November 19, 2025
Articles
Every year the UPSC results arrive and with them comes a wave of intense joy for a very small group and a deep silence for many others. Close to one million candidates appear for the Civil Services Examination each year and barely a few hundred make it to the final list. The success rate often stays below one percent which means that close to ninety nine percent walk away feeling defeated. It is one of the toughest exams in the world and the numbers alone carry their own truth.
But what these numbers never tell you is the more important story. The story of people who gave their best. The story of those who spent months building discipline studying every morning and night and keeping the hope alive. The story of those who shaped their twenties around this exam and made sacrifices that few outside the UPSC ecosystem truly understand. Whether you cleared it or not is only one part of your journey. It is not your whole identity.
For those who made it my warmest congratulations. It is a moment you will remember all your life and rightly so. But even for you the real work begins now. The journey ahead is not defined by a rank but by the responsibility you will carry and the impact you will create in a complex system that demands both intention and resilience.
For those who did not make it this year or for those who have been giving attempts for two three or four years this note is especially for you. Your effort is not wasted. Your learning is not wasted. Your preparation has given you qualities that are extremely valuable in India’s growing policy and governance landscape. Patience. Analytical depth. Discipline. Intellectual stamina. Awareness of how institutions function. These are the core skills that drive modern public policy public affairs and governance roles across sectors.
The reality of today’s India is that the public policy and government affairs ecosystem is expanding rapidly. Every major company now builds a Government and Public Affairs team. Think tanks and social impact organisations are hiring policy researchers program leads and field officers. State governments run project monitoring units and impact delivery teams. International organisations and philanthropic foundations look for people who understand governance and public systems. Multilaterals and consulting firms are constantly looking for young professionals who can work on thematic areas like education health urban development digital governance sustainability and regulatory policy. There are hundreds of roles created every year and they require exactly the kind of mindset that the UPSC journey builds.
This is why not clearing UPSC is not the end of anything. In fact it often becomes the beginning of a more practical hands on and impactful journey. The system today is not limited to one formal exam. The policy ecosystem is much bigger and has space for people who want to solve problems who want to work with government stakeholders who want to shape conversations and who want to see change happen on the ground. The work may not carry the same title but the contribution and impact can be just as powerful.
It is important to allow yourself to breathe before taking the next step. Reflect on what part of public service excites you most. Is it problem solving? Is it writing? Is it analysis? Is it program delivery? Is it stakeholder engagement? Once you understand that part the path becomes clearer. You can join a policy school or a fellowship if you want a structured bridge. You can look at lateral roles in government if you want to be closer to the system. You can enter the social impact sector if you want to work deeply on themes like health or education. You can join a corporate public affairs team if you want to influence policy from an industry lens. You can even start your own policy consulting or research practice if you enjoy entrepreneurial work. These pathways do not require a rank. They require clarity and intent.
Many people who did not clear UPSC today work in top think tanks government advisory teams international organisations and corporate policy functions. Some have built outstanding careers creating real outcomes and influencing national level decisions. Their journey is not defined by an exam result. It is defined by their curiosity willingness to learn and the ability to use their UPSC background as a strong foundation rather than a point of regret.
If you cleared the exam celebrate fully and prepare for the responsibility ahead. If you did not make it remind yourself that your worth is not tied to a single result. India needs people who can think clearly work closely with the system and contribute to its growth story. Whether you achieve that through UPSC or through the wider world of public policy and government affairs is simply a matter of route not destiny.
Your journey is still open. Your purpose is still valid. Your impact is still waiting.
(The opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer or any affiliated organization.)
