UPSC Playground
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How to use UPSC Playground

Follow this quick guide to connect your OpenRouter account, pick a model, and start practising.

Create and fund your OpenRouter account

OpenRouter lets you pay for many AI models through one balance.

  • Visit openrouter.ai and sign up with Google or an email address.
  • Head to Billing and add a small top-up or card (Rs 200 or $5 is enough to explore).
  • You are charged only when a tool runs, and you can pause or cap spend anytime.

Copy your private API key

This key connects UPSC Playground to the models you are paying for.

  • Open the Keys page on OpenRouter.
  • Press "Create Key" if you do not already have one.
  • Copy the key to your clipboard — it will look like sk-or-v1-xxxx.

Paste the key inside UPSC Playground

The key is stored only in your browser and never leaves your device.

  • Go to the Dashboard tab.
  • Find the “Setup Required” card and paste the key into the field.
  • Click Save & Continue. A green badge labelled “API Key Configured” confirms success.
  • Need to reset? Hit “Clear” on the same card and paste a new key.

Pick a starting model and tool

Different models cost different amounts — begin with the lighter ones.

  • Use the model selector card to pick Gemini Flash or Llama 3.1 for quick tests.
  • Switch to GPT-4, Claude, or other premium models only when you need deeper analysis.
  • Choose a workflow from the dashboard (Answer Writing, Summariser, Prelims, etc.).
  • Each run shows an estimated cost before you start, so you stay in control.

Keep things safe and simple

  • Keep your key private. Treat it like a password.
  • Export or copy important answers regularly when working on borrowed devices.
  • If anything looks off, clear the key in the dashboard and generate a fresh one on OpenRouter.

Need more help?

Reach out via the contact link in the Support page or message the community with screenshots of where you are stuck.