Archive · 28 Jan 2026
IAS Officer Ira Singhal on UPSC Exam Torture
IAS officer Ira Singhal talked about how preparing for the UPSC exams is very tough.
She said it's like giving yourself the biggest torture because it affects your body, mind, money, and relationships.
She also said that not knowing if you'll pass after years of hard work can make people feel very stressed.
Some people even blame others for not passing, which can make it harder for them to pass in the future.
Singhal, who passed the UPSC exams four times, shared these thoughts on a podcast to help others understand the difficulties of preparing for these exams.
IAS officer Ira Singhal discussed the mental and emotional challenges of UPSC exam preparation on a podcast.
She described the preparation as torture on physical, emotional, financial, social, and psychological levels.
Singhal emphasized that the pressure is self-inflicted and can lead to a mental health crisis.
She noted that uncertain results after years of preparation can negatively affect aspirants' mental health.
Singhal, who cleared the UPSC exams four times, shared her experiences to raise awareness about these challenges.
- Who
- IAS Officer Ira Singhal
- What
- Discussed mental and emotional challenges of UPSC exam preparation
- When
- Recently (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- On a podcast with Gaurav Arora
- Why
- To raise awareness about the mental health crisis among UPSC aspirants
- IAS Officer
- Ira Singhal
- Exam
- UPSC Civil Services
- Podcast Host
- Gaurav Arora
- Attempts Cleared
- 4
- Challenges
- Physical, Emotional, Financial, Social, Psychological