UPSC Journey: Do You Really Need a Plan B?

  UPSC Journey: Do You Really Need a Plan B? Last month, after not seeing my name in the prelims qualification list , I asked myself a question I had always avoided: ‘Do I need a Plan B?’ For days, I kept replaying the moment in my head—hours of study, sleepless nights, and yet one small gap decided the outcome. Friends told me to keep trying, relatives asked what I would do next, and deep inside, I wondered if focusing only on UPSC was courage or risk. That’s when the thought of a Plan B stopped being a distraction and became a genuine dilemma. I realized I’m not the only one. Every UPSC aspirant, whether on their first attempt or fifth, faces this uncomfortable question at some point: should I put all my energy into Plan A, or keep a Plan B as insurance? And the answer isn’t the same for everyone. The truth is—there’s no single answer. For some, having a backup plan brings peace of mind and financial security. For others, it feels like a distraction that dilutes focus. And that’s...