Civil Services Exam: Maze, Martyrs & Management

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the world’s toughest examinations. However, it is not the questions in the exam that make it challenging, but the conditions under which the candidates take the exam. By conditions, I mean everything apart from the questions being asked! To elaborate, it would include the number of candidates attempting the exam, the number of seats on offer, the time taken to complete one full exam cycle starting from prelims to the announcement of results, the monetary cost of pursuing coaching, the opportunity cost, the societal pressure, and not to rule out the pressure of one’s own expectations from himself or herself. All of this stack up to make the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination what it is: a?chakravyuh?where less than 1% achieve what all of them set out to achieve.

Let’s dissect these conditions separately, allowing a discussion on alternatives to the way the exam has been conducted over the years and the way candidates could perceive the journey to becoming a better person (and not only a civil servant).

#1 – Number of candidates attempting the exam

The number of candidates taking the UPSC Civil Services Exam has increased over the years. It is the spillover effect of an increased Gross Enrolment Ratio and a higher number of graduates passing out from colleges over the past decade. High unemployment rates, the COVID-19 pandemic, layoffs, and greater volatility in private jobs recently have also contributed to a rise in the number of candidates opting for a “stable government job.”

It is imperative for the candidates to understand that the UPSC Civil Services Examination is not for everyone. It requires greater motivation than merely getting a job. The candidates need to be made aware of all the opportunities available to them, along with the conditions associated with the coveted Civil Service Exam. The government, the parents, the teachers, and most importantly, the candidates themselves, can help bring this awareness to the UPSC preparation. Remember, it is not a ritual! Adequate information and understanding of the weather and the sea would help the surfers plan their outings better!

#2 – Number of seats on offer

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is a gateway to 24 different services. The total number of vacancies varies each year. In 2014, the number of seats on offer stood at a wholesome 1364, compared to a meagre 712 in 2021. When it comes to the IAS, there are less than 200 seats in total, and the number is smaller for the candidates from the General category (and even more for non-EWS). Even though there have been repeated reports of a shortage of civil servants in the country, the intention has been to limit the intake. A possible reason for this irony would be the increasing cost to the exchequer in terms of salaries, the capacity of training institutes to train new entrants, and a paradigm shift towards a culture of lateral entry.?

A possibility to address the issues in this aspect could be to gain inspiration from the recently launched Agnipath scheme. A short-service programme could help us bridge our wide governance gap. Officers entering through this scheme can be filtered out after 10, 25, or 30 years of service. This would rectify the top-heavy structure and create a culture of public service and performance. The recruitment could be made 4x at the entry level without being constrained by the number of apex-level positions and career paths, and only 25% of them could be retained after a performance review at the end of the fourth year. Additionally, it will provide easy and guilt-free exit options to those interested.

Candidates should do all of the math of calculating the odds ONLY BEFORE they decide to step into the deep waters. Once they have decided, the ONLY thing in mind should be to aim for that 1/n seat.

#3 – Time taken to complete an exam cycle

For those who do not know, the UPSC Civil Services Examination is carried out in 3 stages- Prelims, Mains and the Personal Interview. It takes more than a year from the time one files his/her application to attempt the exam to the time one can find his/her name in the holy PDF. This, I believe, is frequently ignored by potential candidates in deciding to take (or not) the exam. Deciding to attempt the UPSC Civil Services Exam based on a spark of motivation could be dangerous because the spark may die out soon. It is necessary to cultivate that motivation and turn it into daily habits in order to sail through. It is a year-long marathon wherever one has to sprint every day.?

Just as the candidates often ignore this factor, it seems UPSC has also ignored it. The long procedure of recruitment puts the candidates in unnecessary trouble, especially the working professionals who find it hard to take leaves or put in their papers amidst the waves of anxiety during the long course of selection. I understand that the recruiting agency needs time for administrative work, but some concrete steps could be taken to reduce the turnaround time. These may include:

• Easy feedback: Release the marks obtained by candidates in the Prelims, the Mains and the Interview along with the result itself (currently, if a candidate fails the prelims of 2022, he would get to know his marks only a few days before the prelims of 2023);
• Conduct multiple Prelims around the year as screening tests:?Once a candidate clears the screening test, he would be allowed to write the Mains exam, and then only his attempt would count; OR
• Factor in the success of candidates in past years: Once a candidate clears the prelims, he or she should be allowed to write the Mains exam for the next 3 years
• Conduct exclusive exams for different services: It is ludicrous to have a foreign service aspirant write the same exam conducted to recruit a Railways officer or a Tax Collector, or a Police Officer. Except for India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh – this practice doesn’t exist anywhere else in the modern world.

#4 – Financial cost of pursuing a coaching

The belief that you need a coaching to clear this exam could only help you burn a hole in your pocket. A coaching institute can only act as an aid to YOUR efforts. It can certainly help candidates decide what (or what not) to study and make it easier for them to stick to a routine. For outstation candidates, a year of UPSC preparation in Delhi could easily cost around 3 lakhs. The exorbitant fees charged by the coaching businesses drain the lifeblood of the average Indian lower middle-class parent while projecting a veneer of celebrity.

The UPSC examiners have been smart enough to create a level-playing field by setting the question papers cleverly. The candidates need to be clear with their goals for opting to join a coaching institute and do a market survey including offline and online options to be able to make a financially sensible decision for themselves.

#5 – Opportunity cost

The UPSC Civil Services Exam seems to be a zero-sum game where the winner takes all. The candidates who write this exam are the youth of the country, buzzing with energy. There has to be a way to harness this energy rather than extinguish it through a gruelling process. The government could explore the option of partnering with institutions such as PSUs, autonomous bodies, and other companies in the private sector to provide internship or employment opportunities outside the 24 civil services. Even fellowships would be a good option for ex-aspirants. Some initiatives have been taken in this regard, but they are yet to be institutionalized.

On the other hand, the candidates must be mindful of their decision and keep all possibilities in mind before opting to write the exam. The candidates need to be aware of the things they have to give up in order to have a chance of passing the exam. Understanding the concept of delayed gratification can come in handy in this case.

#6 – Societal pressure

When it comes to societal pressure on UPSC aspirants, I believe the government is powerless to intervene directly. Would an exclusive “Pariksha pe Charcha” for UPSC aspirants help? I am not sure.

It is important to cut the hype! The candidates need prime focus on their actions and learn to filter out the noise. When received constructively, pressure can fuel our motivation and help it translate into actions. It might be useful for you to not try to convince small minds when your dreams are too big. Instead of getting bogged down with “log kya kahenge,” surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals could help.

#7 – Expectations from oneself

The serious aspirants who venture into the ocean of possibilities at the mercy of the UPSC are to be celebrated for their strength. They dare to dream and have the courage to risk it all. This attitude, coupled with the diverse knowledge attained during the journey of appearing, failing, and reappearing in the UPSC Civil Services Exam, builds resilience and character. Preparing the aspirants for the tantrums life will throw at them in the future.

One needs to understand that “Purpose is more important than the plan.” The purpose is not to become a civil servant; it is not the end, but only a means to achieve a larger purpose in life, and if a particular way or means didn’t lead us to our purpose, we would try any other way or means.?Nothing is more valuable than one’s life or health, and we don’t mess up anything that is meant for us. The hack is to just hang in there, try, fail and repeat until we reach where we are destined to be.

The journey of preparation is beautiful. Allow it to transform you into a better person, don’t get consumed in the process. Focus on the controllables with resolute consistency, and a purpose larger than merely qualifying an exam is a recipe for success. Want to talk to me about your journey? Please write to me at [email protected]. I am all ears!

Originally published on writeclickexpress.com.