The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opened a new door for talented candidates who narrowly miss the final cut in civil services exams, connecting them with private sector job opportunities.
The UPSC Challenge: A Common Predicament
Imagine dedicating years to preparing for India’s toughest professional test, the Civil Services Examination, only to fall short at the final hurdle. This is the reality for thousands of aspirants each year.
Many, like 32-year-old Arun K, find themselves overqualified academically but lacking in traditional work experience, making it tough to kickstart a professional career.
Arun, despite his master’s degree and impressive performance in the UPSC written exams, initially landed an entry-level administrative job. His potential wasn’t fully recognized until a private company discovered his UPSC record.
Introducing Pratibha Setu: Bridging the Gap
Arun’s career turnaround was thanks to the UPSC’s Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS), now rebranded as ‘Pratibha Setu’. This initiative shares details of willing, non-recommended candidates with potential employers.
The logic is clear: while only a fraction of candidates are recommended for civil services, around 26,000 others demonstrate high proficiency by clearing rigorous written exams. These individuals are a valuable talent pool.
Launched in 2018, the scheme initially focused on government organizations and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), but its impact was limited. To truly make a difference, a wider approach was needed.
Expanding Opportunities to the Private Sector
To widen the reach, UPSC recently launched a dedicated online portal. This platform allows registered private companies, alongside government entities, to access information about non-recommended candidates.
Companies can use an identification number, verified via the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), to log in. They can then browse a list of candidates who have consented to share their details.
The portal provides candidates’ percentile scores, short biodatas, educational qualifications, and contact information. Organizations can also use subject and discipline-wise search filters to find suitable matches.
Beyond Civil Services: A Broad Spectrum of Talent
The Pratibha Setu scheme isn’t just for Civil Services Examination candidates. It extends to aspirants from various other UPSC exams, including:
- Engineering Services Examination
- Indian Forest Service Examination
- Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination
- Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
- Combined Medical Services Examination
- Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination
- National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination
- Combined Defence Service Examination
This wide scope ensures a diverse pool of highly capable individuals is available to employers.
Tracking Success and Future Outlook
UPSC is actively tracking the selection process, from shortlisting to the issuance of appointment letters. Commission officials regularly contact registered companies to update the status of selections.
While still in its early stages, the involvement of the private sector has significantly boosted the scheme’s response. This initiative highlights UPSC’s commitment to ensuring that no talent goes to waste.
- UPSC’s ‘Pratibha Setu’ (formerly PDS) connects non-recommended candidates with job opportunities.
- It now includes the private sector via a dedicated, secure online portal.
- Candidates’ educational qualifications and percentile scores from rigorous UPSC exams are shared.
- The scheme covers a wide range of UPSC examinations, not just Civil Services.
- UPSC actively tracks candidate placements to monitor the program’s success.
This forward-thinking approach ensures that highly skilled individuals, even if they don’t join public service, can contribute significantly to various sectors.
