Coaching for the sixteen operational IITs, which evaluate high school graduates’ quantitative ability in multiple subjects, is now a multi-million-dollar industry. The heart of this industry is in Kota, a small town in Rajasthan where about 150,000 students are enrolled in a cluster of coaching institutes at any time during the year.
Kota’s highly competitive coaching schools have a reputation for helping students crack the IIT entrance exam. Since the business boomed in the early 2000s, thousands have succeeded in passing this prestigious exam.
From Industrial Town to Coaching Hub
Kota was once a fading industrial town, little known to the outside world. Today, it’s a bustling center for coaching institutes, with thriving auxiliary industries like food and housing. In the last 20 years, Kota has seen over 25 major and 100 minor coaching institutes spring up.
How Kota Became the Coaching Hub
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kota began to gain prominence as a place to study for engineering and medical admission exams.
Kota’s journey to becoming a coaching hub started when VK Bansal, an engineer, left his job at JK Synthetics in Kota between 1983 and 1985 and began teaching students at his home. He taught mathematics and provided advice on how to pass engineering admission exams.
When one of his students passed the IIT-JEE test in 1985, it transformed VK Bansal’s life and the image of the city. He then set up Bansal Classes, which eventually became Bansal Classes Private Limited, marking the start of Kota as a coaching hub.
The Rise of Coaching Institutes
Following Bansal Classes, other institutes like Allen Career Institute, Resonance, and Vibrant also established themselves in Kota. Every year, around 1.5-2 lakh students enrol in various coaching institutions. A typical student’s day begins at around 6 a.m.
Anirudh Sridharan, a Chemistry faculty member at Allen Career Institute, shared that classes start as early as 6 a.m. and can run till 8 p.m. with a break in between.
Economic Impact on Locals
The institutes have created significant business opportunities for locals. Students pay over Rs 80,000 per year for coaching and make private arrangements for accommodation. PGs (Paying Guest accommodations) can be found in areas like Talwandi and Vigyan Nagar, with living costs ranging from ₹6,000 to ₹30,000 per month.
According to a report by The Print, the coaching business in Kota directly or indirectly affects the livelihoods of at least 2 lakh individuals, including hostel owners, local merchants, shopkeepers, meal staff, auto drivers, and security guards.
Kota: The Factory of IIT Aspirants
Kota, often referred to as India’s coaching capital, produces hundreds of successful IIT aspirants each year. The city has seen extraordinary growth, with a market value of $16 billion.
The Dark Side: Pressure and Suicides
Despite being a hub of education, Kota lacks adequate mental health counselling facilities, leading to immense mental pressure for students. The competitive environment and high expectations result in extreme stress, causing some students to take their own lives.
Season 2 of the web series “Kota Factory” recently released on Netflix, highlights the life of IIT-JEE aspirants in Kota. The show portrays the city’s competitive educational culture and the resulting pressure, which can lead to tragic outcomes.
Administration’s Efforts
The administration has undertaken several initiatives, such as recommending weekly vacations for students, refunding tuition fees, and enabling recreational activities. Former district collector Ravi Kumar Surpur ensured that children were screened before being admitted to coaching institutes.
However, these are only recommendations, and there is no ongoing oversight to guarantee strict adherence. Unfortunately, this is the sad reality of the Kota Factory.