The edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah is in talks to acquire Vikas Divyakirti’s Drishti IAS, a major player in civil services exam preparation. The potential deal is valued at approximately Rs. 2,500 crore, making it one of the largest acquisitions in the competitive coaching industry.
According to the sources, the discussions are in the advanced stage, and if the deal is finalised, this move will strengthen PhysicsWallah‘s position in the UPSC coaching market. Founded by Alakh Pandey, PhysicsWallah started as a YouTube channel and quickly evolved into a billion-dollar company, offering affordable education to millions of students preparing for engineering and medical entrance exams. Now, with the acquisition, PW is looking to expand its presence in the civil services preparation domain.Â
The reports come as PW prepares for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The edtech (one of the emerging sectors) giant recently appointed three independent directors and reportedly aims to raise $500 million at a $ 5 billion valuation in the upcoming public listing.
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PhysicsWallah’s value reached $2.8 million after a $210 million funding round in September 2024. This move also pushes offline education and is expected to generate Rs 1,000 crore in offline revenue by 2025.
On the other hand, Drishti IAS has built a strong presence in civil services exam coaching over 26 years. The institute reported a revenue of Rs. 405 crore and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 90 crore in FY24.
