New Delhi: When Rishabh Raj Jain posted on X that he had cleared UPSC exam with an All India Rank of 377 and been allocated the Indian Revenue Service, the replies were full of congratulations. That was in 2024. Last week, when he announced he had taken the exam again, secured a higher rank of 163, and was on his way to becoming an IPS officer, the reaction online was quite the opposite.
While some lashed out that he had ‘wasted’ a precious seat by not committing to the IRS, others resented his year-long unpaid leave from training to prepare, calling it an unfair edge funded by taxpayers. “Next year, you sit for the exams again and aim for the IAS,” said one sarcastic comment. “As long as you have stupid Indian tax payers to fund your studies while doing a fun job, you should always aim higher!”
Jain’s case is far from uncommon. Of the 918 candidates who secured ranks in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, as many as 239 had already cleared the exam in 2023 or 2024 and returned to improve their rank or service allocation.
But this time, the backlash has been vocal even as UPSC has instituted new rules to curb the practice. From the Civil Services Examination 2026 onward, candidates allotted Group A services such as IPS or IRS will get only one attempt to improve their rank, while serving IAS and IFS officers will not be allowed to reappear unless they resign first.
While the social media criticism may be relatively new, rank improvers have always existed in the UPSC.
“There were 160 people in my batch and not more than 35 were first-timers. Even the topper of my batch — he got into IPS in 1983, could not clear the prelims in 1984, and became the topper in 1985,” said Sanjeev Chopra, a 1985-batch IAS officer and former director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
Earlier, candidates could continue appearing for the exam, even after being allotted a service, as long as they had attempts left under their category and were within the age limit.
“The new rules are very good. This is a welcome step taken by UPSC, but this certainly does not invite criticism for those who cleared this exam through their hard work,” Chopra added.
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UPSC successes under fire
The emotional “rags-to-riches” narratives that once dominated UPSC result day conversations are no longer receiving the same unquestioned admiration online. In the wake of the controversy surrounding probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, social media discussions around successful candidates have become sharper, with users increasingly scrutinising claims, backgrounds and reservation details rather than simply celebrating individual journeys.
Such was the vitriol against Jain this time that he wrote a separate post on X addressing it.
“Can’t imagine why someone will get so much hate online for just clearing an exam. I’d also like to mention here that I took a one year non-paid leave from IRS training for 12 months when I wrote the UPSC CSE 2025. No one can write UPSC exam while doing IRS training,” he wrote.
Can’t imagine why someone will get so much hate online for just clearing an exam.
I’d also like to mention here that I took a one year non-paid leave from IRS training for 12 months when I wrote the UPSC CSE 2025.
No one can write UPSC exam while doing IRS training.
— Rishabh Raj Jain (@iamrrj1) March 8, 2026
Even then, the criticism did not die down. Of the roughly 400 replies to his clarification, many repeated the same allegations about “looting” taxpayer money.
Controversy is also brewing online around another candidate, Arfa Usmani. Social media users have alleged that she secured All India Rank 111 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 in the general category and joined the Indian Police Service, but appeared again in the 2025 final list with Rank 124 under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category. Such claims are unverified.
“A candidate who once cleared the exam in the general category now appearing under EWS naturally raises questions about how the system is being used,” posted the X handle @gemsofbabus_.
🚨 IIT Graduate Arfa Usmani’s UPSC journey is drawing attention again.
> UPSC 2023: Secured AIR 111 in the General category and joined the IPS.
> UPSC 2025: Appears again in the final list with Rank 124 under the EWS category.
Same Candidate. Same Exam. Category changes… https://t.co/2k6QwPUXpI pic.twitter.com/dWVjukRaEH
— Gems (@gemsofbabus_) March 10, 2026
Another user urged her to “come forward and give a clear response to those who are trying to damage your image”.
> Your name is Arfa Usmani
> In UPSC 2023, you secured Rank 111 in the General category and became an IPS officer
> People are now claiming that in UPSC 2025, you secured a top rank through the EWS category
> When we searched for your 2025 interview, we could not find it
— खुरापात (@KHURAPATT) March 10, 2026
Also Read: UPSC removes form correction window for CSE 2026. Aspirants oppose
‘A certain hatred of bureaucracy’
For Jitin Yadav, a West Bengal-cadre IAS officer of the 2015 batch, this criticism of civil servants on social media is “deeply unfortunate”.
“A section of online commentators, often with little understanding of the examination process or the realities of public administration, appear to derive misplaced satisfaction in targeting officers and institutions,” said Yadav. “In a democracy, informed criticism of institutions is both legitimate and necessary. But trolling, personal attacks and uninformed narratives do not contribute to accountability—they only degrade public discourse. The challenges faced by the civil services today are immense, and what is needed is constructive engagement and informed debate.”
Many of the posts excoriating civil servants, however, point to systemic issues, beyond the now-addressed issue of retaking exams for rank improvement.
One commenter on Jain’s post wrote: “I don’t think it is the hate for clearing an exam. It is hate against bureaucracy which keeps the people subjugated while enjoying colonial privileges.”
Another, @Pun_Tweets, also claimed there was a “greed of power” among UPSC aspirants.
“If your goal was to serve the nation then why not continue with IRS and serve the nation?” he wrote.
If your goal was to serve the nation then why not continue with IRS and serve the nation? It seems to me that your only motivation to again appear in UPSC exam was the greed of power. I may be wrong but this is not something to celebrate about when you already cleared UPSC before
— Pun_Tweets (@Pun_Tweets) March 8, 2026
“The hate isn’t for you, but respect for this service is fading,” wrote a commenter, Ravi.
The hate isn't for you, but respect for this service is fading.
Developed nations thrive on business and innovation, not bureaucratic celebrity.
Respect is earned through efficiency, not authority. But in India, it’s the opposite : blatant misuse of power and sheer corruption.
— Ravi (@ravi_18561947) March 8, 2026
An IAS officer from the 2015 batch, requesting anonymity, acknowledged that there now exists a “certain hatred among people for bureaucracy”. He attributed this to negative media portrayals and also hinted that sour grapes may be a factor in the resentment.
“There are also people who were once part of this circle and, for some reason, could not clear the exam, and now they are questioning everything,” said the IAS officer, adding that the successful candidates who retook the exam were well within their rights to do so. “They did nothing illegal. They studied hard and cleared an exam with extremely tough competition.”
But even for this line of argument, commenters on X had ready rejoinders.
“U did nothing wrong legally, its morally wrong,” noted one response to Jain’s post. “These loopholes are intentionally created by system so that their near n dear ones keep getting chance.”
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
I think it’s petty to be personal but I also hate the bureaucracy. All these people who say “I am doing it to serve my country” – NO, most of you are not. You only care about power and status and i am so happy that some of us are more vocal about it. I will always celebrate good officers who have done great things but a lot of them are corrupt, power hungry evil people who need to be dealt with in a harsh way.