Mains 2021 Result declared - In or Out?
So Mains 2021 has begun. Essay Paper is here
1. https://blog.forumias.com/upsc-ias-mains-2021-essay-question-paper/
2. GS Paper 1 : https://blog.forumias.com/download-upsc-ias-mains-2021-gs-1-question-paper
3. GS Paper 2 : https://blog.forumias.com/download-upsc-ias-mains-2021-gs-2-question-paper
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How was your paper? How did you approach the paper?
Hello to all.
I have been a beneficiary of this beautiful community, yet I have never been an active participant.
When I left my job in Dec 2018, I promised myself 2 attempts. Was fortunate to write mains in my 1st attempt. Gave myself a leeway of 3 attempts after I couldn’t clear prelims in 2nd attempt due to multiple reasons including severe post Covid symptoms. Now I have experience of 3 prelims, 2 mains and no interviews. I was not expecting anything from my 1st mains in 2019, as I was unprepared. But this time I was prepared to the best level.
Analysing my 2nd mains - I am fairly satisfied with my GS and Essay papers. Was able to attempt all within time, with average and good content. During 1st mains, writing 15 questions within 3 hrs was a challenge for me, this time, I completed the papers. This was due to extensive answer writing practice, both pre prelims and post prelims (Was part of MGP Cohort 4 and AWFG). Was fairly able to cover whole syllabus of GS due to notes prepared before prelims.
The only thing that has reduced my chances is my optional. Despite having notes compiled, solved PYQs, and multiple revisions, I could not ensure a good attempt (as per my expectations). Probably because science optional require much more revisions and applications. Learnt it the hard way. Will rectify it in my next attempt.
Have not lost all the hope, yet I do not want to keep all the eggs in just one basket. I had planned to get back to a full time job, irrespective of how my mains go in 2021 attempt. So here I am, after a full 10 days break of binge, travel and socialization, starting to look for a job. Also, after 3 years of full time preparation, I now understand that giving full time to UPSCfrom this point onwardsis not worth it. With multiple revisions already done, I think giving future attempts will be possible with a full time job (People with such experience can share their take on this). I have realized the importance of last month struggle at both prelims and mains stage.
I have written this to express my gratitude to all the members here.
Especially@Neyawn- I met you after my prelims, and your suggestions helped me prepare better.
@PurplesunbirdInteracting with you, helped me remain calmwith respect to optional. Thanks brother, and all the best for state pcs.
@Jammu@LetsGetThisBread@Celeborn@Steph_Curry- ypt group and constant 'wake-up' notifications helped me increase my efficiency on a daily basis.Thanks friends.
@PureheartThanks for collaborating with me on essay preparation, your insights were really helpful.
All the best for your job. Shaking people on YPT is a bit of a hobby XD
Railways are running at a heavy financial loss, one of the major reasons being inefficiency, which is inherent to public sector. Now, if we keep on employing people in public sector without any reforms or stream lining, how will ultimately the salaries and pensions of government employees be made? Govt will have to print money, simple! Which will make the whole system, the ultimate Ponzi scheme.
@KingSlayer23 Thinking of public sector as the chief employer is a problem. Such a situation will obviously lead to a pyramid scheme and finally will result in the 1990 like situation. Only a flourishing private sector, with a government functioning as neutral regulator and facilitator will bring economic growth.Railways are running at a heavy financial loss, one of the major reasons being inefficiency, which is inherent to public sector. Now, if we keep on employing people in public sector without any reforms or stream lining, how will ultimately the salaries and pensions of government employees be made? Govt will have to print money, simple! Which will make the whole system, the ultimate Ponzi scheme.
Well made point
Per Aspera
Ad Astra
@KingSlayer23 Thinking of public sector as the chief employer is a problem. Such a situation will obviously lead to a pyramid scheme and finally will result in the 1990 like situation. Only a flourishing private sector, with a government functioning as neutral regulator and facilitator will bring economic growth.Railways are running at a heavy financial loss, one of the major reasons being inefficiency, which is inherent to public sector. Now, if we keep on employing people in public sector without any reforms or stream lining, how will ultimately the salaries and pensions of government employees be made? Govt will have to print money, simple! Which will make the whole system, the ultimate Ponzi scheme.
Not all private sector companies are efficient and not all public sector is inefficient. The solution of privatisation is not so simple. In the absence of a large manufacturing industry that has the ability to absorb people that will be let go due to privatisation, these kind of scenarios will come up. So Government has to play the role of a major employer. There is no other way out.
@KingSlayer23 Thinking of public sector as the chief employer is a problem. Such a situation will obviously lead to a pyramid scheme and finally will result in the 1990 like situation. Only a flourishing private sector, with a government functioning as neutral regulator and facilitator will bring economic growth.Railways are running at a heavy financial loss, one of the major reasons being inefficiency, which is inherent to public sector. Now, if we keep on employing people in public sector without any reforms or stream lining, how will ultimately the salaries and pensions of government employees be made? Govt will have to print money, simple! Which will make the whole system, the ultimate Ponzi scheme.
The main problem is lack of performance based incentives and promotions. PSUs and government companies can compete with MNCs if they incorporate the best practices of private sector. In the current scenario, most people work hard for government/psu jobs so that they never have to work again and they actually never work again.
Lower the entry barrier like private sector and make entry level employees do the bulk of work. Entry level employees should reach top level and everyone should be recruited at the lowest level. Lateral entry may be allowed but only for exceptional cases.
I don't know bout others but i have always seen a clerk in SBI or nurse in government hospital give 100% and working a bit more than working hours. Never thought they wanted to earn money without working as above mentioned post try to convey.
Most of the psu or govt ills is because of management decisions or lack of quick decisions. The average employee is really a pawn. The places where govt decided to give autonomy many sectors worked really well, for eg ongc which was pretty profitable until 2019 when govt decided to transfer surplus capital to self which left ongc with no cash to invest, you can see where things are going now. The process of governance doesn't have integrity, as they just treat profit making psu as personal fief and impose decisions without any long term considerations.
But has privatisation worked in India? Private investment in media is a best example, what is the status of private media is for everyone to see. What about it sector??
There is a reason why Indians have high hopes in government sector jobs, because it has stability, despite salary being low and working condition not upto the mark. The big tragedy of our times is that none of us are skilled beyond rudimentary graduation level skills and many of us are hopelessly inflexible to learn new skills.
PS: unfortunately not the way an aspirant should be looking the problems but this is what I feel it is.
I don't know bout others but i have always seen a clerk in SBI or nurse in government hospital give 100% and working a bit more than working hours. Never thought they wanted to earn money without working as above mentioned post try to convey.
Most of the psu or govt ills is because of management decisions or lack of quick decisions. The average employee is really a pawn. The places where govt decided to give autonomy many sectors worked really well, for eg ongc which was pretty profitable until 2019 when govt decided to transfer surplus capital to self which left ongc with no cash to invest, you can see where things are going now. The process of governance doesn't have integrity, as they just treat profit making psu as personal fief and impose decisions without any long term considerations.
But has privatisation worked in India? Private investment in media is a best example, what is the status of private media is for everyone to see. What about it sector??
There is a reason why Indians have high hopes in government sector jobs, because it has stability, despite salary being low and working condition not upto the mark. The big tragedy of our times is that none of us are skilled beyond rudimentary graduation level skills and many of us are hopelessly inflexible to learn new skills.
PS: unfortunately not the way an aspirant should be looking the problems but this is what I feel it is.
Yeah. I don't understand this thought process where government service = bad and private service = good. People unnecessarily take a dump on SBI and other Public bank employees with the now infamous SBI employees and their lunch quips as if they have committed a crime by going for lunch in their designated lunch hours. People are quick to forget how these bank employees sacrificed their personal lives and worked overtime during demonetization. There are brazen examples of how states have failed due to privatisation like in the post Soviet countries and yet everything government is bad and everything private is good.
Another aspect is that India doesn't have a good social Security net and that is one of the reason government services are still in vogue. People have this misunderstanding that removing social Security from the government sector is a panacea which will usher in an era of stellar performances. They should on the other hand advocate for more social security on par with government services in private sector so that people have the incentive to join private sector. Who wants to spend their whole day languishing in a cut throat environment where a sword keeps hanging on their throat everytime and 1 single mistake is the difference between employment and unemployment?
I don't know bout others but i have always seen a clerk in SBI or nurse in government hospital give 100% and working a bit more than working hours. Never thought they wanted to earn money without working as above mentioned post try to convey.
Most of the psu or govt ills is because of management decisions or lack of quick decisions. The average employee is really a pawn. The places where govt decided to give autonomy many sectors worked really well, for eg ongc which was pretty profitable until 2019 when govt decided to transfer surplus capital to self which left ongc with no cash to invest, you can see where things are going now. The process of governance doesn't have integrity, as they just treat profit making psu as personal fief and impose decisions without any long term considerations.
But has privatisation worked in India? Private investment in media is a best example, what is the status of private media is for everyone to see. What about it sector??
There is a reason why Indians have high hopes in government sector jobs, because it has stability, despite salary being low and working condition not upto the mark. The big tragedy of our times is that none of us are skilled beyond rudimentary graduation level skills and many of us are hopelessly inflexible to learn new skills.
PS: unfortunately not the way an aspirant should be looking the problems but this is what I feel it is.
Yeah. I don't understand this thought process where government service = bad and private service = good. People unnecessarily take a dump on SBI and other Public bank employees with the now infamous SBI employees and their lunch quips as if they have committed a crime by going for lunch in their designated lunch hours. People are quick to forget how these bank employees sacrificed their personal lives and worked overtime during demonetization. There are brazen examples of how states have failed due to privatisation like in the post Soviet countries and yet everything government is bad and everything private is good.
Another aspect is that India doesn't have a good social Security net and that is one of the reason government services are still in vogue. People have this misunderstanding that removing social Security from the government sector is a panacea which will usher in an era of stellar performances. They should on the other hand advocate for more social security on par with government services in private sector so that people have the incentive to join private sector. Who wants to spend their whole day languishing in a cut throat environment where a sword keeps hanging on their throat everytime and 1 single mistake is the difference between employment and unemployment?
Wow you guys aren't even bureaucrats yet and still more bureaucratic than actual bureaucrats.
ONGC makes profits because it has an excellent incentive system. LIC has the best incentive system among all PSUs. SBI makes profits because is enjoys significant government patronage, has a somewhat weak but still existant incentive system and decent accountability. But still you have to give cuts to managers for loans.
PSUs that got some autonomy, used that autonomy to put in place a performance based incentives system.
Government departments and PSUs that don't have such systems or high degree of bureaucratic control run in loss or are not performing at all. People here do the bare minimum. I know this because all members of my squad work in different government departments.
We can have a prolonged debate and someone will say socioeconomic and other big words and I'll lose. So I'm not going to prolong this.
I will however urge those with common sense to look for empirical evidences. I have given some examples and I'm sure there are more. PSUs not bureaucratic department, over there it's socioeconomic again.
Last but not least maybe 5% of people are nice everywhere and they do their jobs sincerely but the rest require incentives.
Foxtrot,"There is a reason why Indians have high hopes in government sector jobs, because it has stability, despite salary being low and working condition not upto the mark"
I beg to differ from this. The reason why Indians (most) are obsessed with government job is because it is a quick and cheap way to make money. You go to a 'Peshkar' in court, he will ask you money to put a date. An Official selling stamp of Rs 50 will charge you Rs 100 in name of 'Chai Paani'. You want to clear some dues in 'treasury office', you will have to do it by greasing the wheel. This is the truth of government service where for getting a single signature of an official, one has to take care of associates.
@AureliusMRegarding social security net, I do agree to some extent. However, Private sector also has a good social security net. The informal economy is where we are big time lacking this. And about cut throat environment, it depends on work culture of company to company. The thing is the current system in government service is not upto the mark. And, if by paying more money or due to privatisation, one can get optimum service, many will want that. People who cant afford those, there comes the duty of government to make the service affordable without compromising the quality.
@KratosOfPUBGBhai, I have seen you making personal comments. Please put your thoughts by respecting others opinion. All of us here have 'common sense' and yes, we don't use 'socio-economic' everytime. :)
nerdslayer,
I don't know bout others but i have always seen a clerk in SBI or nurse in government hospital give 100% and working a bit more than working hours. Never thought they wanted to earn money without working as above mentioned post try to convey.
Most of the psu or govt ills is because of management decisions or lack of quick decisions. The average employee is really a pawn. The places where govt decided to give autonomy many sectors worked really well, for eg ongc which was pretty profitable until 2019 when govt decided to transfer surplus capital to self which left ongc with no cash to invest, you can see where things are going now. The process of governance doesn't have integrity, as they just treat profit making psu as personal fief and impose decisions without any long term considerations.
But has privatisation worked in India? Private investment in media is a best example, what is the status of private media is for everyone to see. What about it sector??
There is a reason why Indians have high hopes in government sector jobs, because it has stability, despite salary being low and working condition not upto the mark. The big tragedy of our times is that none of us are skilled beyond rudimentary graduation level skills and many of us are hopelessly inflexible to learn new skills.
PS: unfortunately not the way an aspirant should be looking the problems but this is what I feel it is.
It is welcoming that ur experience with governemnt staffs is better. However, my experience with them is just reverse. I find SBI clerks to be of elitist attitude. They will get angry over simple query. Registered complain against them. No action
Opened account in kotak bank. Once they replied rudely. I complained. Next day manager was at my home asking for my grievances.
brownianMotion,fakirgyan"There is a reason why Indians have high hopes in government sector jobs, because it has stability, despite salary being low and working condition not upto the mark"
I beg to differ from this. The reason why Indians (most) are obsessed with government job is because it is a quick and cheap way to make money. You go to a 'Peshkar' in court, he will ask you money to put a date. An Official selling stamp of Rs 50 will charge you Rs 100 in name of 'Chai Paani'. You want to clear some dues in 'treasury office', you will have to do it by greasing the wheel. This is the truth of government service where for getting a single signature of an official, one has to take care of associates.
@AureliusMRegarding social security net, I do agree to some extent. However, Private sector also has a good social security net. The informal economy is where we are big time lacking this. And about cut throat environment, it depends on work culture of company to company. The thing is the current system in government service is not upto the mark. And, if by paying more money or due to privatisation, one can get optimum service, many will want that. People who cant afford those, there comes the duty of government to make the service affordable without compromising the quality.
@KratosOfPUBGBhai, I have seen you making personal comments. Please put your thoughts by respecting others opinion. All of us here have 'common sense' and yes, we don't use 'socio-economic' everytime. :)
The argument of cheap and quick money does not hold ground. Lakhs of students apply for post of teacher where extra source of income is almost nil. (Those who r not headmaster)
The main reason is higher pay for lower skill atleast at lower levels. For instance a driver in open market can get maximum12 k to 15k. But in public sector it may go upto 35 to 40k with many additional benefits.
sjerngal,All the so-called "efficient" PSUs have either captive markets, or some kind of monopoly/previleged access to resources. This way, anybody and anything can be profitable, as long as there's demand.
"I know many public sector clerks who are hardworking, but they are failed by their bosses" is a self goal, as an argument.
Someone mentioned failure of post Soviet countries due to privatisation. Well, the history books say something different. It was the earlier communist honchos who ended up running these businesses. The "connections" didn't 'wither away' like the communist party. In short, the earlier system continued under the garb of "privatisation". That's not what you mean by competitive market. That's why the government has to ensure a level playing field and proper competition. Whichever countries that have succeeded in the modern world in a sustainable way, this is the major factor if you see.
Social security is no longer an aspect for choosing public sector jobs, after the 2006 NPS trouble. It's contributory pension now. What's the difference with private sector there?
Someone said, the lower level workers are hard working, but the higher level people don't make decisions quick. Well, you've explained the phrase "bureaucratic" here, my friend. Nobody wants to take a decision, because anyways you will get fixed salary, then why change things and risk trouble later? Simply walk along the age old path, that's the safest thing in bureaucracy.
There's a story about the new collector. When he joined office, saw that there's a watchman guarding the green bench on the lawn. He saw it for the next two days too, and became curious. He asked the guard, why he is standing there and why nobody sits there. He innocently answered, "I don't know sir, this is my job. The guy before me also had the same job". So the collector called the guard before him. He also said the same answer. The curious collector disentangled the whole thing and finally got to know that some collector decades ago asked the bench to be painted and asked the guard to watch over it (so that nobody sits on wet paint). He got a sudden transfer and the "ritual" continued. An exaggerated story, but pretty much sums up bureaucracy.
Good point of people applying for teacher where extra income is almost 'nil'.The argument of cheap and quick money does not hold ground. Lakhs of students apply for post of teacher where extra source of income is almost nil. (Those who r not headmaster)
The main reason is higher pay for lower skill atleast at lower levels. For instance a driver in open market can get maximum12 k to 15k. But in public sector it may go upto 35 to 40k with many additional benefits.
People have suffered enough from hands of babus. So, they themselves want to become babus and do the same. This is the sad truth :(
I have seen people asking not the expected salary for the post applied rather how much 'upper waala income' one can get from that service. Be it for peon, driver, clerk or teacher.
Philip_Marlowe,Good point of people applying for teacher where extra income is almost 'nil'.The argument of cheap and quick money does not hold ground. Lakhs of students apply for post of teacher where extra source of income is almost nil. (Those who r not headmaster)
The main reason is higher pay for lower skill atleast at lower levels. For instance a driver in open market can get maximum12 k to 15k. But in public sector it may go upto 35 to 40k with many additional benefits.
In answer to this, I would like to highlight the issue of poor status of government schools. Even if the teacher is not earning extra, many of them are just there for passing time and chilling instead of providing education to kids. I consider this as a way of making cheap money. Because, without doing anything and being absent for long period, you are still getting full salary.Plus, there is a lot of quid pro quo among headmasters and teachers in school admissions, mid day meal, money for purchasing clothes etc.
People have suffered enough from hands of babus. So, they themselves want to become babus and do the same. This is the sad truth :(
I have seen people asking not the expected salary for the post applied rather how much 'upper waala income' one can get from that service. Be it for peon, driver, clerk or teacher.
Please dont make extrapolation regarding out incomes. By that logic if someone feels happy at job then his salary should be reduced as happiness can be considered as extra income only. By your logic if salary of teachers is reduced to 5k per month with no additional support still lakhs will apply for that post as it allows chit chat (out income).
Reagrding MDM n other scams: black money remain limited to headmaster n his associates. Very few cabdidates think of such things while applying for teachers job.
Peopel r dying for job of government teacher because it allows people with poor skill to get good salary. For same skill they may get salary of less than 10 k in open market but 40k in govt. I hv never seen highly skilled teachers @ reputed private schools (good salary) applying for govt. teachers post.(* experience related to bihar governments decision to give teachers job to trained candidates.)
Good point of people applying for teacher where extra income is almost 'nil'.The argument of cheap and quick money does not hold ground. Lakhs of students apply for post of teacher where extra source of income is almost nil. (Those who r not headmaster)
The main reason is higher pay for lower skill atleast at lower levels. For instance a driver in open market can get maximum12 k to 15k. But in public sector it may go upto 35 to 40k with many additional benefits.
In answer to this, I would like to highlight the issue of poor status of government schools. Even if the teacher is not earning extra, many of them are just there for passing time and chilling instead of providing education to kids. I consider this as a way of making cheap money. Because, without doing anything and being absent for long period, you are still getting full salary.Plus, there is a lot of quid pro quo among headmasters and teachers in school admissions, mid day meal, money for purchasing clothes etc.
People have suffered enough from hands of babus. So, they themselves want to become babus and do the same. This is the sad truth :(
I have seen people asking not the expected salary for the post applied rather how much 'upper waala income' one can get from that service. Be it for peon, driver, clerk or teacher.
Generalization of teachers is not good. I have seen teachers in government schools working very diligently whatever duties are assigned to them. They are burdened with examination duties, election duties, even census works are carried on by them. The success of major government programs like MDM etc are due to the exemplary work done by thousands of teachers out there.
On the other hand there were also teachers in my private school who just came to class, read the chapters, whiled away their time, picked up their salaries and went happily to their homes. There are people like this on both sides - Government as well as private. The thing is we should not put everyone under the same blanket.
brownianMotion,RaGa
Ok bro. Maybe I was wrong.Please dont make extrapolation regarding out incomes. By that logic if someone feels happy at job then his salary should be reduced as happiness can be considered as extra income only. By your logic if salary of teachers is reduced to 5k per month with no additional support still lakhs will apply for that post as it allows chit chat (out income).
Reagrding MDM n other scams: black money remain limited to headmaster n his associates. Very few cabdidates think of such things while applying for teachers job.
Peopel r dying for job of government teacher because it allows people with poor skill to get good salary. For same skill they may get salary of less than 10 k in open market but 40k in govt. I hv never seen highly skilled teachers @ reputed private schools (good salary) applying for govt. teachers post.(* experience related to bihar governments decision to give teachers job to trained candidates.)
I'm sorry about the personal shots. I just got frustrated watching people defend a system which has failed across space and time and oppose a system which has succeeded across space and time.
I've personally seen people do the bare minimum in their jobs. I've personally pretended to be overworked and overburdened with work. Learned this trick from other seniors. Performance based promotions and incentives, if implemented can propel our country towards prosperity as it has done for every single developed country today. It's the single most important thing needed for development. You need to put in place a system that makes sure everyone is doing their jobs well and giving it their full attention. Otherwise people will play pubg at government salary.
Socioeconomic is a great argument. You should use it twice in each paper to ensure you don't overdo it, but still make clear which side you're on.
My point was not to generalize anyone or anything. I respect all professions and teachers most.Good point of people applying for teacher where extra income is almost 'nil'.The argument of cheap and quick money does not hold ground. Lakhs of students apply for post of teacher where extra source of income is almost nil. (Those who r not headmaster)
The main reason is higher pay for lower skill atleast at lower levels. For instance a driver in open market can get maximum12 k to 15k. But in public sector it may go upto 35 to 40k with many additional benefits.
In answer to this, I would like to highlight the issue of poor status of government schools. Even if the teacher is not earning extra, many of them are just there for passing time and chilling instead of providing education to kids. I consider this as a way of making cheap money. Because, without doing anything and being absent for long period, you are still getting full salary.Plus, there is a lot of quid pro quo among headmasters and teachers in school admissions, mid day meal, money for purchasing clothes etc.
People have suffered enough from hands of babus. So, they themselves want to become babus and do the same. This is the sad truth :(
I have seen people asking not the expected salary for the post applied rather how much 'upper waala income' one can get from that service. Be it for peon, driver, clerk or teacher.
Generalization of teachers is not good. I have seen teachers in government schools working very diligently whatever duties are assigned to them. They are burdened with examination duties, election duties, even census works are carried on by them. The success of major government programs like MDM etc are due to the exemplary work done by thousands of teachers out there.
On the other hand there were also teachers in my private school who just came to class, read the chapters, whiled away their time, picked up their salaries and went happily to their homes. There are people like this on both sides - Government as well as private. The thing is we should not put everyone under the same blanket.
» show previous quotesMy point was not to generalize anyone or anything. I respect all professions and teachers most.I wanted to point out inherent inefficiency in government services everywhere, be it in Judiciary, Offices etc. Teacher point was selectively put to counter my argument.
Got it. But what exactly is inefficiency? Is it lack of profit?
RaGa,
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