UPSC Mains 2024 result out. IN or OUT?
Scrolling through over here I saw a discssion thread for every year but didn't find one for the next year.
So, this thread is dedicated to the discssions regarding CSE 2024. Anyone planning to appear for the exam next year can join the discussion.
Looking at the level of paper and kind of questions asked this year, I believe we are going to need a lot of support from each other. Hopefully this thread will grow and help a lot of aspirants, both old and new.
We can do it.
To all those who are in their higher attempts and have failed. I know a lot of you would not want to hear this. But I have a responsibility to say this
1. It's absolutely foolish to keep working hard mindlessly after an exam that is RANDOM. I am telling you, some of you may feel like it's a post failure rant. But I am speaking this from a sense of responsibility. Even those who get in don't know what worked and what didn't.
2. People like @tedmosby who are brilliant and hardworking may inspire you. But I hope you know that he doesn't have a single gap year and has successfully secured a job. He is just 26! I am so happy for him that he made smart choices. That's exactly how smart people hedge their risks.
3. Most of you have entered this field only because of the AURA and hawabaazi. Hence, just be mindful and speak to the young who are in service as to how their life is. Meaningful life is far important than external validations
4. What's the point? The point I am making is no coaching person will tell you to exit bluntly due to conflict of interest.
The point is create backups, make money and you can contribute to your and other's well being. Ethical wealth creation is the biggest service you can do to this nation.
5. If you get in by sacrificing your Twenties in a rut. Do you think it's worth it. The sunk costs of a brilliant candidate continuing into UPSC are far far far higher. Your life will be wonderful outside in other field.
Don't think that in UPSC exam, X effort translates into X result. However outside this randomness, you can be fairly sure of your effort being rewarded and recognised.
Eg: one of my friend who got into ISB (I have mentioned him earlier as he had failed the 2022 Mains and decided to discontinue UPSC) got a 33 lac placement this week. This shows how you're rewarded outside while the Randomness of UPSC may not reward your effort AT ALL.
6. 99% will still stay here and keep giving attempts mindlessly. That's fine. It's your choice. My aim is only to tell you the costs of it. If you accept them, then wonderful.
However to the rest 1% and all those who are brilliant ones who have full confidence in their abilities, don't let talent rot in ORN rooms. You WILL be rewarded outside. One can be 99% sure. But in UPSC, 99% failure is ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED.
It's going to be a gamble. A lot will STILL think that the hardwork will get rewarded somehow. Yes it will be. Your critical abilities, perspectives and ideas will shine. But don't think the UPSC process will reward you.
7. The ultimate message is: Take a backup. Do well and return back for attempts if you want. Don't sit and wait for UPSC to happen. Things will work for you even with a job if they have to.
When I was in my earlier attempts, I felt this is yet another loser ranting out of failure. A lot of people reading this will feel the same and the loop shall continue.
8. My responsibility is to make you aware of the risks. I inherently Will be rewarded from mentorship that I will offer in future. But that doesn't mean, we lie to young ones.
Hence be aware of the risks. 99% failure is GUARANTEED. If you decide to stay, make sure other aspects of life : Health, alternate income, Parents, travelling, friends, love life are not sacrificed for the sake of 99% of failure
9. Work like a Nishkama Karma Yogi and be a pragmatic pessimist (Like I was) so that failure doesn't push you into extreme depression.
I would say being aware that you MAY fail no matter how much hard you work put in an exam where failure is guaranteed is not pessimism but realism!
10. If anyone wants to know my answers, my Notes and my efforts, they are openly available on Youtube. I had recorded what I wrote the next day after GS 4 in my phone.
You can see my telegram channel for my notes.
11. Another final point is just because our luck didn't favour us doesn't mean it won't favour you. However it will always be randomness that will decide your fate. Again, If you're happy to accept it, wonderful! Go ahead.
12. UPSC addiction will continue to addict people till the next 10-15 years till the point that the people from our generation who chose private sector jobs will appear more successful in their 40s and 50s in terms of material wealth as avenues for corruption will starkly decline in coming years
To all the materialists out there : Be ready for the fact when you're posted in Gurgaon, your friend who nobody knows right now will drive a luxury car. And trust me nobody on the road is going to look at that Innova you sit in but it is going to be the Luxury car that will turn the heads. (Only Meant to deter the materialists, who may have wrong expectations from the IAS/IPS)
To all those who are wise : Prefer work life balance, lesser money (if need be) and your family /friends above fame/ambition. Chose to spend time only on things that drive you and help you find meaning in yourself.
The only reason one should enter this CSE exam is : To serve the nation, serve the people and make things better for others. Anything else may create troubles even if you enter the service !
13. Find a good mentor who can help you reach the "I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING ELSE BETTER" in the first few attempts itself. They won't only save your attempts but also your life. Right guidance is the MOST, MOST IMPORTANT thing in this preparation.
Wishing you Nothing but SUCCESS (Fulfilling my responsibility to let the young ones know some realities like many others who walked this path before me)
I needed to hear it.. I gave 5 attempts 3 mains and 1 interview.. now married and have a job under state PCS..but the circle was pulling me in to give 1 more attempt..but I feel I have lost all my 20s in it.. I'm 29 now. Thank you for saying this here.. UPSC shouldn't take the life out of us. I don't want to regret tht I didn't enjoy my life in this madness.
To all those who are in their higher attempts and have failed. I know a lot of you would not want to hear this. But I have a responsibility to say this
1. It's absolutely foolish to keep working hard mindlessly after an exam that is RANDOM. I am telling you, some of you may feel like it's a post failure rant. But I am speaking this from a sense of responsibility. Even those who get in don't know what worked and what didn't.
2. People like @tedmosby who are brilliant and hardworking may inspire you. But I hope you know that he doesn't have a single gap year and has successfully secured a job. He is just 26! I am so happy for him that he made smart choices. That's exactly how smart people hedge their risks.
3. Most of you have entered this field only because of the AURA and hawabaazi. Hence, just be mindful and speak to the young who are in service as to how their life is. Meaningful life is far important than external validations
4. What's the point? The point I am making is no coaching person will tell you to exit bluntly due to conflict of interest.
The point is create backups, make money and you can contribute to your and other's well being. Ethical wealth creation is the biggest service you can do to this nation.
5. If you get in by sacrificing your Twenties in a rut. Do you think it's worth it. The sunk costs of a brilliant candidate continuing into UPSC are far far far higher. Your life will be wonderful outside in other field.
Don't think that in UPSC exam, X effort translates into X result. However outside this randomness, you can be fairly sure of your effort being rewarded and recognised.
Eg: one of my friend who got into ISB (I have mentioned him earlier as he had failed the 2022 Mains and decided to discontinue UPSC) got a 33 lac placement this week. This shows how you're rewarded outside while the Randomness of UPSC may not reward your effort AT ALL.
6. 99% will still stay here and keep giving attempts mindlessly. That's fine. It's your choice. My aim is only to tell you the costs of it. If you accept them, then wonderful.
However to the rest 1% and all those who are brilliant ones who have full confidence in their abilities, don't let talent rot in ORN rooms. You WILL be rewarded outside. One can be 99% sure. But in UPSC, 99% failure is ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED.
It's going to be a gamble. A lot will STILL think that the hardwork will get rewarded somehow. Yes it will be. Your critical abilities, perspectives and ideas will shine. But don't think the UPSC process will reward you.
7. The ultimate message is: Take a backup. Do well and return back for attempts if you want. Don't sit and wait for UPSC to happen. Things will work for you even with a job if they have to.
When I was in my earlier attempts, I felt this is yet another loser ranting out of failure. A lot of people reading this will feel the same and the loop shall continue.
8. My responsibility is to make you aware of the risks. I inherently Will be rewarded from mentorship that I will offer in future. But that doesn't mean, we lie to young ones.
Hence be aware of the risks. 99% failure is GUARANTEED. If you decide to stay, make sure other aspects of life : Health, alternate income, Parents, travelling, friends, love life are not sacrificed for the sake of 99% of failure
9. Work like a Nishkama Karma Yogi and be a pragmatic pessimist (Like I was) so that failure doesn't push you into extreme depression.
I would say being aware that you MAY fail no matter how much hard you work put in an exam where failure is guaranteed is not pessimism but realism!
10. If anyone wants to know my answers, my Notes and my efforts, they are openly available on Youtube. I had recorded what I wrote the next day after GS 4 in my phone.
You can see my telegram channel for my notes.
11. Another final point is just because our luck didn't favour us doesn't mean it won't favour you. However it will always be randomness that will decide your fate. Again, If you're happy to accept it, wonderful! Go ahead.
12. UPSC addiction will continue to addict people till the next 10-15 years till the point that the people from our generation who chose private sector jobs will appear more successful in their 40s and 50s in terms of material wealth as avenues for corruption will starkly decline in coming years
To all the materialists out there : Be ready for the fact when you're posted in Gurgaon, your friend who nobody knows right now will drive a luxury car. And trust me nobody on the road is going to look at that Innova you sit in but it is going to be the Luxury car that will turn the heads. (Only Meant to deter the materialists, who may have wrong expectations from the IAS/IPS)
To all those who are wise : Prefer work life balance, lesser money (if need be) and your family /friends above fame/ambition. Chose to spend time only on things that drive you and help you find meaning in yourself.
The only reason one should enter this CSE exam is : To serve the nation, serve the people and make things better for others. Anything else may create troubles even if you enter the service !
13. Find a good mentor who can help you reach the "I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING ELSE BETTER" in the first few attempts itself. They won't only save your attempts but also your life. Right guidance is the MOST, MOST IMPORTANT thing in this preparation.
Wishing you Nothing but SUCCESS (Fulfilling my responsibility to let the young ones know some realities like many others who walked this path before me)
Hello Gaitonde ji, thank you for penning your thoughts - they are very insightful. I am sure you'll do well in any and all future endeavors, at least those where element of luck is much smaller.
Is there any way to reach out to you on Telegram? You mentioned TG channel, what is the name/link?
noob hu
Siebzehn,Hello Gaitonde ji, thank you for penning your thoughts - they are very insightful. I am sure you'll do well in any and all future endeavors, at least those where element of luck is much smaller.
Is there any way to reach out to you on Telegram? You mentioned TG channel, what is the name/link?
I have texted you in Personal. Since sharing TG link is against community guidelines
The following is the YouTube channel :
https://youtube.com/@mahirupsc
Gaitonde’s Den: https://forumias.com/post/detail/Gaitondes-Den-1727638216
Siebzehn,gaulsoodmanHello Gaitonde ji, thank you for penning your thoughts - they are very insightful. I am sure you'll do well in any and all future endeavors, at least those where element of luck is much smaller.
Is there any way to reach out to you on Telegram? You mentioned TG channel, what is the name/link?I have texted you in Personal. Since sharing TG link is against community guidelines
The following is the YouTube channel :
https://youtube.com/@mahirupsc
Thank you!
noob hu
Siebzehn,
rdsoum777,Siebzehn
To all those who are in their higher attempts and have failed. I know a lot of you would not want to hear this. But I have a responsibility to say this
1. It's absolutely foolish to keep working hard mindlessly after an exam that is RANDOM. I am telling you, some of you may feel like it's a post failure rant. But I am speaking this from a sense of responsibility. Even those who get in don't know what worked and what didn't.
2. People like @tedmosby who are brilliant and hardworking may inspire you. But I hope you know that he doesn't have a single gap year and has successfully secured a job. He is just 26! I am so happy for him that he made smart choices. That's exactly how smart people hedge their risks.
3. Most of you have entered this field only because of the AURA and hawabaazi. Hence, just be mindful and speak to the young who are in service as to how their life is. Meaningful life is far important than external validations
4. What's the point? The point I am making is no coaching person will tell you to exit bluntly due to conflict of interest.
The point is create backups, make money and you can contribute to your and other's well being. Ethical wealth creation is the biggest service you can do to this nation.
5. If you get in by sacrificing your Twenties in a rut. Do you think it's worth it. The sunk costs of a brilliant candidate continuing into UPSC are far far far higher. Your life will be wonderful outside in other field.
Don't think that in UPSC exam, X effort translates into X result. However outside this randomness, you can be fairly sure of your effort being rewarded and recognised.
Eg: one of my friend who got into ISB (I have mentioned him earlier as he had failed the 2022 Mains and decided to discontinue UPSC) got a 33 lac placement this week. This shows how you're rewarded outside while the Randomness of UPSC may not reward your effort AT ALL.
6. 99% will still stay here and keep giving attempts mindlessly. That's fine. It's your choice. My aim is only to tell you the costs of it. If you accept them, then wonderful.
However to the rest 1% and all those who are brilliant ones who have full confidence in their abilities, don't let talent rot in ORN rooms. You WILL be rewarded outside. One can be 99% sure. But in UPSC, 99% failure is ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED.
It's going to be a gamble. A lot will STILL think that the hardwork will get rewarded somehow. Yes it will be. Your critical abilities, perspectives and ideas will shine. But don't think the UPSC process will reward you.
7. The ultimate message is: Take a backup. Do well and return back for attempts if you want. Don't sit and wait for UPSC to happen. Things will work for you even with a job if they have to.
When I was in my earlier attempts, I felt this is yet another loser ranting out of failure. A lot of people reading this will feel the same and the loop shall continue.
8. My responsibility is to make you aware of the risks. I inherently Will be rewarded from mentorship that I will offer in future. But that doesn't mean, we lie to young ones.
Hence be aware of the risks. 99% failure is GUARANTEED. If you decide to stay, make sure other aspects of life : Health, alternate income, Parents, travelling, friends, love life are not sacrificed for the sake of 99% of failure
9. Work like a Nishkama Karma Yogi and be a pragmatic pessimist (Like I was) so that failure doesn't push you into extreme depression.
I would say being aware that you MAY fail no matter how much hard you work put in an exam where failure is guaranteed is not pessimism but realism!
10. If anyone wants to know my answers, my Notes and my efforts, they are openly available on Youtube. I had recorded what I wrote the next day after GS 4 in my phone.
You can see my telegram channel for my notes.
11. Another final point is just because our luck didn't favour us doesn't mean it won't favour you. However it will always be randomness that will decide your fate. Again, If you're happy to accept it, wonderful! Go ahead.
12. UPSC addiction will continue to addict people till the next 10-15 years till the point that the people from our generation who chose private sector jobs will appear more successful in their 40s and 50s in terms of material wealth as avenues for corruption will starkly decline in coming years
To all the materialists out there : Be ready for the fact when you're posted in Gurgaon, your friend who nobody knows right now will drive a luxury car. And trust me nobody on the road is going to look at that Innova you sit in but it is going to be the Luxury car that will turn the heads. (Only Meant to deter the materialists, who may have wrong expectations from the IAS/IPS)
To all those who are wise : Prefer work life balance, lesser money (if need be) and your family /friends above fame/ambition. Chose to spend time only on things that drive you and help you find meaning in yourself.
The only reason one should enter this CSE exam is : To serve the nation, serve the people and make things better for others. Anything else may create troubles even if you enter the service !
13. Find a good mentor who can help you reach the "I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING ELSE BETTER" in the first few attempts itself. They won't only save your attempts but also your life. Right guidance is the MOST, MOST IMPORTANT thing in this preparation.
Wishing you Nothing but SUCCESS (Fulfilling my responsibility to let the young ones know some realities like many others who walked this path before me)
I needed to hear it.. I gave 5 attempts 3 mains and 1 interview.. now married and have a job under state PCS..but the circle was pulling me in to give 1 more attempt..but I feel I have lost all my 20s in it.. I'm 29 now. Thank you for saying this here.. UPSC shouldn't take the life out of us. I don't want to regret tht I didn't enjoy my life in this madness.
All the best Bhai :)
Gaitonde’s Den: https://forumias.com/post/detail/Gaitondes-Den-1727638216
After 5 years of engagement with the field of UPSC. I'm again faced with the reality of not clearing mains. Life has been hectic all these years but the silver lining is that now I can really work towards other endeavours in life. I don't really what I'm gonna do,it's all a bit fuzzy right now. There are days I feel like going back to my old job of guiding others in their prelims journey as that has been the only field I've been the best at. With this I'm gonna try to attempt state PCS as well.
Just ranting here but I'm realiaty I don't really know what I'm gonna do and what stocks.
I hope this message finds others like me in good health. Do take care of yourself guys.
🥂
Dosto, I am out. 5th attempt, 3rd Mains!
I did my best and I was so proud of the answers I wrote and the Interlinking I did in this Mains examination. My UPSC Journey will end here for I believe I did my best in this attempt and I couldn't have done any better.
No 6th attempt for me! Probably, I will turn into a teacher or maybe I will continue my legal journey as a lawyer ! I will have to take that call soon
This is something I wrote on my telegram channel. I hope that it gives strength to at least some of you or anyone who has faced failure :
"I have got so many of my friends who were crying for me even when I am not at all crying.
They are the reason I am smiling. They are the reason, I stand tall.This is what Life is. For me, you all, who have showered me with love, you guys are my success. I have earned all of you. And that's what matters to me ❤️My purpose of getting in the exam was to help people and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.One of my cousins passed away in 2018. It was at that moment, I contemplated the meaning of life. The only conclusion I could get was : Life in general is tough and there is a lot of pain around us. The only purpose or meaning, life could have was to be there for each other,hold each other's hands. And it is for this, I felt, the IAS was the best pathThe memoirs of officers showed me how satisfying a job could be when we could alleviate the pain of the most vulnerable amongst us, making the best use of the privileges the lord or life had offered us !It was never about ego or being a part of the entry reels. If I have even an iota of ability to make life better for others, whatever may be the means, I am successful.So, I don't feel failed. I feel successful because of the people around me. No pdf can take that away.If anyone who has ever failed can learn something from me, let it be this. To all young ones out there, Take this as a lesson/reminder of how a man called Deepank was standing tall in the very moment of extreme failure ! "Not a bechara or no need to feel sad for Gaitonde or anyone else who failed or even yourself. I am absolutely FINE and doing good ! There are enough avenues for one to grow in a growing India. UPSC is not LIFE. We are ! and We shall overcome !Wishing you all nothing but SUCCESS ❤️ Signing off for now !
Something is very wrong with UPSC. I don't even trust the sanctity of the commission. You write below average answers and get a rank (won't name any person). Checked copies are kept best hidden from the public. If questions can be raised over the so-called independent judiciary of the country how this can remain away from transparency. Not saying it is like state commissions but definitely has some loopholes. See Pooja Singhal case, many such other types of fraud are buried deep into the ground.
UPSC is a gamble. Everyone knows this. Period. But
the craze for government IAS IPS - 'Raja' wali jobs is not going to go away. We are still feudal in our mindset and governance is colonial. You earn a crore rupees per annum pay 35% tax, 28% GST still get nothing in return and have to bootlick that group B officer to get some license or something (who is of course richer than you).
People like you@GaneshGaitonde who really feel the pain of others fail to get in and someone who brags serving the people in mock interview makes crores of corrupt money - and don't even pay taxes for that. And where is our money going - for some Maa behen yojana - no offence.
I have no personal grudges from celebrity teachers but the way they motivate students to prepare for UPSC like Avadh Ojha at IITK said - dowry is only for IIT and IAS - are Raju jaa bina brake wali Fortuner dahej me de isko.
I feel if someone really wants to impact the lives of other either generate insane wealth and employment or contest elections, and most people have no spine to do these - including me!
I see lot of painful stories of failure, these stories are often not visible on youtube or insta but in your networks and often on this community
These days people have a backup plan for their partners too, benching a gen z slang used for this, then why not have a plan b for upsc. Even people with good business or jobs are creating parallel gigs then who is stopping the aspirant community to go and explore the big world out there.
Most people, both candidates and coaching gurus, dont have good understanding of the issues and ideas covered by UPSC syllabus. They themselves are "random" in gathering facts and information mindlessly. How many people can clearly write the implications of literal interpretation of rules by bureaucrats without being aware of this conceptual matter before exam?? Still people will blabber something nonsense and expect UPSC to give them marks because they have worked HARD? Who the hell cares about your hardwork?? UPSC CSE main exam is an intellectually challenging exercise. Half backed knowledge, superficial understanding, cramming random information won't be of any help.
Hello I have no intentions to target you and expecting you to take this seemingly sarcastic message in a constructive note
If you know what it really takes to be in IAS why have you not cleared it yet?
Can you please elaborate what approach should people follow?
GaneshGaitonde,SiebzehnI see lot of painful stories of failure, these stories are often not visible on youtube or insta but in your networks and often on this community
These days people have a backup plan for their partners too, benching a gen z slang used for this, then why not have a plan b for upsc. Even people with good business or jobs are creating parallel gigs then who is stopping the aspirant community to go and explore the big world out there.
I have always pushed people to have a backup. Smart people always hedge risks. Exceptions cannot become your ideal. Thankfully, I had done law as a cushion. Most of my friends readied their backups. Even Ishita had applied for CAT, GMAT etc. When Ishita secured Rank 1, I had requested her to speak about the need of backup and SHE DID. I remember Apala ditching the TISS interview only at the end moment. Otherwise, she would have gone ahead with TISS.
I would like to highlight the mentality that people have with respect to this exam and then understand why aspirants don’t take backups.
Recently I had a call with a boy from a village in Bihar. His economic situation was not that great. He scored 75% and was doing Pol Sci Hons from IGNOU. Now, his father is a govt teacher. In such a state, I pushed him to pursue skill based courses like Data science etc, pull his family up from poor economic state and then maybe give an attempt. He agreed to this because no matter what says: Majority of selected candidates belong to an elite class. The Percentage of people with poor English & academic backgrounds clearing this exam is very very very low.
I was happy that he understood this and that I had saved one gullible person from the trap of UPSC. I was happy that he would now uplift his family from distress instead of paying me or anyone else. But my happiness was short lived. Within 2 hours I received the following text from the student:
Hello sir
Thank you so much for your valuable insights about this exam . Thank you for exposing those eye opening stuffs. I appreciate it. I have no reason to disagree with you. In fact it was not just limited to me but my family too. Choosing the arena of upsc is solely my decision. I knew it's never gonna be easy ride for me. Still I choosed it. Tbh, I am neither influenced by anyone nor the hype around this exam. Rn, I just remembered a thing which you recently said on the ips incidence. Thus I feel if tomorrow I become an ias, our country will get an honest and non arrogant officer in contrast to status quo. After talking to you, I'm more serious towards this examination . I know me, my weakness, the demands of exam [ofcourse too little]. I'm ready to grind. I'm ready to improve myself everyday. I just don't want to pass this exam. I want to become into someone who'll be capable enough to claim it. I'll work the hardest, no matter what I won't give up now.
Now, the assumption this person is making is that I questioned his ability to work hard and NOT GIVE UP. All a senior in preparation can do is Smile at the naïveté. He failed to understand that I had not questioned his but the ability of the exam to appreciate one’s intellect and Hardwork. That he should rather focus on an area that would reward him for his Hardwork. That MANY selected candidates openly accept the randomness of the exam. Some have even called it the great Russian Roulette. That
The reality is people don’t want to see the reality. However, all of the wonderful souls reading this comment must understand that by reading this comment you have also ended your excuse that you may have given yourself 5 years down the line that: “ Oh NOBODY TOLD US THIS”. Somebody has ! Somebody would have already told you this.
Please understand why people don’t speak about the randomness:
1. Vested interest: I would rather call it practical because no student wants to be mentored by a teacher who tells them that this exam is a lottery.
2. Toppers don’t want to delegitimise an exam that has given them fame. If the exam is delegitimised, the topper gets delegitimised and I am sure, a huge section of students who don’t want to hear the reality will undoubtedly spew hate for SPREADING NEGATIVITY.
3. Failures don’t criticise the exam because of their own insecurities. They feel they’ll be bombarded with “Angoor khatte hai” comments. Thankfully some are shameless like me !
The reality is MOST aspirants are aware about the randomness. They hear and have live examples around them as well. Yet IT IS THE ADDICTION & HOPE of EK AUR ATTEMPT that trumps the rationale of 99% Guaranteed failure. Each aspirant gambles their youth when they take more than 2/3 attempts without backup. Sadly, We all know what happens when Yuddhisthira gambles !
Gaitonde’s Den: https://forumias.com/post/detail/Gaitondes-Den-1727638216
Siebzehn,TheNishkaamAspirantI see lot of painful stories of failure, these stories are often not visible on youtube or insta but in your networks and often on this community
These days people have a backup plan for their partners too, benching a gen z slang used for this, then why not have a plan b for upsc. Even people with good business or jobs are creating parallel gigs then who is stopping the aspirant community to go and explore the big world out there.
I have always pushed people to have a backup. Smart people always hedge risks. Exceptions cannot become your ideal. Thankfully, I had done law as a cushion. Most of my friends readied their backups. Even Ishita had applied for CAT, GMAT etc. When Ishita secured Rank 1, I had requested her to speak about the need of backup and SHE DID. I remember Apala ditching the TISS interview only at the end moment. Otherwise, she would have gone ahead with TISS.
I would like to highlight the mentality that people have with respect to this exam and then understand why aspirants don’t take backups.
Recently I had a call with a boy from a village in Bihar. His economic situation was not that great. He scored 75% and was doing Pol Sci Hons from IGNOU. Now, his father is a govt teacher. In such a state, I pushed him to pursue skill based courses like Data science etc, pull his family up from poor economic state and then maybe give an attempt. He agreed to this because no matter what says: Majority of selected candidates belong to an elite class. The Percentage of people with poor English & academic backgrounds clearing this exam is very very very low.
I was happy that he understood this and that I had saved one gullible person from the trap of UPSC. I was happy that he would now uplift his family from distress instead of paying me or anyone else. But my happiness was short lived. Within 2 hours I received the following text from the student:
Hello sir
Thank you so much for your valuable insights about this exam . Thank you for exposing those eye opening stuffs. I appreciate it. I have no reason to disagree with you. In fact it was not just limited to me but my family too. Choosing the arena of upsc is solely my decision. I knew it's never gonna be easy ride for me. Still I choosed it. Tbh, I am neither influenced by anyone nor the hype around this exam. Rn, I just remembered a thing which you recently said on the ips incidence. Thus I feel if tomorrow I become an ias, our country will get an honest and non arrogant officer in contrast to status quo. After talking to you, I'm more serious towards this examination . I know me, my weakness, the demands of exam [ofcourse too little]. I'm ready to grind. I'm ready to improve myself everyday. I just don't want to pass this exam. I want to become into someone who'll be capable enough to claim it. I'll work the hardest, no matter what I won't give up now.
Now, the assumption this person is making is that I questioned his ability to work hard and NOT GIVE UP. All a senior in preparation can do is Smile at the naïveté. He failed to understand that I had not questioned his but the ability of the exam to appreciate one’s intellect and Hardwork. That he should rather focus on an area that would reward him for his Hardwork. That MANY selected candidates openly accept the randomness of the exam. Some have even called it the great Russian Roulette. That
The reality is people don’t want to see the reality. However, all of the wonderful souls reading this comment must understand that by reading this comment you have also ended your excuse that you may have given yourself 5 years down the line that: “ Oh NOBODY TOLD US THIS”. Somebody has ! Somebody would have already told you this.
Please understand why people don’t speak about the randomness:
1. Vested interest: I would rather call it practical because no student wants to be mentored by a teacher who tells them that this exam is a lottery.
2. Toppers don’t want to delegitimise an exam that has given them fame. If the exam is delegitimised, the topper gets delegitimised and I am sure, a huge section of students who don’t want to hear the reality will undoubtedly spew hate for SPREADING NEGATIVITY.
3. Failures don’t criticise the exam because of their own insecurities. They feel they’ll be bombarded with “Angoor khatte hai” comments. Thankfully some are shameless like me !
The reality is MOST aspirants are aware about the randomness. They hear and have live examples around them as well. Yet IT IS THE ADDICTION & HOPE of EK AUR ATTEMPT that trumps the rationale of 99% Guaranteed failure. Each aspirant gambles their youth when they take more than 2/3 attempts without backup. Sadly, We all know what happens when Yuddhisthira’s gamble !
I recently talked to@Tata who said instead of having a plan B I believe in having plans A1, A2, A3, all equally desirable. If not succeeded in upsc then why not strive to become a multi millionaire or becoming a member of parliament
See 90% start ups fail but they have limited liability and their personal assets are safe consider Anil Ambani, except 1 all the candidates for a particular seat lose elections but the point is they have other things in life to do (mafia maybe wink)
Take risks but be ready to fail. Even failing 6 times in upsc. 20s is a time when you try 100 things failing at 90 and bang big success in life. And my dear friend what a tasty life that would be :)
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