A Bengaluru woman has sparked an online debate about the career move she was planning to make. He was left with a lucrative salary of ₹21 lakh from her job in the IT sector, she plans to become unemployed and prepare for the government’s Bank Probationary Officer (PO) exam, which would pay her less than half of her previous salary.
A social media user named Pratham Khanna documented this major career decision of his aunt who was planning to quit the IT sector. Revealing the connection of the Bengaluru couple ₹Annual household income 53 lakh, in a post on X he wrote, “My uncle and his wife have been working in Bengaluru for 9 years. ₹32L CTC. Aunt earns ₹21L CTC. They have a 4-year-old daughter.”
Questioning the rationality of this life-changing decision, he wrote, “Last week her wife said, ‘I want to quit IT and prepare for a government bank PO.’ PO salary? Around ₹75 thousand per month. FROM ₹21 l up to ₹9 l per year. Is it good to prepare?”
Shared on February 20, the post quickly went viral, amassing more than 3.69k views. This sparked a debate about job security versus financial stability. Many users weighed financial sacrifices against long-term stability and satisfaction, while others pointed to the changing priorities of professionals who are increasingly reevaluating work-life balance over high-paying corporate roles.
Reaction on social networks
User wrote: “ ₹21L IT work → ₹9L PO salary = ~57% pay cut, but great govt benefits (pension, stability, WFH after exam) for parents of 4 years. Less stress, more time with family in the chaos of Bangalore. If the uncle ₹32L covers it GO FOR IT! Work-life > money grind. Thoughts?”
Another user commented: “Everyone counts salaries but no one asks what they are optimizing for. After 9 years and a 4 year old daughter, maybe they aren’t chasing money. Maybe they are buying time they can never get back.”
A third user said: “It’s not just a salary decision. It’s a risk-adjusted cash flow decision.” ₹21 l up to ₹9L is a 60% reduction in income. This changes the savings rate, investment capacity and composition. The question is: Is it optimizing for income, stability or lifestyle? Each option has a return profile. I just need to clarify which return they value more.”
The fourth comment read: “Joining bank PO is a very bad decision, it’s same or more work pressure as/than IT company with much less package. If she really wants to reduce her work pressure, ask her to prepare for other govt jobs.”
A fifth user said: “Government bribes Money is in millions plus job security no work load very lethargic lazy job with millions of easy bribe money. Yes it’s a good decision to prepare.”
A 6th user commented: “Any Govt job in India = Lifetime security, unlimited benefits, hefty packages, huge benefits even after retirement, unlimited cash income ie no taxes and earning enough money that 2 (if civil servant) to 100 generations (if MP or minister) can live richly without earning anything!
A seventh user wrote: “Banking is tougher than IT and even tougher in state banks. Frequent transfers, no work-life balance. Extreme stress to achieve unreasonable goals. The list goes on…”