Ex-bureaucrats slam economist Sanjeev Sanyal’s ‘UPSC is waste of youthful energy’ remark

Sanjeev Sanyal said that one should only attempt UPSC or other such examinations if one wants to become an administrator. (Image: X/@sanjeevsanyal)

Former bureaucrats on Wednesday described as “absurd” and “avoidable” the comments of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) member Sanjeev Sanyal that five to eight years of preparation for the civil services exam by lakhs of students is a “waste of youthful energy”.

They said millions aspire to be part of the sought-after government services to contribute towards nation-building, PTI reported.

Sanyal has said that one should only attempt UPSC or other such examinations if one wants to become an administrator.

“As mentioned, it (is) perfectly fine to attempt the UPSC or other such exams, but only if the person wants to be an administrator. The problem is that lakhs of people are spending 5-8 years repeatedly doing this exam as a ‘way of life’. This is such a waste of youthful energy,” he said in a series of posts on social media platform X.

Reacting to his comments, former IAS officer G Sundaram said, “It is absurd. India is a vast country. We are interested in a united India and that is why Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, (the first home minister of Independent India) created these services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), among others. It is all working well.” There may be certain deficiencies which can of course be rectified, he said.

Sundaram, a 1962-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, who superannuated as the Tourism Secretary, said, “His (Sanyal’s) comments were completely avoidable.”

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the civil services examination every year in three stages — preliminary, main and personality test (interview) — to select officers for different central services.

S K Sarkar, former secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training, said Sanyal’s assertion was avoidable.

“It is not a waste of youthful energy or resources. I don’t agree with his assertion,” said the 1979-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, PTI reported.

He said a lot of people aspire to be part of the government services. “These are the best services in India to contribute towards nation-building and development. His comments were avoidable.” Former IAS officer Sanjeev Chopra said Sanyal is entitled to his views but to be critical of youths who wish to be civil servants is not in good taste.

“Not everyone aspires to be an Ambani. People also want to be poets, painters and thespians. Many want to work for the government. And in the government there is no job more fulfilling than a district assignment, or a posting as a JS (joint secretary) in which you cover the entire domain,” he said.

“Sanyal is of course entitled to his views, but to be critical of young women and men who wish to be civil servants is not in good taste,” said Chopra, a 1985-batch IAS officer, who was also the Director of Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri of National Academy of Administration — the country’s premier training institute for civil servants.

Another former bureaucrat, Kiran Puri, said preparing for the civil services examination “is not a waste of youthful energy”.

“Those who are academically strong and knowledgeable only join the civil services. Civil servants are needed to run this country,” the 1983-batch Central Secretariat Service officer said.

If talented people do not devote their energy and attention towards becoming a part of the civil services then how will the nation’s development be ensured, she posed.

“We need the best of minds to be part of the civil services to contribute to the growth of the country and to ensure further ease of governance,” said Puri, who served as the Joint Secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Union Personnel Ministry.

Former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi, however, partially agreed with Sanyal’s comments.

“He is partially right. Young people are putting in seven to eight years preparing for the civil services examination. Some people leave lucrative jobs and hefty salaries to be a part of these services,” he said.

Quraishi, a former IAS officer, suggested limiting the number of attempts being provided to appear in the civil services examination.

“There are too many attempts being provided for the civil services examination. It can be limited to a maximum of three attempts as it was earlier. There may be some extra attempts for people belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward classes,” he said.

Serving IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary also disagreed with Sanyal’s comments.

“Civil services exam and the UPSC act as the role model for many youngsters. These comments were completely avoidable,” said Chaudhary, a 2009-batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

He said the entire process of civil services examination is transparent and provides a level playing field.

“I was a topper of Hindi in the civil services examination in 2008. A person like me from a Hindi background could become a part of this service as the UPSC and civil services examination shows it is very credible and unbiased,” said Chaudhary, who is Superintendent of Community Policing in Rajasthan.

(With inputs from PTI)