Was Vikas Divyakirti an IAS Officer? The Real Story Behind the Drishti IAS Founder

When discussing UPSC Civil Services preparation in India, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti is a name that commands immense respect. As the founder of Drishti IAS and a prominent educator who even appeared as himself in the acclaimed 2023 film 12th Fail, he has guided hundreds of thousands of aspirants.

Because of his deep expertise and authority on civil services subjects, a common question often arises among students and enthusiasts: Was Vikas Divyakirti an IAS officer?

The short answer is no. While he did clear the prestigious civil services examination, he was never an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

The 1996 UPSC Milestone: What Service Did He Join?

Dr. Vikas Divyakirti appeared for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination in 1996 and cleared it on his very first attempt, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 384.

However, cracking the exam does not automatically mean joining the IAS—which is just one of the many services allocated based on rank, preference, and vacancies. Instead of the IAS, Dr. Divyakirti was allotted to the Central Secretariat Service (CSS). He subsequently joined the government as a Section Officer in the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

Why Did He Leave Government Service?

Dr. Divyakirti’s tenure inside the government was short-lived. Driven by a deeper passion for academics, literature, and teaching, he chose to resign from his civil services position after working for roughly a year.

Armed with multiple degrees from the University of Delhi—including a Master’s, an M.Phil., and a Ph.D. in Hindi Literature, alongside degrees in commerce and law—he decided to pivot permanently toward education.

Founding Drishti IAS

Leaving government service marked the beginning of a transformative journey in India’s coaching landscape. In 1999, Dr. Divyakirti founded Drishti IAS in Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi, starting with modest resources and a primary vision to make quality civil services guidance accessible to Hindi-medium aspirants.

Over the decades, the institution expanded into a massive platform, helping bridge the gap for students from diverse linguistic and economic backgrounds.

Summary

While Dr. Vikas Divyakirti is widely celebrated as a master mentor of IAS aspirants, he was never an IAS officer himself. He cleared the UPSC exam, served briefly in the Central Secretariat Service, and ultimately chose a path of teaching and educational entrepreneurship that shaped the careers of generations of civil servants.