For decades, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination has represented prestige, authority and a sense of national purpose. In recent years, however, it has increasingly come to symbolise intense pressure and emotional strain, as the success rate has dropped to nearly 0.1 percent. With growing competition and limited vacancies, the civil services dream is drawing renewed attention to the cost it imposes on aspirants.

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 results, finalised in April 2025, underline the scale of the challenge. Over 10 lakh candidates applied for the exam, but only 1,009 made it to the final list. This means that for every successful candidate, nearly 999 were left unsuccessful. Social media conversations have shifted focus from celebratory success stories to the experiences of the silent majority who fail, often after years of repeated attempts.

Many aspirants now describe the examination as something closer to a game of chance than a pure test of merit. While peers move ahead with careers, relationships and family life, thousands of candidates spend their twenties confined to single rooms, sustained by hope. Parents often sell land or exhaust life savings to fund coaching and living expenses. As years pass, attempts run out and rejection becomes a recurring reality.

Historically, the situation has remained grim. The success rate has consistently stayed below one percent, usually between 0.3 and 0.5 percent, due to the limited number of posts and a demanding multi-stage selection process involving prelims, mains and interviews. Each year, over five lakh serious aspirants compete for roughly 700 to 1,000 vacancies, ensuring that even capable candidates are eliminated early.

Beyond statistics lies a significant psychological toll. National Crime Records Bureau data shows that 35 students die by suicide every day in India, highlighting the broader mental health crisis linked to academic pressure. Experts point to extreme perfectionism among UPSC aspirants, with rigid timetables and exhaustive booklists creating unrealistic expectations. Another common issue is “analysis paralysis”, where the vast and evolving syllabus leads aspirants to over-plan instead of revising and adapting. Social comparison further deepens stress, as preparation hubs and online platforms constantly showcase others’ progress. Studies indicate that three in ten aspirants experience declining mental health, while seven in ten report chronic stress and fear of failure.

Many candidates studying 10 to 12 hours daily for years report insomnia, anxiety and migraines. Isolation worsens the situation, with six in ten aspirants reporting loneliness. Increasingly, failed candidates are sharing their stories to caution others against staking their entire identity on a single exam, urging balance in preparation and life.