Last few months there was a discussion on a YouTube channel a famous Indian economist Sanjeev Sanyal said that it was a waste of time to prepare for UPSC exams. However it may be driven by cultural, economic and historical reasons sometimes; this obsession can hardly be justified since it comes with high costs.
Around 1 million students attempt the exam each year, but only 0.2% of all candidates pass. This statistic alone highlights the grueling competition and the slim chances of success.
In 2023, approximately 1.3 million aspirants took on UPSC Prelims Exam. Out of these only 14,624 candidates were selected to participate in Mains Examination. The UPSC holds this test yearly for the selection of prominent government positions like IPS, IAS, IFS, IRS e.t.c.
Misplaced Notions and Cultural Hyping Of UPSC
For instance there is a poignant scene where Vikrant Massey’s character “Manoj” finally passes his civil services exam to become an IPS officer and he phones back home to tell them that he made it in life as depicted in the movie 12th Fail which is about the struggles of an Indian Police Services aspirant.“Chauhan ko batane ja raha hoon ki usne IPS ke baap se panga liya hai,” says his father glowing with pride.
According to this scene, many aspirants are motivated by a common desire: the attraction of power, entry into elite circles and superiority over other commoners. For quite a large number of candidates, it is not because they want to serve but for them status and power hunger appears as a main driver.
The percentage of those who join the services out of real patriotism is about 20-30%. There are others whose intentions come later like fathers of male civil servants demanding exorbitant dowries from brides’ families because their sons have passed UPSC.A brooch system in which civil service badge is emblematic only of merit but also an item that can consume people is exposed through this extortionate dowry demand.
Indian society’s norms and values versus individuals’ aspirations
Between the ages of 25 and 30, much energy and time will be dedicated to chasing after a civil service career. There are years when one would gain practical experience and do something for different sectors but instead they chase an elusive dream.
The exams’ social expectations put too much weight on students, leading to severe anxiety and other mental illnesses. Every now and then we hear about suicides among UPSC aspirants. Severe stress, depression or even suicide can occur due to extreme exam preparation, social pressure as well as high stakes involved in it. Hundreds of students commit suicide each year under the immense pressure to succeed in these exams.
Economic Disparities and Aspirations
Another factor that cannot be ignored is the background of the candidates themselves. Developed states such as Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra have fewer contenders for public examinations because they have a vibrant private sector which provides more job opportunities. On the flip side, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Madhya Pradesh are less industrialized states where this kind of chances do not exist at all. In these regions getting public sector or government job is always considered good enough for a reasonably educated person.
This is because UPSC is the examination that provides opportunity to avail the most sought after government job profiles, hence a significantly larger number of students from these zones apply for this examination.
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An Outdated System
The centralized highest examining body UPSC in India that was established with a reference to the British civil service system currently stays as a typical colonial construct that has not undergone necessary reforms. It was set up in the early twentieth century, during the British rule in India and was intended to provide the administrative infrastructure to implement the British colonial power in the subcontinent.
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However, there is a stark contrast that the civil service system of the UK has been rather recently overhauled while the UPSC has retained its timetable intact and stuck to its antiquated traditions. These problems stagnate, leading to bureaucratic inadequacies and increased corruption in the Indian public domain. The overall ineffectiveness of these institutions can be seen from India’s score of 85 out of 180 countries in the Index published for the year 2021.
System Corruption and Possible Reform
Corruption is not just restricted to the top level of UPSC but is systemic in nature therefore requiring a large-scale reform. These are evident in the De La Rue kickbacks to Indian bureaucrats established though the Panama Papers which reveal the depth of corruption involved. Critics plural for UPSC positions fail to address the need for change and end up glorifying the current situation. The situation in question makes the system rather a long way from ideal where everyone in the country can practice integrity, accountability, and commitment to public service.
Hence, it is imperative to move away from glorification and move towards reformation that fits well into UPSC’s broader context, as well as the updated requirements of contemporary governance and ethics.
The paper aims at distinguishing between myth and reality of a bureaucratic career.
Candidates have a belief that civil services assure a lavish means of power, superiority, and status. This understanding is framed in the Indian social conscience, which consists of numerous examples indicating that bureaucrats occupy a significant position in the power hierarchy and have huge authority. Yet, it is counterproductive and fails to grasp the rough realities and everyday difficulties of a bureaucratic job.
The reality of civil servants’ life is radically different from what people can imagine in reference to an ‘model’ official. Political influence is common with bureaucrats, and there is always bureaucratic hierarchy together with the political pressure to deliver on a system that may not necessarily assist in the endeavor.
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Further, the most traditional approach towards learning adopted in the UPSC preparation methodology where the students indulge themselves predominantly in cramming exercises, often do not foster critical thinking skills, creativity or problem solving abilities. Such characteristics are critical in leadership and management as the world evolves with technological advancement.
What is more important is that the current model of the UPSC exams in terms of its hugely top heavy general studies syllabus and reliance on static knowledge does not really test a civil servant’s or a future bureaucrat’s practical aptitude or the extent of their competence to manage and deal with the ever evolving problems of public administration.
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Pathways to Reform
The following are the general steps to understand while formulating and implementing the UPSC system reform. For one, there should be an increased focus on building more competitive private sector in non industrialized states. This is to mean that with the creation of more opportunities elsewhere outside the public service, competition for the few jobs will be reduced. It can be done by outlining policies regarding new enterprises, ubes for the improvement of physical necessities of these areas, and policies that would encourage private companies to venture into these regions.
Secondly, the UPSC exam requires a change which entails that it should be modified in one way or the other. The examination process should be laden with attributes that are relevant in the contemporary society and which answers the needs of the public administration.
This consist of engaging the tools that measure the qualification of how the candidate approaches problems, his/her analytical skills and his/her creativeness. There is still the need for actual training of the selected persons especially in the aspects of ethical governance, accountability as well as commitment to delivering public service.
Last but not the least, people also require to change the way of thinking about success and success capabilities. This cult of the civil service and the glamour that has been given to government positions cannot be sustained without acknowledging achievements in the other sectors. The need to incorporate health, politics and other fields into career paths will create room for young individuals without the pressure of having to follow a particular career path.
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