PhysicsWallah (PW) has launched a new faculty incentive program offering up to INR 15 lakh. The edtech company will reward newly hired faculty. Incentives are for bringing high-performing students from rival coaching centers to PW's offline classes. This policy targets students enrolling for the 2027 academic year.
The reward amount varies based on student exam ranks. Top ranks in JEE Main, NEET, and JEE Advanced are eligible. A student securing AIR rank 1 earns the faculty INR 15 lakh. AIR rank 2 and 3 will earn INR 12 lakh. Faculty referring students ranked 4 to 10 will receive INR 9 lakh.
Other incentive tiers are also in place. Students ranked 11 to 100 yield INR 4 lakh. Those ranked 101 to 500 result in a INR 2 lakh incentive for the faculty. This tiered structure directly links faculty rewards to student academic success.
Faculty Incentives for Student Ranks
| AIR Rank | PW's Incentive |
| AIR 1 | INR 15 lakh |
| AIR 2 to 3 | INR 12 lakh |
| AIR 4 to 10 | INR 9 lakh |
| AIR 11 to 100 | INR 4 lakh |
| AIR 101 to 500 | INR 2 lakh |
PW's offline coaching segment is a significant revenue driver. It accounts for roughly half of the company's INR 1800 crore revenue. The company operates approximately 150 offline centers across India. This initiative aims to boost revenue by using new faculty for student acquisition. The company's offline revenue reached INR 1,774 crore in FY26. This nears its online revenue and shows 31% growth.
Offline admissions also saw a substantial increase. Student numbers grew from 3,25,600 to 4,67,500 in one year. A PW spokesperson stated the reward system is not new. The company regularly reviews and updates its policies. Rewards are based on long-term academic outcomes, not just enrollment.
The policy functions as an employee referral program. It is tied to student academic performance and ranks. Traditionally, companies use talent nurture teams for student acquisition. PW now allows both recruitment teams and faculty to earn referral incentives.
Industry experts note that linking faculty pay to student acquisition is common. Some view it as performance-based hiring. Others raise ethical concerns. They suggest it could increase competition unfairly. Experts also call this a 'perverse incentive.' This could disrupt industry dynamics and prompt students to switch institutes.
This move positions PW alongside established coaching giants. Institutions like Aakash, Narayana, Resonance, and Allen focus on top faculty and student performance.
