Behind the Scenes at Drishti IAS: A Hands On Review by Josh Talks
As a Content Strategist at Josh Talks, I was tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the leading UPSC coaching institutes in Delhi. With no clue where to start, I started to brainstorm and in that split-second of mental chaos, a name emerged — Drishti IAS. With Dr. Vikas Divyakirti’s motivational shorts making waves online, picking Drishti IAS was a no-brainer.
By this time, I had already made up my mind that I won’t review any coaching institute without visiting them personally and getting hands-on experience. So, I picked up my aspirant backpack, set the location on Google Maps and reached Karol Bagh.
First Impressions
As I was driving on Pusa Road, which divides Karol Bagh and Old Rajinder Nagar, the most eye-catching hoardings were that of Drishti IAS. As I made a U-turn to reach the main building of Drishti IAS, I couldn’t help but notice that the entire Karol Bagh Metro Station flashed the institute’s logo. Large signs on every pillar showed off the coaching institute. The whole metro station scene reminded me of Arthur Black’s ‘Paint the Town Black.’
The building seemed fancy, with a big parking lot on the ground floor. Three guys were there to help new visitors, and when I said I was there seeking an admission, they showed me to the elevator and told me to go down to the basement for the institute’s front office.
The Front Office
The front office of the institute was majestic, having a beautiful and spacious waiting area with a large sofa and tables in colour of the institute’s themes. On the left side of the area was a huge screen showing non-stop videos of Dr Vikas Divyakirti, the face of the institute. As I entered, a guy reached out to me and asked me if it was my first visit. He guided me to the waiting area and handed me an inquiry form. I had to fill in basic details, including name, date of birth, medium of study and preferred courses, in that form. Within 5 minutes of handing over the form, I was assigned an admission counsellor, Lokendra Singh, a well-dressed gentleman in late 20s.
Admission Counselling
I sat at Lokendra’s desk, and he greeted me, asking if I wanted tea or coffee. I said thanks and asked for a glass of water. While waiting for the water, he wanted to know why I was there so he could help. I didn’t know what to say. It was my first time trying to act confident. I started with the truth and told him I’m a 29-year-old guy working in a Gurugram company. I shared that I had tried studying for the exam at home a few years ago but didn’t pass the prelims. I believe that with some hard work, I can crack it in the next two attempts.
He got my situation and made a study plan for me. I got so delved into the aspirant role-play that I was now a curious student who had hundreds of questions running in his head. He would smile when I interrupted him with a question. Overall, his study plan and advice were good and made me believe he was once an aspirant himself. He was detailed and it was visible from the sheet on which he laid out the strategy. Have a look:
I enquired about several aspects of the coaching, including the facilities, study modules, monthly mags and most importantly Drishti IAS Fees. You can check out my blog, which I wrote separately to help aspirants, by clicking the link above.
Trial Lecture at Drishti IAS
By now, I had gathered enough info to review their courses, considering things like infrastructure, admission process, student experience, Drishti IAS fees, and course details. But my practical inner self was still curious, so I asked for a trial lecture, which they called a ‘Demo Class.’ Without hesitation, he handed me a demo class card and told me to fill in my details.
180 minutes of Indian Economy
It was an Indian Economy class and the teacher was Mr. Sanjay Moga, a middle-aged gentleman with a friendly smile. It was a fairly spacious classroom with a seating capacity of 251–250 chairs for students and one on the stage for the teacher. The pillars near the back rows had large screens for a better visibility and the chairs were comfortable. The bottom of each chair had a bag holder, which came in handy. I had always observed during my coaching time that keeping a bag in lap while sitting in a crowded classroom was always a hassle. At Drishti IAS, it was not an issue.
Mr Moga kickstarted the class with a doubt-cum-counselling session, where he addressed students’ doubts from the previous class and galvanized a few students, who were feeling unmotivated during their UPSC preparation. Overall, the trial class was a pleasant experience. The teaching methodology, note-making, study material and fun conversations during the lecture made the lecture interesting, even for a non-aspirant. The use of a digital whiteboard added a good touch as well. I also asked him a question on GST and he politely answered it before asking me if I was convinced or not. I came out of the classroom smiling.
My Experience
Judging the teaching prowess or the quality of study material in a single day is almost impossible but if i had to review the admission process, amenities, counselling and the overall classroom experience, I’d rate Drishti IAS at par with the market leaders in UPSC coaching. Everything looked well thought out and the cleanliness was up to the mark. Overall, a good experience, but I’ll need to sneak into a few more coaching institutes to form a well-rounded opinion.
