Shakti Dubey UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 Topper
The crowning of Shakti Dubey as the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 topper has been celebrated across India, stirring a renewed discussion regarding the rigorous demands of the examination, particularly with a former IPS officer expressing concerns about the extended preparation period.
Shakti’s journey to claiming the top rank took six years and five attempts, with her focus on Political Science and International Relations as her optional subject. This lengthy timeline has led former IPS officer Yashovardhan Jha Azad to voice apprehensions on social media platforms.
Azad stated on X, “Congratulations to Shikha Dubey, ranking first in UPSC result. But five attempts mean six years of hard work—the prime years of youth dedicated to coaching… Our examination and interview process should be reformed. We primarily serve as regulators, requiring leadership, integrity, commitment, and common sense. It would be best to limit attempts to only two with an age threshold of 25.”
He further added, “This fixation with the UPSC has significant implications for the nation, misallocating youth for five to six years. Coaching institutes are profiting extensively from this situation.”
The remarks sparked a variety of responses from users. One individual remarked, “Every profession requires time and investment to achieve success… A person from a modest background may not ascend to lawmaker status, but through hard work, can certainly become a civil servant.”
Another individual cautioned against reforms that could negatively impact inclusivity, stating, “If an age limit is enforced as desired by the elite, it will disproportionately affect those from economically weaker sections.”
A third commenter contributed, “Who truly benefits from extended attempts? The coaching institutions. Yet, candidates who succeed also require adequate skill enhancement, which the current curriculum and training do not necessarily ensure.”
Regardless of the ongoing debate, Shakti’s achievement continues to motivate many. Her success signifies enhanced diversity, as evidenced by data from UPSC indicating representation among the 1,009 candidates recommended for various appointments, including 335 from the General category, 109 from EWS, 318 from OBC, 160 from SC, and 87 from ST. Currently, a total of 241 candidates remain on the provisional list, with one result still awaited.
The concluding phase of the 2024 UPSC procedure, the interview segment, was carried out for 2,845 candidates and wrapped up in April. Initially, 1,056 vacancies were reported by the commission, which later expanded to encompass 1,132 positions within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other Group A and B roles.
Individuals can review the complete results and forthcoming details at upsc.gov.in, where marks will be published within 15 days.