Date of Interview: 8th April, forenoon, 3rd to go
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: Mechanical
Home State: Bihar
Background: B.tech IIT Roorkee Mechanical
Work exp: teaching physics

Chairman

1. What are you doing nowadays?
2. Questions on my teaching physics and problems in schooling
3. Discussion on need to bring flexibility in school education and follow up questions
4. Why engineering students are opting for civil services and some follow up
5. Questions on robotics warfare( from my daf) and it’s future
6. Application of robotics and concerns and ethical issues

Member 1

1. Ukraine Russia crisis and its impact on BRICS.. follow up questions on BRICS and it’s significance
2. Questions on Srilanka economic crisis and what can be done to bring the change in short term and long term..some follow up questions
3. Significance of Nepal for India and china and issues coming out of it
4. Border issues between India and china and some follow up
5. Questions on recent India Australia trade deal and its significance for India

Member 3

1. Questions on my home state( Bihar) ..swot analysis of the liquor prohibition and some follow up questions which I don’t exactly remember
2. Future of mechanical engineering due to recent tech dev and booming of electronics sector..some follow up questions ..

Member 4 ( some grilling and cross-questions here)

1. He took the conversation from India and aus trade deal where I mentioned coal import..he asked why we are importing coal if we have lots of reserves
2. Problem in coal mining in India and steps taken
3. Questions on coal scam and supremely court judgment..it’s impact on coal industry..steps taken..recent policy changes..here I was not much comfortable but he gave me some hints so I handled these

Member 4

1. Need for ministry of civil aviation and what reforms required..he gave me some hint
2. Need for an integrated ministry of transport.
3. Questions on multimodal transport and it’s importance

P.S- member 4 was mainly observing and was sitting to me left..

Chairman said your interview is over

Overall it was a cordial interview and members gave sufficient hints..

Source: Forum IAS