Abhishek is preparing for “general competition” —a term connoting that the student in question is preparing for all job examinations. After completing matriculation, many youngsters in North India start preparing for government jobs. These exams are often mired in delays—cancellation of exams, question paper leaks, court cases—and can take 3-4 years to complete, right from issuing notification to joining the service. This is why these government job aspirants seemingly appear to be stuck in a Kafkaesque loop.

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Anil, who recently cleared the librarian grade-III exam conducted by Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Service Selection Board (RSMSSB) narrated an episode about his ordeal. The Rajasthan government had advertised a vacancy for a librarian grade-III post in 2018, and in the notification, a date in July 2019 was announced for the exam. But the government reopened the exam forms again in June 2019, so the exam date was shifted to December 29, 2019. “After the exam, we heard that the question paper was leaked, and the exam would be conducted again,” he says. April 13, 2020, was the date chosen for the re-examination. “As Covid put everything on halt, the exam was postponed to September 29, 2020. On this day, an exam was conducted, and in October the results were announced.” Anil was selected and his documents, verified. “Then a case was filed in Rajasthan high court to cancel the exam because the paper had been leaked. We had to hire lawyers to fight andpay their fees,” he says.

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In March 2021, the final results were announced. In June 2021, the district of his posting was allotted and in September 2021, the students were asked to join. “The process took over three years. This is the story of every exam. The process takes years to complete,” Anil says, with a wry smile. “We never thought that as students, we will have to fight cases or protest for exams. We had to meet politicians because the government didn’t listen to our plight.”

Anil believes that the state government doesn’t care about exams of lower grade services, as on some occasions, the government agencies don’t even define a syllabus properly. “To comprehend dark humour, check the syllabus of these exams. Some exam syllabus just say ‘General Knowledge’. What does this mean? Every exam should have a defined syllabus like UPSC, NDA, etc.”

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Adjacent to Abhishek’s room, lives Man Singh Gurjar, a 27-year-old man from Bagoda village in Jalore district of Rajasthan. Since morning, he had been in a private library until he decided to go back home for lunch at 1pm. He is preparing for Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teacher (REET). Gurjar does not show any signs of worry, despite the precarious condition he is in. He doesn’t doubt his capability of passing the exam, but continues to suffer due to the agency’s failure to conduct it on time. “I was selected for a constable’s post in 2012, but failed the physical test. I know I can clear these exams, but often the notification doesn’t come on time.” Now he spends all day in the library and room. His friends and younger brothers are also at the library, preparing for various exams. Like a common chord uniting them as a family.

“We live like a family, because we do not want to face relatives back home. I keep getting asked what I am doing, whether I have any job or not. Everything becomes a question of competence. If I don’t have a job, my relatives think I am incompetent,” says Shachin Singh, a government job aspirant. “I don’t attend weddings, parties or any event at my relatives, because I am constantly asked the same question and then sneered at, which is humiliating,” he adds.

Most of these students stay in their respective state capital or at cities known for their coaching institutes. Friends Ravi Meena, Sunesh Meena, and Naveen Meena have rented a room in Jaipur for Rs 4,000 per month. “Our monthly expense goes up to Rs 5,000-6,000, which is higher than we can afford. It becomes a bigger pain when the exam is stuck in legal trouble.”

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For the past few months, the Rajasthan Unemployment Association has been holding massive protests against the government, demanding the advancement of recruitment process of unemployed youth to posts of lab assistant, teacher, technician, nurse, pharmacist, Panchayati Raj lower division clerk, sanitary inspectors and others. They also demand strict action against cases of question paper leaks, which has become a frequent thing. This recently happened with the constable recruitment exam.

“We prepare by giving it our all, but those with resources, money and contacts get the exam papers in advance,” says Rajesh Meena, a protesting student. Minister of Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship in the Rajasthan Assembly, Ashok Chandna, presented data to show how his government is working for the unemployed youth, saying, “A total of 16,54,106 unemployed are registered in the state as on February 1, 2022. Out of these, a total of 6,11,831 youth applied for unemployment allowance under Mukhyamantri Yuva Sambal Yojana. Out of which, 4,02,826 candidates have benefited since January 31, 2022.”

However, the students are not impressed. “Why do we have to protest? No serious student will protest unless they are compelled to. The government should stop paper leaks and take strict action against the culprits. Action must also be taken on those who secure jobs with fake certificates. But the government is busy in its own world and doesn’t care about the youth,” adds Meena.

Protests by government job aspirants have become a recurring phenomenon in the entire North India belt. Recently, a nationwide student protest erupted during the UP assembly elections over alleged inefficient and delayed results announced by Railway Recruitment Board’s Non Technical Popular Categories (RRB-NTPC) examination.

This protest lso let out years of pent up frustration endured by unemployed youth. The problems in the RRB-NTPC exam just became the trigger. The railways announced 35,281 openings in 2019 and received 12.5 million applications. After three years, it has only announced the result of Computer Based Test-1 (CTBT-1) on January 14, 2022, and it is still uncertain how much time will it take to process.

As per the independent think tank Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), more than half of the 900 million Indians of legal working age don’t want a job, which is roughly the population of USA and Russia combined. Many of these youths are either preparing for some exam or underemployed in some family profession. This indicates how grave this crisis is.

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The stretch of Tonk Phatak to Gopalpur in Jaipur is populated with coaching institutes, libraries, canteens, tea stalls–the universal design of an urbanscape where students are found. Areas like Mukherjee Nagar, Karol Bagh, Jia Sarai in Delhi, Bagada and Salori areas of Prayagraj share eerie similarities as areas whose occupants are preparing for government jobs. Bikes, cycles and students waiting in queues outside a coaching institute with their bags are a common sight here. Scenes that show how institutes sell hope amidst a mounting job crisis. “The government does not recognise what we do. Our education system has already crumbled. But we provide a link between students aspiring for government jobs and government agencies hiring these students,” says a teacher at an institute here. “We groom these raw talents. But the narrative outside criminalises us. Just imagine wiping us from this system, what will happen? This crisis will exacerbate because students often lack basic math, reasoning and language skills,” he adds.

Every coaching institute, however, has a typical design suggesting something problematic. When this reporter asked coaching institutes about fees and number of students, the answers were vague. “The amount we charge is just to help us sustain, and it is nominal,” says a few. But every institute has a corporate-type reception, a few bouncers and a list of packages for students aspiring government jobs. When this reporter tried to click pictures of coaching institutes, most of them refused, especially the big names. Students have a mixed response to coaching. Some feel these institutes play a crucial role. Others outright admit that these places just want to snatch money, and take credit for a student’s success by paying them some money.

Libraries in the areas of coaching hubs, have redefined themselves. Instead of books, these are places where one can find space to study with those who share the same pain and struggle. Charges vary—for a six-hour membership, students pay Rs 500-700 and, for full day and night, it amounts to Rs 1,200-1,800. In this deal, students get free WiFi, water and a space to study. “We study here. We make friendships. Nobody judges us here because everyone knows the state of exams. So, it’s the safest space one can have,” says Shalini Singh, who is preparing for the village development officer exam, explaining what libraries mean to students. “As a girl, I am facing another kind of pressure apart from long tedious exams; if I don’t pass the exam, I will be married off.” ?

However, years wasted in the preparation affect the personal life of students. “I am not looking for a bride right now, because I don’t have a job. I don’t have the courage to speak to girls, so there is no chance of having a girlfriend,” confides Balvir Singh. When asked why he is not trying his luck with private jobs, he says, “We can’t opt for private jobs as it will affect our marriage prospects. Government jobs provide security as no one can remove you from the post. Prospective brides outrightly reject us if we don’t have government jobs.” Another fact: a government job brings in more dowry. “Besides, preparing for a government job is a big compulsion. Many students come from lower income groups and don’t have skills for private jobs. So, we keep preparing for government exams, until we clear one,” concludes Singh.?

(This appeared in the print edition as "The Waiting Game")