PhysicsWallah’s South India expansion marks a significant new phase for the Indian edtech sector. The company plans to deepen its presence across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, combining digital learning, offline centres, multilingual courses and university partnerships.
PhysicsWallah Announces Two-Year South India Push
PhysicsWallah’s South India expansion became a major business development on September 23, 2026, after founder and CEO Alakh Pandey announced that he would be based in the region for the next 24 months.
The company plans to strengthen its presence across five southern states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
Pandey made the announcement while addressing students at an event in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. He said the company wants to create a more measurable impact in South India and bring its education model to more students in the region.
The move comes as PhysicsWallah continues expanding beyond its original concentration in northern and central Indian markets. The company has increasingly moved into offline education, state-specific examinations, professional skilling and AI-powered learning.
For the wider edtech industry, the expansion highlights the importance of regional markets where language, examination patterns and established coaching ecosystems can differ considerably.
Andhra Pradesh Partnership Gives PW an Institutional Entry
One of the first major steps in the expansion is PhysicsWallah’s five-year partnership with Mohan Babu University in Andhra Pradesh.
Under the partnership, PW will provide online courses focused on artificial intelligence, skilling and career development to nearly 18,000 students at the university.
The partnership is important because it takes the company beyond the conventional competitive-examination model associated with PhysicsWallah.
Rather than relying only on individual students purchasing test-preparation courses, university partnerships give edtech companies access to larger groups of learners through institutional arrangements.
It also creates an opportunity for PW to test how its technology and learning products work in higher education and employability-focused programmes.
For students in Tier-2 cities and emerging education hubs, such partnerships could increase access to online AI and career-oriented courses without requiring them to relocate to major metropolitan centres.
South India Is Already Part of PW’s Growth Strategy
The September announcement is not the company’s first move into southern markets.
PhysicsWallah’s management had already identified South India as an important growth area earlier in 2026. In January, CFO Amit Sachdeva said the company wanted at least 20 per cent of enrolments to come from southern states over the following 18 to 24 months. At the time, the company said around 85 to 90 per cent of its enrolments came from northern states.
The company has also been expanding its physical centre network. PhysicsWallah said in January that it planned to open approximately 70 offline centres annually, with around 200 new centres targeted over three years. It had approximately 300 offline centres at that point, according to Business Standard.
This suggests that the South India strategy is not limited to an online expansion.
The company is attempting to build a combination of digital courses, physical learning centres and partnerships that can be adapted to different regional markets.
Why Regional Languages Matter in South India
Language will be one of the most important factors in PhysicsWallah’s expansion.
The company began with a strong Hinglish identity but has since expanded its learning ecosystem into Hindi, English, Hinglish and nine regional languages, according to company-provided figures reported by Business Standard.
South India’s education markets are linguistically diverse. Telugu is particularly important in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam are dominant in other target states.
A multilingual approach can therefore help edtech companies reach students who may not prefer English-only or Hindi-heavy learning content.
However, translating educational material is only one part of regionalisation. Courses may also need to reflect state board curricula, local examination patterns, regional examples and the expectations of students and parents.
This is particularly relevant outside major metropolitan areas, where local coaching institutions often have established relationships with students.
Tier-2 Cities Could Become Important Growth Markets
The South India expansion also brings attention to the role of Tier-2 cities in India’s education economy.
Cities such as Vijayawada, Tirupati, Warangal, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Madurai, Mysuru and Kochi have established student populations and education ecosystems while generally operating at lower costs than the country’s biggest metropolitan markets.
For an edtech company, these cities can provide both online demand and opportunities for physical centres.
PhysicsWallah’s earlier offline strategy indicates that the company sees classroom learning as complementary to its digital products. Its management has also said that it intends to enter non-Hindi-speaking regions and strengthen its presence in southern states.
This hybrid model could become increasingly relevant for students who want online content but still value physical classrooms, local mentors and peer interaction.
The expansion therefore reflects a broader shift in Indian edtech from a purely app-based model toward a combination of technology, physical infrastructure and local partnerships.
Competition Could Increase Across Edtech Markets
PhysicsWallah’s expansion could also intensify competition among education companies operating in South India.
Regional markets already have established coaching centres, online education platforms, local educators and national brands. A new entrant with a large digital audience and expanding offline network could increase pressure on competitors to improve pricing, course quality, technology and regional-language offerings.
PW’s own management has previously said the company was evaluating strategic partnerships and acquisitions to deepen its southern presence. In May, co-founder Prateek Boob said the company was evaluating online-first companies for potential partnerships in South India.
That points toward a market strategy that could involve more than simply opening classrooms.
Partnerships can help an edtech company acquire local expertise, student communities and established content capabilities more quickly than building every operation internally.
For smaller regional education businesses, this could create both competitive pressure and potential partnership opportunities.
AI Is Becoming Part of PW’s Expansion Model
Artificial intelligence is another major part of PhysicsWallah’s broader business strategy.
The company has been investing in AI-powered doubt solving, revision, mentorship and answer-sheet evaluation. Its co-founder said in May that around 90 per cent of student doubts were being solved through AI, according to Business Standard. The company has also been developing a personalised AI tutor.
This technology could become particularly useful as PW expands across languages and geographies.
An AI-based learning system can potentially provide students with support outside conventional classroom hours. However, the quality of such systems depends on the accuracy of the underlying educational content, language capabilities and ability to understand the specific curriculum.
The company is therefore entering South India with two parallel priorities: expanding its physical and digital footprint while developing technology that can support a larger student base.
What the Expansion Means for Indian Edtech
PhysicsWallah’s South India strategy reflects a wider change in India’s education technology market.
The first phase of Indian edtech growth was heavily concentrated around online classes, smartphones and competitive examinations. The next phase is becoming more diversified, with companies moving into offline centres, university partnerships, professional skills, regional-language education and AI-based tutoring.
PhysicsWallah’s own numbers illustrate this diversification. The company says it has reached more than 40 million students across its platforms since inception, with more than 5 million paid students enrolled in FY26.
Those figures are company-reported and should be read in that context.
The South India expansion will ultimately depend on whether PW can adapt its products to local educational needs rather than simply replicate its existing model.
For students, increased competition can mean more choices in courses, learning formats and pricing. For education companies, it means regional relevance and language capability are becoming increasingly important parts of the business equation.
Key Takeaways
- PhysicsWallah plans a deeper expansion across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
- Founder and CEO Alakh Pandey says he will be based in South India for the next 24 months.
- A five-year partnership with Mohan Babu University will provide AI, skilling and career-focused courses to nearly 18,000 students.
- The expansion combines online learning, offline centres, regional languages, partnerships and AI-powered education.
FAQs
Why is PhysicsWallah expanding into South India?
PhysicsWallah is seeking to increase its presence in major southern education markets and reach more students outside its historically stronger northern markets. The company has identified Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala as key focus states.
Which South Indian states is PhysicsWallah targeting?
The company has identified five states for its expansion: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Its founder and CEO has said he plans to dedicate the next 24 months to strengthening the company’s presence in the region.
What is PhysicsWallah’s partnership with Mohan Babu University?
PhysicsWallah has signed a five-year partnership with Mohan Babu University in Andhra Pradesh. Under the agreement, PW will provide online AI, skilling and career-focused courses to nearly 18,000 university students.
Will PhysicsWallah’s South India expansion include offline centres?
Yes. PhysicsWallah has been expanding its offline network alongside its digital operations. In January 2026, the company said it planned to open around 70 offline centres each year and was targeting approximately 200 additional centres over three years.