5,77,064 applications for just 7,437 vacancies. That’s 58 candidates chasing every single seat. And here’s the twist: nearly 25% of applicants are women; a big jump for a field still seen as male-dominated. The real story? It’s not just about exams. It’s about how Aadhaar face authentication, used here for the first time, filtered out 2.6% of candidates who didn’t complete the step; and they’ve been given a last chance till Sept 30. SI prelims are on Nov 29, constable tests on Dec 20. More seats? Yes. More competition? Absolutely. The pressure is real; and so is the hunger for these jobs.