‘Abysmal waste': Former RBI Governor D Subbarao explains why UPSC urgently needs a reform

Time of India

29-05-2025

'Abysmal waste of productive years'
Age limit and attempt reduction suggested
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Structured mid-career entry path proposed
Keep youth entry but modernise process
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Duvvuri Subbarao, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has recommended major changes to the recruitment process for the Indian civil services. In a recent opinion piece in The Times of India, he suggested reducing the upper age limit and number of attempts for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. He also proposed a separate annual entry path into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for experienced professionals in their early 40s.Commenting on the recently declared 2024 civil service results, Subbarao congratulated the selected candidates but raised concerns about the large number of aspirants who fail after years of preparation.'The civil service results for 2024 are out. Congratulations to the thousand-odd candidates who have got through what is arguably one of the most competitive exams in the world,' he wrote.He highlighted the toll on those who are unsuccessful. 'For every successful candidate, there are at least ten others who too have invested years in preparation but have failed to make the grade. They are back at square one. An abysmal waste of productive years?'Subbarao criticised the current policy that allows up to six attempts between the ages of 21 and 32. He said many aspirants continue preparing despite repeated failures due to the psychological pressure of sunk costs."After all, they are susceptible to the 'sunk cost fallacy' — 'I've invested so much time, money and effort. All that will go waste if I give up now. Maybe I will succeed this time round,'' he wrote.He said this leads many to spend their most productive years in repeated attempts, and called on the government to limit attempts to three and reduce the upper age to 27. Citing his own experience from the 1970s, he said only two attempts were allowed between ages 21 and 24. He added, 'this levelling has gone too far.'He also argued that allowing six attempts gives an advantage to those who master exam techniques rather than those with inherent merit. 'There is another argument in favour of curtailing the number of allowed attempts. Any examination that allows as many as six chances is likely to privilege mastery of the exam technique over inherent merit,' he wrote, adding that the process is prone to "type I and type II errors."Subbarao's second major suggestion is an alternative annual entry route into the IAS for professionals aged 40–42. This would be a permanent and competitive channel, separate from the current ad-hoc lateral entry system.'They can pursue other careers and take another shot at the exam mid-career,' he wrote.He said mid-career professionals can bring experience and a fresh perspective to governance. 'Tier 2 recruits will make up for these lacunae and make the civil service collectively more relevant and useful, and maybe even more caring.'Subbarao said the current system for young aspirants should remain, but needs reform. 'There is a lot to be said for continuing to recruit young people into the IAS. They bring in youthful spirit, raw enthusiasm and unspoilt enterprise into administration.'In conclusion, he acknowledged improvements over the years but stressed the need for further reform. 'The civil service exam has vastly improved from the time I took it over 50 years ago. But there is still a need to push the envelope.'