This article is not to demotivate yourself, or lead you to arbitrary conclusions. It is a sheer attempt to bring out a contrary side of the Civil Services and most importantly, to highlight the conflicting sides of an Ideal Civil Services officer. It’s is an effort to give you something substantial to match it with your personality. If these traits fit your puzzle, then there are probable chances that you’re working on a right path. And, if few things do not find congruity with your personality, reflect on them and contemplate the reasons that you hold for joining civil service.
Undoubtedly, there are uncountable reasons to join Civil Services—but majority of it should align with your personality and if it’s a mismatch, or if you aren’t ready for its weaknesses—you should begin now, and start accepting the unfavorable side of these services as the way it is. Not forgetting that you can make significant changes if you are in the system, but markedly not while preparing for it.
Let’s go through the checklist before you join the Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS);
1. Incomplete research
Word of mouth is still the best mode of advertising. According to a general psychology or beliefs, Most of the top professions are at the top league because people have been considering them as top professions and other have been following those beliefs. We often hear excellent things about certain careers, while others are demeaned. For the perspective—banking as a career rose after 90s. After getting despised for years, banking came out from its gloomy side and associated itself with helping people. And Boom! Suddenly everyone wanted to join banks, private or government; it did not matter. Most of the top choices by the students are fueled with this element—making a difference and Civil Services are no different. It’s a chance to make a difference, and that is what pushes you for three to four years of continuous struggle.
Many people find meaning in their work as per what’s inside their deepest self—undoubtedly most of it is related to where you grew up and what values do you have. It’s highly advisable to research multiple sources to get a bigger picture. You should interact with the real humans and get their perspective on the post you are aiming for and do not get influenced with the hype. And, if you are always frustrated with a short-term struggle—imagine how will you handle a life time of struggle. You should acknowledge that your real struggle is not during the preparation for UPSC but it starts when you clear the exam and get into Civil Services, because when you become a Civil Servant, you suddenly get a responsibility on your shoulder to serve your nations and its people. People start placing big hopes on you, and have to maintain that calm and composed sides of yours even in critical situations.
2. Inability to digest Massive amounts of information
This issue is as common among the aspirants. Their negligence on devouring the massive documents is astonishing. An aspirant must acknowledge that after he is recruited in civil services, his primary job is to go through tons of documents and making sense out of it. Aspirants should not hesitate to finish the large documents like Press Information Bureau (PIB) or India Year Book (IYB) or Union Indian budget for that matter. These are the exact kinds of what civil servants go through on daily basis. Is it tough? Exactly, so is getting into Civil Services, so is holding a post in Civil Services, so is life. Buck up!
We have personally witnessed an IRS officer in a room full of documents—submerged in papers—and finishing them one at a time. That’s exactly how UPSC is tricking you to prepare for itself, because at the end of the day—you’ll be solving hundreds of problems of your post by digesting massive amounts of information. Get used to it.
3. Cannot take orders from superiors
In a initiate stage of service, a huge part of a Civil Servant’s responsibility is taking orders from superiors. You can softly portray your opinion towards which can be taken into consideration if the senior people will find your opinions good enough, but belatedly you’ll have to accept it an act upon it, because the officers are in the functionality since long and know he executions way better. That doesn’t mean you suppress your leadership ability but just open yourself to understand your senior’s decisions sensibly. One of the most common problems in our youth is their inability to take orders. While a few are fine with taking orders, same struggle handling the criticism. It’s important for an aspirant to acknowledge that a Civil Service post takes an astounding number of orders from politicians and superiors. It’s not a lone marathon where you pick the path by yourself. There is a system in place and fortunately or unfortunately, you’ll have to follow all the rules and regulations.
Aspirants have a similar attitude towards the criticism. One must understand—criticism is a remarkable way to improve yourself, and if you are
