Why are Indian parents obsessed about government jobs for their children?

1. Even in recession period, u have your job. 2. Salary may be less than what you are getting from private companies, but more benefits. 3. Get less scold from the seniors.

A government job offers security of job, moderate salaries, prestige, power, assured career progressions, perks, pensions, suitable transfers, postings and placements, public contacts and an opportunity to serve them directly, tours, travels, fixed hours, loan facilities, housing facilities, children's education and family health care facilities, well laid and defined rules and regulations for everything etc. A private job may or may not offer so much securities and such facilities. They may pay more but the hours are longer. The ownership is private and often foreign, so one finds himself serving a private interest rather than public interest. The work culture is different. Instant rewards and punishments are common. Uncertainty and anxiety prevails and one feels exploited. However one can go to any level through hard work. Most of the people themselves being in government jobs previously, are unaware of the working patterns of a private job. So they prefer a government job. However after globalization, the trends have considerably changed.

It probably has more to do with the era they lived in when they first started working. At that time, a steady guaranteed income was a priority rather than earning handsomely and spending exorbitantly. Plastic money wasn't there and along with added benefits like pension, PF schemes, government jobs were a very good option to look to. That being said, times has changed so fast that no longer are parents asking their kids to look to government jobs, except ofcourse IAS etc. But that's in a whole different league altogether. My father is a government service and he was the one who vehemently opposed my idea of joining the same. No growth is what he said, and I believe it to be true seeing how works get done in government offices.

Although times are changing the attraction for govt. jobs is on following factors in Indiaa) assured salary, job security, pensionb) no responsibility and absolutely no accountabilityc) powerful positions for a small percentage which comes along with the opportunity of big money through corrupt practicesd) the powerful ones need the system on their side so spoils of corruption go to all even if it is for nuisance value or to keep mouth shut e) Finally, 99.9 Indian parents are obsessed with Govt. Jobs for the above reasons but will give verbally the reason which holds true for 0.1% parents I.e. to be part of a system where you get the best opportunity to fruitfully serve your country and bring about positive change.I have personally experienced this, having started with a govt. job in the beginning of my career and where I served for 5 years. My learning was that if you refuse to be corrupt and not allow the same at least within your purview, little changes and you are only working fruitlessly and wasting effort and energy in fighting negative forces rather than doing something positive. I will admit I did not have the resilience, like an Ashok Khemka.

Because of as said by . One of biggest reason is "job security". In today's job scarce situation in India, where there are lakhs of graduate people with diminishing values to their degrees, very few people get jobs in private sector in field they like with pay scale sometimes a slight shadow of what they spend on earning the degree.That job too is uncertain. In private sector your job remains in your hand based on your performance. If you do not perform well you are out.and they have longer work hours, more stress and less perks with big salaries.But here you have many opportunities of growth.If you work extraordinarily hard you can achieve big heights in terms of promotion,more perks,abroad opportunities. As compared to this,government jobs have job security.You never get fired for non-performance.Less salary with more perks,fixed timings,less stress. And many parents in this era still belonging to old generation where government jobs were considered very premium and attainable by very few people due to their skills at that time, govt. jobs  are still desirable now by "parents" as with respect,job security,steady income,pension, less stress comes with them.But here there is less growth here, Even if you work hard you get same salary as less hard working person. and opportunities for promotion are also very less and process is very slow except if you are premium layer of govt job(IAS officer for e.g)