Yesterday, more than half a million people in India wrote the Civil Services exam, to compete for a few hundred jobs.
From my firsthand experience, I can vouch that the kind of responsibilities these jobs give you while still in your twenties is unparalleled. But this is not the complete picture. So what are we missing?
1. While the early days in these jobs are good, over time, your rank keeps growing while your intellectual capabilities tend to stagnate. Here is a litmus test: “If your job and rank were taken away, what are you capable of doing on your own?”
2. Because of the glamour, 100x more people apply for these jobs than what would make sense. And many spend a few years just preparing for these exams. The social and economic cost is mind-boggling.
3. The private sector may not be all hunky dory, but the competitive pressure forces you to learn, and learning does compound. And when anything compounds, it has magical power.
4. Finally, my pet peeve: People join these services swearing to protect the constitution and uphold the rule of law, not the political party in power. Yet, how many even try?
The exam we conducted yesterday is the world’s biggest zero-sum game. Most participants lose.
Yet, year after year, participants keep flocking. And sadly, the game continues.
– Rajan