A Bareilly woman's 8-year UPSC preparation journey, involving multiple attempts and significant emotional/financial strain, concluded with an entry-level ₹18,000 job in Gurugram. Her candid account highlights the critical need for a 'Plan B' for aspirants facing the reality of failure.
The UPSC Civil Services Exam, one of India's toughest, sees lakhs of aspirants aiming for limited IAS, IPS, IFS posts. Experts advise quitting if performance stagnates or mental well-being suffers, highlighting the emotional, financial, and professional toll of prolonged, unsuccessful preparation. Skills gained can be reframed for other careers, and some successful candidates even pivot away from bureaucracy.
Thousands, including Kay Donald, face delays in receiving pensions after Capita took over the Civil Service Pension Scheme, causing distress and financial hardship.
Busan's civil service is bracing for a shift in local power with the election of Jeon Jae-soo of the Democratic Party as mayor. Officials are preparing reports and facing uncertainty over upcoming personnel changes and potential organizational restructuring.
Taiwan's Examination Yuan announced that the 2026 Civil Service High-Level Exams (Levels 1 & 2) will be held Oct 3-4, with 79 positions available. English proficiency test validity extended to 5 years, and BESTEP added to requirements.
Taiwan's Ministry of Civil Service clarified rules for acting duty allowances, stating overtime on holidays or after hours can count towards the 10-day minimum for the allowance if directly related to the代理職務. However, overtime hours cannot be accumulated across different days.
Hong Kong's civil service is set to implement a stricter performance review system with proposed grading distributions. The top 10-15% will be 'excellent', the bottom 5-10% will be 'unsatisfactory', and the majority will fall into the 'satisfactory' third tier. This 'bell curve' approach aims to reward high performers and address underperformers, but faces opposition from unions concerned about fairness and potential 'sycophancy'.
UK senior civil servants will receive performance bonuses for the first time under a new pay system. Most civil servants get a 3.5% rise, while senior staff receive 2.5% base increase plus 1% for bonuses. The move aims to reward high performers and improve civil service delivery.
Prachi Kumari, a farmer's daughter from Vidisha, achieved an impressive AIR 260 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, becoming the Hindi medium topper. Her journey, marked by financial struggles and reliance on self-study, highlights the power of determination and continuous hard work. Prachi's success serves as a significant inspiration to aspiring civil servants across the nation.
Hong Kong's Civil Service Secretary Ingrid Yeung announced a proposed accountability framework that will hold department heads personally liable for systemic loopholes they fail to report, potentially impacting their pay and facing consequences for governance failures.
Russia expands its alternative civil service job list from 271 to 363 positions. The updated roster includes new roles such as traumatologist, neurologist, diver, gas welder, forest fireman, turner, rigger, electrician, and zoologist. The update aligns with a revised all-Russian classifier of blue-collar and white-collar jobs that added about 1,700 positions at the start of this year.
A debate has emerged in the civil service over who bears responsibility for administrative failures - frontline officers or senior civil servants overseeing them. A new mechanism targets department heads for 'widespread, repetitive, systemic' failures, aiming to clarify administrative blame. Former ministers, high-ranking bureaucrats and political observers question the government's decision not to make it a legal requirement to publish full investigation results.
An opinion piece supporting Hong Kong's new two-tier civil service accountability system, which grants the Public Service Commission powers to investigate systemic management problems. The author praises Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan's initiative to end the culture of buck-passing, citing recent scandals including the bottled water procurement controversy, seat belt fiasco, and Tai Po fire tragedy.
China's official media has issued guidelines for civil servant candidates, emphasizing modest dress and demeanor. Appearance accounts for 5-10% of the interview score, with specific advice on clothing, makeup, and hairstyles.
The firing of Olly Robbins by Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a vetting oversight has reignited debates about the relationship between politicians and the civil service, with historical precedents suggesting such conflicts often backfire on the political leadership.
Police allege Rahul, a former domestic help from Alwar, Rajasthan, raped and murdered a 23-year-old civil services aspirant in South Delhi. The accused, who had been terminated from employment six weeks prior, used his knowledge of the house to enter and commit the crime. He is also accused in a separate sexual assault case in Alwar hours before the Delhi incident. The victim was an IIT Delhi graduate preparing for UPSC exams.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a growing rebellion within the British civil service after firing Foreign Office head Olly Robbins. The move has severely damaged trust, with officials openly criticizing the PM amid fears of political instability and potential leadership challenges.
Sources say cabinet ministers warned PM against alienating civil service after firing of official over Mandelson scandalUK politics live – latest updatesCabinet ministers have expressed concern about Keir’s Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins as the Foreign Office’s top official over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal as they warned him not to alienate the civil service, sources have told the Guardian.Several ministers spoke out about the decision to sack Robbins during a gloomy cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to multiple government sources. Continue reading...
Sir Olly Robbins faced parliamentary scrutiny over his decision to grant Peter Mandelson developed vetting clearance despite UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommending denial in red. Robbins relied on oral briefing rather than viewing the actual vetting file, describing the case as "borderline". Former senior civil servants defended Robbins, but the testimony raised questions about the opacity of the vetting system and why risks potentially related to Jeffrey Epstein were apparently missed.
Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, has been summoned to testify before a parliamentary committee regarding allegations that Downing Street pressured civil servants to approve Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing criticism from civil service union leader Dave Penman after firing Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office's permanent under secretary, over the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal. Penman warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and that no civil servant would now feel secure in their job. Lord Sedwill, former head of the civil service, called for Robbins' reinstatement, while Dame Emily Thornberry supported the dismissal. The controversy marks the seventh consecutive day of fallout from the Mandelson appointment saga.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing criticism from civil service union leaders after firing Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, over the Lord Mandelson vetting controversy. The FDA union boss Dave Penman warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and that senior officials now fear they could be dismissed 'when it is politically expedient'. Lord Sedwill, former head of the civil service, called for Sir Olly's reinstatement, while a Labour-led select committee backed the dismissal.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing criticism from senior civil servants after sacking Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, over the Lord Peter Mandelson vetting controversy. The FDA trade union warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and that no civil servant would now feel secure in their job. Dame Emily Thornberry, chairing the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, backed the sacking, saying Sir Olly was right to lose his job. The controversy marks the seventh consecutive day of political fallout from the Mandelson ambassadorial appointment.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing criticism from senior civil servants after sacking Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, over the Lord Mandelson vetting controversy. The FDA trade union general secretary warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and asked who would now think they were immune from politically expedient dismissal. Sir Olly gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, defending his decision not to share vetting details to protect the system's integrity. Dame Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP chairing the committee, backed the sacking.
