Lost Man Years and The Cost of Misalignment
Dear Friends and Students
A few days back, one of my friends forwarded the left side of the picture above in the context of market sentiment and fluctuations during this period. After going through this picture deeply, I want to align this with a different perspective. I added something different on the right side now!
Indian competitive examinations are the toughest in the world. UPSC Civil Services Examination selection rate is between 0.1 to 0.3%. The National Defence Academy (NDA) success rate is 0.1%. UCEED (common entrance for Design) success rate is 0.7%. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced for IITs success rate is 1.5%. The Common Admission Test (CAT) success rate is 2%. The National Institute of Design (NID) Entrance success rate is 3%. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) success rate is 4%. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) success rate is 6 to 7%. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) success rate is 15-17%. The Chartered Accountant (CA) success rate is 25%. If you think Bollywood or Tollywood's success rate, they are less than 0.01%. This career success would be much tougher than other competitive examinations!! This data might vary here and there but the intention is to showcase the shrewdness of the competition.
In a country of 140 crores population, if there is a small mistake in the preparation or aspirational mismatch, it costs heavily. More than to the individual, it costs the Nation’s aspiration and economy. If one student wrongly makes a choice, would cost him a minimum of 2-man years of effort loss. E.g. this year 11,70,000 students prepared for JEE for 2 years. We all know only 1.5% of them would go to IITs. The rest of the 98%, covering 23,00,000-man years of the effort is futile. Assume 10,00,000-man years go for genuine learning, useful in future applications and individual learning. The rest of the 13,00,000-man years of wrong selection of aspiration is completely lost!! If you sum up all competitions together, this number would be astronomical. Nearly two dozen students have taken their lives in Kota in the past eight months (The Hindu, 07, Sep 2023). It is because of a misalignment of aspirations or an inability to see beyond this line.
Why this is happening? It is a clear mismatch of knowing our strengths and weaknesses! If one selects a career aspiration based on individual socio-physical-psychological nature or natural intelligence, the same lost man years would become the most productive man years (As shown in right side of the picture), and constructively Nation can capitalize on this. NEP-2020 is all up for this game change.
1. A Head Smart student should apply for JEE but not for NID/UCEED!
2. A Hand Smart student should apply for Skill based job but not for Civil Services
3. A Heart Smart student should prepare for his/her startup but not for GATE!
4. A Heel Smart student should prepare for NDA but not a long-sitting office job!
It requires a lot of societal changes and thinking. The left of the picture teaches us a great lesson! We need to identify whether our kids are Giraffe or Rabbit and push them to the “Water Pool of Competition”.
Do You Agree?
Ravi Saripalle
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
View Details
Like
2 Comments
Repost
You may also like
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
B. Tech (4 years) courses offered at IITs
What are the courses offered at IITsThe 23 IITs in India offer variety of courses for the students in different streams. Some of the IITs offer courses like Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Engineering,
Dr. N.V. Satyanaryana
Published 7d+
Target NEET
NEET or National Entrance cum Eligibility Test conducted annually by the NTA (National Testing Agency) is a medical entrance test carried out across the country. Every year more than 15 lakh students appear
Jampana Srinivas Raju.
Published 7d+
Stream Selection @ 10th Grade For A Successful Career
STREAM SELECTION @ 10TH GRADE FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER10th Standard is a defining moment for every Indian student. Once the Board exams are over, every student needs to decide on selecting a stream
Prof. N. Chitti Babu
Published 7d+
Q&A with the expert in Chemical Engineering
What is Chemical Engineering?Prof: Chemical engineering is the field of applied science that employs physical, chemical, and biochemical rate processes for the betterment of humanity.What
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
National Sanskrit University (NSU): A Comprehensive Overview
Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, now known as National Sanskrit University (NSU), is a central university located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Established in 1956 under the Ministry of Education
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
COMEDK UGET
About COMEDK UGET 2025The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) conducts the Undergraduate Entrance Test (UGET) for admission to engineering courses in approximately
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
What is EEE? Is an academic program that deals with Electrical and Electronics Engineering. It was one of the most sought-after courses amongst engineering students. Presently it is
VENKATESH PANYAM
Published 7d+
Let Them Pop: Why Students Need Their Own Time to Excel
Dear Teachers and Parents,As parents and teachers, we often expect all students to excel at the same rate, assuming that if they are all exposed to the same environment and resources, they should all
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
Streams Available After 10th in the Indian & International Education Systems
After Class 10, students step into a crucial phase where they choose a stream that aligns with their interests, strengths, and future career goals. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
The Complete Guide to Medical Specializations: From MBBS to DM/MCh
🩺 Undergraduate DegreeBachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)A 5½-year professional medical degree combining theoretical learning and clinical exposure. This is
Dr. Satish Raj Kuchipudi
Published 7d+
Is Master's Degree Worth It? Factors to Consider Before Pursuing Further Education
The question "Is master's degree worth it?" is legitimate and justified given that technology makes higher education more accessible and that there are many different fields of study.
The Art of Teaching
Published 7d+
The Power of Relationships in Education
In the fast-paced world of education, teachers often find themselves juggling lesson plans, assessments, and administrative tasks. However, amidst the hustle, one fundamental truth remains unchanged: education
Related Blogs
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
The Invisible Man
How an Invisible Man is Killing Traditional Jobs and Creating Alternative Opportunities?Dear FriendsListen to my story! I am not threatening you but to create awareness! This is Ravi Saripalle.
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
The Cost of Wasted Time: A Reflection on Networking, Focus, and Productivity
The Cost of Wasted Time: A Reflection on Networking, Focus, and ProductivityDear Friends,Recently, I came across a post on X by Naval Ravikant that said, “Networking is overrated. Go do something
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
The Right Shift of Merit: The Lost Bell Curve
Dear Friends,This is the season of results. From as early as 5th standard, both students and parents are preoccupied—not about passing or failing, nor about third, second, or even first class—but
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
B. Tech (4 years) courses offered at IITs
What are the courses offered at IITsThe 23 IITs in India offer variety of courses for the students in different streams. Some of the IITs offer courses like Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Engineering,
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
A Piece of Advice!
A Piece of Advice Amid Global LayoffsDear 3rd/2nd Year StudentsA Piece of Advice! If it appeals to you, Please consider it. If not, Please ignore this message. There is a famous quote- "Whatever
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Living in scarcity vs. Living in Abundance!!
Plenty but Purposeless results are Pathetic! Living in scarcity vs. Living in Abundance!! Read this perspectiveDear Friends and StudentA coupleuple of days back I received a LinkedIn message with the