A student in Kanyakumari or a small town in Uttar Pradesh deserves the same early exposure as a student in Delhi.
Category 1 (Classes 6–8) is an awakening: curiosity about how the country works. Category 2 (Classes 9–12) is a deepening: sharper reasoning, wider awareness and clearer ambition.
To catch a dream, a child must first see it. Race2IAS gives every child that first sight, and walks with them until an honest officer stands ready to build a developed India.
Our guiding conviction
These values are not a separate subject. They are carried by the way the exam is built and run; a child absorbs them by taking part, not by memorising them.
Meeting officers, seeing institutions and facing a real exam pattern turn a distant idea into a personal goal.
We go where the path to the civil service is least known, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Rural or urban, first-generation learner or not: ability, not circumstance, decides who rises.
A foundation from Classes 6–12, built alongside school, so no child discovers the dream too late.
Prelims, Mains and Personality Test on the UPSC pattern, so a village child measures up on a national stage.
We are not just building rank holders, but honest officers for whom service comes first.
Serving and retired civil servants interview and inspire our students, and national toppers from every background travel to New Delhi to see governance up close.
A gate exists to keep people out. A mirror exists to show people themselves. Race2IAS is designed as a mirror: every student leaves knowing more about their own strengths than when they entered. Each stage is a selection, and so a step upward.
Objective questions on awareness and reasoning. Its marks do not count toward the final rank; it opens the way forward.
Descriptive answers that test understanding and expression.
A conversation with a panel of civil servants, for qualified students only.
A student who stops at Prelims has still learned how a national exam feels and what to read next. A student who reaches the Personality Test has spoken, as a child, to the kind of panel that will one day judge adult aspirants. Classes, study materials, a current affairs magazine and live interactions with serving officers turn the examination into an eight-month education.
Race2IAS is the doorway to a larger vision held by Race2Excellence: forming young people for government service and the key careers of the country. The exam identifies; what follows forms. Project GEMS is the clearest expression of that formation: where Race2IAS reveals aptitude, GEMS cultivates it over ten years. An aptitude test that ends with a rank list risks treating children as scores. Race2IAS is meant to begin a story, not close one. The rank is a signal of potential, and potential asks for care.
We do not drill children for UPSC at twelve. We open a door and build habits; the decision to walk through belongs to the student, years later.
A rank describes one performance on one day. It never defines a person.
A child may become a doctor, engineer, lawyer, teacher or entrepreneur. Race2IAS adds one more door; it closes none.
Aspiration should feel like an invitation. If a child feels fear rather than curiosity, the purpose has been lost.
Its national reach exists so that talent in a small town is seen as clearly as talent in a capital city.
We will show you the country as it truly is, and show you that you can help lead it. We will test you fairly and celebrate your growth, not only your rank.
We will treat your child’s dream with care. We will open doors, not add burdens.
We will be a partner in forming thoughtful, aware and principled young citizens: the students every school hopes to send into the world.
Prelims, Mains and Personality Test on the UPSC pattern since 2017, now in Edition 10, for Classes 6–8 and 9–12. Serving and retired civil servants run the Personality Test; the national Top 5 earn an educational tour to New Delhi.
IAS@School foundation courses, Littlemasters Mini & Pro, The Duals, Spark Camps with civil servants and Summer 50-50.
The civil services exist because a nation needs people who serve it with knowledge, judgement and conscience. Race2IAS exists because those people are already sitting in our classrooms. Our task is to help them see it.
