Sanjeev Sanyal rues excessive focus on UPSC exams

He referred to it as 'poverty of aspirations'

He asked youths to explore diverse opportunities

Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, voiced concerns over the excessive focus on UPSC exams among Indian youth. While acknowledging the exams’ importance in selecting civil servants, Sanyal criticized the tendency of many young Indians to invest significant time without considering alternative paths. 

Speaking on “The Neon Show” podcast with Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Sanyal highlighted what he termed as India’s “poverty of aspiration,” noting limited ambitions in regions like West Bengal and Bihar. 

He suggested that this narrow focus often leads individuals to pursue civil services careers by default, rather than exploring diverse opportunities. Sanyal emphasized the need for UPSC exam pursuit to be a choice made by those genuinely interested in administrative roles, cautioning against the widespread trend of young individuals dedicating their prime years to cracking an exam with limited spots. He stressed the importance of evolving aspirations and redirecting youthful energy towards more varied and fulfilling endeavors beyond the civil services realm.