A 23-year-old engineering graduate in Kanpur died by suicide after reportedly failing to secure a government job after nearly 50 attempts. The tragedy highlights the extreme pressure young professionals face while preparing for highly competitive government examinations in India.
A tragic incident has emerged from Kanpur where a 23-year-old engineering graduate allegedly died by suicide, leaving behind a note that detailed his struggle to secure employment. The individual, who had graduated at the top of his class in electrical engineering in 2024, had reportedly been focusing exclusively on clearing government recruitment examinations.
According to the details shared by his family, the graduate had completed a professional apprenticeship at Power Grid Corporation of India before dedicating his time to preparing for various competitive tests. These included recruitment drives conducted by the Railways, the Staff Selection Commission, banking institutions, and state education departments. Despite his academic background and efforts, he faced repeated setbacks across nearly 50 attempts, which his family noted had caused him immense mental distress over several months.
The local police confirmed that a handwritten note was discovered at the scene, where the deceased expressed regret to his father for not being able to secure a stable job. While the authorities are conducting a formal investigation to confirm the full circumstances of the event, early reports from the Govind Nagar police station point to the intense pressure associated with the highly competitive nature of government job cycles in India as a primary factor.
This incident brings attention to the broader socio-economic reality faced by many graduates who commit years to preparation for government roles where the number of applicants far exceeds the available vacancies. For many young professionals, the lack of private sector alternatives or the perceived security of public sector employment creates a cycle of high-stakes preparation. The situation highlights the ongoing challenge of skill alignment and employment opportunities for engineering graduates, where academic success does not always translate into immediate professional stability.