The educational foundation weakens under the pressure of competitive examinations.
Today’s youth is experiencing a time when opportunities abound, but the path to access them has become more complex and competitive than ever before. The increasing number of competitive exams, their lengthy procedures, and uncertain results, particularly for government jobs, have left both students and parents deeply confused. The CET (Common Eligibility Test) was presented as a major hope in this context, but the experiences of the past years raise serious questions about this hope.
In Haryana, the examination process failed to gain the desired momentum during the five-year period between 2019 and 2024. As a result, only one examination was fully completed during this period, and some related recruitments are still entangled in judicial proceedings. Even in the 2024-25 cycle, only the preliminary examination has been conducted so far. Given the slow pace at which the entire process is progressing, it is not unfounded to fear that the final results may take a long time to be released.
But this problem isn’t limited to Haryana. The situation with government recruitment processes is more or less similar in almost all states. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and even the northeastern states have consistently faced problems such as delayed recruitment exams, paper leaks, judicial disputes, and delayed results. In many states, exams aren’t held for years, and when they are, the process is so lengthy that it tests both the age and patience of candidates.
This has a profound impact on the mental, educational, and social lives of young people. Every year, millions of students graduate and seek employment, but the number of available government positions remains extremely limited. For example, if millions of candidates across the country appear for a single exam, the number of those selected is limited to thousands. In such a situation, considering government employment as the ultimate goal and relying solely on it becomes an extremely risky decision.
The most worrying aspect of this entire scenario is the rapid spread of a “non-attendance” culture. A trend is being observed in almost every state of the country, where students are avoiding regular college and university classes in the name of preparing for competitive exams. They assume that to achieve success, they must completely break away from the traditional education system. But this thinking is gradually proving detrimental to their future.
In fact, college life isn’t just about earning a degree. It’s a time when a student’s intellectual, social, and emotional development takes place. Class participation, interaction with teachers, group discussions, presentations, and co-curricular activities—all of these contribute to the development of a person’s personality. When students lose these opportunities, they lose out not only on subject knowledge but also on essential life skills.
Another serious side effect of the non-attendance culture is that students’ academic foundations weaken. They become focused solely on passing exams rather than delving deeply into the subject matter. Often, after failing competitive exams, they are left with neither a strong academic record nor any alternative career options. As a result, they lose confidence and suffer from mental stress.
It’s also worth noting that today’s world is extremely technologically advanced. Digital platforms have revolutionized education. Online coaching, video lectures, digital notes, test series, and virtual classrooms are available in every corner of the country. Therefore, the idea that it’s necessary to drop out of college to prepare for competitive exams is completely misguided. Students can prepare effectively alongside their regular studies.
By adopting a balanced and practical strategy, students can make the best use of the three years of their undergraduate education. In the first year, they should focus on their studies and engage with general knowledge, newspapers, and current affairs. This strengthens their intellectual foundation. In the second year, they can strengthen their grasp of subjects like mathematics, reasoning, and language. They can also clarify their basic concepts through the NCERT books. By the final year, they should make a clear decision whether they want to pursue higher education or competitive exams.
Higher education and private sector opportunities are also rapidly expanding across various states in the country. New doors are opening for youth in fields such as IT, management, healthcare, startups, skill-based jobs, and freelancing. Therefore, students mustn’t limit their options to government jobs, but instead explore various fields according to their skills and interests.
The role of parents becomes crucial in this entire scenario. It’s often seen that children, under pressure from their friends or society, decide to remain absent, and parents, trusting them, allow this. However, parents must understand the long-term implications of this decision and encourage their children to adopt a balanced approach. It’s not wise to rely solely on one exam or one career choice.
In today’s competitive world, success comes only to those who embrace flexibility and keep a variety of options open. Students need to strengthen their academic abilities while also focusing on skill development. Communication skills, technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and self-confidence—all these qualities help them advance in every aspect of life.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to understand that the CET (Common Eligibility Test) or any competitive exam is merely an opportunity, not the ultimate goal. It should be considered a part of life, not the entire foundation. If students pay equal attention to their studies, skills, and personality development, they can not only succeed in competitive exams but also excel in other areas of life.
The need of the hour is to adopt a balanced approach—one that combines preparation and education, goals and choices. Only then will our youth not only succeed in the job race but also contribute significantly to the nation’s development as strong, self-reliant, and informed citizens.
