Man with Master’s in Mathematics spends 6 years preparing for govt job, now drives Rapido to survive

Jobs remain one of the most pressing challenges haunting India’s youth. Despite earning degrees and spending years preparing for competitive exams, many young people are increasingly turning to gig work simply to meet their daily needs.

One such story recently surfaced on X, where a user shared her interaction with a Rapido driver that left her deeply surprised and reflective.

In her post, she described booking a Rapido ride after returning from work. During the ride, the driver casually asked her about her profession. When she told him she was employed, he responded by saying he was looking for any kind of work and asked if she could refer him somewhere. Curious, she asked about his educational background — and the answer stunned her.


“Bachelor’s in Mathematics. Master’s in Mathematics. Did B.Ed. Spent nearly 5–6 years preparing for government teaching exams. But today, he drives Rapido to survive,” she wrote.



She added that society constantly tells students to study hard, earn degrees, and prepare for stable careers. However, stories like this raise difficult questions about what happens when someone follows that path diligently but still fails to secure stable employment.

Her post struck a chord with many users, who shared their own struggles. One person wrote that he had run a marketing agency for six years, generating nearly Rs 16 crore in revenue, but had to shut it down due to lack of new clients. “Now I’m unemployed for nine months and recently started working as a Blinkit picker just to survive,” he said, describing the emotional toll of his situation.

Another user shared that despite completing a Master’s degree in International Business Management from De Montfort University in Dubai, he had been unable to find a job for over three months.

According to government data, India’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2%. However, the rise in gig work reflects the growing number of people who, despite being educated, are unable to find stable, long-term employment. In January, Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed Parliament that around 2 crore gig workers are currently part of India’s workforce — a number that continues to grow as more people turn to flexible but uncertain livelihoods.