Every year, thousands chase the dream of becoming civil servants-but some never make it out alive. In 2025, the UPSC exam system has again come under fire after multiple student suicides rocked the community. Most recently, 25-year-old Tarun Thakur took his life in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, leaving behind a detailed suicide note. In May, a similar case occurred in Indore with aspirant Asha Uikey, followed by 28-year-old Prem Sharma in Varanasi.

Aspirants say the system feels rigged, opaque, and deafeningly silent. Delayed answer keys, suspected paper leaks, and lack of mental health support push candidates into despair. Many face this struggle alone, with no emotional cushion to fall back on.

“There’s no light at the end of the tunnel,” says Saurabh, an aspirant who failed his final attempt. From roll number clustering to long waits for results, students feel abandoned by the very system meant to uplift them.

Without transparency or mental health support, UPSC is no longer just a competitive exam-it’s a mental warzone.