18-Hour UPSC Preparation Blogs Allegedly ‘Misleading’ by IAS Officer, Protests Online

One of the most competitive tests in India is the Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). A small number of applicants pass the three-part selection procedure, which consists of the preliminary test, the main written exam, and the interview, out of the lakhs of candidates that take the CSE each year. It is anticipated that fewer than 1% of students passed the UPSC test overall. Social media posts that prepare users for the UPSC have increased in number in recent years.

In addition to online courses and study techniques, a lot of self-described experts assert that studying for 18 to 20 hours is necessary to ace the civil service test. The UPSC study blogs “18 ghante ki padai (18 hour study)” and “Subah 3 baje se raat 11 baje ki padai (studying from 3 am to 11 pm)” were screenshotted and deemed “misleading” by IAS officer Awanish Sharan. He penned, “Deceptive!!!” Avoid reading these blogs. You don’t need to read this much, itna bhi padhna nahi hota hai.

Since it was published on April 12, his post has received over 2 lakh views. One individual wrote to Sharan, “Sir, could you suggest to me how to fight sleepiness during study hours??” inquiring about how to combat sleepiness. I find it difficult to cope with it, particularly around lunchtime. The bureaucrat said, “Take a break in between.” Your body is unique; you are not a machine.

In response to Sharan’s article, one of the UPSC candidates remarked, saying, “Sir, I recently watched one of these vlogs.” They are misrepresenting the relevant tests to us and are deceiving us. I appreciate you bringing up this subject, sir.

One more person emphasized the value of intelligent work above “additional” labor, writing, “I hope the candidates realize that productivity—rather than the amount of time spent in front of the books—is what counts.Additionally, everyone of them have to be aware of their own strengths and make an effort to avoid imitating others.

One X user said that these vlogs make UPSC test applicants more nervous, writing, “Sir, These kinds of vlogs, which are absurd, cause pressure and tension. Applicants should refrain from seeing this absurd content.

The seven to eight hours of necessary sleep that are not included in the eighteen-hour study plans are spent starting before dawn. Less than 30 minutes are allotted for meals. Such demanding schedules might lead to illness.