Amit Kilhor has built a large social-media audience by questioning the UPSC ecosystem. For millions of Indian students, UPSC preparation becomes a way of life. Years go into coaching, test series, current affairs, mock papers, and repeated attempts. Social media then adds another layer, with topper interviews, study routines, and motivational videos constantly reminding aspirants that the next attempt could be the one. Amit Kilhor has spent enough time inside that world to understand it from both sides. He is a UPSC educator, mentor, and public speaker who has taught subjects including Polity, Ethics, Environment, and Current Affairs. StudyIQ's own course material lists him as having appeared in six UPSC CSE Mains and three interviews, along with other competitive-exam interviews. His journey is also part of why his commentary attracts attention. Public material around his career describes years of UPSC preparation before he moved into teaching, including a period associated with StudyIQ. He later developed his own educational initiative, ResolveIAS, which describes itself as an Amit Kilhor initiative focused on UPSC preparation, mentorship, and simplifying the examination process. But today, calling him simply a UPSC teacher doesn't really explain his online presence. His YouTube channel has grown to more than 700,000 subscribers, while the social profiles available in recent searches show roughly 1.2 million Instagram followers and close to 100,000 followers on X. Those numbers put him well beyond the traditional coaching-class audience. He is now speaking to a general internet audience that may not even be preparing for UPSC. From Teaching UPSC To Questioning the UPSC Culture What stands out when you actually watch Kilhor speak is his manner. He doesn't always sound like someone trying to make every viewer comfortable. When he believes something is wrong, he tends to say it directly. Sometimes that comes across as blunt, sometimes as provocative, but there is a noticeable lack of hesitation. That style fits the audience he has built. His content isn't restricted to "how many hours should I study?" or "which book should I read?" He has increasingly discussed bureaucracy, government decisions, education, social issues, and the pressure surrounding competitive examinations. A recent long-form conversation with Prakhar Gupta, for example, covered topics ranging from bureaucracy and India's growth to Gen Z, social media, and public outrage. His own UPSC experience gives that commentary another layer. Someone who has gone through multiple Mains attempts and interviews knows what prolonged preparation can look like from the inside. It isn't difficult to understand why his content sometimes questions the idea that every aspirant should keep pushing indefinitely simply because UPSC is considered one of India's most prestigious examinations. That is where our headline's use of the word "cult" becomes interesting. It isn't suggesting UPSC is literally a cult. It describes the culture that can form around the examination, where clearing it can become so important that students start measuring their intelligence, career, and even self-worth against one examination. Kilhor's social media presence increasingly asks people to step back and examine that mindset. The Videos That Turned Him into More Than an Educator One of the clearest examples is his video “What is the UPSC certificate controversy?” The video has crossed roughly 269,000 views and 12,000 likes on YouTube, showing that this isn't a small discussion happening inside a coaching classroom. The subject itself is sensitive. Kilhor has discussed allegations around the use and verification of reservation and disability certificates and questioned whether some candidates may have benefited from irregular documentation. Those claims need to be described as allegations rather than established facts about individual candidates. The larger issue, however, has received official attention too. The Department of Personnel and Training ordered verification of complaints involving alleged irregularities in reservation certificates used by the civil-service officers in 2025. His content also taps into another frustration that UPSC aspirants understand very well: unpredictability. After the 2026 Prelims, his criticism of the paper became part of a much wider online discussion about whether the examination had become excessively obscure. A Reddit discussion around the paper mentioned his viral criticism and attracted more than a thousand upvotes, with users debating whether the exam was testing administrative ability or simply increasingly specific trivia. That is an important reason his videos travel. He doesn't always introduce a completely new problem. Often, he gives a public voice to frustrations that aspirants are already discussing privately. What His Audience Actually Thinks About Him The reaction to Kilhor is far from unanimous, and that may actually be one of the most interesting things about his profile. Some viewers see him as someone who says what other people are afraid to say. In discussions around his certificate-related content, supporters have argued that questioning possible corruption is necessary and that his failure to become a civil servant doesn't automatically disqualify him from criticising the system. Others strongly disagree, calling his approach biased or suggesting that some of his conclusions go beyond what the available evidence proves. That split tells us something about his influence. People aren't simply watching him for notes anymore. They are forming opinions about the issues he raises. His videos become discussion points, his clips move across social platforms, and his name appears in conversations that have little to do with conventional UPSC preparation. There is also a sizeable group that simply finds his style too aggressive. Some Reddit users describe him as someone who has turned into a constant critic, while others defend him precisely because he is willing to criticise institutions and public figures. And that is probably the most human part of his social-media story. Watch him for a while, and you can understand why some people trust him. He speaks with the confidence of someone who has already spent years inside the system he is talking about. But that confidence can also make people question whether he sometimes becomes too certain about issues that deserve more evidence. Why Amit Kilhor Matters Beyond UPSC The bigger story here isn't really one educator or one YouTube channel. It is the changing role of online educators in India. A decade ago, a teacher's influence largely depended on classrooms, coaching institutes, and printed study material. Today, an educator can become a commentator, interviewer, creator, and critic at the same time. Kilhor's career reflects that shift. He moved from being known primarily for UPSC preparation to building a much wider digital identity through YouTube and other social platforms. ResolveIAS itself now presents its educational work as a student-focused platform built around focused preparation, simplified explanations, daily plans, and mentorship. But his personal social presence has moved beyond selling the idea of simply clearing an exam. He talks about what happens around the exam too, including bureaucracy, public institutions, social pressure, and the choices young Indians make. There is an obvious danger in that model. The larger the audience becomes, the more carefully every claim needs to be checked. Kilhor has himself faced scrutiny over content he shared. BOOM previously fact-checked a video he posted involving police officers and Khan Sir and found that the footage was old and unrelated to the claim attached to it. The post was subsequently deleted. That doesn't erase his broader criticism, but it is a useful reminder that the person questioning the system must also be questioned. Perhaps that is what makes Amit Kilhor worth following, even for someone who has no intention of appearing for UPSC. He isn't simply telling young Indians how to enter one of the country's most prestigious institutions. He is asking them to look at the culture surrounding that institution, question what they are being told, and decide whether spending years chasing one examination is actually the life they want. Not every criticism he makes will necessarily be right. Not every controversy he discusses will have a simple answer. But his willingness to raise uncomfortable questions has made him more than another UPSC educator on YouTube. He has turned the UPSC classroom into a much bigger public conversation, and social media is where that conversation is now happening. Keep reading The ScreenLight to know more about such interesting social media personalities.

Women are reshaping the future of modern fiction (Image generated by AI) For years, the publishing industry treated women’s fiction as a side category. Romance was often dismissed as “commercial,” fantasy written by women rarely received literary respect, and serious publishing conversations were still heavily male-dominated. That world looks very different now. Women are no longer just participating in modern fiction and publishing. They are driving it. From bestselling novels and BookTok trends to editorial departments and literary agencies, women have become the center of today’s book economy. The shift happened gradually, then all at once. Women Became Fiction’s Most Reliable Audience The publishing industry follows readers more than ideology. And for the last two decades, women have consistently been the strongest fiction consumers. According to industry discussions highlighted by The Guardian, women now dominate large parts of the fiction market as both readers and authors. Publishers adapted because the audience itself changed. At the same time, male reading habits fragmented. Many younger men shifted toward gaming, podcasts, YouTube, streaming content, and nonfiction media. Fiction remained culturally central for women in a way it no longer did for many men. That imbalance reshaped the economics of publishing. Instead of chasing traditional literary prestige alone, publishers increasingly focused on genres with highly engaged female readerships, especially romance, fantasy, and emotionally driven contemporary fiction. BookTok Changed Publishing Faster Than Critics Expected Social media accelerated the shift dramatically. BookTok, the massive reading community on TikTok, became one of the most powerful marketing engines the publishing industry has ever seen. Publishers discovered that readers, especially young women, could turn years-old novels into global bestsellers overnight. One reported study found BookTok helped generate a 395% increase in sales for titles published six to ten years before the platform became popular. Around 20 million books sold in 2021 alone were connected to BookTok-driven discovery. That changed how publishers market fiction completely. Instead of relying only on newspaper reviews or bookstore placement, publishers now pay close attention to online reader communities, emotional reactions, fan edits, and viral recommendations. Genres once underestimated by critics suddenly became massive commercial forces. Some of the biggest winners include: Romance fiction Fantasy series Young adult novels Character-driven contemporary fiction Writers like Colleen Hoover and Sarah J. Maas benefited enormously from this shift because their books spread through passionate reader communities rather than traditional literary gatekeepers. Why Male Fiction Readership Started Declining One of the less discussed reasons behind women’s dominance in publishing is the decline of male fiction readership. Over the last two decades, entertainment habits changed dramatically. Many younger men shifted toward gaming, YouTube, podcasts, sports media, streaming platforms, and nonfiction content, while women remained far more active in fiction communities. That difference became important economically. Publishers invest where engagement is strongest, and fiction readership increasingly became female-led. The gap is especially visible online. Platforms like Goodreads, BookTok, and digital book clubs are heavily driven by women readers who actively recommend, review, and promote novels to massive audiences. As male attention fragmented across different media, women became the most reliable audience, keeping fiction culture commercially powerful. Women Now Influence Publishing from the Inside Too The transformation is not limited to readers and authors. Women now hold a large number of roles across publishing itself, from editorial departments and literary agencies to marketing and publicity teams. Data from Statista shows how significantly the industry workforce has shifted over the years. That matters because publishing trends are shaped by the people choosing manuscripts, identifying audiences, and deciding which books receive major promotion. Publishing Area Modern Industry Trend Fiction readership Mostly female-driven Editorial departments Strong female presence Literary marketing Women-led audiences dominate Bestseller fiction genres Romance and fantasy continue growing As more women entered decision-making roles, the industry became more open to stories centered around identity, relationships, emotional complexity, ambition, trauma, and personal growth. Books that once struggled for literary legitimacy became some of publishing’s biggest financial successes. Female Authors Now Dominate Bestseller Culture The numbers reflect the shift clearly. Reports on recent bestseller charts found that 17 of the top 25 bestselling print books in 2023 were written by women. Romance also continued leading fiction sales across multiple markets. That dominance is not happening accidentally. Female authors increasingly understand how modern reading communities work. Their books often generate stronger online fandoms, emotional engagement, adaptation potential, and long-term reader loyalty. Even older novels now return to bestseller lists years after release because online communities rediscover them through BookTok and adaptation news. Publishing used to rely heavily on critics to decide what mattered. Today, readers themselves shape success much faster than literary institutions do. The Rise of Self-Publishing Changed the Industry Too Another major shift happened outside traditional publishing houses. Self-publishing platforms allowed thousands of women writers to build audiences without waiting for approval from major publishers. Romance and fantasy especially exploded in the indie publishing world, where reader demand mattered more than industry trends. Once publishers noticed independent authors generating massive online followings and strong sales numbers, they quickly adapted. In many ways, readers changed publishing before publishing changed itself. Modern Book Culture Now Revolves Around Women The biggest reason women dominate fiction and publishing today is not political. It is economic and cultural. Women became the most active readers, the strongest online book communities, the most consistent fiction buyers, and eventually many of the people running publishing itself. The industry followed where attention, money, and cultural energy were already moving. That is why modern fiction no longer feels male-dominated in the way it once did. Women did not simply enter book culture. They rebuilt large parts of it around themselves. Keep reading The ScreenLight for more such insightful stories.

The giant-screen revolution that changed modern cinema (Image generated by ChatGPT) When people hear the word IMAX, they usually think about giant screens, earth-shaking sound, and blockbuster movies that feel larger than life. But IMAX was never created to make movies “bigger.” It was invented to solve a real problem filmmakers faced in the 1960s: how to make cinema feel truly immersive without confusing audiences with messy multi-screen projections. What started as an experimental Canadian project eventually transformed global cinema, influenced directors like Christopher Nolan and James Cameron, and changed how audiences experience movies forever. The People Who Created IMAX Where the IMAX story first began in Canada (Image generated by ChatGPT) IMAX was created by four Canadians: Graeme Ferguson Roman Kroitor Robert Kerr William C. Shaw The company was founded in 1967 under the name Multiscreen Corporation Ltd. before later becoming IMAX, short for “Image Maximum.” Their inspiration came from experimental films shown at the famous Expo 67 in Canada. At the time, filmmakers were using multiple projectors and several screens at once to create immersive experiences. The idea looked exciting, but technically it was a nightmare. Projectors kept falling out of sync. Multiple screens distracted viewers rather than drawing them into the story. The founders realized something important: Instead of using many screens, why not use one massive, ultra-clear screen? That single idea became the foundation of IMAX. The Technical Breakthrough That Changed Everything The real genius behind IMAX was not only the screen size. It was the film system itself. Traditional movie projectors used 35mm film vertically. IMAX redesigned the system completely by running 70mm film horizontally with 15 perforations per frame, often called the “15/70 format.” This allowed far more image detail and clarity than standard cinema. Why IMAX Looked So Different Feature Traditional Cinema IMAX Film Format 35mm vertical 70mm horizontal Screen Size Standard large screen Massive wall-sized screen Resolution Lower image detail Extremely high clarity Audio Regular surround sound Immersive multi-channel sound Viewer Experience Watching a movie Feeling inside the movie This format solved two major problems: Bigger screens usually reduced image quality Large theaters often lost immersion IMAX managed to deliver both scale and sharpness together. That was revolutionary for the 1970s. The First IMAX Film and Theater The first IMAX film, Tiger Child, premiered at Expo '70 in Japan in 1970. Audiences were stunned by the size and clarity of the image. Soon after, the first permanent IMAX theater opened at Ontario Place Cinesphere in 1971. It became one of the most important landmarks in cinema technology history. At first, IMAX focused mainly on documentaries, science films, and museum experiences. Many early IMAX movies explored nature, oceans, aviation, and space because the format was perfect for visual spectacle. How IMAX Changed Cinema Forever For many years, IMAX remained a niche technology. Then Hollywood realized something important: People were willing to pay more for a premium movie experience. That changed everything. 1. IMAX Made Moviegoing Feel Special Again As streaming platforms grew, cinemas struggled to compete. IMAX helped theaters offer something audiences could not recreate at home. Huge screens, precision sound, and immersive visuals made certain films feel like events instead of ordinary releases. Even today, premium large-format theaters continue gaining market share globally. 2. Directors Started Filming Specifically for IMAX Filmmakers began treating IMAX as an artistic tool rather than just a projection format. Christopher Nolan became one of IMAX’s biggest champions. Films like The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer used IMAX cameras extensively to create unmatched scale and realism. James Cameron also pushed the format forward with visually ambitious films like Avatar. IMAX cameras became associated with cinematic ambition itself. 3. It Changed Audience Expectations Before IMAX, audiences mostly cared about story and actors. After IMAX became mainstream, viewers also started expecting: better sound larger visuals sharper projection premium seating experiences event-style cinema Modern theaters upgraded because IMAX forced the industry to evolve. 4. IMAX Helped Keep Theatrical Cinema Alive This is probably the most important point. Streaming changed how people consume entertainment, but IMAX reminded audiences why theaters still matter. Recent reports show premium cinema formats like IMAX continue outperforming standard theaters because audiences see them as worth leaving home for. Without premium theatrical experiences, cinemas might have declined even faster after the streaming boom. The Science Behind the Immersion IMAX works psychologically as much as technically. The giant screen fills more of your peripheral vision, making your brain feel physically connected to the scene. Combined with high-resolution projection and powerful sound, this creates stronger emotional engagement. That is why action scenes, space sequences, and nature documentaries feel more intense in IMAX compared to standard screens. The experience is designed to overwhelm your senses, in a controlled way. The Shift from Documentary to Blockbuster Giant Originally, IMAX was mainly used for educational content in museums and science centers. But Disney helped change its commercial future with Fantasia 2000, one of the first major Hollywood releases adapted for IMAX. After that, studios realized blockbuster films could generate massive revenue in premium formats. Today, many major films are marketed around their IMAX versions first. Sometimes directors even shoot specific scenes exclusively for IMAX aspect ratios, so viewers see more image in IMAX theaters than standard cinemas. Why IMAX Still Matters Today More than 50 years after its invention, IMAX remains one of the few cinema brands audiences instantly recognize worldwide. That matters because most movie technologies become invisible over time. People do not usually ask: Which projector brand was used? Which speaker system powered the theater? But they do ask: “Was it shot in IMAX?” That shows how deeply the brand reshaped cinema culture. Even in 2026, IMAX continues expanding globally as demand for premium movie experiences grows. Final Thoughts IMAX was not created by a giant Hollywood studio. It began with four Canadians experimenting with film technology and trying to fix the limitations of multi-screen cinema. What they built became one of the most influential innovations in movie history. They transformed cinema from something audiences simply watched into something audiences could physically feel. And that changed movies forever. Keep navigating The ScreenLight for more such information.