Now, Coaching Institute Trying to Milk From Aspirants' Death in Delhi
Following the tragic deaths of three students at Rau’s IAS coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar, where rainwater flooded the library in the building’s basement, the entire Sunday was filled with politicians playing the blame game on what happened. Now, a coaching institute has also joined the chorus, with a cryptic statement. Sriram’s IAS institute, another Civil Services exam preparation institute, has issued a statement that many perceive as an attempt to exploit the tragedy for their benefit.
Sriram’s IAS stated:
“We express our solidarity with the ORN Aspirants. It’s time for soul searching on the part of everyone. Remember, you should not be a part of the HERD so that you are HEARD.”
ORN here refers to Old Rajinder Nagar, a hub for UPSC exam aspirants.
The statement from Sriram’s IAS has sparked outrage on social media, with many calling it the “height of shamelessness.”
Earlier, Rau’s IAS Study Circle, where the tragedy occurred, released a statement expressing deep condolences and committing full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The statement mourned the loss of the students— Tanya Soni, Nivin Dalwin, and Shreya Yadav—and pledged support to their families.
The statement from Sriram IAS shows the depth of competition in the coaching industry in India. Reports highlight the immense pressure and hyper-competitive environment of India’s UPSC coaching industry, which is worth Rs 3,000 crore. The entire coaching industry in India is valued at Rs 58,088 crore.
The number of UPSC aspirants has more than doubled over the past decade, from five lakh in 2012 to over 11 lakh in 2022. In search of clearing the UPSC exam, lakhs flock many areas in Delhi, including Mukherjee Nagar and Rajinder Nagar.
In October 2023, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) began probing 20 IAS coaching centres, including Rau’s IAS and Sriram’s IAS, for alleged misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. A penalty of Rs 1 lakh each was imposed on four centres, including Rau’s IAS Study Circle.
