Five attempts too many? Ex-IPS officer's ‘wasting youth' comment on UPSC topper Shakti Dubey sparks aspirants' debate
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
From Celebration to Controversy in Seconds
Is the UPSC Marathon Robbing Youth of Their Prime?
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
The Road to Rank One: Tribute to Tenacity
When Shakti Dubey clinched the coveted Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 , the country erupted in applause. Yet amid the jubilation came a seismic jolt: a former IPS officer's blunt critique of Dubey's six‑year journey—and five attempts—through the grueling preparation cycle. His comments have thrown the spotlight on whether India's premier exam is costing its brightest minds their youth.As news portals and social feeds buzzed with praise for Dubey—whose Political Science and International Relations optional brought her to the summit—Yashovardhan Jha Azad, once an IPS officer himself, seized the moment on social media. 'Congratulations to Shikha Dubey, ranking first in UPSC result,' he began on X (formerly Twitter), 'But five attempts means six years of toil—the best years of youth gone in coaching?'Azad's message did more than question Dubey's personal sacrifice. It painted a broader picture of a system in which half a million aspirants chase a handful of vacancies year after year, often investing vast sums in coaching institutes. 'This obsession with UPSC is costing the nation huge,' he wrote, 'Employing our youth wrongly for five to six years. Coaching institutes are laughing all the way to the bank.'At the heart of Azad's argument lies a provocative proposal: cap attempts at two and lower the age ceiling to 25. By his reckoning, this would force an earlier specialization—allowing unsuccessful candidates to pivot into other careers rather than lingering in endless exam cycles.Critics were quick to catch fire. One commentator warned that stricter limits would penalize those from humble backgrounds who rely on time and perseverance to level the playing field. Another pointed out that the true beneficiaries of repeated attempts are not the candidates but the coaching industry itself—while successful officers emerge underprepared in leadership and common sense.Regardless of the controversy, Dubey's success story is undeniably inspirational. Over six years of rigorous study and repeated mains, she shattered stereotypes and climbed to the very top of India's most competitive exam. Her achievement is mirrored by the Commission's broader efforts toward inclusivity: among the 1,009 recommended candidates, representation spans General, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories.Behind her victory lies the closing chapter of UPSC 2024: the interview round. Conducted for 2,845 candidates and wrapped in April, it distilled aspirations into 1,132 appointments across IAS, IPS, and other premier services. For Dubey and her peers, it was the final hurdle in a marathon that Azad—and many others—now argue might need drastic reform.As debate rages, one thing is certain: India's obsession with UPSC—the allure, the agony, the academy-driven coaching culture—has once again taken center stage. Will policymakers heed calls for age and attempt restrictions? Or will they find other ways to preserve both the integrity of the exam and the prime years of its aspirants?For now, Shakti Dubey's triumph and Yashovardhan Azad's stark question linger together, challenging the nation to balance excellence with empathy—and to decide whether the cost of greatness should be measured in lost youth.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Red rebel turns blue warrior
JHARKHAND : They say, true revolution stems from necessity, and a strong sense of justice. Om Prakash Sahu's decision to exit the Maoist organisation came out of the realisation that they were being exploited by the top leaders, which paved the way for a small revolution among fellow ex-Maoists, who joined together to form a fish farming community in Gumla, Jharkhand. 'It was danger at every step when I left the organisation. Several attempts were made to kill me, but I survived each of them and fought on, with a group of 18-20 people. About 8-10 of my supporters got killed by the Maoists, but I did not lose hope and moved on with my stone crusher business. The government later banned the stone crusher business in 2017, which left me unemployed' said Om Prakash Sahu. 'During this phase, my friend Jyoti Lakra, already a fish farmer, encouraged me to take up fish farming,' said Sahu. More than 200 families of the Basia Block of Gumla are indebted to Sahu for helping them with a livelihood. 'More than 150 ex-Maoists are directly or indirectly engaged with me in fish farming' said Sahu. Locals asserted that he wore his life on his sleeves and helped drag out Maoists from the region, which brought peace to the region. 'The training given by the fisheries department proved to be a turning point in my life,' said Sahu. Later, in 2024, he received assistance under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for six ponds with advanced Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) technology Ishwar Gope, 42, an ex-Maoist and friend of Sahu, now harvests eight quintals of fish worth `2,50,000 annually from a government pond. Likewise, Lakhan Singh, 51, had been doing fish farming traditionally in his own pond, but after meeting Sahu, started doing it in an organised way in the five ponds he owns and is making a good profit. Singh returned home after several years as a daily wage labourer, due to Sahu's efforts- he had to leave more than 150 acres of ancestral land when Maoist menace hit peak.
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Jaipur Diary: Rajiv Sharma takes charge as Rajasthan top cop
Rajiv Sharma takes charge as Raj top cop Rajasthan finally has a new top cop! 1990-batch IPS officer Rajiv Sharma has been appointed as the state's Director General of Police (DGP) and has officially taken charge at the Police HQ. Though three names were shortlisted, Sharma was always the frontrunner. The state government even recalled him from central deputation — and word is, his OBC background played a key role in sealing the deal. Now, with Sharma in the hot seat, talk of a major police reshuffle is heating up. The transfer list could drop any day, keeping senior officers on their toes! Shekhawat vs Gehlot gets close & personal The old rivalry between Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has flared up again, and it's anything but polite. During a fiery visit to his hometown, Shekhawat launched a scathing attack on Gehlot over the infamous Sanjivani scam — but it wasn't just political anymore. Shekhawat accused Gehlot of crossing all limits by dragging his late mother into the controversy, calling the remarks 'unpardonable' and 'deeply personal.' And here's the kicker — when asked if he'd consider withdrawing the defamation suit against Gehlot, Shekhawat's answer was a flat 'No compromise.' 'Political eviction' turns X into battleground MP Hanuman Beniwal and his party leaders have been slapped with notices to vacate their government bungalows and MLA quarters — and the deadline is ticking: July 11. But this isn't just routine eviction, it's turned into a full-blown digital drama! To spice it up even more, reports say Beniwal's electricity connection at the residence has been cut — and now it's not just about bungalows, it's about bruised egos and political payback. The moment the notice dropped, Beniwal's supporters lit up X with fiery hashtags demanding CM Bhajanlal Sharma's ouster. Bhajanlal camp fired back, turning the timeline into a battleground. Insiders suggest, BJP and Congress leaders who've long had issues with Beniwal are quietly toasting this move. Rajesh Asnani Our correspondent in Jaipur
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
ADGP's advisory to keep women police officers off security duty kicks up row
Chennai: Activists and women professionals slammed additional director-general of police (law and order) S Davidson Devasirvatham's recent advisory to not deploy women officers for security duty. While they said it was discriminatory, the state police issued a clarification on Saturday saying the instructions were meant to speed up the investigation of Pocso cases and not to discriminate against women officers. A joint statement signed by 43 women professionals from different walks of life, including retired IPS officer Thilagavathi and advocate Sudha Ramalingam, condemned the ADGP's advisory and called it discriminatory in nature and urged its retraction. On June 30, while addressing an internal meeting, ADGP Devasirvatham instructed his subordinate officials not to deploy women officers for security duties of importance and, instead, asked them to assess how many women police personnel, armed reserve personnel, and special police teams would be required in security duty well in advance. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Activists took objection to the advisory, saying that providing security is a paramount duty of police and depriving women officers of the command job is discrimination. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "The state has seen woman DGP Letika Saran leading the entire police force," said advocate Sudha Ramalingam. "Women cannot be discriminated against and cannot be denied opportunities or assignments merely on the basis of gender. Women are now increasingly occupying positions in armed forces and have proved their mettle. In this light, the advice issued by the ADGP stands against constitutional values," said the statement. On Saturday, the state police clarified that the ADGP's advice was to address critical requirement to prioritise probe and prosecution of cases under Pocso Act and other crimes against women and children. "As per legal provisions, it is mandatory to file final reports in Pocso cases within 60 days. The pendency in such cases requires immediate attention and keeping this in mind, such advice was given not to excessively draw women police personnel for bandobust duties. The primary objective of this instruction was to ensure that women police personnel, who play an indispensable role in recording statements and investigating the sensitive cases of crimes against women and children, are not diverted unnecessarily," said a note from DGP office. The note also clarified that women police personnel will continue to be used for bandobust wherever necessary.
