Tuesday, September 3, 2024

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #117 : Smita Nagraj Board, Rajasthan Home State, Mechanical Engineering Optional, Gardening, sports Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 21 April, Morning
Board: Smita Nagraj Ma’am
Optional: Mechanical Engineering
Home State: Rajasthan
Hobbies: Gardening, had also mentioned cricket in sports

Utility of Mocks – As far as questions were concerned there was no such direct benefit but it gave me confidence. I had given 6 mocks.

Chairperson

  1. What do you do? (Some more questions on my professional experience)
  2. What are the initiatives that Rajasthan government has taken that can be implemented in other states?
  3. What is sustainable mining?

Member 1

  1. Asked question not from my district but from neighbouring district, prominent personalities from that district?
  2. What are the issues that you will face if you are posted in Northeastern states?
  3. Name of northeastern states, then asked about their capital.

Member 2

  1. Your city is a very beautiful city, will you not miss your home if you become civil servant?
  2. What is the utility of mechanical engineering in administration?
  3. What are the recent developments in mechanical engineering?
  4. Reasons for electric vehicles catching fire, how companies can prevent them?

Member 3

  1. What are the problems because of Indira Gandhi Canal, have you visited any district where it is extended, what is the length of it?
  2. Question on Jal Jeevan Mission, why are we providing water to every household and not at the community level and because of this will there be no problem of shortage of water because earlier people used to save water and own that, now they will relegate this responsibility to the government?
  3. If you are given an opportunity, what is that one area where you will work?

Some other questions I cannot remember.

Member 4

  1. What are the 2 positive and 2 negative aspects of Rajasthan?
  2. What is Damodar valley?
  3. IMF, why is it in news?

Other questions, I cannot remember.

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #129 : Smita Nagraj Board, Maharashtra Home State, Geography Optional, farming, Sports Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 21st April, Morning Session
Board: Smita Nagraj Ma’am
Optional: Geography
Background: BA, Geography, IPS.
Home state: Maharashtra
Hobby: Modern farming and Interaction with farmers. Football

Greeted them , they  asked me to  remove the mask.

Chairman

  1. Have you joined training or not, which cadre you have been allocated to?
  2. – Why IAS after IPS ?
  3. -You have Maharashtra cadre for IPS , and if by chance you get Nagaland state , obviously you would opt for Maharashtra, right?(told them I am ready to serve anywhere, but they were not satisfied)
  4. – Then why you have kept Nagaland as your last option?
  5. – Leave your case , why candidates are apprehensive about Nagaland cadre .

Member 1

  1. What do  you know KPS Gill and Julio  Ribeiro? (Couldn’t recall about KPS Gill but answered about Ribeiro)
  2. – Ribeiro was of you cadre , so you know lot about him right?
  3. – Once Ribeiro has said “Bullet for Bullet”.Comment on this.
  4. – How to deal with terrorism.

Member 2

  1. What is mean by modern farms?
  2. – Why do you interact with farmers?
  3. – Do you give them any suggestions?
  4. – What are the issues of farmers in your area ?
  5. – Which variety of papaya do you cultivate?
  6. – Why farmers from Maharashtra participated less in number in Delhi farmers agitation?
  7. – Is horticulture a solution to farm distress?
  8. – Why  did you opt Geography as an optional?

Member 3

  1. You were part of anti-ragging committee, what is mean by ragging?
  2. – I think ragging is good, what’s your opinion?
  3. -Why ragging is high in Technical institutions?
  4. What is area of Russia ? Of Africa ?
  5. – Asked one scheme but could not answer .
  6. – Today’s development in Julian Assange case?
  7. – Which state has second highest GDP ?

Member 4 

  1. Are you aware about developments in Nagaland?
  2. – Are Isaiak and Muivah same person or different? Are they alive? What’s the present status?
  3. – What is difference between training of IPS and military training?
  4. – How come you have 1 star during training itself?
  5. – Any reforms in training?

Member 2

  1. In IIM entrance ..Written vs Interview weightage is 60:40 but UPSC has 87:13 ..what is your opinion
  2. – Should the weightage of interview be increased in UPSC ?
  3. – Why so many IPS wants to be an  IAS ? Aren’t They happy in their service?
  4. – Should we merge IAS and IPS ..So many candidates will get IAS post (grilled here)

Chairman

  1. As a SP of districts what steps you will take to control crime ?
  2. – What is Today’s importance ? (civil services day )
  3. – What qualities civil servants should possess?
  4. -What is difference between Ethics and wrong?
  5. – Who is your role model, what qualities you have acquired from him ?
  6. Your interview is over.

Overall Experience:

  1. Totally DAF based Interview.
  2. Many questions on Police.
  3. Those who are already in the service should work on  how to convince them that you are the right candidate for IAS.

Previous attempt  it was very smooth interview but this attempt expectations were high that’s why so many counter questions.

All the best to fellow candidates!

Source: Telegram

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #148 : Smita Nagraj Board, Geography Optional, Cricket, Pet Caring, Calligraphy Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 26th April, Afternoon
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: Geography
Background: BITS Pilani
Hobbies: Cricket, Pet Caring, Calligraphy
Last to enter: 100% DAF based

Chairman

  1. It’s pretty late, you had lunch right? Do you want something to eat?
  2. You are from BITS, why is BITS producing so many entrepreneurs?
  3. Based on answer given: Negative fall outs of the same?
  4. IIT, NIT and BITS are producing engineers who don’t want to work in the core sectors, what do think is the reason?

Member 1

  1. A person from BITS was involved in active covid vaccine development, do you know him?
  2. Why are people going out of country to pursue higher education?
  3. Why do people choose North America rather than Nordic countries and Germany/France?
  4. Why do you want to move away from civil engineering to civil services and what is your preference?

Member 2

  1. You talked about education and higher education, if you’re posted in the department of education, what steps will you take to increase GER, under NEP 2020
  2. What’s your take on education in regional languages?
  3. There’s education and then there is skill based education, do you think skill based education is necessary?
  4. How can we develop skill based education?

Member 3

  1. Why is Chhattisgarh lagging behind in terms of development?
  2. What is Chhattisgarh government doing for solving the naxal problem?
  3. What is the status of the naxal problem?
  4. What about tourism in Bastar?
  5. Which industries are located in Chhattisgarh?

Member 4

  1. What are problems occurring in urban areas today?
  2. How will you solve the transportation problems in the country?
  3. Based on answer given:

Do you think this option will be viable for people like high court judges?
After answer she let out a laugh and said nice idea but I don’t think this would be possible

  1. What to do about waste management in the country? Do you know about any models?
  2. What about slums? How do solve the problem?
  3. But slums are essential for us, they are important for our daily lives, what do think about this?

Your interview is over now. Thank you

Utility of mocks (if any)- in order in which I took

  1. IASBaba: excellent environment, improved sitting posture, confidence booster.

One on one with Mohan Sir: useful in terms of understanding psychology and needs of the interview.
DAF based questionnaire

  1. IASHub: didn’t find it of much use, instead found what not to do in mocks through some mistakes made. Would not recommend to anyone.
  2. Vision: DAF session and elocution useful but mocks not useful
  3. Samkalp: Excellent support system, although didn’t have a good mock experience but panels regular change so is subjective.
  4. Unacademy: Excellent mock experience, some questions in the interview directly.
  5. KSG: Khan Sir is, good mock experience, some questions directly in the real interview. Good confidence boosting experience.
  6. Best mock experience, one members line of questioning replicated in the interview. Highly recommended

One on one experience:

Go for Mrunal Sir, Vinay Sir(insights), Shabbir Sir- all three helpful at different levels
Community:

Overall post mains phase: loved the experience, talking to people of highest stature, being judged by best minds.

Source: Telegram

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #166 : Smita Nagaraj Board, Uttarakhand Home State, History Optional, cricket, jogging Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 22 April. Afternoon.. 1st one to go
Board: Smita Nagaraj mam
Optional: History
Home State: Uttarakhand
College:  DU
Hobbies: cricket, jogging

Chairman

  1. You were born in 2000.. How you look at previous century
  2. 2 good things about 20 century and 2 bad about 21 century
  3. History Repeats itself. Explain with example
  4. Tell me history of uttarakhand
  5. Who is ur fav cricketer and why
  6. Is jogging a sport?
  7. Who is Sunil mittal?
  8. Why newly appointed army chief is from corps of engineers.. Is it a good choice?

Members

  1. China has banned all global social networking sites.. Is it good or bad?
  2. India is lagging behind in these app because of absence of such policy… Is it right?
  3. India is software superpower.. Why we are lagging behind.
  4. How warfare is changing
  5. What is cyber warfare.
  6. One wish from God
  7. Why you want to join civil services
  8. Why Hitler’s Holocaust is more criticized than Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing?
  9. Why nobody stopped USA
  10. Who ordered nuclear attack
  11. There were few more question …

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #167 : Smita Nagaraj Board, Rajasthan Home State, History Optional, Cooking Hobby

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Date of Interview: 28th April Afternoon
Board: Smita Nagaraj Ma’am
Background: Btech Computer Engineering, Technical University
Home State: Rajasthan
Optional: History
Profession: Teaching
Hobby: Cooking

Chairwoman

  1. You worked in Rajasthan Electricity Department for 2 years then why did you leave the job.
  2. Tell about Rajasthan Electricity Departments
  3. Tell 5 better schemes of Delhi Education Department
  4. What training is being given to the teachers by the department?
  5. Will education become better only with smart classrooms?
  6. Two scheme of Delhi state that you would like to implement in your district
  7. what was your job in covid duty?

Member 1

  1. Why is the IT sector on the rise?
  2. What is big data?
  3. How will you do it with Big Data if you become the DM of a district?
  4. Do KPO and BPO services come under IT enabled services?

Member 2

  1. why discoms are in loss?
  2. Five ways to stop electricity theft
  3. is Rajasthan a power surplus or Power deficit state?
  4. Suggest measures to improve the condition of government schools of villages?
  5. Don’t you think SMC has a big role in this?

Member 3

  1. What changes have been seen in the children if schools are opened again after covid?
  2. What measures are being taken by the teachers in your school to remove the bad behaviour or irritability of the children after covid?
  3. How far has the learning power of children gone after Pandemic ?
  4. what is the situation in rajasthan?

Member 4

  1. What do you like best about Delhi?
  2. have you seen the war memorial?
  3. do you like the traffic in Delhi?
  4. Measures to improve healthcare system?
  5. Do you give priority to infrastructure in health care or to doctors?
  6. What will be the benefit of giving PPP mode to discoms?

Overall good experience ,Board was very cordial . Almost 95% 0f interview from my DAF. It was more of conversation. Preparation of DAF helped me a lot and interview transcript is a very good source to open your mind in various dimensions.

Not a single question asked on current affairs, Optional and Hobby.

Utility of mock: Helpful like in gaining confidence, improving body language but question asked were different.

I would like to a special thank Sachin Jain Sir (Ensure IAS Delhi) for boosting my confidence.

All The Best to all the candidates.

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #173 : Smita Nagraj Board, Rajasthan Home State, Medical Science Optional

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Date of Interview: 28 April afternoon
Board: Smita Nagraj mam
Optional: Medical science
Home state: Rajasthan
Medium: Hindi
Profession: Doctor

College- GMC Nagpur (mbbs), BJMC ahmedabad(MD), Delhi (currently working)
Your experience in interview- cordial board

Chairman

  1. If you want you can remove your mask
  2. Vaccinated?
  3. role of precautionary dose?
  4. where are you working currently? location of hospital?
  5. who was girdhari lal (my hospital named after him)
  6. is it trust hospital- (i said no it is govt hospital under NDMC)
  7. mam – then you are right candidate to ask about Delhi MCD merger what is you opinion?
  8. don’t you think it is against decentralisation?
  9. Your salary come on time ?

Member 1

  1. many candidates are coming from your school what is special about your school? (nothing special, one candidate was from my school in the same board on previous day)
  2. you have experience of 4 different states rajasthan, maharashtra, gujrat and delhi.. if you have to choose which one ?
  3. i said rajasthan (my home state)
  4. asked other than rajasthan- said maharashtra
  5. why ? good memories
  6. what memories?
  7. how memories formed ?
  8. then how we recall these memories?
  9. tell me something about delhi you don’t like? (air pollution, traffic congestion)
  10. how to solve this? said promote public transport like metro..
  11. she said Metro is already overcrowded
  12. did you travel by metro ?
  13. what is route ?
  14. when we say that a place is better for residence what facilities should be there?

Member 2

  1. What is mohalla clinic ?
  2. What is delhi health system?
  3. Health Insurance based model?
  4. tell 3 things in health where we need to focus?
  5. how your medical knowledge will be useful in civil services?

Member 3

  1. india’s stand on russia ukraine war?
  2. delhi – center conflict why? and what are solutions?
  3. what is raisina hill ? where exactly? what is raisina dialogue? issues discussed under it
  4. delhi govt is giving 300 units free electricity what is your views on it?

Member 4

  1. what are models to predict covid wave ?
  2. what is budget?
  3. who is responsible for making budget?
  4. You are working doctor.. suppose you come to finance dept how your knowledge will be helpful?

Source: Telegram

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #174 : Smita Nagraj Board, Anthropology Optional, Cricket, Running Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 27/04, Afternoon
Board: Smita Nagraj Maam
Optional: Anthropology
Profession: MBBS
Hobbies: Cricket, Running

Your experience in interview- Cordial board

Utility of mocks (if any)- Avoid Dristi,

Vajirao & Reddy, Chanakya mandal, KSG and 1 to1 with Ayush sir (ForumIAS) was helpful

No gloves, face shield or mask

Chairperson

  1. Monologue on health issues India is facing in last decade – If we look at health seeking behaviour of people in last 10 year, what changes do you see?
  2. During covid, we have seen that diseases like TB were neglected. Tell me 2-3 areas, where we need to focus most.
  3. If you get selected as an IAS, in which areas you would like to work except health.
  4. Which tribal areas in India are lacking in development ?
  5. Tribal issues?
  6. Tribes lives in inaccessible, forest areas, how administration can reach there or overcome this ?

Member 1

  1. Covid+monologue on mental health. Reason behind this, whats the solution?
  2. Why did you left Hospital job after 7 months ?
  3. What diseases were common to patients visiting your hospital?
  4. Have you heard about allergen testing? Explain

Member 2

  1. How PRIs are performing?
  2. Economy of Rajasthan?
  3. Rajasthan – tourist places and steps taken by govt to promote?
  4. Contribution of tourism in Rajasthan GDP?
  5. Where you have been working during covid.
  6. What difficulties you faced during work as a medical officer in delhi?
  7. You left job but if you go to the same hospital, do you think your hospital is ready for further covid waves?

Member 3

  1. A monologue on rural development. Then question on economic integration.
  2. cropping patterns in Rajasthan?
  3. Monologue on freebies. Your view?
  4. What about Delhi?
  5. So you told us good about freebies, what’s wrong with it?

Member 4

  1. Status of education in India
  2. Follow up question on dropping out of from schools?
  3. How to reduce drop outs in schools?
  4. MBBS seats are low compared to students appearing in exam. Reason and solution?

3-4 questions I don’t remember

Source: Telegram

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #177 : Smita Nagraj Board, Bihar Home State, Philosophy Optional

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Date of Interview: 18.04.2022/ 3:00(3rd to go)
Board: Smita Nagraj Ma’am
Optional: Philosophy
Home State: Bihar, serving in Tamil Nadu
Background: NIT Jamshedpur( Metallurgical and Materials Engineering)
IOFS( almost 4 years)
Medium: English
Last attempt, Second interview

Chairman

Remove your mask and be comfortable. So you have worked in Ordnance Factory and a part of Ordance Factory Board. I said not anymore ma’am.

  1. what’s your PSU called? ( answered)
  2. What’s your take on corporatisation of Ordance Factories? ( Answered in Positive)
  3. Do you think private sector is ready to compete with you? ( yes, gave some examples, Ma’am was member of defence acquisition council)
  4. What is crony capitalism?
  5. Why do you think it’s bad for India?
  6. But developed countries encourage it, why?
  7. Then India should also encourage it. ( answered in negative. Monopoly and cartelisation, customer loss)
  8. Give example of telecoms sector and so many company closed and merged. Why? ( gave example of Jio and free pricing of data on trial rollout)
  9. Then CCI should have done something. ( Nodded in positive)
  10. What it should have done? ( Minimise basic pricing)

Member 1

  1. Some GDP data.
  2. Total budget expenditure( answered it wrong as per him)
  3. Biggest  source of revenue earning
  4. Biggest destination of revenue expenditure
  5. Data( said sorry a few times)
  6. And some more data
  7. Southern states contribute more still get less from central pool while northern states contribute less and get more. What’s the reason? ( development and other factors)
  8. Then it breeds inefficiency. I think we should stop it.( answered in negative as northern states need help to develop and centre can only provide)
  9. What’s one thing we can learn from Jamshedpur) my college was there. ( sanitation, planned development, urban governance etc)
  10. Tell me two positive and two negative of river Ganga.( answered)
  11. If you have to merge two states which ones will you merge and why? ( Andhra and Telangana, have reasons of Andhra asking for special status and low development and financial position)

Member 2

  1. Tell me about Namami Gange program.
  2. What is being done under it.
  3. What is MSP
  4. When it is announced
  5. Recent controversy over MSP and farm bill
  6. It’s still continuing ( answered in positive)

Member 3

  1. tell me about metaverse and NFT
  2. But what’s so special about NFT I can send the same message and have it ( he said that first SMS was sold for huge price) ( replied)
  3. But why we want to spend so much over something so trivial.( replied as it’s like owning a original monalisha and copy ones, the unique id means authentic NFT and it’s a matter of pride for the owner like the painting)
  4. Why blockchain is being criticised ( carbon emissions, anonymity leading to illegal activity and terror financing and ransom etc.)

Member 4

  1. you are from engineering background so I will ask questions from medical field. What will you suggest to increase the number of doctors in rural India.
  2. There is govt program to lease space kf district hospitals to pvt players what do you think about it? ( I said good and bad both gave reasons)
  3. Then some data( I said i am sorry sir)

( these questions might be linked to DAF as my father runs a medicine shop)

Chairman:

  1. So you talked about metaverse, now tell me what do you think about multiverse? ( said have watched Spider-Man and Star Trek )
  2. No No. not about movie. What if it’s proved to exist.( I said means multiple personalities in multiple forms in multiple universes)
  3. No. What will happen if the multiple universe theory proved?( said means our knowledge of origin and development or universe will prove to be wrong and then some random things that came in mind after watching a lot of sci-fi movies and she listened for some one and half minutes)
  4. Now your interview is over, you may go.

Overall I felt it was totally random and just 2-3 questions from DAF. Nothing or any relevance from DAF.

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #181 : Smita Nagraj Board, Gujarat Home State, PSIR Optional

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Date of Interview: 27th April 2022
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: PSIR
Home State: Gujarat
Background: BE Mechanical
Hobby: interaction with children

1st to go in forenoon session

Chairman

  1. Ahmedabad iim logo issue.
  2. What is it? And what it’s status today?
  3. Siddi sayaid zali.. Have you seen it? Its beautiful right?
  4. How such question should be decided?
  5. Voting 50%+1 … What are it’s disadvantages?
  6. Majority is the sole criteria to decide on any questions? ….  I replied..Along with rule of law ( Constitution)

Member 1

  1. What you have been doing along with preparation?
  2. Difference between child after 2015?
  3. Psychological impact of digital age on child?
  4. How it will decline public morality?
  5. Such child became parents, then what will be challenges?

Member 2

  1. Why not mtech after btech?
  2. What’s your preference?
  3. What are economic achievements of Gujarat?
  4. Agriculture challenges in Gujarat?

Member 3

  1. Mechanical 4 yrs and it’s use in administration
  2. Power sector… It’s energy mix… Like coal then hydroelectricity…
  3. What are energy needs of india?
  4. Currently energy surplus or deficit?

Member 4

  1. Gujarat… Why so much business success in Gujarat.. Qualities that led to business orientation of people of Gujarat
  2. Raisina dialogue
  3. Have you incident to work with police?
  4. What is the view on police?
  5. Your view on police?

Chairman

Thank you.. Your interview is over.. You can go..

Then asked me to show face by removing your mask.

Source: Telegram

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #182 : Smita Nagraj Board, Sociology Optional, Trekking, Camping Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 2nd May, Forenoon
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: Sociology
Background: IIT Roorkee
Hobbies: Fingerstyle Guitar, Trekking and Camping

I was the third person to go. The waiting room had a very informal and comforting vibe, with snacks, newspaper and other stuff. We were provided with Masks, Face shields and gloves- but the person assigned to call for our board asked us to only wear the mask (probably instruction by the Board, as some were asking candidates to wear everything). I was called and asked to wait outside the room until board calls me in.

Chairperson  Asked me to remove my mask.

  1. You’ve studied from a reputed college, why Indian colleges and universities do not rank good in International rankings- what are the criteria we lack upon?
  2. Rank Roorkee amongst other IITs
  3. (I told the NIRF Ranking- she said but why is it still called the best- I talked about the culture amongst Students and professors in Roorkee)
  4. Do you think hierarchy is necessary or not in Institutions?
  5. (I understood as hierarchy amongst different Institutions- IITs and others and gave answer as per this- she corrected that hierarchy amongst the college, student faculties etc.)
  6. Will you ever disobey order above from hierarchy?
  7. Which is more important- authority or rule of law?
  8. (Went with rule of law- she added that law can be confusing and unclear at times- Give examples)
  9. Confusion in Jahangirpuri Demolition? Why stay by Court if rule of law followed?
  10. Which treks did you went on? Did you went solo or as part of a group?

Member 1

  1. You took a quantum jump from Civil Engineering to Sociology, why so?
  2. So you took a shortcut I will say.
  3. (I disagreed that it was more of a strategic decision)
  4. Andre Beteille and his contribution.
  5. Utility of Andre Beteille as village coordinator at Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (DAF)

Member 2

  1. Asked when I participated in NCC? Any certification at NCC?
  2. Trekking- What were the number of participants in your treks?
  3. Difficulties as a trek leader- asked for an example
  4. What if a member is injured in a trek- what will you do as a trek leader?
  5. How technology can be used in such situations?
  6. Asked about some Joint (civil Engineering- couldn’t answer)
  7. You are XI Jinping- what would be your priorities in today’s Global scenario

Member 3

  1. Do you think Print media and electronic media pose a threat to National security?
  2. How major is the problem of Fake news?
  3. How to tackle it?

Member 4

  1. What is Eco-Oscar?
  2. (I said I don’t know)
  3. Asked me about causes of Pollution in Delhi
  4. (As I answered- he said Eco-Oscar was recently awarded to a boy who provided solution for Stubble Burning)
  5. What is White Revolution?
  6. Who was V Kurien?
  7. Status of Milk production in India.
  8. (He asked me exact data- I didn’t remember)
  9. How to increase the productivity of Cattles?
  10. What is artificial Insemination?
  11. (I wandered and talked about IVF- he corrected)

— Interview Over–

Overall good experience, the whole process was very comfortable. I believe I could’ve answered some questions in a better way, hope my Marks disagree 😛

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #183 : Smita Nagraj Board, Kannada literature Optional, drone technology Hobby

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Date of Interview: 26th April afternoon session
Board: Smita Nagraj mam
Optional: Kannada literature
Hobby: Following drone technology

Chairperson

  1. Why civil services after engineering?
  2. There is unemployment among engineers, but still why more people are entering engineering?
  3. Is it a failure of the govt or the problem with the people?

Member 1

  1. Questions were mostly related to mechanical engineering(my graduation)
  2. which is your favourite subject in mechanical engineering?(I said automobile engineering)
  3. how would be the future of automobile Industry?
  4. what are the challenges with e-vehicles?
  5. why recently e vehicles are catching fire?
  6. what technological solutions to be brought?

Member 2

  1. Who received jnanapeeth in kannada  recently?
  2. What is the speciality of his works?
  3. What is he doing now?
  4. what are recent developments happening in drone technology?
  5. Do we have indigenously built drones?

Member 3

  1. what are the recent Infrastructure projects undertaken by the govt?
  2. what is the difference between e-vehicle and a hybrid vehicle?
  3. why are we not able to develop advanced battery technology. What challenges we have?
  4. what is urban mining? (I said I don’t know. He explained it to me and i thanked him)

Member 4

  1. you come from rural area, are you doing any community welfare activity in your village?
  2. Tell me any one such thing you are proud of.
  3. do you see any abandoned old age people in your village?
  4. how are they being helped. What measures have been taken?

Few questions I’m not able to recall but most of the conversation was around these topics.

Experience-very good. The board was very much cordial. Chairperson intervened and helped me when I was not able to understand a question asked by one of the members.

Utility of Mocks-Help us to get exposed to interview kind of environment. However questions asked in the interview may be entirely different from mocks.

Thank u🙏. All the best to everyone

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #193 : Smita Nagraj Board, Uttar Pradesh Home State, Sociology Optional

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Date of Interview: 20 April
Board: Smita Nagraj mam
Home State: Uttar Pradesh
Optional: Sociology
Hobbies: guitar and martial art

Chairperson

  1. how was your experience coaching female volleyball team ,what are the problems you faced
  2. why do women sports needs to be promoted
  3. what are the diffrence between gurls of school and college
  4. how can we make engineering more favourable for women

Member 1

  1. why india with such big population can not produce olympic medal?
  2. do you follow i.p.l ,since cricket is doing so well without govt support should we remove govt support from others sports too?
  3. what is ethical concern regarding artificial intelligence?

Member 2

  1. what are infantry training in faizabad?
  2. what are central vista project and what are concerns surrounding it?
  3. why there is so much delay in judiciary and how technology can help?
  4. what are forms of a.d.r. and which one you prefer?
  5. what do you think about sidhu as a cricketer and politician??

Member 3

  1. what are positive outcome of practicing martial art?
  2. what is philosophy of karate?
  3. what are the problems faceb by telecom sector and what govt did to remove it?
  4. why monopoly is bad in telecom sector??

Member 4

  1. we have already privatised airways ,should we also privatise railway??
  2. private sector provides efficiency and capital while public sector takes care of poor but is always in loss ,how should we strike a balance

Chair person-thankyou that would be all

Utility of mocks -helped to articulate answer and few question were also directly asked from there

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #200 : Smita Nagaraj Board, Mechanical Optional, Sports Hobby

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Date of Interview: 04/05/2022, afternoon 2nd to go
Board: Smita Nagaraj
Optional: Mechanical
Background: iit Kharagpur
Profession (if any)- ongc
Hobbies: Hockey, table tennis

Your experience in interview- cordial, daf based question
Utility of mocks (if any) – manners, better expression of thought practice

Chairman

  1. ping pong diplomacy?
  2. why other sports should pe promoted , why not focus on cricket only as funding better here?
  3. why u didn’t choose sports as career ?
  4. benefit of playing sport other than fitness.

Member 1

  1.  benefit and issue of rti, rti vs osa, should we have rti or not
  2. judiciary cases pending reasons, solution

Member 2

  1. farm laws, good or bad , benefit issues, eNAM
  2. mtech project, application in public life

Member 3

  1. health policy , imr and mmr , states which improved most, fund priority among women child hiv/tb patient etc
  2. ongc assets india and world, calcutta basin should we stop exploration even if not finding oil

Member 4

  1. ndma under which ministry, disaster management in ongc
  2. un relevant or not as russia Ukraine happened
  3. cw – thankyou
  4. some more i not able to recall

Thankyou,
all the best for remaining candidates

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #211 : Smita Nagraj Board, History Optional, Reading Hobby

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Date of Interview: 02 May, afternoon
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: History
Background: Shri Ram College of Commerce
Profession (if any)- IRPS
Hobby: Book Reading

Utility of mocks (if any)- good for practice, idea of questions from Daf, minor fine tuning, Nothing More.

Chairperson

  1. Asked where are you posted these days, how many person with you in training. (just to let me get comfortable)
  2. Named some reasons behind corruption. How will you solve these issues? (gave some points)
  3. Is this not going on?
  4. Which reason of corruption according to you is most important (said red tapism)
  5. What is red tapism?
  6. Have you faced corruption? (talked about my experience)

Member 1

  1. You belong to small town, how was your locality, rural or urban?
  2. Why Patiyali is famous? (town in my district, birthplace of Amir Khusrau)
  3. Despite being birthplace of Amir Khusrau, why it’s not developed?
  4. What are biofuels?
  5. India grows and export a lot of rice. What is the problem in that, with respect to climate change?

Member 2

  1. India is growing economically, but is it not jobless growth?
  2. What is the railway university that’s coming in Vadodara?
  3. Lot of South Asian and South East Asian countries have better socioeconomic indicators than India? How do you see this?

Member 3

  1. Do you follow table tennis, what was the incident between Manika Batra and her coach during Tokyo Olympics?
  2. What is crony capitalism?
  3. Work from home culture? What is its future, is it good?
  4. What type of books you have read? (book reading my hobby)
  5. What books you have read on history?
  6. Why you opted for history, despite being commerce graduate?
  7. Who are subaltern historians? Have you ever read any book written by subaltern historians?
  8. Why IPL viewership is declining?

Member 4

  1. What is the govt target for tuberculosis?
  2. What are the problems in TB program?
  3. How will you solve these issues?

Chairperson – your interview is over

It went for about 25 minutes. Plain and simple, few hiccups in between, rest fine. Nothing unusual except light went off once.

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #213 : Smita Nagraj Board, Anthropology Optional, Himachal Pradesh Home State, Meditation Hobby

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Date of Interview: 6 May, afternoon session
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: Anthropology
Background: NIT-H
Home State: Himachal Pradesh
Hobbies: meditation, reading spiritual and self help books, journaling

Chairman

  1. Recent Chandigarh issue controversy
  2. What should be thr stand for Chandigarh?
  3. Monologue on centre state tussles going on. What is your opinion?
  4. River sharing disputes between states. What can be done to ensure stability?
  5. Migrants issue is present. What should the states who are receiving the migrants do about it?
  6. What are some migrants scheme by Chandigarh?

Member 1

  1. Which spiritual books you’ve read recently?
  2. Reasons behind India’s lagging semiconductor industry?
  3. Taiwan is having the same due to robus power systems. What should India do? ( I answered to create an ecosystem of electronics manufacturing)
  4. Which kind of ecosystem do you mean?

Member 2

  1. Why is Bangladesh better than India in parameters of HDI, per capita and others?
  2. Is it due to the MFIs?
  3. What are the schemes for the same MFIs? (Said not aware)

Member 3

  1. What is Pandemic and epidemic?
  2. If one continent not having any disease, is it still pandemic?
  3. What are the key indicators in food? Like carbohydrates, etc?
  4. Do you know about Isha foundation? What is it’s founder’s name? (Since I wrote meditation as hobby)
  5. What are the 2 programmes being run by Isha foundation?
  6. Tell me something about them?

Member 4  Says okay will ask some other questions ( started with some unconventional ones to check stability)

  1. What are the issues with WHA?
  2. What is kala azar?
  3. Which state in India has highest cases of this disease?
  4. Livestock smuggling? What are the schemes to stop it? (Wanted to know about an exact scheme, said not aware)

You can go now. Your interview is over

Utility of mocks- helped to a great extent. But the grilling factor and follow up questions were almost nil in actual interview.

Suggested mocks- KSG, Nextias, GsScore (took online), Drishti was also good (can choose panel 2), Chahal, Vajirao and Reddy

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #214 : Smita Nagraj Board, Economics Optional, Rajasthan Home State, Korean Drama, Diary Writing Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 5th May 2022 ( Forenoon Session), 4th to go
Board: Smita Nagraj
Optional: Economics
Home State: Rajasthan
Background: B.S.-M.S. Economics, IITK
Hobbies: Ghoomar, Korean Drama, Diary Writing

Experience in Interview: It happened so fast, board was very cordial, didn’t cross question, they were very observant, they even paused in between to check how I would react to that.

Utility of mocks: It made me confident, more articulate, I could think of various points.

Chairperson

  1. Why your graduation is called M.S. and not M.S.
  2. Impact of recent rbi on industry and investment
  3. ( At this point I fumbled, I made my arguments, she said no I’m asking this, then I explained more, but she was looking for something more specific, then she moved on)
  4. Huge informal sector–> why they go for money from moneylenders
  5. What can be done to improve this situation
  6. Something on SHG since I Mentioned it

Member 1

  1. Did you consider IES?
  2. Impact of this recent rbi decision on growth
  3. Impact of RBI’s move on Forex reserves and Indian currency
  4. Is RBI indicating something with this recent move ?
  5. (1-2 follow up questions)
  6. Are redistributive justice and growth compatible?
  7. Why rouble is booming inspite of Russian

Member 2

  1. Why korean drama
  2. What is IITK Motorsports
  3. Ukraine crisis
  4. Status of Real Estate in China?
  5. Do you know about one particular company which crashed in the real estate sector of China?
  6. How do you see Chinese Economy?
  7. Does a state-led economy like china can sustain itself?
  8. Is a state-led economic system feasible for India?

Member 3

  1. What are issues in RJ?
  2. impact of climate change on agri in RJ
  3. Do you know about climate-resilience?
  4. E.g.,  of Climate resilience
  5. What can be done to improve health status in RJ
  6. Subsequent questions on this like telemedicine

Member 4

  1. Why ASFA is implemented?
  2. Recent changes in AFSA
  3. Which areas it is removed
  4. Which state has completely removed AFSA
  5. Why AFSA only in N-E, not in other states?

I might be missing 1-2 questions here and there.

Closest mock to my PT was of Vajirao and Reddy, questions from mock didn’t repeat except one.

All the very best to everyone!

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #217 : Smita Nagaraj Board, Rajasthan Home State, Cooking, Cricket Hobbies

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Date of Interview: 4th May 2022, Afternoon (1st one to go)
Board: Smita Nagaraj
Background: Computer Engineering
Work: ICAS
Present posting: Rural Development
Hobbies: Cooking, Cricket
Home State: Rajasthan

Chairman

  1. You took a deep breath while coming in?
  2. You work at Krishi Bhawan?
  3. There are delays in many schemes implementation?
  4. Are u in favour of such delays?
  5. What do you like about your service ?

Member 1

  1. What is crony capitalism?
  2. Reasons for water crisis in India?
  3. How much % of water is used in Agriculture?
  4. How can India be a developed nation?
  5. By when can India be called a developed nation?

Member 2

  1. Some items are not under GST? Name few.
  2. Should Petrol be included in GST?
  3. If you are given power to allocate resources, what will you choose between Defence and Education?
  4. How much expenditure we do on education?

Member 3

  1. Taking the defence vs education question. Make a choice out of the two.
  2. Tell 5 main points of National Education Policy 2020?

Member 4

  1. Why NE is not properly integrated with mainstream India?
  2. There are also cases of racism against them?
  3. Do you know about Hornbill festival?

Chairman

  1. Are you under some project in your present posting?
  2. What is the biggest challenge in it?
  3. Is you graduation knowledge going to help solve these issues?

Thank You.

Thanked everyone and went out.

Can’t recall few 1-2 more questions.

Utility of mocks : To gauge your self confidence and realising areas to cover.

Source: Telegram

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #229 : Smita Nagraj Board, PSIR Optional, Chess Hobby

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Date of Interview:  9 May
Board: Smita Nagraj Ma’am
Optional: PSIR
Background: B.tech (Industrial)
Work Ex: Part time at Agro based Startup, Internship at Food Park
Hobbies: Chess

Time:  40 min approx, last one to go

Utility of Mock –  I believe it helps a lot. Even if we don’t realise, our performance improves.Entered with mask only ( kept throughout the interview) , wished the members.
Are u in Army? Said no madam.
Then why are you are standing in attention position, relax and sit down?

Chairman

  1. You passed out in 2019 , yet u worked for 3 yrs without remuneration during college ( in a Start up ) – tell us something about it.
  2. Your role in the Start up?
  3. Explain business model?
  4. What is it doing presently?
  5. More follow up questions on it.
  6. What are you  doing at present?
  7. Where were you more free – startup or family business?

Member 1

  1. You play Chess, what are your learning or positives of playing chess?
  2. Any negative effect of playing chess?
  3. How has covid affected your startup?

Member 2

  1. How will you use Supply Chain knowledge to address the disruptions of SC we have seen after Covid?
  2. What is Gati Shakti?
  3. How will it help us?
  4. What changes you would suggest in it?

Member 3

  1. Food wastage is major problem – What to do to address it?
  2. Vehical Scrappage – years and km dual condition what is it?
  3. Is it justified, what’s your opinion?
  4. Why not followed for Armed forces vehicals?

Member 4

  1. Food parks have not succeeded, why reasons?
  2. Don’t u think – raw material availablity, labour etc are also the reasons?
  3. Why rouble is not falling despite sanctions
  4. CPEC – India’s stance,
  5. What Infra projects are there in it
  6. Status and why it is not successful?
  7. Do u know any hydroelectric projects of CPEC?

Chairman

  1. You talked about debt trap diplomacy. If India has that amount of money as China, should we too do it?
  2. But we are giving loan to countries even now. What’s the difference.
  3. I said something like India’s aim while giving debt is primarily development of other nations , eg our neighborhood…
  4. Madam laughed a little and said our neighbors would want to disagree with you on that.

Thank you your  interview is over

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #233 : Smita Nagraj Board, Rajasthan Home State, Mathematics Optional, Watching Env doc, football Hobbies

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Board: Smita Nagraj 
Home State: Rajasthan
Background: Electrical engineering
Optional: Mathematics
Hobbies: Watching Env doc, football

  1. Tell something about aspirational districts of Rajasthan.
  2. What are the parameters on the basis of which these districts have been classified as aspirational.
  3. What’s the progress on these indicators after inclusion into the program.
  4. Few more qsn related to same topic.
  5. Is literacy directly correlated with development.

Member 1

  1. Why maths is considered as tough subject.
  2. What’s the status of digitalisation in govt depts.
  3. What are the challanges in digitalisation.
  4. Which organisation certifies electrical appliances in India and globally.
  5. We have so many schemes launched by center as well as states, how will you, as a dm, implement all of them ?

Member 2

  1. What’s the status of sariska tiger reserve, how govt has rehabilitated tiger population in the park.( Home district)
  2. What is the status of border road infrastructure in northern Border areas.

Member 3

  1. Can we achieve sdg by 2030?
  2. Whats the status of net zero target, can we achieve it by 2070?
  3. What are eco clubs?
  4. What’s the renewable energy target and present status?

Member 4

  1. Which documentary did you watch recently.
  2. Is India doing enough for environment?
  3. Why we are not giving preference to environment?
  4. How development threatens environment, explain in layman terms.
  5. Few more qsns on environment

Might have missed a few questions, as it felt more like a conversation,  board was as usual extremely cordial, they were continuously nodding and encouraging.

Most of the inv was environment centric, maybe due to hobby.

M4 wanted to ask more questions but Smita mam stopped her as they were running short on time.

Source: Forum IAS

[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #235 : Smita Nagaraj Board, Law Optional, Reading hobby

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Date of Interview: 10 MAY
Board: SMITHA NAGARAJ
Optional: LAW
Profession: (if any)- LAWYER IN SUPREME COURT and DELHI HC
Hobbies: Reading Constitutional Law Judgements

Chairman

  1. Inquired about Law Firm Job in Corporate, Investment and Securities Law and reason why I left handsomely paid jobs.
  2. Practicing independently or under a Senior Counsel?
  3. Asked about the PIL filed for Persecuted Hindu Community from Pakistan living in Jaipur
  4. Elicited view on Bulldozer Jurisprudence and what happened in Court No. 3, last day, where I was present.

Member 1

  1. Judicial Activism – Positives and Negatives.
  2. 5 Judgments where Activism harmed the balance of Separation of Powers.
  3. Steps to Correct the same.
  4. Questioned on the work of Child Welfare Committees, CARA and FIR filed against perpetrators of Crime against Minors.

Member 2

  1. Steps to create conducive ecosystem for Children
  2. As a DM measures to improve the Child rights.
  3. Judicial Delays, Prison Reforms, ADR
  4. Don’t you think Executive showing laxity therefore so many PILs
  5. Don’t you think Judges are at fault hiding lack of efficiency in disposal of cases as independence of Judiciary.

Member 3

  1. Opinion on Marital Rape and legislative intervention required.
  2. Difference between Direct and Indirect Democracy
  3. Tracing the evolution of Democracy.
  4. Some more questions on Women rights.

Member 4

  1. IBC and EoDB
  2. Improving the Specific performance of Contracts.
  3. Suitability of UCC
  4. What about socially obnoxious practices in religions?
  5. Issues with Fast Track Courts and reforms required.

Overall cordial boards. Checks the way one formulate their reply. My advice – Keep calm and composed, it’s rewarding.

All the Best!

Your experience in interview-

Reflected mocks and little bit court grillings which my profession ably provides. Helped in controlling stress situations and formulate answers on feet.

Utility of mocks (if any)- Gave 9 Mocks. It guided in the choice and selections of appropriate words, phrases. Developed sitting etiquettes.

Source: Telegram

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