If you can’t bend the mountain yourself, just wait for nature to help you bend the mountain. This is an important learning from UPSC preparation – Sometimes the circumstances, environment and mindset is not conducive to achieve your success. In those times, it is essential to take a step back and wait for the right time. Please understand that taking a step back is not bad, in fact it lays the foundation for taking two steps forward in future. I would advise aspirants to consider option B as the launchpad for their next phase of preparation. If you are not able to clear the exam in 2 consecutive years, it is important to pause for a while, consider plan B options and decide for next attempts after securing a decent job.

Some of the good plan B options are :

– State PCS exam( SDM/DSP/Tehsildar)

– RBI grade B and NABARD Grade A

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– SEBI grade A (some concepts of Finance, accounting and costing required)

– PFRDA/IRDAI Grade A

– SSC CGL

Why is Plan B important?

– Gives you mental stability while you prepare for UPSC. I experienced only 30% stress while working in NABARD and preparing for UPSC as compared to without the job preparation phase.

– Peace Phase of 1-2 years will help you to understand your weak points, lacunas in your strategy , discover things which are restricting you to perform well in UPSC. You may like to cover those areas in this peace phase and come back stronger in the UPSC exam.

– plan B will give you a decent income to take care of your needs, financials as by the age of 25 parents,society and peers start expecting you to earn on your own .

– Social Acceptance and keeping your family, friends and associated people in assurance that you are doing decent in your life and not wasting your time in UPSC as may be the case who end up wasting prime years in UPSC preparation and not ending in civil services.

– It is important to figure out that sometimes the goals we decide for ourselves are not exactly what is correct for us in life. Same may be the case for UPSC as well. Maybe you will end up in a plan B job which will give you a more comfortable and happy life than UPSC could ever give.

I would say that plan B in UPSC is not deviating from your goal. In fact at times, it is one of the methods and part of a larger strategy by which you can achieve your goals in a better manner.  Don’t take plan B as a push back, take it positively.