Another significant trend in the traditional UPSC coaching sector in Delhi is the increased utilization of artificial intelligence tools to prepare candidates to take exams. At least one coaching centre in the capital has closed down in recent months, and students and industry experts attribute this to the rising use of AI platforms like ChatGPT as one of the main factors.
To most civil services aspirants, AI has also gone beyond a support tool and has taken the position of coaching classes, study content, and even test scoring.
Shubham Guliya, a 23-year-old aspiring UPSC candidate of Old Rajinder Nagar, now ceased to attend coaching classes six months ago. Rather, he has fully turned to AI to prepare him.
Guliya tried two coaching centres, but discovered that they were not teaching her anything AI could not. There is no need to pay lakhs of money in fees and travel to attend classes with AI. I am able to ask questions at any time, access learning material, practise on how to write answers and even have my exams checked.
Guliya is not alone. There are numerous hopefuls who are utilising AI assistants to formulate study plans, generate mock exam questions, condense subjects and clear up confusions at the touch of a button. This flexibility and affordability is also rendering AI particularly appealing to students who are not able to afford pricier coaching programmes.
This is being experienced in the coaching centers of Delhi. Industry sources have said that institutes like 99 Notes, Chahal Academy and IAS Gurukul have become defunct over the past few months. According to the owners, one of the factors is declining admissions and shifting study behaviors.
Aspirants are naturally gravitating towards more efficient options according to Anmol Goyal, founder and CEO of 99 Notes.
So, the aspirants of UPSC are intelligent and practical, he said. Students went to YouTube to learn when YouTube gained popularity. This is currently the case with AI. Smaller coaching facilities are shutting, and AI is one of the factors.
Goyal also said that his institute comprised about 600 students up to the year last, but dwindling demand later closed the school.
According to experts, the coaching industry has been evolving over the years. First was youtube which widely made free lectures available. Then the Covid-19 pandemic propelled online learning, which created an edtech boom. Businesses such as Byju, Unacademy, and Vedantu grew at a great rate at the time, but they encountered financial problems following a decline in investments.
AI is now becoming the next disruption.
B Singh, CEO of NEXT IAS, claimed that the market is being transformed by both government policies and AI. Some institutes are even closing because of the tightening of measures, but AI is also making a significant contribution. Students are moving toward the same and smaller centres are struggling to stay afloat, he said.
Nonetheless, not all people are sure that AI is able to substitute coaching institutes completely. A lot of educators state that AI is helpful, but it cannot fully replace the experienced mentors.
Ketan, a teacher at the University of Science, stated that students primarily use AI to perform certain tasks. They apply it in mock tests, evaluation of answers, and creation of practice questions. It has not yet substituted teachers. But those institutes that fail to adapt and employ AI will not do well, he said.
It is a view among industry insiders that coaching centres might have to alter their methodology instead of having to compete with AI. They can be relevant by applying AI tools in their instruction and paying greater attention to mentorship and strategy.
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Nonetheless, it can be argued that other candidates, such as Guliya, think that AI could cope with virtually all preparation. He said he even created his daily plan to study with AI, and it is working out. I do all with its help, strategy to answer writing.
Guliya passed the prelims of the UPSC last year and has taken the mains. He is now training the 2026 prelims and he has not yet entered into any coaching school.
With the continued development of AI, it is evident that it is transforming the way students are preparing to take one of the most difficult exams in India. The preparation environment of the UPSC is going through a radical change whether coaching centres evolve or remain closed.
