Duvvuri Subbarao, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has urged a sweeping reform of the nation’s civil services recruitment system. In a compelling opinion piece published in The Times of India, Subbarao proposed two major changes: lowering both the upper age limit and the number of attempts allowed for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, and creating a structured mid-career entry route into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for experienced professionals in their 40s.
Congratulating the successful candidates of the 2024 Civil Services Exam — a notoriously competitive test — Subbarao also drew attention to the often-overlooked plight of the many aspirants who dedicate years of their youth to preparation but do not succeed. “For every successful candidate, there are at least ten others who have also spent years preparing, only to be left with nothing. Isn’t that a tragic waste of some of the most productive years of their lives?” he questioned.
By introducing reforms, Subbarao believes the system can better serve both the nation and its aspiring civil servants, while also tapping into the vast pool of seasoned professionals who bring real-world expertise to governance.
