The 1980s saw some inclusive changes which allowed students to write the civil services exam in Hindi medium and other regional languages. This move helped a large number of students who were not comfortable in English to appear at this exam in their regional languages. Despite these steps, there was a sizeable section of Indians for whom the very idea of entering the civil services was still unthinkable. While the civil services in India were looked upon as one of the most prestigious careers, a vast majority of Indian youth had no access to knowledge and information regarding how to get into these premiere services. Thus, for a long time, Civil services remained the privileged monopoly of the urban educated upper-class. And, the IAS/IPS/IFS dreams of millions belonging to the other India remained just dreams.

However, in the early 1990s, a bright young man from Jharkhand (then Bihar) realized this disparity between those who had access to information regarding and resources for appearing in the civil services exam. Having been exposed to the kind of problems students from remote & backward areas face, this young man decided to change the very way the 'other India' perceived Civil Services. This young man was none other than Mr. A. K. Mishra, who was still in his twenties, and had an option of entering the civil services himself. But, he chose not to tread the beaten path. Instead, this man with an iron-determination decided to chart the hitherto untrodden territory and make the IAS/IPS dream accessible to his countrymen living in the far-off villages and towns. He felt that he could play a much larger role in nation-building by guiding and developing innumerable students to enter the civil services.

In 1993, Mr. Mishra established Chanakya IAS Academy with a missionary zeal and dedication. And thereby began a dream -- a dream to reach, teach and train the ordinary but dedicated youth the art of getting into the civil services.

Positive results started pouring in right from the first year of Chanakya's inception.
However, soon Mr. Mishra realized that not all students from remote areas could come to Delhi for their preparation. And, in Delhi itself the students living in one part of Delhi could not 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 respective campuses of Delhi University.

However, the ever-enterprising Mr. Mishra wanted to do more. And then two unique things led to the opening up of two more branches outside Delhi. Some of Mr. Mishra's friends, who were posted as civil servants in Gujarat, urged 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 free awareness drives and finally inaugurated the Ahmedabad branch in 1999. As a result of Chanakya IAS Academy's educational services, awareness about civil services exam was 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 place i.e., Jharkhand were still deprived of knowledge & information regarding civil services exam. There were many remote and extremely backward pockets in the state which vied his attention. He also wanted to serve his mother-state and her people in whichever way he could. With this feeling of gratitude and philanthropy, he inaugurated Chanakya IAS Academy's Ranchi branch 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.

The huge success of all these branches made him think of further expansion. In fact, many of his friends, colleagues & students requested him to open a branch in their city/state. But, being a highly quality-conscious person, he turned down many formal proposals offering partnerships, franchise etc.

 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, 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 well-prepared for the exam 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 institute imparting training 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 awareness drives to spread awareness about the civil services exam even in the remotest areas of the country.

In fact, 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 drives throughout the country, by establishing state-of-the-art training facilities in three major cities, by arranging lodging & 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 gestures Mr. A. K. Mishra, truly, revolutionized and democratized the concept of preparing for the civil services exam in India.

In a short span of time, Chanakya IAS Academy gained the reputation of an institution in the real sense known for its care, guidance & conducive atmosphere. Mr. Mishra's noble intentions and benevolent efforts were soon rewarded. Within a span of four years, hundreds of Chanakyans had gained entry into the prestigious civil services. Thousands of students from obscure villages, smaller towns as well as bigger cities started joining Chanakya IAS Academy to chase their dreams.

Now running in its 15th successful year, Chanakya IAS Academy has helped thousands of its students realize their dream of getting into the civil services. More than 1500 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. The number of Chanakya's students who have succeeded in the state/provincial civil services runs into thousands. 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 & MNCs etc.

Such kind of versatility can be seen in the dynamic personality of Chanakya's director too. Mr. Mishra is a well-known educationist, career strategist and public speaker who has been holding motivational lectures and seminars for a hue of 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, students, especially those preparing for the civil services exam have been close to his heart. 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 help the students succeed in the civil services exam with minimum efforts and maximum surety. In the recent years, he has developed some training-cum-guidance programmes like – Human Software Development Programme and Art of Success, which have gained unparalleled popularity among students and general enthusiasts. The popularity of the academy is clearly explained by the large number of students joining its programmes. The trust and faith reposed by the students is reflected through what its successful students have to say about the academy.