The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recently announced the revised date of Prelims for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. The prelims exam will be conducted on June 16, 2024. Last year, Around 13,00,000 students appeared for the prelims examination. If you too have plans to appear for UPSC CSE in the coming years, it is important to analyze the risks and rewards associated with this exam. Also, it is a fair deal to explore some alternate career options.

Note : The data provided in the table represents approximate values.

“After 2019, which was my last attempt, I told them that I was not going to give any more attempts to UPSC and I started preparing for other competitive exams like banking, SSC, NABARD, LIC, and many more. Seriously, there are tons of govt exams and I realized I could not get back to UPSC and I must make up by clearing one of these exams. And I don't know if it was my luck or incompetence, I'm not able to clear the final rounds of any of these exams which brings us to now.” reads the Reddit post of an ex-aspirant seeking guidance for his career after failing multiple UPSC attempts and trying hands on other government exams.

.” But I've decided I should get back into IT after a 4 year gap since I last worked. My only work experience after my graduation is those two years that I worked in a healthcare company which I don't think is of much use to me. So I wanted to ask you guys if I should get back into the IT sector, where should I start? Which field/sector should I catch on to get up to speed now? I keep hearing about Machine learning, should I start with that?.” The post further reads.

You can read the complete post here:

Failed UPSC candidate here. Need some guidance regarding my career options in IT sector

byu/Ripjaw007 inIndian_Academia

This is the reality of lakhs of aspirants who appear in UPSC CSE with hopes of serving the nation by getting into bureaucracy but fail to do so. Considered as one of the toughest exams in the country, the passing percentage is merely 0.2%. If you too are in your aspirant stage and want to keep a practical approach, it's good to explore alternate career options.

Alternate career options for UPSC aspirants

Lakhs of aspirants hope to qualify UPSC CSE exam. The stories and toppers talked about by coaching institutions and other media houses fuel these hopes. A chance to become an integral part of administration, charm, and consideration of the post also counts. But only a handful of aspirants have their success stories. What about rest? We have a list of alternate career options that can help those who have invested many years into preparation and are now looking for alternate career options.

State civil services and other government job exams

If you couldn’t make it to UPSC CSE and you still want to be a part of the administration, state civil services are one way. Most state civil service examinations are conducted early and their syllabus is also based on the UPSC pattern. In addition to State-specific content, you can give it a try. Many successful candidates couldn’t clear UPSC but did well in State PCS exams. Exploring other government job exams is also not a bad idea. However, it is important to analyze the pattern, syllabus, and relatability of the exams you are appearing in.

Policy Analyst

UPSC preparation requires you to analyze a lot of policies made by central and state governments. Over time, you develop skills of analyzing them and offering additions to the same. If you enjoy doing so, your career can grow well as a policy analyst. You can begin with an internship or a course to further sharpen your skills. After all, it is all about getting the best out of all the tough scenarios.

Teaching

Teaching is a good alternate career option if you are done with your UPSC attempts and want a fresh start. You can apply for teaching jobs in Ed-tech companies and other coaching institutions. You can also work as an assistant professor by qualifying for NET/JRF exams. Teaching is a well-paid and highly respectable career in India. 

International Relations Specialist

UPSC preparation introduces you to global strategies and how international relations evolve. If you have a keen interest in this, you can restart your career as an international relations specialist. It is not a bad idea to look for a specific course or internship so that you can evolve better.

Media and Journalism

The next career option on our list is a career in media and journalism. UPSC preparation sharpens the writing skills of an aspirant and media houses need people who can write well. You can easily grab roles of news writer, scriptwriter, and editor. Also, if you have a camera-friendly gesture and excellent verbal communication skills, reporting and anchoring are considerable.

A career in social work

Qualifying for UPSC CSE is not the only way to be a changemaker. You can do so by having a career in the field of social work. You can start with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) offering roles to newbies. By having a strong knowledge base related to social issues, you can make an impact by using your problem-solving skills. 

To sum up

Qualifying for UPSC CSE is the dream of lakhs of aspirants. But keeping a practical approach and understanding the gap between this dream and ground reality is important. Having a Plan B or an alternate career option is a plus. Would you like to add a few more career options to our curated list? Let us know in the comments. 

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