1 week ago
UPSC Aspirant Sells Years of Books for Rs 464
A young man spent several years studying for the UPSC civil services examination.
He tried four times to pass it.
He reached the Mains stage three times, but his latest attempt ended in the earlier Prelims stage.
He eventually decided to stop preparing for the exam.
He sold his books and notes to a scrap dealer for Rs 464.
The books reminded him of many years of hard work and personal sacrifices.
He felt sad that all those years were being weighed like ordinary paper.
He donated the money to a temple and said there would be no next attempt.
Other aspirants said they understood his pain and wished him well.
A 26-year-old UPSC aspirant sold years of books and study materials to a scrap dealer for Rs 464.
He made four attempts, appearing in Mains in 2023, 2024 and 2025 before failing to qualify for Mains in his latest attempt.
His preparation included NCERT books, Laxmikant, test papers, mock exams and handwritten notes.
He said he had sacrificed a high-paying job, a four-year relationship and years of personal effort during his preparation.
He donated the Rs 464 to a temple, saying he would not make another UPSC attempt; his post drew supportive responses online.
- Who
- A 26-year-old UPSC aspirant who had made four civil services examination attempts.
- What
- He sold his UPSC books and study materials for Rs 464 and announced that he was leaving the examination journey.
- Where
- He described the experience in a Reddit post; the books were sold to a scrap dealer and the money was donated at a temple.
- When
- After his latest attempt, which followed Mains appearances in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
- Why
- He decided to stop after years of preparation, sacrifices and repeated attempts, with the latest ending at the Prelims stage.
Key facts
- Aspirant's age
- 26
- Number of attempts
- Four UPSC attempts
- Mains appearances
- Three consecutive appearances in 2023, 2024 and 2025
- Latest result
- He failed to qualify for Mains after the latest Prelims attempt
- Scrap-sale amount
- Rs 464
- Career sacrifice
- He declined a high-paying job in 2022 to pursue civil services
- Final action
- He donated the Rs 464 at a temple
Quotes
The 26-year-old UPSC aspirant
A UPSC aspirant who ended his civil services examination journey after four attempts.
“Yesterday I sold the last lot of it. The NCERTs I started with. Laxmikant. My very first test papers, the ones from when this whole thing still felt like a beginning instead of an ending. And a lot more.”
NDTV
The 26-year-old UPSC aspirant
A UPSC aspirant describing the emotional and personal cost of his preparation.
“Restart after restart. Hope, grit, that stubborn fighter spirit that kept saying one more try. But when the last book finally went on the pile, all of that, the years, the version of myself I built and rebuilt for this, got measured in kilograms.”
NDTV
The 26-year-old UPSC aspirant
A UPSC aspirant explaining what he did with the money from selling his study materials.
“I took the Rs 464 and donated it at the temple.”
NDTV
Sources
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