IAS officer Neha Byadwal's 3-year no-phone UPSC prep sparked viral backlash, with netizens calling it a ‘toxic cult'
A viral online debate has erupted after IAS officer Neha Byadwal's UPSC prep strategy, 'going three years without using a mobile phone,' went viral on social media. Critics argue that such extreme isolation reflects a flawed UPSC prep model that values rote learning over real-world understanding.
A viral post labelled this approach as part of a 'UPSC prep cult,' accusing it of producing bureaucrats disconnected from the people they serve. While many defended her discipline, others questioned the relevance of the current UPSC preparation system, reigniting calls for reform in how India trains and selects its future civil servants.
Neha Byadwal's no-phone UPSC prep sparks backlash
IAS officer Neha Byadwal's UPSC prep strategy to go without a mobile phone for three years has gone viral.
The user's viral post, viewed over 9 lakh times on X (formerly Twitter), labeled the approach as part of a 'UPSC prep cult' that fosters isolation and rote learning. The post argued that such intense preparation methods produce IAS officers who are academically strong but disconnected from real-world India. This sparked a larger debate on whether the current UPSC preparation model is outdated and in need of reform to align with modern governance needs.
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The debate gained traction after the viral post on X (formerly Twitter). The user called the UPSC's aggressive study culture a risky "cult" that churns out civil servants who are not connected to actual India. This UPSC prep cult must be broken and destroyed. Total sociopaths with no conception of how India functions beyond their 24x7 rote study space become in charge of the people," the post stated.
The tweet has since been viewed more than 9 lakh times, setting off a heated debate regarding whether the UPSC prep model is still relevant and what bureaucrats of the future should expect.
Three years without a mobile: Neha Byadwal's
UPSC strategy
draws mixed reactions
The most provocative aspect of Neha Byadwal's routine was her choosing not to own a mobile phone at all for three years. To some, this might seem worthy, but others were curious about how one could afford to remain so disconnected in the present digitally oriented world. "Bureaucracy har cheez ke liye OTP maangti hai… Imagine the privilege of not requiring a mobile phone for 3 years in today's world," the critic further commented.
The user also addressed accusations of being jealous, saying: 'People saying I'm targeting the girl coz I'm jealous: No bro. I'm just a girl standing in front of you, wanting ROI for my tax money.'
UPSC preparation model faces backlash for lack of real-world exposure
Various users carried the criticism further to the overall administrative hierarchy, stating that most IAS officers are chosen on the basis of their academic achievements but do not have actual world or field exposure. Critics also cited that these officers end up being taught by coaching material instead of learning how governance really functions.
"What will an IAS know about electricity when he is appointed MD of a board? Likewise, what will a babu know when he is the chief of the directorate general of shipping or aviation?" questioned one user.
One user noted that this problem is not specific to bureaucrats:
"Why only UPSC? It infects our engineers (IIT/Kota factories), CAs and everyone else too.
The subtext in these comments is a request for changes in the way professionals and administrators get chosen and trained in India.
Source: Instagram
Neha Byadwal's UPSC prep strategy also sparks praise for commitment and focus
Apart from the above-mentioned, there were people who stood up for Neha Byadwal and the UPSC preparation process. Some asked critics to remember the huge pressure and competition behind cracking one of the world's most challenging exams.
"Easy said than done, crack this exam and then listen to you," one replied. Someone else replied sarcastically to the proposal of breaking UPSC culture:
"And, put whom in charge, influencers?"
Others also maintained that not being on the phone did not imply not being informed.
They pointed out that candidates such as Neha probably remained current with newspapers and magazines for current affairs. "She did not use her phone, but for news of the day, she must be reading the paper to know what is going on and how India functions," one supporter noted.
Who is IAS officer Neha Byadwal
Neha Byadwal is an inspiration and a fighter. She comes from a small village in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where societal pressures kept women behind veils and discouraged them from pursuing their education.
In 2021, she shattered the glass ceiling by emerging as the first IAS officer from her village, a feat that brought her community pride.
Her path didn't merely alter her own life—it shifted the beliefs of families in her community about the education of girls. Neha says she felt a sense of emotion as young girls approached her, saying they wanted schools and a better future.
"I hope I become the reason a father encourages his daughter to study, telling her 'if she can, you can too'," she said in an Instagram post. Neha's success has become a symbol of possibility, showing how one person's determination can uplift an entire community.
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