Sarkari Dreams Get An Upgrade As Gujarat Youth Eye UPSC Over GPSC

There is a noticeable rise in the numbers of aspirants who have enrolled at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA), where the focus is firmly on cracking IAS and IPS-level exams.

This year’s entrance test for SPIPA’s UPSC programme made that shift impossible to ignore. Close to 10,000 candidates appeared for the exam, conducted on July 20 across its centres in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, and Mehsana. The test followed the UPSC’s two-paper format. The turnout gave a clear sign that the aspirations of the state’s youth are shifting.

SPIPA Director General Hareet Shukla said a total of 311 candidates who have received training at the institute are now serving in various Indian administrative services. In the final results of the Civil Services Examination 2024, 259 SPIPA candidates cleared the preliminary exam, of whom 70 qualified for the interview stage, and eventually, 26 got selected. Over the past year, candidates from Gujarat have secured second, third, and 30th ranks at the All-India level.

A senior SPIPA official recalled that about a decade ago, there was a sense of hesitation among Gujarati youth when it came to cracking the UPSC. Seen as extremely difficult and demanding, many did not even consider preparing for it.

But over the past four years, the state's success stories have started to shift that mindset. Following the 2024 exam results, there has been a surge in aspirants seeking admission to SPIPA for UPSC training. Currently, 635 students are enrolled in batches across SPIPA’s five centres. This year alone, 10,000 candidates appeared for the entrance exam held at these five centres.

SPIPA’s UPSC Qualifier Success Numbers:

• 2021-22: 16
• 2022-23: 26
• 2023-24: 26

What SPIPA Offers At Its Training Centres:

• Free coaching
• Modern library
• Free Wi-Fi access
• Monthly stipend for seven months
• Incentive assistance for UPSC aspirants
• Final selection incentive for successful candidates

GPSC Holds Ground Amid UPSC Surge

Even as interest in UPSC grows across the state, the GPSC continues to attract a massive number of candidates aiming for the Class 1 to Class 3 posts. Every year, lakhs apply in hopes of securing a government job.

Chairman Hasmukh Patel shared, “At the start of the year, details of upcoming vacancies are collected from various government departments, and based on that, a calendar is published with tentative dates for announcements, tests, and results. This calendar helps candidates understand what announcements to expect and when the exams would take place.”

The GPSC includes six members apart from the Chairman, though only two have been appointed so far: Retired IAS officer Asha R Shah and retired Chief Engineer Sureshchandra K Patel. The remaining four positions are vacant. The commission recently drew attention towards the need for revising some of its examination procedures.