Last updated on: September 10, 2025
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Yuvika Rathi
College Student
When I was in high school one of my teachers once told me that the competitive exams you prepare for are just a little part of your life. The exams are not your whole life. He said, you always have a choice. You can do many things. Because, life is all about trying new different things everyday. Explore, re-invent yourself. But as we see in Indian society, it's not quiet the truth. Parents put so much pressure on children that they prepare for the same exam over and over again until their self-belief shatters into tiny pieces. And then they get labelled as failure, even though you did so much hard work!
Sometimes we should tell these children that somethings are just not simply meant for you. You are meant for something good and better than this. But we are busy and ignorant, to tell these kind words to any of them. So, I think we should try it as a small part but not your whole life.
Do what you love, not what society wants you to do or everyone else are doing.
Government exams—UPSC, SSC, NEET, and the like—have become a cultural juggernaut in India. From media buzz to parental wishlists, “cracking the exam” often eclipses all other ambitions. But beneath the fervor lies a profound question: are aspirants sprinting in a rat race, or are they pursuing a meaningful path to identity and stability?
Studies and reports paint a grim picture of the emotional cost:
Even as India’s economy grows, government jobs continue to lure youth:
But this aspiration comes at a cost—studios like Kota and other coaching hubs have become symbols of pressure and tragedy, with cheating scandals and repeated suicides drawing global concern.
Genuine reflections from Reddit highlight lived realities:
“I perceive it as uncool... so many people doing it just because.” – A NEET dropper questioning the real motivation behind exam prep.
“I wasted 4 years of my life in govt job preparations… I just have a B.Com and M.Com… no experience.” – A painful reflection on lost time and stalled aspirations.
“Overthinking… Overfocus… Spending 8+ hrs daily… Chasing perfection.” – A fellow aspirant outlines the mental patterns that trap candidates..
Philosophically, the pursuit of government jobs often becomes a vessel for deeper existential quests:
This reveals what author Sanjeev Sanyal describes as a “poverty of aspiration” — a societal frame where only one kind of success is acknowledged.
Saarthi Kendra exemplifies holistic support—psychometric assessments, exposure to emerging careers (like AI, data science, social entrepreneurship), and mental health coaching.
India faces a stark shortage: only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, well below WHO norms—making accessible support critical.
It’s both. Many enter the arena out of necessity—or fear—discovering too late the toll it exacts. Yet, the path can shift from rat race to conscious choice if:
A government job need not be a default—it can be a measured, meaningful decision. But that only happens when alternative routes gain equal dignity.