The UPSC Civil Services Examination is often called the “mother of all exams” in India. Its reputation is legendary: the gateway to becoming a powerful IAS, IPS, or IRS officer, enjoying a sprawling bungalow, official cars with flashing lights, multiple staff, and a position that commands respect from society and politicians alike. It is easy to see why lakhs of young Indians dream of clearing it. But behind this glittering image lies a brutally different reality, one that is rarely shown on motivational videos or in inspiring success stories.
This is the story of how an exam that attracts millions has become a trap for countless aspirants. It is about the lies, the scams, the false dreams, and the crushing consequences of chasing a goal that only a tiny fraction will ever achieve.
The Glamorized Dream of the IAS Life:
When most people think of UPSC, they imagine a fairytale transformation. A common man becomes a king-like figure overnight: living in a ten-acre bungalow, getting calls from ministers, riding in government vehicles, and enjoying unquestioned authority. Social media feeds this dream every day with headlines like, “Farmer’s son becomes IAS,” or “21-year-old clears UPSC on first attempt.”
There are web series, YouTube interviews, and reels dedicated to glorifying toppers. Some even present dramatic stories of a 10th-grade failure becoming a UPSC topper, sending the message that “if they can do it, so can you.” It creates the illusion that hard work guarantees success and that anyone can clear UPSC if they are determined enough.
The result? Every fourth young person in India starts to dream about becoming an IAS officer, believing the process is fair, noble, and within reach. But like most dreams sold by social media, the truth is far more complex and far less glamorous.
The Harsh Reality Behind the Hype:
The truth is devastating. Every year, around 12–13 lakh people apply for UPSC, but there are only about 900–1,000 seats. That’s a selection rate of less than 0.1%. Even among those who clear the exam, not all get IAS or IPS posts; only about 340 appointments are made for these coveted services each year.
For the remaining 99.9%, the years spent in preparation are often the prime years of their lives end in failure. Aspirants invest years studying 10–12 hours a day, often in cramped 6×6-foot rooms, eating unhealthy food, and battling anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. Many are cut off from friends, delay marriages, and live in constant uncertainty.
And yet, every year, more people join the race, believing they will be among the chosen few. No one tells them that even highly intelligent, disciplined, and well-prepared candidates fail repeatedly, not because they lack ability, but because the odds are designed that way.
The Scams and Corruption Inside the System:
The UPSC is marketed as India’s most prestigious and honest exam, but recent incidents expose a darker side. Take the case of Apuwa Chaudhary, who allegedly used a fake “poor certificate” to get selected through reservation despite flaunting luxury items like a ₹45 lakh handbag on social media. Or Pooja Khedkar, whose family is worth over ₹100 crores, yet she declared zero income and produced a false disability certificate to secure a post.
These are not isolated cases. Fake certificates, misuse of quotas, and political influence have allowed the privileged to claim seats meant for the disadvantaged. Sometimes, candidates with powerful family backgrounds bypass rules entirely. And when such cases go viral, only a few individuals are caught; many more quietly enjoy their positions, having eaten away opportunities from genuinely deserving candidates.
The Endless Struggle of the Unselected:
For every celebrated topper, there are thousands like Keshav Nandan, who wasted 10 years attempting the exam without success. Today, he sells maps outside coaching centres to earn ₹300 a day—too ashamed to return home due to the taunts of relatives.
Others, like Pushpendra Srivastava, have attempted the prelims more than 70 times over decades without clearing the exam. Despite being bright university toppers, they remain trapped in an endless cycle of preparation, unable to quit because they have invested too much time and face the painful question, “What did you achieve?”
Some aspirants become so disconnected from normal life that even when they want to move on, they can’t. Years in small hostel rooms, an unstable income, and social pressure keep them stuck. Many lose their sense of identity outside of being a “UPSC aspirant.” This is not just an exam failure—it is a slow erosion of self-worth.
The Coaching Industry’s Dirty Secrets
If UPSC is the bait, then the coaching industry is the hook. Worth thousands of crores, this business thrives on selling dreams. Coaching centers charge fees of ₹1–2 lakhs per course, promote themselves with misleading ads, and claim toppers who never studied in their classrooms.
Mock interviews are used as marketing traps; any student who attends is later advertised as their “product” if they clear the exam, even if they only came for free practice sessions. Some institutes even claim toppers from years before they existed, shamelessly photoshopping them into their ads.
Their sales strategy is calculated:
- Fail the exam? Enroll in the “Agni batch” or “Rank Booster” program.
- Still fail? Join the “Premium Mentorship” package.
- Still not selected? Try the “Guaranteed Selection” course.
This upselling can stretch for years, draining lakhs from families already struggling financially. The irony? Many of the most successful candidates were self-learners or took minimal coaching, while thousands who paid for multiple expensive programs still failed.
The Psychological Toll on Aspirants
The emotional cost of repeated failure is often ignored. Continuous rejection in UPSC can trigger chronic stress, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Families, under financial strain, sometimes turn against the aspirant. Friends move ahead in life, getting jobs, marrying, building families, while the aspirant is stuck in the same room, facing the same books year after year.
For some, the guilt of having spent their parents’ savings without success becomes unbearable. In extreme cases, aspirants cut off from their family’s altogether to avoid shame. And society rarely offers empathy; failure is met with taunts, not understanding.
How the Government Benefits from the UPSC Craze
You might think the government would want to fix this mess. Instead, it quietly benefits. With lakhs of aspirants busy preparing, unemployment statistics look better. These people don’t count themselves as “jobless,” they’re “UPSC aspirants.” It’s a clever way to hide the reality of job scarcity while keeping youth distracted.
The Social Media Brainwashing
In the age of Instagram and YouTube, UPSC motivation is everywhere. Influencers pose as IAS officers, create fake success stories, and post dramatic “day in the life” videos. Some have never even attempted the exam but speak with authority to build their own fan base.
Motivational reels featuring celebrity quotes, cinematic music, and dramatic stories create a high that pushes students to invest yet another year. This emotional manipulation keeps the cycle alive.
The problem is that most of these influencers never talk about the failures. They don’t show the thousands who sell their books to pay rent, who work in low-paying jobs after years of study, or who live with lifelong regret. Success is marketed as common when in reality it’s a rare exception.
What Aspirants Must Understand
The UPSC is not a fairytale. It is a brutally competitive process with odds stacked against most candidates. Blindly investing years without a plan is not dedication—it is self-destruction.
If you are considering UPSC, you must:
- Set a strict time limit—1 to 3 years maximum.
- Always have a backup plan.
- Measure your growth after each attempt.
- Accept the possibility of failure and be mentally ready to move on.
Your worth is not defined by an exam result. The goal is to build a successful, stable life, whether or not UPSC is part of it. For 99.9% of aspirants, that life will have to come from outside the UPSC system.
Final Thoughts
The UPSC dream is not inherently wrong. Civil servants do play a crucial role in governance, and those who clear the exam after years of hard work deserve respect. But the way this dream is marketed—by coaching centres, influencers, and even the system itself—is misleading and dangerous.
For every officer enjoying the perks of the job, there are thousands whose lives have been derailed by the chase. They lose their time, money, and mental peace in an exam that, statistically, was never in their favour.
The truth is, you can study hard for years and still fail—not because you lacked effort, but because the system was never designed for everyone to succeed. And until we start talking about the failures as openly as we glorify the successes, the cycle will continue, year after year, claiming more lives in the name of a dream that only a few will ever live.
FAQs:
1. Why is the UPSC exam considered so difficult to clear?
The UPSC has an acceptance rate of less than 0.1%, with around 12–13 lakh applicants competing for only about 900–1,000 seats each year. Even fewer, roughly 340, secure top posts like IAS or IPS, making it one of the most competitive exams in the world.
2. How does the UPSC coaching industry exploit aspirants?
Coaching institutes often charge ₹1–2 lakhs per course, use misleading advertising, claim toppers who never studied with them, and upsell multiple “guaranteed selection” programs, trapping aspirants in a costly cycle that can last for years.
3. Are there cases of corruption in the UPSC selection process?
Yes. There have been instances of candidates using fake caste, income, or disability certificates, as well as political influence, to secure posts. These incidents reveal that the system is not always as transparent or merit-based as it appears.
4. What is the psychological impact of repeated UPSC failures?
Continuous failure can cause anxiety, depression, loss of self-worth, and social isolation. Many aspirants delay personal milestones, face family pressure, and struggle to reintegrate into normal life after years devoted solely to preparation.
5. What should an aspirant keep in mind before attempting UPSC?
It’s important to set a clear time limit (1–3 years), have a backup career plan, track your progress honestly, and be mentally prepared for failure. Success in life is not defined by UPSC results, and most aspirants will need to build a career outside the exam system.