IAS Officer Ira Singhal Exposes UPSC Preparation's Dark Side: 'Biggest Self-Inflicted Torture'
In a candid revelation that has sparked widespread discussion, IAS officer Ira Singhal has opened up about the profound mental and emotional challenges faced by aspirants preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations. Speaking on a recent podcast with Gaurav Arora, Singhal described the intense pressure that often leads to a severe mental health crisis among those pursuing India's most prestigious civil services exam.
The Multi-Dimensional Torture of UPSC Preparation
Singhal, who herself cleared the UPSC civil services exams four times, characterized the preparation process as torture on multiple levels. "It's the biggest level of torture you can give to yourself," she stated emphatically during the conversation. The officer elaborated that this suffering extends across physical, emotional, financial, social, and psychological dimensions, creating a comprehensive burden that few other career paths demand.
What makes this particularly challenging, according to Singhal, is that the torture is largely self-inflicted. "There is no reason why you should be doing it for other people," she explained, highlighting how aspirants often internalize external pressures and expectations, turning the pursuit into an overwhelming personal burden.
The Mental Health Crisis Among Aspirants
Singhal stressed that UPSC exam preparations have what she described as a "terrible" effect on aspirants' mental health. The uncertainty of results despite years of dedicated preparation creates a psychological strain that few are prepared to handle. Many aspirants find themselves questioning whether they have chosen the right career path, adding to their anxiety and self-doubt.
"It's very tough to admit and correct the mistakes in the path you chose," Singhal observed. "It's very easy to blame everybody else. So all of that combines into a terrible mental health crisis." This crisis manifests in various ways, with some aspirants developing unhealthy coping mechanisms that further hinder their progress.
The Danger of Externalizing Failure
One particularly concerning pattern Singhal identified involves how aspirants respond to initial failures. "Some people become extra positive, and for the sake of hoping, they start externalizing the reason they didn't clear," she explained. This tendency to blame external factors rather than examining personal shortcomings creates a dangerous cycle where aspirants fail to address the actual issues preventing their success.
"Because of this, they don't clear further attempts," Singhal noted, emphasizing how this defensive mindset becomes a self-perpetuating barrier to achievement. Her advice to aspirants is clear: stop blaming others for failures and start acknowledging problems from their own end. This honest self-assessment, while difficult, represents the most constructive path forward.
A Personal Journey of Overcoming Challenges
Singhal's insights carry particular weight given her own remarkable journey. Born with scoliosis, a spinal disorder that restricts mobility, she became the first differently abled woman to top the UPSC exams in 2014. Her path to this achievement was not without obstacles - in 2010, she was denied an Indian Revenue Service posting on grounds of her disability, leading to a legal battle that resulted in a landmark verdict from the Central Administrative Tribunal.
This personal experience with overcoming systemic barriers gives Singhal's perspective on UPSC preparation added depth and credibility. She understands both the institutional challenges and the personal struggles that aspirants face, making her observations about the mental health crisis within the UPSC ecosystem particularly valuable.
The conversation has sparked important discussions about the need for better mental health support systems for UPSC aspirants and a broader reevaluation of how India prepares candidates for its civil services. As thousands of young Indians continue to pursue this demanding path, Singhal's revelations serve as both a warning and a call for greater awareness about the psychological costs of this prestigious pursuit.
