Five attempts too many? Ex-IPS officer's ‘wasting youth' comment on UPSC topper Shakti Dubey sparks aspirants' debate

Time of India

23-04-2025

Shakti Dubey's ascent to UPSC 2024 topper after six years and five attempts sparked debate when ex-IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad criticized the exam's lengthy preparation, calling it a waste of youth and urging limits on attempts and age. Supporters argue inclusivity and perseverance matter, while critics warn reforms could harm underprivileged aspirants and fail to address deeper coaching-driven issues.
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From Celebration to Controversy in Seconds
Is the UPSC Marathon Robbing Youth of Their Prime?
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The Road to Rank One: Tribute to Tenacity
When Shakti Dubey clinched the coveted Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 , the country erupted in applause. Yet amid the jubilation came a seismic jolt: a former IPS officer's blunt critique of Dubey's six‑year journey—and five attempts—through the grueling preparation cycle. His comments have thrown the spotlight on whether India's premier exam is costing its brightest minds their youth.As news portals and social feeds buzzed with praise for Dubey—whose Political Science and International Relations optional brought her to the summit—Yashovardhan Jha Azad, once an IPS officer himself, seized the moment on social media. 'Congratulations to Shikha Dubey, ranking first in UPSC result,' he began on X (formerly Twitter), 'But five attempts means six years of toil—the best years of youth gone in coaching?'Azad's message did more than question Dubey's personal sacrifice. It painted a broader picture of a system in which half a million aspirants chase a handful of vacancies year after year, often investing vast sums in coaching institutes. 'This obsession with UPSC is costing the nation huge,' he wrote, 'Employing our youth wrongly for five to six years. Coaching institutes are laughing all the way to the bank.'At the heart of Azad's argument lies a provocative proposal: cap attempts at two and lower the age ceiling to 25. By his reckoning, this would force an earlier specialization—allowing unsuccessful candidates to pivot into other careers rather than lingering in endless exam cycles.Critics were quick to catch fire. One commentator warned that stricter limits would penalize those from humble backgrounds who rely on time and perseverance to level the playing field. Another pointed out that the true beneficiaries of repeated attempts are not the candidates but the coaching industry itself—while successful officers emerge underprepared in leadership and common sense.Regardless of the controversy, Dubey's success story is undeniably inspirational. Over six years of rigorous study and repeated mains, she shattered stereotypes and climbed to the very top of India's most competitive exam. Her achievement is mirrored by the Commission's broader efforts toward inclusivity: among the 1,009 recommended candidates, representation spans General, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories.Behind her victory lies the closing chapter of UPSC 2024: the interview round. Conducted for 2,845 candidates and wrapped in April, it distilled aspirations into 1,132 appointments across IAS, IPS, and other premier services. For Dubey and her peers, it was the final hurdle in a marathon that Azad—and many others—now argue might need drastic reform.As debate rages, one thing is certain: India's obsession with UPSC—the allure, the agony, the academy-driven coaching culture—has once again taken center stage. Will policymakers heed calls for age and attempt restrictions? Or will they find other ways to preserve both the integrity of the exam and the prime years of its aspirants?For now, Shakti Dubey's triumph and Yashovardhan Azad's stark question linger together, challenging the nation to balance excellence with empathy—and to decide whether the cost of greatness should be measured in lost youth.