I quit the UPSC rat race 4 years ago.

Am I happy? Yes. Do I miss it? Yes. Do I regret quitting? No.

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of posts on this sub stressing the importance of a Plan B. I am living proof of why it matters. I graduated from a Tier-1 college in 2018 and gave three prelims back to back—2018, 2019, and 2020. Failed in all three.

It took a toll on my confidence. I studied for 7–8 hours daily, limited sources, followed every textbook strategy. Yet, I was extremely underconfident and nervous. I was also acutely aware of being unemployed while my batchmates and cousins moved ahead in life, earning in lakhs.

This fear—of being left behind if I didn’t qualify—would paralyze me during the exam. In my 2020 attempt, I cleared the GS 1 cut-off but flunked in CSAT. It left me depressed for months.

However, there was a silver lining. I had been pursuing my master’s degree alongside my UPSC prep. In Jan 2021, during the final year, I reluctantly sat for placements. My confidence was at an all-time low, but the library of general knowledge I had accumulated over three years came to my rescue. I got selected by an MNC.

That job turned my life around. I started earning well, regained my confidence, relocated to a different city, became independent, bought fancy things for my parents, met my husband, and am now happily married. This was Plan B—a life I never imagined during those difficult years of UPSC prep.

Now that I’m in a better place mentally and financially, I do think about reappearing for the exam, alongside my job, of course. At 28, I feel more mature and experienced.

I often read posts here about the grim statistics of selection, family pressure, and people feeling depressed or stuck in a loop. To them, I’d say: there’s no shame in taking a breather to recuperate, fix your mental health, and come back stronger when you’re ready.

I don’t think it’s worth spending the prime years of your life on an exam that’s highly unpredictable. Unfortunately, many of us are swayed by the glimmer of UPSC. However, it’s 2024—the opportunities are endless. Post-COVID, people are earning lakhs off the internet.

If money, fame, and prestige are your main motivations, there are other ways. If “serving the country” is your true goal, I suggest taking the plunge, but with a strong Plan B in place!