Mental health matters: the psychological pressures of UPSC preparation

Context

The recent flooding of the basement of a coaching institute in Delhi has drawn attention to the precarious living conditions of UPSC aspirants. This tragic event underscores the systemic lapses in infrastructure and highlights the intense academic and economic pressures faced by students.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)’s ADSI report 2021, an alarming 35 students take their lives every day.
Data from Lokniti-CSDS reveals that about a quarter of UPSC aspirants know someone who has either harmed themselves or attempted suicide due to the immense pressure.

Relevance:

GS-04 (Ethics)

Dimensions of the Article:

What is the Issue?
The Need to Address This Issue
Relation with India’s Stark Unemployment Rate
What can the Government do?

What is the Issue?

The UPSC exams are one of the toughest in the world, with a vast syllabus that requires aspirants to study for 10-12 hours a day, often sacrificing sleep, social life, and basic self-care.
The need to stay constantly updated with current events adds to this burden, creating a cycle of stress.
Nearly half of the students experience self-induced pressure, and one in three faces anxiety about underperformance.
The fierce competition and high expectations from family members exacerbate this stress.
About one-third of the students report experiencing peer pressure, and a quarter cite family pressure.

The Need to Address This Issue:

Addressing this issue is critical because the intense pressure has severe mental health implications.
Six in ten aspirants report feelings of loneliness, and seven in ten experience stress and fear of poor performance.
The relentless pressure to succeed, compounded by the fear of disappointing family and friends, leads to significant mental health challenges.
Over half the students indicate an increase in negative emotions such as nervousness, frustration, and sadness since starting their UPSC preparations.
This environment can lead to serious mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

Relation with India’s Stark Unemployment Rate

The pressure on UPSC aspirants is also linked to India’s stark unemployment rate. Many aspirants come from humble backgrounds and see clearing the UPSC exams as a pathway to secure employment and financial stability.
And a significant number of students come from low-income groups. Less than one-sixth of aspirants have a monthly family income between ₹30,000 and ₹50,000, and close to two of every ten students’ families earn less than ₹30,000.
Many aspirants choose UPSC as a career path to ensure a good salary and stable future, driven by the economic hardships they face.
Given that, having more than 20 lakh aspirants tied themselves to this journey for at least 2-3 years is a huge burden to bear for the country. Considering the success rate of less than 1% in the exam, it leaves so many aspirants in disappointment and hopes of making it in the next year with a probability much lesser than 50-50.

What Can the Government Do?

Improve Infrastructure: Ensuring safe and adequate living conditions for students, particularly those staying in coaching hubs like Delhi, is crucial. Regular inspections and strict adherence to building safety norms can prevent tragedies like the recent flooding incident.
Financial Support: Providing financial aid and scholarships to economically disadvantaged students can ease the financial burden. This includes subsidies for coaching fees, accommodation, and other necessary expenses.
- In this regard, recently, the government introduced – Nirman portal.
- This portal aims to provide Rs 1 lakh to eligible UPSC exam candidates.
Mental Health Support: Establishing mental health support systems, including counseling services and helplines, specifically tailored for UPSC aspirants, can help address their mental health challenges. Awareness campaigns to destigmatize seeking mental health support can also be beneficial.
Regulating Coaching Institutes: Setting guidelines for coaching institutes to ensure they provide a supportive and stress-free learning environment. This includes limiting the number of hours students can be expected to study and ensuring they have access to recreational activities.
Promoting Alternate Career Paths: Encouraging students to explore other career opportunities and reducing the societal and familial pressure to clear the UPSC exams. This can be achieved by promoting vocational training programs and other competitive exams that lead to stable employment.

Conclusion

The journey of cracking the UPSC exams is undeniably challenging, demanding dedication and resilience. However, the psychological toll it takes on students cannot be ignored. Addressing mental health challenges through self-care, support systems, and professional help is essential.