MBA vs UPSC: Eligibility | Universities | Courses | FAQs

MBA vs UPSC: Most of us get confused when it comes to choosing a course for higher studies. Especially after completion of graduation, while some of us opt to go for Masters’s in the subject we had specialized in, many dreams to crack the toughest competitive exams in the country.

CAT (Common Aptitude Test) and UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination are undoubtedly the two most difficult exams – but if cracked once is the gateway to success.

But in the way of choosing which one is better- being an IIM MBA graduate working in top-class companies or an IAS / IPS officer serving the nation, many get confused. So, here StepUp Student brings to you all the solutions regarding your dilemma between cracking MBA vs UPSC.

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MBA vs UPSC

What are your personal interests?

• First of all, the choice depends a lot on personal goals. The two are very different domains and hence, the kind of work to be performed is also very different.
• It depends on whether you want to be a corporate geek or turn yourself into a civil servant.
• Think to yourself. You want to involve yourself in fields like marketing, operations, banking, investment, and so on or you want to control the administration of the country, from the operation of the revenue department and maintenance of law and order to the implementation of policies and whatnot.

Which career will pay better? 

If you have still not figured out your personal preferences and are still confused, here are your answers:

• Salary of an IAS / IPS officer: Once you crack UPSC and become an IAS officer, undoubtedly, there is no looking back. You are going to be paid Rs.56,100 per month in the starting which stands at Rs.6,73,200 per annum. Once you reach the top posts of this Indian bureaucratic hierarchy, the salary can increase maximum up to Rs.2,50,000 per month which implies an amount of Rs.30 lakh per annum. Beyond that, your salary cannot reach as per current payout conditions.
• Salary of an MBA graduate: On the other hand, if you graduate from a top MBA Institute like IIM and grab the most appropriate placements, your starting salary can start from even 22 lacs per annum which can increase up to 30-40 lacs per annum. And if you choose to become an entrepreneur after pursuing MBA, you can be the boss of your own and your earnings will not have any such limit. Good entrepreneurs earn even earn up to Rs.60 lacs per annum.

Which exam is tougher to crack – UPSC or CAT?

Comparing the two examinations MBA vs UPSC, the former is tougher and is in fact the toughest of all such examinations.

• Why is UPSC considered to be so tough? This is because, first of all, the syllabus is massive. The syllabus of UPSC covers everything from Geography, History, and Politics to Science, technology, numeracy, and environment. One has two go through three rounds for selection:

1. Preliminary examination (prelims)
2. Main exam (mains)
3. Personal interview

In each of these rounds, many of the aspirants are filtered out or eliminated and, in this way, many dreams are shattered. There are students who spend years preparing for the UPSC exam and still not be able to crack it. And in most cases, they don’t have any proper backup plan and end up wasting a few years of life.

• So, is pursuing MBA easier than UPSC? First of all, for pursuing an MBA you just need to crack CAT once (instead of cracking 3 rounds like UPSC) and take admitted into a good Institute on the basis of your score. Secondly, the syllabus for CAT is much narrower as compared to UPSC and confined to quantitative aptitude, reasoning, and verbal abilities.

We are not telling that CAT is easy to crack and MBA is an easy professional course. There is a lot of competition here too and getting into top IIM requires a really good score. Only above 90 percentile score can guarantee your admissions in IIMs. Hence, it has its own challenges. But, of course, in terms of cracking the examination, it is easier than UPSC.

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Which path is easier to pursue from an economic point of view? MBA vs UPSC

• This question comes to the mind of a lot of students. But let me tell you that while the chances of returns from both of these are expectedly high (once cracked and completed), the finances are also not very low when it comes to the early stages of preparation (in the case of UPSC) or pursuing (in case of MBA). Most MBA graduates don’t engage themselves in any other jobs to avoid distraction. And the best UPSC coaching institutes charge a massive amount for training the students.
• The same is in the case of the MBA. Except for the renowned MBA institute of Delhi, FMS, you have to pay in lacs to pursue the course. For instance, the fees in top IIMs are above 10,00,000 at least. And reportedly, IIM Kolkata charges as high as approximately Rs.27,00,00

MBA vs UPSC: Perks and Benefits

• Benefits received by an IAS / IPS officer:  An IAS/IPS officer can receive less amount of salary than his MBA graduate counterpart working in a multinational company. But one needs to agree with the fact that the former receive more when it comes to perks and benefits. A bungalow, a service quarter, transport security bills, official as well as unofficial trips, 2–4 year study leaves, finances for studying abroad, and other unofficial benefits are provided to them by the government itself.
• Benefits received by a working MBA graduate: Definitely people working in good companies also get perks like insurance, retirement, and vacation policies but that is nothing if compared to that of an IAS / IPS officer.

MBA vs UPSC: Money or reputation?

• Reputation: If you want to be the most respected citizen of India start preparing for UPSC now! We would suggest you not just rush for it. Enroll yourself in a good coaching institute, get the best mentor and start preparing then.  
• Money: And if you want to be the richest man, definitely MBA is the better option for you. CAT is neither that easy. You need to work hard for it too.

ALSO CHECK: What After Graduation? Internship | Masters | Job | Business ‘Introspect’.

Lastly, I would like to conclude by saying that all you need to have is determination and continue with your hard labor; then whichever path you choose, success will come to you. Neither of the paths is good or bad, hard or easy; you need to choose the one where you really wish to invest. StepUp Student wishes you all the luck in your future endeavors.