At Hundred

 Is Hundred! Continues to turn heads! Whom do you think i am thus describing? A lady? True it is that a lady turns more beautiful as she matures. Rather like a pickle. The older, the sweeter n tangier, right? No, though! We are not talking about any aging beauty! 

The entity we are talking about, however, too, is not withered, though it turns hundred. In fact, it continues to 'turn heads' in both the denotative and connotative senses of this phrase. Okay, let me not waste time and footage on n in guessing games. Yes, i am talking about the UPSC. It turned hundred on October 1, 2025.

I do know that some of my readers are already steadfast followers of this unique entity. For their sake, a nutshell history! Its conception, as a follow up of the Montague Commission recommendations, is as old as 1919. Given its proper Macaulay spirit, this exam then was so Britain-oriented that no Indian could clear it till 1922. In 1925, the ICS producing exam took the shape which we now know.

Even now, it is one of the toughest exams to crack. Often candidates may require any number of attempts. The more focussed ones start preparing for it alongside their degree studies. Political Science, Economics, History are the favourite subjects of such aspirants. I would say that they should be very good at psychology, communication and emotional intelligence as well,  as theirs are going to be people sensitive jobs. 

The IFS/IAS officers to be, who work truly hard to get in to these power echelons, should be ethical as well because they are the real decision makers. Remember the brilliant BBC laugh riot entitled "Yes, Minister"? Despite its comic excesses, it did show how the Secretary, the Joint Secretary, the Under Secretary, such hierarchy actually handles, and can manipulate, the ruling class as "ministers may come n go, the system is ours."

In other words, the leaders depend on the genuine inputs by these bureaucrats. We do know of the very many  positive feeds by the IFS/IAS/IRS officers who, as interns, learn at the Mussoorie training institute the how of processes of actual governance and  the wheels (within wheels) in it as it really runs. Actually, the  job does come with many tantalising perks so much so that in the dowry bazaar, the price of such a groom is quite high! 

Such nasty realities apart, actually the  three-tier UPSC entrance exam (the prelims, the mains, the interview) hones the aspirant's knowledge base, tones the perspective in the context of the current international and national realities, and thus clones a responsible officer. 

Such a glad tiding it is that women candidates excel in these exams, despite the nerve-wracking prep period. Supposedly, such a higher percentage would sensitise the actual working of the bureaucracy as the belief is that women tend to be less corrupt.

 Yes, bureaucrats could be corrupt as they do have tremendous  power. Actually, corruption in various forms is the tragedy of most all careers. Yet, in this case, too, it is the two percent genuine contributors who literally carry the weight of the nation. 

Like the army, the bureaucracy, too, is not as obvious as the parliament, the court, the media houses when it comes to protecting the democratic feel. Yet, like the army, stellar is its role. The UPSC exam hence can now be attempted in the mother tongue so that the regional raw talent,  too,  can try it.

Of course, as for any competitive exam with a very low success rate, there is a regular IAS training market, especially in Delhi, and now online, too. Sone such famous Guru's wield quite some power over the social (media) imaginary. 

Certain age-old journals such as the CSR do help the aspirants prepare well as they have to be absolutely update with the current news as well. As there IS a certain luck factor when it comes to passing the three-pronged process, it is always better to have a Plan B ready.

 May be, the Mains Prep may help the candidate crack the equally tough NET exam which can help the candidate be a lecturer, and possibly pursue a Ph. D. if she passes the NET with JRF/SRF. Well, I am rather happy about the fact that I passed the NET (with JRF/SRF) twice, and in its earlier analytical/descriptive, non-MCQ, version.

Well, I have mentioned the necessity of a Plan B so that all that prep does not go waste. Such candidates can join the MSW workforce or run an NGO, may be. Otherwise, despondency and depression set in which I observed at close quarters as I used to teach English to MPSC students. 

I taught English at that center for two years, four evening batches, mostly rural students with dreams of making it big. At least, the UPSC exam takes place on time, and the results, too, are declared annually, and within a set time-frame!

At Hundred, certain most welcome changes, given the AI invasion especially, are sure to take place. Here is wishing the UPSC (and the hopeful's) creative contribution to our nation as state!

Pratima@The UPSC, for me, has a rather senti connect. Papa appeared for it, cleared the mains as well. Due to family responsibilities, he had to give up his dream at the third n final, at the interview, level. Never did he, the dutiful son  that he was, grumble about it.

May be, he would have been very happy if I were to chase the dream. He never imposed it on me though. Good in a way because I do think that such authority comes with much too much political interference which often can be highly suspicious, motivated, and hence destructive n dangerous! How a tiff between a 'Netaji' and an officer, especially if conscientious, could turn nasty is not merely a guess, right?