India stands on a precipice, staring into a crisis that is more than just economic it's a collapse of trust. With youth unemployment reaching alarming heights and backdoor hiring corroding the foundations of public recruitment, the dreams of an entire generation are being sacrificed at the altar of favoritism, political patronage, and systemic failure. The promise of a level playing field has become a cruel illusion.
Every year, millions of educated young Indians dedicate their time, money, and energy to prepare for competitive exams. Their aspirations are built not just on personal ambition but on the constitutional guarantee of equality in public employment. But the harsh reality is this: while they wait for notifications, results, or appointments, others are sneaking into the same jobs through the backdoor. This practice backdoor hiring has become a widespread rot in India's public employment system. It mocks merit, destroys morale, and fuels a dangerous sense of betrayal among the country's youth.
The situation is not hypothetical it’s painfully real. In Kerala, the recent suspension of the rank list for Women Civil Police Officers by the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) has triggered statewide outrage. Hundreds of candidates who had rightfully earned their place on the merit list have been left in limbo. Their dreams, ambitions, and years of preparation were suddenly rendered meaningless. In protest, these qualified candidates launched an indefinite strike in front of the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding justice, transparency, and reinstatement of the list.
Their sit-in is not just about a single job list; it is symbolic of a larger injustice. These women were among the top scorers. They followed every rule. They cleared exams, fitness tests, and interviews. And yet, they were denied their rightful appointments without any clear justification. Meanwhile, reports and rumors swirl about temporary appointments and politically influenced hires being made in the same departments. The silence of the state machinery in addressing their concerns only deepens suspicion.
This incident is not an isolated one. Across India, state governments and public institutions increasingly rely on contractual workers, daily wagers, or temporary staff who are often hired without any examination process. In many states, teachers, clerks, nurses, and technical staff are appointed through party recommendations or internal transfers. These practices not only violate constitutional provisions like Article 16, which guarantees equal opportunity, but also make a mockery of the faith citizens place in institutions like the PSC, UPSC, and other recruitment boards.
The use of job postings as tools of political patronage has become alarmingly common. Elected leaders offer employment not as a right to the deserving, but as a reward to loyalists. This “recommendation culture” is slowly replacing examination culture. Those without connections, despite being meritorious, are told directly or indirectly that they need more than marks to succeed: they need influence.
When merit is discarded, public trust begins to collapse. Many states have witnessed recruitment scandals involving leaked question papers, bribery, and manipulated merit lists. In some cases, entire examinations have been cancelled, delaying appointments by years. The judiciary has stepped in on occasion, but even court orders for reinstatement or regularization are often ignored or stalled. The message is clear: the system favors the well-connected, not the well-prepared.
Meanwhile, the psychological toll on job-seeking youth is devastating. The pressure to succeed, combined with repeated failures due to system flaws not personal inadequacy leads to anxiety, depression, and social alienation. The increasing number of suicide cases among students and job aspirants is a grim reminder of how broken the current ecosystem is.
Adding to this injustice is the lack of public and media attention. The ongoing strike by the Women Civil Police Officer rank holders in Kerala has barely made headlines. Mainstream media, often obsessed with political drama and entertainment, continues to ignore the most pressing issue for India's future: the systematic denial of opportunity to its youth.
The nation must not ignore this moment. Urgent reforms are required. Recruitment boards must be brought under transparent digital monitoring, with legally mandated timelines for notifications, results, and appointments. A national vacancy dashboard must be introduced, showing real-time data of sanctioned posts versus filled posts. Contractual hiring should be regulated, and backdoor entries should be criminalized. Whistleblowers must be protected, and grievance redressal systems must be made robust and accessible.
Most importantly, we must stop treating jobs as political currency. Public employment is a constitutional right not a favor. The youth of India are not asking for charity; they are demanding fairness. The strike in front of the Kerala Secretariat is not just a protest it is a call to the conscience of the nation.
If India truly wants to be a global power, it cannot afford to let its most promising minds be sidelined by corruption and nepotism. Let us rise with them not just in sympathy but in solidarity and demand a country where the front door of opportunity is open to all, and the backdoor is permanently shut.
Justice delayed is injustice institutionalized. It’s time to reclaim meritocracy before the system forgets what it means.