In a recent social media post, Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group, drew attention to the perceived difficulty of entrance exams in India, particularly focusing on the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam. Sharing a list of the world’s “Top Toughest Exams,” Mahindra emphasized the UPSC’s third position, just after the IIT JEE exam which ranked second.
The industrialist, who had previously praised actor Vikrant Massey’s performance in the film “12th Fail,” disclosed that the movie prompted him to explore how aspirants prepare for the UPSC exam. “12th Fail,” released on October 27, 2023, portrays the life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and IRS officer Shraddha Joshi.
Mahindra, sharing insights from his interactions, disclosed that an IIT graduate engaged in a business startup had taken both the IIT JEE and UPSC exams. According to this graduate, the UPSC exam is “much tougher than the IIT JEE.” Expressing surprise at this revelation, Mahindra suggested that if this perception is widespread, the world ranking of toughest exams might need reconsideration.
The World Ranking, as of October 26, 2023, positioned China’s Gaokao as the world’s toughest exam, followed by India’s IIT JEE and UPSC exams in second and third place, respectively. Other notable Indian exams, such as GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering), secured the eighth spot on the list.
In his tweet, Mahindra raised questions about the accuracy of the rankings and urged a potential reevaluation. The rankings also included exams from other countries, such as Mensa in England, GRE and CFA in the US and Canada, CCIE in the US, USMLE, and California Bar Exam.
Earlier in January, Mahindra had lauded “12th Fail” in a detailed post on social media, highlighting the movie’s plot, acting, and narrative style. He particularly commended Vikrant Massey’s performance, stating that it merited a National Film Award.
In response to Mahindra’s appreciation, Vikrant Massey expressed gratitude, acknowledging Mahindra’s inspiration and recognizing the impact of their efforts.
As discussions around the perceived toughness of entrance exams continue, Mahindra’s observations have sparked conversations about the challenges and rigor associated with exams like the UPSC, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on education and career paths in India.
Sources By Agencies