For young people today, public service remains a significant career goal, especially among Generation Z, where employment has become a primary concern. Consequently, the reliability of exams for government positions raises serious questions among young individuals.
According to the 'Nation's Mood' (MOTN) survey conducted by India Today and C-Voter, the youth's opinions on this matter have become clear. Most young people are uncertain about the impartiality of entrance exams. It is evident that a significant portion of the youth does not fully trust the fairness of these exams.
The survey data indicates that 40 percent of young people stated they completely distrust the fairness of exams for government positions. Furthermore, 27 percent believe their trust level is not very high. Thus, a total of 67 percent of people have low or no trust in the impartiality of the exams. This figure reflects growing anxiety among the youth. Many young people spend years preparing to obtain government jobs, investing both effort and resources. Therefore, any doubts about the examination process can negatively affect the youth's confidence.
In the survey, 14 percent of participants expressed very high trust in the fairness of the exams, while 9 percent reported a sufficiently high level of trust. This means that only 23 percent of people fully or significantly trust the entrance examination procedure. Additionally, 10 percent of participants could not answer the question or lacked information.
This opinion was voiced at a time when job searching had become the most important issue for young people. In the MOTN survey, 53 percent of Generation Z representatives named employment as their biggest problem. Twenty-two percent of young people considered education the most important issue. The rising cost of living, i.e., living expenses, was a major concern for 12 percent of the youth, while only 4 percent cited mental health issues. This suggests that young people are currently paying the most attention to issues related to careers and employment.
Young people were also asked about opportunities available in the country. 32 percent of young people believe that hard work and talent still matter, meaning one group believes there is a path to success through effort. However, 26 percent of young people are convinced that money and connections play a more important role. 22 percent stated that there are very few opportunities in the country, and 14 percent noted that opportunities exist but are limited to certain fields.
For young people preparing for civil service, an entrance exam is not just a test; it represents years of preparation and hopes. Therefore, trust in the examination process is crucial. MOTN data shows that a significant number of young people are uncertain about the impartiality of the exams, while the proportion of youth citing employment as their main concern is also quite high. Under these circumstances, transparency and fairness of the selection process become critically important for maintaining youth trust.