Vikas Divyakirti Breaks Silence on UPSC Aspirants' Death, Drishti IAS Crackdown—His Full Statement

New Delhi: Amidst criticism for breaching safety protocols at one of its Delhi centres, Dristi IAS head Vikas Divyakirti on Tuesday issued a statement and said that the organization prioritises students' safety. He asserted that the situation is 'more complicated than it appears.' His statement came after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed the basement of the Drishti IAS coaching institute, in the wake of the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar.

According to the MCD, the basement, which should be used solely for storage, was being used for conducting coaching classes at the institute (Drishti IAS) run by educator Vikas Divyakirti. Besides, Drishti IAS, the basements of other coaching centres, including Vajiram and Ravi and SriRam IAS, have also been sealed. Over the past two days, the MCD has shut down the basements of eight coaching institutes.

What Vikas Divyakirti Said?

In a press release, Drishti IAS head Vikas Divyakirti expressed condolences for the loss of civil services aspirants Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalwin, who died in the flooding incident on July 27.

"We express our deepest condolences on the untimely and painful demise of the three students. We pay our humble tributes to the three aspirants and pray to God to give courage to their families to bear this irreparable loss," the statement read.

Highlighting Drishti IAS’s commitment to student safety, Divyakirti said,"We can say with full confidence that Team Drishti is extremely cautious about the safety of the students. Currently, there is a special post of 'Fire and Safety Officer' in Drishti’s management," he stated.

Who is Vikas Divyakirti?

Vikas Divyakirti is the founder and head of Drishti IAS, a leading coaching institute in India that helps students prepare for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other civil service exams. 

He’s recognized for his expertise in guiding and training aspiring civil servants. Under his leadership, Drishti IAS has become a major player in civil service exam preparation.

In November 2022, Vikas Divyakirti launched a YouTube channel that quickly gained popularity, reaching over 3.74 million subscribers. He also manages several other educational channels under the Drishti brand, offering resources and guidance for various competitive exams. 

In 2023, he made a cameo in the film 12th Fail, where he played himself. The film, which depicts the challenges faced by a UPSC aspirant, resonated with many students.