UPSC not the end of the road for Pune youngsters who changed their path

When her fourth attempt in 2023 also brought no result, she called it off amidst much protest and disappointment in her family. “I worked on all the mistakes I made previously but when even that did not work, I simply accepted that this is not for me.”

A friend who had seen her write comedy signed Chetana up for an all-women stand-up comedian lineup despite her hesitance last November. “Four years of preparation without success can really take a toll on your self-confidence and social skills but the day I stepped on the stage, I forgot all of that.”

She is one of lakhs of students who harbour the UPSC dream for years before picking another career option.
Pravin Nikam, founder of Pune-based Samata Center which works for underprivileged and rural students in the city, said, “It is a very common phenomenon where students, especially from rural parts of Maharashtra come to Pune in the hopes of clearing competitive exams. These students spend their entire time either in coaching or rigorous self-study during college, and therefore, at times, they are unable to avail opportunities that focus on holistic skill-building”.

The biggest need, he said, is for awareness about other career options as well as self-awareness to set realistic goals, keeping in mind one’s own interests. Sanjay Buch came to Pune for his undergraduation from Shegaon in Buldhana where his father was a farmer. He gave five attempts but when nothing worked, he took up a position helping Maratha-Kunbi students prepare for competitive exams at the government-run SARTHI centre. Now he has gone back to Shegaon where he started his own venture and helps run a growing business with his family.

He said, “If you are not able to clear the UPSC exam, that is not the end of your career. There are many things one can do. At the same time, the preparation itself never goes to waste as you inculcate the habit of learning about everything.”

Some like Nikiten Kadam, while not giving up on their UPSC dream, still keep an ‘Option B’ ready in case things do not work out in their favour. “UPSC is very unpredictable even if you have worked very hard. There is an aspect of luck in this exam so I wanted to have something to fall back on,” said the 25-year-old who hails from Sangamner where his father is a farmer.

Kadam is currently enrolled in a mass communication and journalism course at Savitribai Phule Pune University and has also cleared the NET JRF exam. He is prepared to give his third attempt this year.

Meanwhile Chetana, completing an MBA, has been doing two to three comedy shows every month. She is preparing for her first solo show expected to be next month. “Some people take their failure in the UPSC exam on their ego but for me this became a chance to rediscover my other hobbies and interests. A lot of my jokes are actually about competitive exams and aspirants,” she said with a laugh.