Alakh Pandey, better known as Alakh Sir, is a spirited educator, businessperson, and visionary founder of Physics Wallah (PW), one of India's most successful EdTech platforms. He was born on 2 October 1991 in Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Alakh came from very humble roots but became a symbol of education across the nation. In 2025, he will continue striving to make good quality education reach everyone at reasonable prices.

Early Life and Education

Alakh Pandey was born into a middle-class family, and his family suffered from financial difficulties since childhood. His father, Satish Pandey, was an employee in a private company, whereas his mother, Rajat Pandey, was a teacher by profession. He also has a sister named Aditi Pandey, who is an engineer. Alakh was fascinated by science and mathematics in school at Bishop Johnson School, Prayagraj. As his family needed financial help, he started teaching younger children even when he was in Class 8.

He studied Mechanical Engineering at Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU), Kanpur, but soon found that his passion was teaching. He left college in the third year to pursue this vocation full-time.

Career and Rise of Physics Wallah

In 2016, Alakh started his YouTube channel, Physics Wallah, with a few resources—a whiteboard and a simple phone. His concise, understandable teaching made its way fast to the people's hearts. In 2020, Alakh and Prateek Maheshwari launched the Physics Wallah app and website, providing low-cost courses for JEE, NEET, UPSC, and beyond. PW brought high-standard education within ₹5,000 million.

By 2022, PW had become India's first $1 billion EdTech unicorn to be profitable. Alakh continues to grow PW's product in 2025, setting up offline coaching centers and campaigning for education reforms—lower GST on learning aids and more government spending on education.

Controversies

Alakh's journey has not been without controversy. In 2023, three of the top teachers in PW quit and later went on to start a rival platform, fueling fears of internal turmoil and alleged external interference. Alakh was in the limelight once again in 2024 when it approached the Supreme Court with a petition against the NEET 2024 policy of grace marks, seeking national exam practices to be brought into the open.

Personal Life and Net Worth

Alakh married Shivani Dubey, a writer and journalist, in February 2023. Despite being successful, he lives a modest life. His net worth is estimated at ₹4,500 crore ($550 million) as of 2025, and his monthly earnings are about ₹40 crore, which primarily come from YouTube and the coaching business. He has luxury vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW 5-Series, and Ford EcoSport.

Interesting Facts

• Alakh's platform is used by millions of students preparing for competitive exams.
• Several PW teachers were formerly his students.
• His YouTube channel is subscribed to by more than 13.2 million individuals and has 1.6k videos.
• He is still a powerful voice in education policy debates.

Conclusion

In 2025, he is still changing education in India—demonstrating that a committed teacher can indeed transform the country.