5 Myths Related to UPSC Exam: See Here Reality Check

The UPSC Civil Service Prelims exam 2025 will be conducted on May 25, 2025, at the designated exam centres. The candidates can see here some of the myths associated with the Union Public Service Commission and the Civil Service Exam and the contrasting facts associated with each myth.

5 Myths Against UPSC Exam

Myths Associated with UPSC: The Union Public Service Commission is the highest direct recruitment body in India. The UPSC conducts various exams every year to recruit candidates as per the requests received from various departments and ministries. The passing percentage of the UPSC exams is very low. The failed candidates always search for the avenues which can satisfy their grievances. This gave birth to various myths around the UPSC exams. The most popular exam of the Commission is the UPSC IAS Exam.

UPSC conduct the following exams to recruit candidates for Group A and B officers through open competition.

• Civil Services Exam
• Engineering Services Exam(IES)
• Combined Armed Police Forces Exam (CAPF)
• Combined Medical Services Exam (CMS)
• Indian Economic Services/Indian Statistical Services Exam (IES/ISS)
• Combined Geo-Scientist Exam
• Combined Defence Services Exam (CDS)
• National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam (NDA & NA)

UPSC is the apex recruiting body and the most trusted one too. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) works as per the exam calendar and all the events are conducted on time.  But, the UPSC follow its own rules and regulations and does not divulge any details to the public at large. 

Also Read: UPSC 2025 Prelims Exam Analysis

This secretive working style of UPSC gave birth to various myths about its working. Various coaching institutes and mentors interpret the working of UPSC in their own way, which spread these myths more than anything.  Moreover, the candidates who are not selected also manipulate the facts and spread the rumours. Let us analyse some myths about the UPSC exam.

Myth 1: UPSC is the toughest exam

This myth is created because of the low passing ratio in the UPSC exam. Specifically when we talk about the Civil Service (IAS) exam. UPSC is not the toughest exam if the candidate has the calibre, motivation, right strategy, good study resources, experienced mentors and ability to do smart work.

IAS toppers also study from the same sources of IAS preparation but they express their views differently in the exam which fetches them more marks. The key to success in the exam is in the answer writing in the main exam. Most of the IAS toppers suggest their strategy but the average candidates listen to them and read about their strategy but most of them do not inculcate the same in their strategy.

Myth 2: UPSC is biased towards English Medium

This is a second myth created by most of the Hindi Medium candidates who do not select for the IAS exam. But, it is not true. The fact is that the UPSC requires maintaining the standard of exam for all the candidates appearing across the nation. Various candidates appear in the IAS exam in their language. To maintain the standard of the exam, UPSC asks interdisciplinary questions but the study material available for Hindi medium candidate is not sufficiently cover the perspective of UPSC. This is the reason that the Hindi Medium toppers suggest reading English newspapers to get the perspective required to clear the exam.

Some candidates waste their time discussing the petty politics of the parties instead of focussing on the political issues. This waste their precious time. Hindi newspapers play a role in developing such habits in the candidates.

Myth 3: UPSC requires 14 to 18 hours of Study

Most of the candidates think that the UPSC exam requires 14 to 18 hours of daily studies and without which it is impossible to clear the IAS exam. But, it is not true. There are examples where the candidates have topped the exam with a job in hand.

The candidates should understand that it is not the number of hours but the quality of studies, which matters the most. Some candidates clear the IAS exam by studying six to seven hours a day. There are UPSC IAS toppers who were the already selected candidates who were undergoing the training. They manage to study for 4 to 5 hours only but still, they topped the exam.

The other thing is how the candidate presents their idea in the main exam and the UPSC interview. Representation of ideas makes the difference and to improve the presentation of ideas, the candidates must practice as much as they can.

Myth 4: The Candidate should be a topper in Academics to Clear UPSC

This is pure myth and it has no connection with reality. Nowadays various IAS officers shared their mark sheets having only passing marks in their academics. Some IAS toppers even failed in their school class. The UPSC provides a level playing field to all the candidates hence the educational qualification required to apply for the IAS exam is a graduate degree only irrespective of percentage. Any graduate can apply for the IAS exam.

UPSC is not concerned about the percentage in academics, it is a competitive exam and no additional marks are added for a better academic record. The candidates who prepare for the IAS exam in a planned manner can clear it irrespective of their academic record.

Myth 5: Coaching is essential to Clear the UPSC exam

As per numerous IAS toppers, coaching is not necessary to clear the IAS exam. Various free sources can be referred to prepare for the IAS exam. Various candidates clear the IAS exam without coaching. Nowadays due to the IT revolution, internet connectivity is affordable now for most candidates. Most of the IAS toppers share their prefparation strategy online either on YouTube or on their blogs which are free for all. There are various channels on YouTube providing free current affairs preparation.

All the NCERT books are free to download. There are various websites, which provide the coaching material, IAS toppers notes and other study materials free. The candidate can ask the IAS toppers directly about any doubt about the concept and in most cases, they get a reply. There are some state governments which are running free coaching for the UPSC exam. They conduct the entrance exam and select the candidates for free residential coaching.

The above are the most popular myths against the Union Public Service Commission. But all the baseless and false. The candidates should not bother about the myths and focus on the IAS syllabus because they should prepare it in the light of previous years' IAS question papers.

Also Read

UPSC Toppers Tips for UPSC Prelims Exam

UPSC Prelims Syllabus Explained