u/RabbitElectronic5163

TL;DR: BITS CS + ~5 years of experience + ₹52 LPA before the break. Took a 1-year gap for UPSC but didn’t clear Prelims. I’m deciding whether to attempt UPSC again or return to software, and I’m mainly worried that extending the gap to 2 years could make tech re-entry significantly harder. Looking for practical experiences on how recruiters view a UPSC gap and whether I should start testing the software market now.

I am looking for some practical advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

I am a BITS Pilani CS graduate with around 5 years of software experience. Before resigning, I was earning around ₹52 LPA. I took a 1-year career break to prepare for UPSC, but unfortunately did not clear Prelims. I am now considering whether to give UPSC another serious attempt or return to software.

My main concern is that extending the gap to 2 years may make it significantly harder to re-enter tech. At the same time, I am not sure whether a 1-year gap will be a major issue given my degree, prior experience and previous compensation. Also with coming AI boom, I am already worried that I am already missing out.

I would like to understand the following:

• How much does a 1-2 year UPSC preparation gap affect software hiring?
• Does having a good degree and years of experience help meaningfully in this situation?
• Would it make sense to start interviewing for software roles while preparing for another UPSC attempt?
• How do recruiters generally view a UPSC-related career gap, especially when the candidate did not clear Prelims?
• At what point does extending the gap become too risky from a career re-entry perspective?
• If you were in this situation, what factors would you consider before deciding between another UPSC attempt and returning to software?

25M, bachelor.
I started my career in 2021 and recently crossed ₹1.2 crore in net worth. I know I’m still very early in my career and nowhere near FIRE, but reaching this milestone made me think about a question I don’t have a good answer to.

How much is actually enough to retire comfortably in India?

Background
Age: 25
Bachelor’s degree, working in software
Current CTC: ₹52 LPA
No loans or liabilities
Monthly expenses: ~₹40k
Monthly investments: ~₹1.63L

Current Portfolio (~₹1.2 Cr)
Real Estate: ~25%
RSUs: ~25%
EPF: ~16%
Fixed Deposits: ~17%
Mutual Funds: ~8%
Cash: ~6%
Direct Equity: ~3%

I know my portfolio is probably conservative for someone my age. A large part of my net worth is in EPF, FDs, and employer RSUs, and I’m gradually increasing my equity allocation.
I come from a middle-class family, so financial security has always been more important to me than maximizing returns.

Not sure how conservative i should be or should i expose more in equity. Also what number should i chase?

I have been trying to think this for sometime. Rahu and ketu always sits opposite to each other. I read somewhere that modern software consider their degree to be place where earths orbital plane interesect with moon orbital plane. fair enough. But how is this value calculated 1000s of year back? How was the concept of earth orbiting sun and moon orbiting earth derived. How did they do it accurately to justify predictions.

Also, if we are able to calculate things more accurately now, shouldn’t prediction accuracy be more now?

TLDR;

Met an amazing woman through an arranged marriage setup. We’re emotionally connected, highly compatible, and she’s everything I’d want in a life partner. My only concern is a noticeable overbite when she smiles, which I keep fixating on despite knowing it’s a minor issue. Roka is coming up soon, and I’m struggling to decide whether this is something I can genuinely get past or if it’s unfair to move forward while having doubts.

Hi, I(25M) think i am going to get a lot of hate for this, but I will still post to clear out my thoughts and make it easy for both of us. So, I met a girl(25F) in arranged marriage setup in january. Since, I was doing my online masters that time which was supposed to complete by april, parents allowed us time to talk and know each other. She is best women i found, much better than any girl i went out with. She is smart, mature( much more than i am or ever will be), earns good and has every quality a man can ask for.

But there is small catch, she had a bit overbite(upper teeth coming ahead), which isnt noticeable until she smiles. Now to picture her, imagine you met Geet from jab we met, same energy and full of life. I told my parents about the teeth issue from day 1, but they convinced me ki things will go good once you guys talk. Things did become good, we were emotionally connected and since this was known to convert we also came in relationship.

I am trying my best, but somehow my mind doesn’t allow me, and i feel stuck each time i see her smile. She knows something is off, and we talked about this. I talked to my sisters and got a good amount of scolding from them, still I can’t handle this constant double ideas, where i know she will take care of me my family and is perfect overall, but the teeths are taking a toll

I am at a point where i cant say no to her. We didnt do roka yet, but are supposed to do that on 9th july.
For veterans here, what should i do? My gut says things can be managed but my overthinker ass says otherwise.

please help

TLDR;

Met an amazing woman through an arranged marriage setup. We’re emotionally connected, highly compatible, and she’s everything I’d want in a life partner. My only concern is a noticeable overbite when she smiles, which I keep fixating on despite knowing it’s a minor issue. Roka is coming up soon, and I’m struggling to decide whether this is something I can genuinely get past or if it’s unfair to move forward while having doubts.

Hi, I(25M) think i am going to get a lot of hate for this, but I will still post to clear out my thoughts and make it easy for both of us. So, I met a girl(25F) in arranged marriage setup in january. Since, I was doing my online masters that time which was supposed to complete by april, parents allowed us time to talk and know each other. She is best women i found, much better than any girl i went out with. She is smart, mature( much more than i am or ever will be), earns good and has every quality a man can ask for.

But there is small catch, she had a bit overbite(upper teeth coming ahead), which isnt noticeable until she smiles. Now to picture her, imagine you met Geet from jab we met, same energy and full of life. I told my parents about the teeth issue from day 1, but they convinced me ki things will go good once you guys talk. Things did become good, we were emotionally connected and since this was known to convert we also came in relationship.

I am trying my best, but somehow my mind doesn’t allow me, and i feel stuck each time i see her smile. She knows something is off, and we talked about this. I talked to my sisters and got a good amount of scolding from them, still I can’t handle this constant double ideas, where i know she will take care of me my family and is perfect overall, but the teeths are taking a toll

I am at a point where i cant say no to her. We didnt do roka yet, but are supposed to do that on 9th july.
For veterans here, what should i do? My gut says things can be managed but my overthinker ass says otherwise.

please help