Once A Hub For UPSC Aspirants, Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar Faces 60% Drop In Students

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 14:55 IST

Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar sees a 60% drop in student admissions due to online learning, safety concerns, decentralisation of coaching and major institute closures.

Once teeming with youthful ambition and the rustle of books, Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, long revered as the hub for civil services aspirants, is facing an unprecedented silence this year. In stark contrast to the usual summer rush, where crowds once spilled into narrow lanes and queues snaked outside coaching centres, the iconic education hub is now grappling with its steepest decline in three decades.

Every year, from May to July, the Mukherjee Nagar brimmed with students from every corner of the country, each aspiring to crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam and become an IAS officer. But this year, the footfall has dropped sharply.

Coaching centres reported that admissions have gown down by 60%, with only 40% of their usual student base turning up. The drop is so steep that many institutes have resorted to hiring agents to solicit students on the streets. Even the sprawling bookshops that once thrived on the back of student demand are struggling.

Aman Chopra, a veteran bookseller who has operated in Mukherjee Nagar for over 30 years, says he’s never seen anything like this. Earlier, the place used to buzz with students. I would sell thousands of books in a season. Last year, I earned around Rs 25 lakhs, he said. Now, he added, he barely sold three or four books a day, and considers shutting the shop.

Other booksellers echo similar sentiments. Some have already downed shutters and left. Shops selling stationery, question banks, and mock test papers are witnessing massive losses.

Sanjay Kumar Sinha, founder of the well-known Shri Ram Study Centre, confirmed the 60% fall in student registrations this year. Naveed Akhtar, a senior faculty member at PMF IAS, believes the tide has turned toward online coaching. “Digital platforms are offering structured content, flexibility, and affordability. For many students, there’s no longer a compelling reason to relocate,” he explained.

But the shift to online is just one part of the puzzle. Conversations with educators, shopkeepers, and students point to five major factors reshaping Mukherjee Nagar’s fate:

1. The Rise of Online Learning: Platforms like Unacademy, Drishti IAS Online, and StudyIQ now provide comprehensive UPSC preparation, complete with test series, live classes, and mentorship – all from the comfort of home. For cost-conscious students, this is a game-changer.

2. Safety Concerns After Accidents: The tragic fire at Rau IAS Study Circle in Old Rajendra Nagar in 2024, which claimed three lives, left a lasting impression. Parents now worry about the safety of crowded coaching hubs, especially those operating from unauthorised buildings.

3. Decentralisation of UPSC Coaching: Once synonymous with success, Mukherjee Nagar no longer holds a monopoly. Quality coaching centres have sprouted across states, districts, and even tier-3 towns. As a result, students now prefer preparing closer to home – cutting down on Delhi’s high living costs while staying emotionally and financially supported by family.

4. Closure of Major Institutes: Two of the biggest coaching names abruptly shut operations in Mukherjee Nagar earlier this year. Their departure created a ripple effect, shaking student confidence in the area’s coaching ecosystem.

5. Legal Pressure on Coaching Centres: The Delhi High Court’s recent crackdowns have forced coaching institutes to operate under tighter regulations with bans on basement classes, limits on student capacity, and mandatory fire safety compliance. While aimed at improving student safety, the rulings have inadvertently made it harder for centres to remain profitable.

Once the epicenter of ambition, where dreams were drafted on hostel walls and motivation spilled from classroom debates, Mukherjee Nagar now stands at a crossroads. The changes may well be permanent, as the country’s education landscape embraces a more hybrid and localised model.

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