fever CSE

Having being nurtured by the schools and colleges in Delhi, the place which is the hub for all aspirants attempting to make it to Civil Services Examination (CSE) of Union Public Services Commission (UPSC), forces me to pen down my thoughts about the paraphernalia of IAS syndrome going in the city.

There are plethora of coaching institutes buzzing in the town, which claim to train you in a manner to secure you seat in this prestigious “mantle of Indian administration.” There are big claims made by publishing pictures of those who succeed to be portrayed as their future icons. It has larger goal of fetching new students each year to let their ‘shops’ continue to operate in business.

No doubt CSE has been coveted as the best future option since several generations. Yet we fail to understand that this is not the end of road. What about those suicides cases where the trauma of not making even in the last attempt, forces you to quit on your life? What about those who fail to qualify from mains to interview, from interview to final ranking? What about those who were erstwhile present in Civil Services like Aruna Roy, Harsh Mander, yet call it quit, at peak of their careers? To err is to be human. Yet in this arduously competitive marketized realm, there are no takers for it.

There needs to be mention about the prodigal fees charged by these coaching institutes, which adds to the financial burden of the aspirants, who in already under subtle psychological burden of “what if not” making it situation. Further do these coaching institutes even think of imparting values on integrity, morality, honesty, which are essential to the continuity of credibility of Civil Services as larger framework of our polity. The emphasis on sheer cramming of facts, reams being photocopied and passed on to aspirants puts question marks on ‘originality and innovation’, which is very much needed in job of Administration.

Every year as June commences, there are introductory seminars organized, where undue thought are paid as to how merely preparing for CSE, ignoring the significant aspect of ‘continuity and survivability’, the kind of challenges involved within the tenure of service. This could provide aspirants with a clear picture of whether to opt or not and the issue of ‘informed choice’ takes a backseat. This has ramifications for the service of nation.

Further if you carefully scan through the advertisements in the newspaper, you can read through the sheer image personification as CSE leading to ‘Mai-baap’ status in society points to the kind of vulnerable value system attached herewith. There is no remark as to how all subjects are theoretical, opinion-oriented and that claims of letting you score in your optional are farce, the fact being, it is a matter of your own aptitude.

. The gigantic corruption, maladministration, neglect of rule of law has done colossal damage to faith of an average Indian citizen. So here’s ending with good luck to all aspirants and asking them to re-think their parameters beyond those set by these coaching shops.