In response to the tragic deaths of IAS aspirants Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalvin, who perished when rainwater flooded the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27, several UPSC coaching institutes have offered financial compensation. Vajiram and Ravi Institute, Drishti IAS, NEXT IAS, and SRIRAM’s IAS each pledged ₹10 lakh to the families of the deceased students.
Additionally, Drishti IAS and SRIRAM’s IAS extended ₹10 lakh in compensation to the family of Nilesh Rai, another UPSC aspirant who was electrocuted in Patel Nagar on July 22.
Protests have erupted among civil services aspirants, who view the compensation as a superficial gesture aimed at deflecting attention from the issue. The deaths have prompted the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to seal the basements of several coaching centers, citing violations of building bye-laws regarding the use of basements for commercial purposes.
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Vajiram and Ravi announced on social media that they would admit students currently enrolled with Rau’s IAS Study Circle free of charge, offering classes for the Main Exam 2024 and Prelims-cum-Mains Exam 2025, including general studies, CSAT courses, and optional subjects. They also committed ₹10 lakh to each of the affected families as a sign of solidarity.
SRIRAM’s IAS offered Rau’s IAS students access to their classrooms and libraries, while NEXT IAS announced free classes for the remaining syllabus of the current session’s GS/Optional Foundation courses, inviting affected students to visit their office after August 5, 2024.
Drishti IAS also offered free classes for general studies, test series, and optional subjects to Rau’s IAS students and pledged ₹10 lakh to each of the bereaved families. The faculty at Rau’s IAS Study Circle plans to start online classes from August 5.
The protest hub in Old Rajinder Nagar has been active since the incident, with students criticizing the coaching centers for using compensation and free classes as a strategy to protect their businesses rather than addressing the core issues. Many students, like Harish and Karan, expressed mixed feelings, noting the ongoing need for library access and adequate study spaces, which have been impacted by the MCD’s sealing of basement-operated libraries.
Political leaders and civic officials have visited the protest site to engage with the students and address their concerns.
