An unsuccessful interview as a Hindi lecturer in a Delhi college could have ruined anybody’s educational aspirations, but this is precisely where things took off for Vikas Divyakirti. He used around ₹15,000 that he borrowed from some of his close pals along with rented chairs and established Drishti IAS. It is one of India’s most prominent UPSC coaching institutes. It serves as an absolute godsend for countless Hindi medium aspirants who didn’t have many quality options until this point in time. This article covers everything currently known about Vikas Divyakirti age, family, career journey, and net worth, based on the latest available information.
Who Is Vikas Divyakirti?
Vikas Divyakirti is a renowned Indian teacher, author, orator, and businessman who has founded Drishti IAS, one of the top-notch UPSC coaching institutes in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar district. Vikas successfully cleared UPSC civil services examination in the year 1996, securing AIR 384 on his debut appearance. Later on, he chose to give up his government career and establish Drishti IAS in 1999. His institute provides exceptional assistance to Hindi medium civil services candidates since they always have lesser quality resources compared to English medium aspirants. Today, Vikas Divyakirti enjoys the title of India’s leading UPSC instructor with millions of followers on his YouTube channels and authored several books.
Quick Biography Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Vikas Divyakirti |
| Date of Birth | December 26, 1973 |
| Age | 52 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Bhiwani, Haryana, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Educator, Author, Lecturer, Entrepreneur |
| Education | Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Bhiwani; PhD, University of Delhi |
| UPSC Result | AIR 384, Civil Services Examination 1996 (first attempt) |
| Founded | Drishti IAS (1999) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Famous For | Founder of Drishti IAS; Hindi-medium UPSC education |
Early Life and Education
Vikas Divyakirti was born on December 26, 1973, in Bhiwani, Haryana. Vikas belongs to a learned family background who laid great importance upon acquiring education. He completed his primary schooling from Saraswati Shishu Mandir located in Bhiwani town. At some point in Vikas’ life, his family moved to Faridabad city while he was pursuing graduation. According to some reports, he opened up during interviews regarding the hardships faced by his family financially when he was young. For instance, Vikas even began working as a salesperson in his teens due to certain family issues. He obtained his PhD degree from Delhi University.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Bhiwani, Haryana |
| Early Schooling | Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Bhiwani |
| Family Relocation | Moved to Faridabad during his graduation years |
| Higher Education | PhD, University of Delhi |
| Early Hardship | Worked as a salesman at 17 due to family financial circumstances |
Vikas Divyakirti Age
At present, Vikas Divyakirti is 52 years old. He took birth on December 26, 1973. Individuals with this star sign are usually known for having self-control and determination towards achieving goals in life. Likewise, the same applies to Vikas Divyakirti. His coaching academy named Drishti IAS started with 12-15 students while using borrowed money but became one of India’s most well-known coaching academies. It did not happen overnight; instead, this transformation process lasted for over twenty years.
Vikas Divyakirti Height and Physical Appearance
Vikas Divyakirti enjoys immense popularity owing to his unique way of teaching along with his confident body language. He has become like a regular face for many UPSC exam hopefuls across the nation who watch his video classes online as well as offline.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Known For | Distinctive teaching style; often affectionately compared by students to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for his simplicity |
| Public Persona | Educator known for blending humour with rigorous academic content |
Family Background
According to reports, Vikas Divyakirti belongs to the state of Haryana, Bhiwani. There was nothing special about his household other than its sincere passion for learning in spite of going through tough economic conditions sometimes. Besides Vikas, there were two other siblings in his family. His childhood experiences related to poverty compelled him to work as a part-time laborer before adulthood. Education continued to play an important role within his family context.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Family Background | Academically inclined family from Bhiwani, Haryana, facing early financial hardship |
| Siblings | Two brothers |
| Family Values | Strong emphasis on education despite financial constraints |
Vikas Divyakirti Wife and Personal Life
Vikas Divyakirti tied the knot with his better half, Dr. Taruna Verma, in the month of May, 1997. Both of them are educators with Dr. Verma serving as the director at Drishti IAS, the institute set up by her spouse. They share two things in common – work and their son. The name of their offspring is Satwik Divyakirti. While Vikas describes himself as an agnostic person, his wife practices Sanatan Dharma. The readers may note that both follow different religious paths in life.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Dr. Taruna Verma (educator; Director, Drishti IAS) |
| Marriage Date | May 26, 1997 |
| Son | Satwik Divyakirti |
| Personal Beliefs | Vikas identifies as agnostic |
Career Journey of Vikas Divyakirti
Clearing UPSC on the First Attempt (1996)
At the young age of 23 years, Vikas Divyakirti passed the UPSC Civil Services Exam. To become successful in clearing the test in his initial attempt itself proves him as one of those lucky few candidates who could achieve such a feat. His All India Rank stood at 384. On getting selected with such a high score, Vikas was posted to Central Secretariat Services in government organizations.
A Difficult Rejection and a New Direction
Instead of joining any department or taking charge of his allotted post, Vikas decided to opt out for teaching career by applying as a Hindi lecturer. However, his efforts failed to bear fruit as he did not secure the job. According to the details provided by Vikas Divyakirti himself, this disappointment proved to be the turning point in his professional life.
Founding Drishti IAS (1999)
Bouncing back from failure in an incredible way, Vikas borrowed Rs 15,000 from his circle of friends and started his institute named Drishti IAS in Delhi’s Mukherjeenagar region in the year 1999. He started off with merely 12-15 students sitting on few chairs he had hired initially. His focus towards helping the Hindi Medium aspirants in cracking UPSC examinations gave his institute an edge over others.
Continued UPSC Attempts While Teaching
The unique thing about this UPSC instructor is his commitment to giving repeated attempts for getting through the exams himself. He appeared for the fourth consecutive time in 2003 after setting up his own coaching centre. He couldn’t succeed on his fourth attempt for passing UPSC examination and decided not to attempt again. Instead, he devoted all of his energies towards growing his own institute called Drishti IAS.
Expanding Drishti IAS and Going Digital (2017)
The success of Vikas Joshi made Drishti IAS continue flourishing through consecutive years. Then came 2017 which saw Vikas establishing the YouTube channel of his organization. In this regard, it was a big leap for the educationist as well since he would be able to teach out of Delhi through online mediums. Students living in the remotest part of India could easily benefit from his classes without having to move to metropolitan cities. It was one of the biggest concerns for rural areas.
Building a Multi-Channel Educational Ecosystem
Vikas went ahead and established several YouTube channels under the banner of Drishti, including Drishti IAS English, Drishti Judiciary, Drishti PCS, Drishti Teaching Exams, and Drishti CUET in both Hindi and English language. Besides that, he worked as the editor of Drishti Current Affairs Today. It is a widely read monthly current affair publication catering to the needs of UPSC aspirants. Additionally, Vikas wrote a book named Nibandh Drishti for the sake of students’ improvement in UPSC essay paper.
Public Commentary and Controversy (2022)
In 2022, controversy erupted following comments attributed to Vikas. Needless to say, it was a matter of great concern considering Vikas’ large audience and reputation as a credible figure within educational circles. Like every controversy surrounding an esteemed personality, reactions poured in from various quarters. They included condemnation and praise depending on opinions.
The 2024 Old Rajinder Nagar Tragedy
In July 2024, there was a tragic disaster reported from the Old Rajinder Nagar area which houses coaching centers for aspirants of UPSC examinations. Several students met their death inside one of the basement libraries due to floods. Following this unfortunate event, the civic administration sealed the basements of several coaching centers working illegally and violating safety norms. Drishti IAS was among those centers. Other big names included Vajiram and Ravi.
Continued Educational Impact (2025–2026)
Even after going through tough times lately, Vikas Joshi has stayed true to himself in terms of being actively engaged in teaching activities. As the managing director of Drishti IAS, he continues influencing millions of students studying in India via his online YouTube classes and regular publication of current affairs articles.
Career Highlights
| Year | Milestone | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | UPSC success | AIR 384; allotted the Central Secretariat Service |
| 1999 | Founded Drishti IAS | Started in Mukherjee Nagar with 12–15 students |
| 2003 | Final UPSC attempt | Unsuccessful fourth attempt while already teaching |
| 2017 | YouTube launch | Drishti IAS channel launched, expanding digital reach |
| 2022 | Public controversy | Faced criticism over certain public remarks |
| July 2024 | Old Rajinder Nagar tragedy | Drishti IAS basement sealed amid citywide safety crackdown |
Vikas Divyakirti Net Worth and Income Sources
The net worth of Vikas Divyakirti cannot be determined precisely. Many sources offer estimations according to which his total earnings include income received from Drishti IAS’s tuition fees, YouTube accounts and publications. Any amount available on the Internet related to Vikas Divyakirti must be considered unofficial as he does not reveal any official documents proving the figures. Hence, the information will always be speculative regardless of how reputable the source seems.
| Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Drishti IAS Coaching | Course fees, reportedly ranging from ₹34,999 to ₹1,00,000 for online programmes |
| YouTube Channels | Ad revenue across Drishti IAS, Drishti IAS English, and other subject-specific channels |
| Publications | Sales of Nibandh Drishti and the monthly Drishti Current Affairs Today magazine |
| Coaching Institute Operations | Revenue from physical classroom and online course offerings across multiple exam categories |
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Presence | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @divyakirti.vikas | 2.6M+ | |
| YouTube | @vikasdivyakirti | 4.51M+ |
| X (Twitter) | @VikasDivyakirti | 11.3K+ |
| @upanuragyadav | 25K+ |
Awards and Recognition
- Recognised as one of India’s most influential and widely followed UPSC educators
- Credited with significantly expanding access to quality Hindi-medium UPSC preparation resources
- Built Drishti IAS from a small, self-funded coaching operation into one of India’s most recognised institutes
- Authored Nibandh Drishti, a widely used resource for UPSC essay preparation
Additional Notable Facts
- Vikas Divyakirti had to work as a salesman at just 17 years old due to family financial circumstances.
- He founded Drishti IAS with approximately ₹15,000 borrowed from friends, after being rejected for a Hindi lecturer position at Shivaji College, Delhi University.
- Students have affectionately compared him to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for his simplicity and teaching style.
- His wife, Dr. Taruna Verma, co-runs Drishti IAS alongside him as a director of the institute.
- Drishti IAS was among several coaching institutes whose basement was sealed by Delhi authorities following the tragic July 2024 flooding incident in Old Rajinder Nagar.
Conclusion
Coming from humble beginnings in Bhiwani, Vikas Divyakirti has grown up to become one of the best known civil service tutors throughout India. It appears like he went through an unusual transformation in which past failure turned out to be the source of success. After his refusal in the job, Vikas founded his institute which has now taught thousands of students of Hindi medium how to clear UPSC examination. He himself became successful via UPSC exams along with teaching experience spanning several decades. With regards to his contributions to civil services preparations, he enjoys immense respect due to both his accomplishments and teachings. Moreover, Vikas Divyakirti is quite popular on social media because of the YouTube accounts run by his organization. In 2026, he will remain among the top educators in Indian civil examinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
He was born on December 26, 1973, making him 52 years old as of 2026.
Yes, he cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1996 on his first attempt, securing All India Rank 384, and was allotted the Central Secretariat Service.
He founded Drishti IAS in 1999 in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, starting with a small batch of 12 to 15 students.
Yes, he is married to Dr. Taruna Verma, an educator who also serves as a director at Drishti IAS. The couple has one son, Satwik Divyakirti.
His net worth has been estimated variously by different media outlets based on his coaching institute’s revenue, YouTube channels, and publications, though no officially confirmed figure is available.
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