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Jagpreet
09 August, 2024
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Every year lakhs of students leave their hometowns and sacrifice their social life to achieve that one goal of clearing UPSC exam. Even after those sleepless nights and years of hard work, many aspirants get stuck at the final interview round. But, it is not the end, you might be low on energy and motivation, but remember one thing – if plan A doesn’t work, you have plan B. Yes, it is very important to have a backup plan or at least an idea of what you can do if not UPSC. Having a plan B does not mean you lack focus. It highlights your strategic thinking and capability to deal positively with failures. That is why, many UPSC aspirants go for online/distance courses while preparing for the exam. Being an online course, it will be flexible and economical, ideal for someone with other commitments.
Are you wondering how you can take time from your rigorous preparation and pursue a different course? Preparing for plan B does not mean you have to choose an entirely new field. You should select an online course related to the subjects you have to study for UPSC exam such as public administration, IT, social work, or any subject aligning with your optional subject. This will give you a common ground to shoot two birds with the same bullet.
So if you are a UPSC aspirant and want to prepare your plan B, this blog is for you. Here, we have discussed the top online courses you can pursue while preparing for UPSC.
MBA: Master of Business Administration is a two-year postgraduate degree programme delivered in online, distance, and offline modes. For UPSC aspirants, an online/distance MBA is a good option to pursue while continuing with their preparation. Online MBA is affordable and you don’t have to quit any other commitment. In this course, there are online classes, recorded lectures, and self-study material which you can refer to at your convenience. Even though you are not able to clear UPSC after six attempts, you can always take courses like an MBA for a fulfilling career.
Master of Public Administration: Since you are preparing for UPSC, public administration is a huge component of the exam. Pursuing this course online/distance will have two-way benefits. It will help you with your preparations and get you a master’s degree. So in case you cannot clear UPSC, you will have an option to follow other career paths smoothly.
Content Marketing: UPSC preparation needs years of preparation. In such a long duration, the market is bound to change with new technologies and advancements. Staying abreast with the trends will make it easy to transition into a new field. Content marketing is one of the popularly chosen career paths of the current times. Many platforms like Coursera, Great Learning, SWAYAM, etc offer this certificate course at an affordable range. The course is not that demanding to affect your preparation and it will also help you in answer writing in the exam.
Business Analytics: Today analytics does not need any introduction. Being a UPSC aspirant you might already know how analytics, AI, and machine learning are taking over the business world. Therefore, adding this skill to your profile will make you job-ready.
Cybersecurity: Along with your preparations you can pursue a cybersecurity certificate course from Google, Coursera or any online platform. In this digital wave, cybersecurity professionals are in huge demand. It is one of the job-oriented courses which is a great backup plan, especially if you are from a technical background.
Master of Arts (MA): MA is the most common online/distance degree pursued by UPSC aspirants. It is a three-year postgraduate course which can be pursued in different streams. Being a UPSC candidate it is best to choose majors such as psychology, sociology, social work, public policy or related to the optional subject they have chosen for the exam. It is a smart way to relate the MA course with your UPSC preparation.
Master of Science (MSc.): Similar to MA, if you are from a science background and have chosen a science-related optional subject in UPSC, then pursuing an online MSc is an ideal choice.
Accountancy or M.Com: You can either go for a short-term course in accounts or pursue a two-year online M.Com degree. Accountants are required everywhere, and enhancing your skills in this area will make you job-ready. On the other hand, you can choose a commerce-related optional subject in the UPSC exam and then M.Com or its related course can give you two-way benefits.
Many renowned dignitaries could not clear the exams even after multiple attempts, yet are doing great in their lives. Veteran Indian politician Kapil Sibal, ex-CEA Arvind Subramanium and distinguished journalist Ravish Kuma are among those who could not crack UPSC but mustered up the courage to stand again and rise. Preparing for one of the toughest exams in the world trains you for the toughest challenges and are already knowledgeable enough to find a suitable job. The only thing you need is the right direction, the right course, and truckloads of motivation. To know which course will suit you best, you can contact us and our counsellors will help you get through.
If you can’t clear UPSC, don’t lose hope and go for plan B. You can either apply for other government exams which have similar syllabi, pursue an online course, become a teacher or work for a non-government organisation. Apart from this, you can explore numerous career opportunities.
A bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, history, public policy, governance, geography or similar subjects are suitable choice for clearing UPSC.
As per the world ranking, India’s IIT JEE exam is tougher than UPSC which is at 3rd rank in the world.
No, 27 is not too late to start for UPSC. Many applicants start their preparation at this age after working for a few years or completing their higher studies.
