Introduction

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.

1. Setting the Stage

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?

2. The Psychological Toll: Beyond the Books

Studies and reports paint a grim picture of the emotional cost:

1. UPSC Aspirants: Around 60% experience loneliness, and 70% suffer from stress and performance anxiety. Many face pressure from family and coaching fees as high as ₹2–3 lakh annually.
2. All Student Groups: A 2025 survey of 8,500+ students found 1 in 5 rarely feels calm or motivated; 75% of Grade-12 students sleep less than 7 hours, and nearly half lacked any formal career guidance.
3. Helpline Surges: From February to June 2025, helplines in Hyderabad logged thousands of suicide-related calls, with exam stress, emotional isolation, and exam results among the leading triggers.
4. Suicide and Academic Pressure: In 2021 alone, there were over 12,500 student suicides, many tied to the fierce competition in JEE/NEET/UPSC.

3. Society’s Role and Aspirational Chains

Even as India’s economy grows, government jobs continue to lure youth:

1. Between 2014–2022, 220 million applied, but only 722,000 succeeded.
2. The preference arises not just from job security, but cultural prestige and pension-based stability.

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.

4. Voices from the Ground

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..

5. A Philosophical Lens: Identity, Fear, and Freedom

Philosophically, the pursuit of government jobs often becomes a vessel for deeper existential quests:

1. Identity & Approval: Success becomes more about societal validation than personal fulfillment.
2. Fear of Othering: Divergence feels risky. The safest path appears paved in exam halls and coaching centers.
3. Opportunity Cost of Singular Focus: Time invested is time lost exploring alternative capabilities or ambitions.

This reveals what author Sanjeev Sanyal describes as a “poverty of aspiration” — a societal frame where only one kind of success is acknowledged.

6. Lighting a New Path: Alternatives & Support

a. Structural Reforms & Career Guidance

1. NEP 2020 Initiatives: Launch of “My Career Advisor”, a free bilingual AI-powered app guiding students across 1,500+ conventional and vocational careers.
2. ‘Career Cards’: Government–UNICEF tool offering 500 detailed career profiles aligned with NEP goals.

b. Personalized Counseling

Saarthi Kendra exemplifies holistic support—psychometric assessments, exposure to emerging careers (like AI, data science, social entrepreneurship), and mental health coaching.

c. Mental Health Infrastructure

India faces a stark shortage: only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, well below WHO norms—making accessible support critical.

7. Conclusion: Rat Race or Realistic Choice?

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:

1. We expand definitions of success beyond job security.
2. Institutions offer emotional support and career pluralism.
3. Individuals embrace personal meaning over societal prescription.

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.

1. Exam stress drives spike in suicide helpline calls across Hyd | Hyderabad News - The Times of India
2. The Times of India
3. Economy booms but India's young hanker for government jobs | Reuters