Why MSc, MA and BTech graduates are applying for lower-level govt jobs like UP Police constable?

The Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment Examination has become more than just a test for aspiring police personnel. Across the state, candidates with master's degrees, engineering qualifications and teacher training certificates are competing for constable posts, highlighting the challenges many educated young people face in finding jobs that match their qualifications.

More than 28.86 lakh candidates have applied for 32,679 constable and equivalent posts, making the competition intense. For many applicants, the recruitment drive represents a chance to secure a stable government job amid limited employment opportunities.

Candidates from different districts said they were willing to take up jobs below their qualifications because they could not find suitable work elsewhere.

'I need a job'

Chandra Shekhar Gupta from Ballia, who has completed an MSc, said unemployment forced him to apply for the constable post.

"I am an MSc graduate, but unemployment has compelled me to appear for this examination so that I can get a job," he told news agency PTI.

BTech graduate Chandrakala Srivastava from Basti echoed a similar concern.

"Engineering jobs are not easily available. If any job is available, one needs to take it," she said.

Vandana Chauhan from Gorakhpur, who has a BA and BTC qualification, said she had been waiting years for vacancies related to her educational background.

"I have done a BA and BTC (Basic Training Certificate for a teacher's job), but vacancies for these qualifications have not come for eight years. I am appearing for the police exam because I need a job," she said.

Another candidate, Ashish Singh from Deoria, who has completed an MA, said many young people were being forced to compete for available opportunities regardless of their qualifications.

Source: PLFS

What numbers show

The rush of MSc, MA and BTech graduates towards constable posts reflects a wider challenge in India's job market. While more young people are earning college degrees than ever before, many continue to struggle to find employment that matches their qualifications.

According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), unemployment among graduates stood at 11.2 per cent, more than three times India's overall unemployment rate of 3.1 per cent, according to a Forbes India analysis of the government data.

The gap becomes even more striking among young people. A recent report by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University found that 67 per cent of unemployed Indians aged between 20 and 29 are graduates. The findings suggest that higher education is no longer a guarantee of employment for many young Indians.

The figures suggest that many educated young people continue to struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications, leading them to compete for positions that require lower educational credentials. For many aspirants, the attraction of a government job lies in the stability, regular income and long-term security it offers.
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