Dr. Vikas Divyakirti Biography, Wikipedia, Education, Family, Facts, Drishti Classes, Net Worth & Salary
Vikas is an acclaimed teacher for IAS aspirants in India. He manages Drishti IAS, a coaching center that is known for its excellent facilities and guidance. He has authored many books on IAS preparation and current affairs that are widely appreciated by aspirants. Vikas cleared India’s toughest exam, UPSC, in his first attempt and then decided to leave his job and help students achieve their dreams of becoming IAS officers. His dedication and hard work are truly admirable.
Dr Vikas is a well-known and respected name in the field of UPSC coaching due to his simplicity and effective teaching methods. He is not just a trainer, but also an author, teacher, and lecturer. He is the founder of Drishti IAS Coaching Classes, located in Delhi. His students affectionately call him Abdul Kalam, as he is known for his sacrifices for his students and his commitment to teaching. His unique methods have helped many students in their careers, which is why he is held in such high regard.
Vikas Divyakirti is not just an excellent teacher and author, but also an accomplished student who cleared his UPSC exam in one go, which is a testament to his vast knowledge and expertise. He is passionate about his work and his country. He has actively participated in various debates related to Indian politics and traditions, whether it be on reputed news channels or in various colleges.
Vikas had to face financial difficulties early on in his career, and at the age of twenty-four, while he was pursuing his PhD from Delhi University, he decided to become a teacher. His friends who were preparing for civil service exams inspired him to take up the challenge as well. In 1996, he appeared for the Civil Services Examination for the first time and was successful in his first attempt, though he didn’t get the post of IAS. His first posting was in the Ministry of Home Affairs, but he didn’t want to join that job. However, he joined due to his parents’ insistence, but he continued to prepare for the IAS post alongside his job.
Vikas Divyakirti Biography
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Vikas Divyakirti |
| Date of Birth | December 26, 1973 |
| Age | 51 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Bhiwani, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Religion | Agnostic; influenced by Arya Samaj, Osho, Karl Marx, and Max Weber |
| Education | BA in History MA in Hindi Literature and Sociology M.Phi LLB Ph.D. PG Diploma in English to Hindi Translation |
| Profession | Educator, Author, Lecturer, Entrepreneur |
| UPSC Rank | AIR 384 (1996) |
| Civil Service | Central Secretariat Service (1996–1997) |
| Founder of | Drishti IAS Coaching Institute (established in 1999) |
| YouTube Channel | Vikas Divyakirti |
| Subscribers | 3.97 million (as of January 2025) |
| Total Views | 125 million (as of January 2025) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Dr. Taruna Verma (Ph.D.; Managing Director at Drishti IAS) |
| Children | Son: Satwik Divyakirti |
| Parents | Father: Hindi literature professo Mother: School teacher |
| Siblings | Two brothers: one is a software engineer in the USA; another is a DIG at the CBI |
| Net Worth | Estimated ₹100–200 crore (as of 2025) |
| Film Appearance | Portrayed himself in 12th Fail (2023) |
| Controversy | Faced criticism in 2022 over remarks on Sita from the Ramayana; later clarified his statements were misinterpreted |
| Awards | Nominated for Padma Awards in 2023 |
| Hobbies | Reading, Writing, Teaching |
| Favorite Food | Chana Bhatura |
| Favorite Destination | Kashmir |
| Favorite Films | The Lunchbox (2013), Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007), Gulaal (2009), Masaan (2015) |
| Philosophical Influences | Socrates, Plato, Immanuel Kant, Osho |
Vikas Divyakirti Early Life
Vikas Divyakirti, a successful teacher in India, was born on December 26th, 1976 in the state of Haryana. He comes from a middle-class, Hindu family with Haryanvi roots. Currently, he is around 46 years old and has always been a man of culture and land.
Vikas was always a bright student and had a strong desire to serve his nation. His parents were professors at Delhi University and taught Hindi Sahitya. He completed his middle school and high school studies at Saraswathi Shishu Mandir in Haryana. After completing high school, he decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Delhi University. Following his BA, he pursued a Master’s degree in Hindi Literature and Sociology from Delhi University. His passion for learning did not end there, as he went on to earn a degree in LLB, M.Phil, and even a PhD. Alongside these qualifications, he also earned a post-graduate degree in English to Hindi translation from Delhi University.
Despite his many qualifications, in 1996 Vikas decided to pursue the UPSC examination and cleared it on his first attempt, becoming an IAS officer. Although he was assigned to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he decided to leave his job and start his own coaching class, Drishti, to help students prepare for the UPSC exam.
Vikas comes from a middle-class and educated family. He is married to DR. Taruna Verma, and they have a son named Swastik Divyakirti. As a professional, Vikas is a teacher, and most of his income comes from teaching. He has always been a man of culture and land.
Vikas Divyakirti Career
In 1996, Vikas successfully cleared the UPSC examination and was appointed to the Ministry of Home Affairs. After working in the department for some time, he decided to leave his job to teach students at Delhi University. Three years later, in 1999, he founded Drishti IAS guiding Classes in Delhi, with a mission to simplify the coaching process for UPSC applicants.
Vikas Sir introduced a unique tutoring style to help students prepare for the UPSC test and succeed not only in their exams but also in life. He started delivering his lectures in Hindi, which made it easier for the students to comprehend the syllabus. In 2017, he expanded his reach by starting his own YouTube channel, “Drishti IAS,” where he shares various helpful resources for students, including study material, information points, lectures, and exam strategies. His channel has now grown to over 0 million subscribers.
As the director of Drishti IAS Coaching Classes and editor of the current affairs yearly magazine “Drishti Current Affairs,” Vikas Sir has achieved numerous accomplishments. Despite his success, he didn’t stop there and authored a book titled “Nibandh Drishti” dedicated to the students of the nation. He is a constant source of motivation for his students, always reminding them to pursue their dreams if they are not satisfied with their current jobs.
More about Drishti Classes
Drishti UPSC Coaching Classes is a prominent coaching center in India, founded by Dr. Vikas Divyakirti, a renowned teacher and motivational speaker. Established on November 1, 1999, in New Delhi, these classes have been instrumental in shaping the careers of many UPSC aspirants.
Vikas Sir had a strong vision and left his IAS job at the Ministry of Home Affairs to make it a reality. He is a simplistic and honorable person who has achieved great success in his career. During his early teaching years, he taught his students in Hindi, which made it easier for them to understand the subject matter.
Drishti’s main goal is to develop students with the necessary skills to become Civil Servants and responsible citizens of the nation. With a sense of duty towards the country, Vikas Sir’s teachings have inspired many aspirants to achieve their dreams and become successful in life.
Fought For Hindi Medium Students
Dr. Vikas Divyakirti strongly opposed the committee’s decision to provide model solutions for the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) only in English. For many years, UPSC aspirants who took the test in their native languages have faced a language barrier in the assessment process, compounded by inadequate translations of questions.
Nishant Kumar, an engineer preparing for the UPSC exam, praised Dr. Divyakirti’s intelligence and commended his efforts to support Hindi-medium students. Nishant said that Vikas Sir has always been there for his students, providing them with inspiration and guidance. “Vikas Sir fought for Hindi-medium students against the CSAT design. When I watch his videos, I feel motivated and want to learn more about various subjects,” said Nishant in an interview.
Divyakirti believed that aspirants would continue to feel anxious about their preparation until the results reflect their parity with English-medium candidates. “Social and linguistic diversity in culture and language play a critical role in shaping the future of this country. The UPSC should address these concerns of students and develop a plan for these students to recognize their talent in the organization. Otherwise, the system will remain as it did during colonial times, where the working system is based on aristocrats, and wealthy individuals will control the bureaucracy of the nation.” This was the main reason why he protested alongside students for their equal rights.
Lesser Known Facts about Vikas Divyakirti
- Dr Vikas is the founder and director of Drishti IAS, which is a leading coaching centre for IAS in Delhi
- He hails from a middle class family in Haryana. Since childhood he has been very interested in politics and right from school he started taking part in school parliamentary elections. He was not very good with English as a language and he struggled to pass the subject.
- He did his schooling from Bhiwani and he did his college from Zukir Husain Delhi College.
- Dr Vikas’s father wanted him to enter politics and later he became the member of ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad)
- In the first year of his college, he joined the youth politics and ended up become the president of the student union, but since he started getting threats he didn’t take up the position.
- During his college days, he also took part in multiple debates and won prizes.
- Post his masters degree, he planned to take up the UPSC exam, and he ended up passing in his first attempt in 1996 with a rank of 384. He joined Ministry of Home Affairs central secretariat.
- He appeared for a second UPSC attempt, he ended up failing for the mains, and then he perused for his PhD. He gave the third attempted while pursuing PhD but did not clear the interview. While preparing for his third attempt of UPSC, he taught at DAV college for 4 months.
- It was in 1999, he was giving a joining later by central secretariat, and he later joined it due to personal problems. He got appointed as desk officer in the Rajbhasha department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, but he quit his job in 6 months.
- In 1999, due to his love of UPSC he founded Drishti IAS coaching classes in Delhi. In a very recent interview, he was asked why did he start his coaching centre and he revealed he got this idea when he got rejected for the role of a Hindi lecturer at Shivaji College, Delhi University.
- He started his coaching centre with an initial investment of 15,000 INR which he borrowed from his friend. The very first batch of the centre had mere 15 students.
- Since Dr Vikas was more comfortable in Hindi language, he started providing lectures in a simplified manner in Hindi language.
- He is also the editor of ‘Drishti Current Affairs Today’ which is a monthly magazines.
- Dr Vikas loves pets and also reading, he also wrote a book ‘Nibandh Drishti’
- He owns a Youtube channel ‘Drishti IAS’ which he started in 2017. The channel Is doing very well and he is very active on the channel to help people give information to UPSC aspirants.
- When it comes to hobbies, he is a true traveller by heart. He goes for treks very often, and he also goes for long bike rides.
- Dr Vikas is a die hard music fan. In an interview he mentioned that he starts his day listening to songs every day. He also loves watching movies and due to which he also pursued a course in filmmaking at FTII and studied film education in Mumbai institute.
FAQs About Vikas Divyakirti
Who is Vikas Divyakirti?
Dr. Vikas Divyakirti is a renowned educator, author, and founder of Drishti IAS coaching institute.
What is the date of birth of Vikas Divyakirti?
He was born on December 26, 1973.
What is the age of Vikas Divyakirti in 2025?
He is 51 years old.
Where was Vikas Divyakirti born?
He was born in Bhiwani, Haryana, India.
Is Vikas Divyakirti an IAS officer?
He cleared the UPSC exam in 1996 with AIR 384 and joined the Central Secretariat Service.
Why did Vikas Divyakirti leave civil services?
He left to pursue teaching and later founded Drishti IAS.
What is Drishti IAS?
Drishti IAS is a premier coaching institute for UPSC and other competitive exams, founded by Dr. Vikas Divyakirti.
What are Vikas Divyakirti’s qualifications?
He holds degrees in BA, MA (Hindi & Sociology), M.Phil, LLB, Ph.D., and a PG Diploma.
Does Vikas Divyakirti have a YouTube channel?
Yes, his channel is Vikas Divyakirti with over 3.9 million subscribers.
What is Vikas Divyakirti’s teaching style?
He is known for his relatable, humorous, and philosophical teaching style.
Is Vikas Divyakirti married?
Yes, he is married to Dr. Taruna Verma, a psychologist and educationist.
What books has Vikas Divyakirti written?
He has authored several books and study materials under the Drishti Publications banner.
What is the net worth of Vikas Divyakirti?
His estimated net worth is ₹25–30 Crores INR as of 2025.
What languages does Vikas Divyakirti speak?
He is fluent in Hindi and English.
What is Vikas Divyakirti’s philosophy?
He believes in rational thinking, secular values, and draws from sociology, spirituality, and philosophy.