The UPSC decision in 1980s to allow students to write the civil services exam in Hindi medium and other regional languages had a far reaching democratising effect. It helped a large number of students who were not comfortable in English to appear at this exam in their regional languages. But such students faced major handicap in terms of availability of course material, books, magazines and counseling. As a result, for a sizeable section of Indians, the very idea of entering the civil services was still unthinkable. Thus, for a long time, Civil services remained the privileged monopoly of the upper-class urban educated Indians. Dreams of millions belonging to the 'other India' to become IAS/ IPS/ IFS remained just unfulfilled dreams.
However, in early 1990s, a bright young man from Jharkhand (then Bihar) could sense an opportunity in the adversity that non-privileged youth faced while accessing information and resources for appearing in the civil services exam. Having had first hand experience to the kind of problems students from remote and backward areas face, this young man decided to change the very way the 'other India' perceived Civil Services. He felt that he could play a role in nation-building by guiding and developing both Hindi and English medium students to enter the civil services.
In 1993, Mr. Mishra established Chanakya IAS Academy with such a missionary zeal. Thus began a dream -- to reach, teach and train both the English medium students as also the dedicated yet marginalized youth and navigate them into civil services. Positive results started pouring in right from the first year of this IAS Coaching Institute's inception.
However, soon Mr. Mishra realized that not all students from remote areas of India could come to Delhi for their preparation. And, in Delhi itself the students living in one part of city could not regularly commute to the other part to attend classes. To address these problems he opened two branches in Delhi – one in South Delhi and the other in North Delhi. Both the centres are located in close proximity of Jawaharlal Nehru University and the two campuses of Delhi University.
However, the ever-enterprising Mr. Mishra wanted to do more. And then three unique developments led to the opening up of three more branches outside Delhi. Some of Mr. Mishra's friends, who were posted as civil servants in Gujarat, prompted him to open a branch in Gujarat since there was scant awareness about civil services in the state. Mr. Mishra analysed the situation, conducted some awareness sessions and finally inaugurated the Ahmedabad branch in 1999. As a result of Chanakya IAS Academy's educational services, awareness about civil services exam spread in the region in a big way. Soon, many students of Chanakya made it to the Central as well as state civil services (Gujarat Public Service Commission).
After the successes in Delhi and Ahmedabad, he realized that the students belonging to his native State, Jharkhand, were still deprived of knowledge and information regarding civil services exam. There were many remote and extremely backward pockets in the state which drew his attention. He also wanted to serve his mother-state and her people in whichever way he could. With this feeling of gratitude and giving, he inaugurated Chanakya IAS Academy's Ranchi branch in 2003. Since then, hundreds of students from this branch have been successfully placed in IAS, IPS, IFS, other central services as well as in various state/provincial civil services in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa.
Recently, in 2009, Chanakya IAS Academy has started its new branch in Jaipur. It was established under great demand from students of adjoing state Rajasthan. Mr. Mishra scrutinised their proposals and found that suggestions were encouraging and genuine. Chanakya IAS Academy, feel proud to say that within a short span the institute was able to produce many successful students in Civil Services and state civil services.
The huge success of all these branches made him think of further expansion. In fact, many of his friends, colleagues and students requested him to open a branch in their city/state. But, being a quality-conscious person, he turned down many formal proposals offering partnerships and franchise finding them not up to the mark.
Chanakya IAS Academy was a pioneer in imparting guidance in Hindi medium and also in large number of subjects for which there was no guidance available so far. The Academy took up the cause of Hindi medium students and those with Science subjects in a big way. It was due to the efforts of this organization that Science subjects became so popular and, Science students from Hindi medium started succeeding in larger numbers.
The concept of Foundation Course, which entailed preparing for this exam one year in advance, was first introduced by Chanakya IAS Academy. Under this course, a solid foundation of the various subjects was laid and the students were made to prepare thoroughly months before the actual exam.
The Academy has many firsts to its credit. It was also the first one to boast of Air-conditioned class-rooms, library-cum-reading rooms, and a publication unit with an in-house magazine dedicated for the preparation of civil services exam. The Academy was the first coaching institute for civil services aspirants which also provided hostel facilities for its outstation students. In fact, wherever Chanakya IAS Academy stepped in, the area soon developed into a hub of institutes offering coaching for civil services exam. Not only this, the academy has been organizing free seminars and sessions to spread awareness about the civil services exam even in the remotest areas of the country through postal coaching.
To sum it all, by arranging classes in Hindi medium for the first time, by encouraging students to write in their regional languages, by facilitating coaching for science students, by spreading free awareness campaigns throughout the country, by establishing state-of-the-art training facilities in three major cities, by arranging lodging and boarding facilities for the Academy's students, by establishing library-cum-reading rooms, by publishing a dedicated magazine for the civil services aspirants, and by innumerable such initiatives Mr. A. K. Mishra truly revolutionized and democratized the concept of preparing for the civil services exam in India.
In a short time-span, Chanakya IAS Academy gained the reputation of an institution known for its caring, guiding and enabling atmosphere. Mr. Mishra's noble intentions and benevolent efforts were soon rewarded. Now sailing through its 18th successful year, Chanakya IAS Academy has helped thousands of not so privileged students too from obscure villages, smaller towns as well as bigger cities have realized their dream of getting into the civil services. More than 1600 Chanakyans have successfully entered the civil services-IAS, IPS, IFS and other central services like IRS, IRTS etc. Invariably every year Chanakyans have secured positions among top ten all India ranks. Wherever they have gone, Chanakyans have always been at the top. Many of Chanakya's students have successfully entered diverse professions like academics, media, publication, law, IT and MNCs etc.
Versatility and dynamism have been hallmark of Mr Mishra’s personality. Mr. Mishra has been holding motivational lectures and seminars for a huge clientele that includes the corporate executives, civil servants, undergraduate and post-graduate students and businesspersons. However, having spent close to two decades in guiding the students on the path of success, what has been closest to his heart is the development of students’ overall personality. Therefore, he decided to share the knowledge and wisdom gained over the years in unraveling the mysteries about this exam to the student community and, thereby helps the students succeed in the civil services exam with strategic efforts and maximum surety. In the recent years, he has developed some training-cum-guidance programmes like – Human Software Development Program and Art of Success, which have gained unparalleled popularity among students and general enthusiasts. The popularity of the academy is clearly swelling and now large number of students is joining its program. The trust and faith reposed by the students is reflected through what its successful students have to say about the academy.
