What are the things that can trigger a question in the mind of the Interview board?

Ans.: The elements in their immediate view.

What are these elements?

Ans.: First the candidate himself/herself, second his back ground record as revealed from the mains application form, third important events that have happened in last few months or are in news currently and lastly words that we use in our answers to the board.

Can we identify these triggers?

Ans.: Yes to large extent. By doing so we can be very well prepared for about 85-90% of the questions.

How does this help?

Ans.: By preparing well on these triggers, we can also work on their presentation as well so as to avoid giving unnecessary triggers through our answers or positively giving triggers that will lead the board to our familiar territory.

• Practically speaking we can sit with our mains application form and write down each and every word that we have written in that form separately on a separate page of a register.
• Having done that, then list questions that can be asked, with that word acting as a trigger.
• Refine the list by sitting with few friends. You will have a list of about 100-200 questions. Start preparing on their content and work on their presentation to keep it crispy and meaningful.
• Similarly we can work on other triggers and try to avoid giving unnecessary triggers in our answers.

Types of questions asked at the UPSC interview:

• Relating to your name: Any famous personality who has a similar or same name or surname.
• Your career choice: Why you want to opt for the civil services.
• Your Hobbies: Why you pursue such a hobby or questions related to your hobby. So research well on your hobby.
• Hot topics of recent days. Keep reading and watching the news. If the recent headlines have something to do with your subject then specially revise those portions. For example if you are a veterinary doctor, Bird flu may go on to other animal diseases that can infect men. If you are an MBBS, then you might be asked about human to human spread of epidemics or any other epidemics and precautions etc. If you are from an economy background, the same topic will veer towards the economic implications of the Bird flu.
• How you are going to use your specific knowledge (like if you are a doctor, lawyer, engineer etc) in the services.
• Situational questions/ Hypothetical questions: Like If you were the collector/SP of so and so, what would you do after the Communal riots/Bomb Blast?
• Choice of services: The order of your choice of services can raise questions too.
• About your institution and related: If you have studies at IIM- you may be asked about the rising salaries, if from IGNOU- then even about Indira Gandhi, and so on.
• Other areas to be focused are: background of parents; places where you stayed; academic background and related aspects; optional subjects; graduating subject; positions if held; job experience if any; hobbies; sports.

Source: Telegram

Interview is a test of personality and not of knowledge, yet most of the time candidates prepare for enhancing their knowledge base and totally neglect their personality aspect.

It is obvious that personality can’t be built in a day but it can certainly be molded in a short time span.Your aim should be to highlight the best aspects of your personality. Interview is the final step before you achieve your dream- DO NOT MESS IT UP.

The members of the UPSC Board are very experienced and are experts at judging the personality of the candidates. You have to remember that the panel usually may not remember what you did or what you did not do but it will always remember how you made them feel. The board always appreciates honesty. Honesty is always the best policy and smartness only the second best one.

For the Interview, please focus greatly on two things- Your Bio-Data (as reflected in the Mains Form) and the Current Affairs.

Bio-Data includes the following:

• Schools, Colleges, Places of Schooling
• State
• Mother’s Profession and Father’s Profession
• Your own previous professions and companies if any
• Reason for a long time gap after graduation without employment (if applicable to you)
• Date of Birth, Meaning of Name, any special occasion that coincides with your dob.
• Hobbies
• Awards and any extra-curricular activities.
• Optional Subjects
• Subject of graduation
  

  ---

Current Affairs includes basically current events that you should be familiar with.

For my interview preparation I consulted the following sources-

• Madhukar Bhagat’s book which was extremely helpful in guiding me.
• India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri
• NBT books on Haryana, and other books on Punjab that are usually read by college students in the state.
• Tourism websites of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
• 2 National Newspapers- The Hindu and The Indian Express + one regional newspaper (The Tribune)
• I also revised my Optional subjects. (Candidates should also have a brief overview of their graduation subjects especially if they are different from their Optional subjects.) Here special attention should be given on items related to these subjects currently in the news.
• Please don’t forget to revise your GS basics. You should never do any mistake in any fundamentals like articles of constitution or important events in History etc.
• Right after my Mains exam, I read some general books such as My Experiments with Truth, Discovery of India, Indomitable Spirit etc to gain a perspective of seeing things around me.
  

  ---

The members are looking for original thinkers who can express their opinions crisply and in as short as possible.

Your personality should not be overly-polished. It should be a little raw. You should be original and logical in your thinking.

Unlike in the written exam where you could get away by replicating the opinions mentioned in editorials, in the interview you will be grilled for whatever stand you take because as a bureaucrat this quality of taking unbiased decisions that are logical and fair is extremely important.

And most importantly please do not be desperate to get selected. Give your best but be patient- even if you do not make it, it is not the end of life. So please have an open-mind.

You can also watch some serving bureaucrats speak on television channels and try and emulate their style. In front of the Board always be patient. Let the members put forward their questions completely and take a pause before you start answering. Remember, there is no need to be in any hurry.

Everyone is there only to evaluate you and to listen to you. They have all the time in the world to sit with you and so do you. After all these are few magical moments of your life that you will never forget. So make them count.

The following points must always be borne in mind while appearing for the Interview-

• Read that morning’s newspaper. At least go through the headlines.
• Be honest with the board. If you do not know the answer to a question, just say that- “I am sorry Sir/Maam, I don’t know”. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know an answer, what matters is how you say that you don’t know the answer and how you react after that.
• Always maintain your calm and composure.
• Be patient. No hurries please.
• Try and maintain a smiling face and a pleasant aura around you.
• Appear for a couple of mock interviews before you sit for the final interview.
• Try and sit in a group of 3-4 friends and interview each other. This exercise will help you in two ways- firstly while answering questions in front of your friends, you will be more at ease and can work on the content of your answers; secondly when you ask questions to your friends based on his bio-data, you step into the shoes of the examiner and you understand how he thinks and that will help you prepare better.
• Sometimes you may come under a lot of stress during the interview for any reason. In such times, please keep your nerves cool. Do not start assessing your performance while you are in front of the Board. You may feel that you are not doing good whereas in reality you may be doing brilliantly because many times rather than answering the question, it is more important to stay calm and even headed and move on to the next question with ease.
• Be at peace with yourself. Always wear a thinking cap. Never be in a haste to give your answer. Speak slowly and give weight to your words.
• Remember that this is not a repeat Mains Exam. It is an Interview- a conversation by which you will be judged. Come out of the written mode and into the Interview mode. Start researching issues on your own on the net. Form your original opinions and learn how to express your stand in 3-4 lines maximum.
• Practice the art of speaking. I have to underline this fact again that Interview is a test of personality. When your mind is fed information from all sources, somewhere in the chaos, your heart looses its sensitivity. Please preserve that sensitivity. Make sure you show it in the Interview.
• Interview is about YOU.
  

  ---

Before I conclude, it is important to pen down a few words on a very important question-Why you want to join the Civil Services?  This question may or may not be asked in the interview and it may be asked indirectly too (as to why you didn’t continue with your previous profession, why you quit etc). Nevertheless, the very act of thinking on this question will be an eye-opener for many of you.

It is a good exercise to really question yourself as to why have you come so far? What exactly is it that attracted you to the Services? The reasons can be numerous- social service, personal ambition, job security, prestige in the society, contribution to the nation, some childhood inspiration etc. These answers may sound repetitive to the Board but the real point of testing is something else when the Board asks this question. The main purpose of this question is to evaluate your honesty and your conviction for this job.

The answer to this question lies not so much in verbal communication as it does in the non-verbal communication. Whether you realize it or not, there is something about this question that just exposes your real self. The examiner can easily see whether you really believe in what you are saying.

And you will only believe in what you are saying when you are honest. Be honest not just to the examiner but also to yourself. I am sure each one of us has good intentions at heart but do we have the conviction to stick to them when the going gets tough. If you do, then you will not have a problem with answering this question.

Finally, please remember always that Interview is the icing on the cake. If the icing is good, the cake will taste better.

Remember- when you score high in the interview and then get selected, it really boosts your confidence because then you truly know that you are in the right job and you belong here. Make the board feel good about yourself. All the best!

Source: Forum IAS

Questions were mostly from DAF and Forest, env etc.

Chairman

Why did you leave job?
I answered.
C: You studied probability and statistics as a subject in ur graduation. Tell about coefficient of correlation, dispersion, skewness etc.
I tried to answer but couldn’t satisfactorily as it’s been long since I have completed graduation.
C: Situational question – suppose I m posted in a district where there has been outbreak of malaria. How would I make use of statistics to find out whether a particular drug has been effective or not?
I answered something

Member 1

How far is Similipal national park from ur place? Have you visited? Have you visited Bhitarkanika? Significance?
Significance of Chilika lake?
There is one nations park which is bounded by a boundary wall. Which is that?
I couldn’t answer. He gave hint. Keoladeo Ghana it is.
Wetlands? Significance? Ramsar etc.
Protected areas in India
Difference between National Park and Wildlife sanctuaries
How is the performance of WPA act till now and what improvement I can suggest.

Member 2

Why ifos. Why I left job etc.
Forest fires. How it can be controlled.
Where all have I trekked(hobby)?
Have I been to places in Himachal, Uttarakhand ?
What is gender equity? What all can be done in this direction?
How I can persuade local people towards conservation?

Member 3

How can public policy help in forestry?
Suppose a river flows through forest area. What policy measures will you take?
Koraput district in Odisha – what are its importance from environmental point of view

It lasted for around 25 minutes.

Source: Forum IAS

After completing all formalities finally at the door of Board…

Me- May I Step In sir?

Chairman

Yes please.

Me- (came in..stood in front of desk ).. Good morning Mam/Good Morning sirs.

CH- Good morning… please have a seat.

Me -Thank you sir.

CH- Is This you.

Me- Yes sir.

CH- Ok tell me.   How much of forest covers Haryana?

Me- 4% forest cover and 6% forest area ..ohhh sorry sir..4% forest area and 6% forest cover.

CH- What to do then..how to improve?

Me- Agro forestry, social forestry, trees along road sides…finally community awareness generation is key sir.

CH- why is the cover/area low? What has the govt done/ is doing?

Me- ( told normally with little bit fumbling )

Asked few factual info like first forest policy (1986/88 sir?)..Heard WPA ? (1972 sir!)…then was asked about relevance of it with forest cover.. ANSWERED but not so satisfactory.

Ch asks LADY member to ask next…

Member 1

M1-Do you have an Aadhar card? Tell me is it a good step?

Me- Yes mam! Definitely it is a very good step.

M1- How?

Me- Mam, firstly, it gives oneself an identity which  is unique. It creates identity infrastructure which is very important.

M1 (interrupts..)- NO I am not asking theory. You tell me HOW IT BENEFITED YOU PERSONALLY?

Me- (told although with little fumbling in between)..like Linked to my bank account.. linked with my family LPG connection…linked with my Ration card…linked with my Driving license. Many application forms now demand this. Now it is getting linked with MDM etcetc (Mam asked few questions in between..told quite satisfactorily like how benefit in LPG/PDS etc?)

M1- SC view on it?

Me- (told.. VOLUNTARY not mandatory ..nowAadhar bill also..)

M1- what it is about?

Me- (told but not so well.)

(Mam looked quite satisfied..baton handed to IR expert sir.. BAD TIME STARTS..)

Member 2

TELL ME few Conflict areas of world?

Me- started with India-Pak..Rohingya crisis in east..west Asia conflicts.. then USA recently protectionism rising!

M2- NO NO DON’T TELL ME ALL THE PROBLEMS of world..tell me conflict areas only?..okk in west asia tell me.

Me- (fumbled little..) Israel-Palestine issue…(yes what else ??..)..Syria..(what else..??).. Yemen crisis..(what others..)… Iraq-Iran !! (are they in conflict now?)…SORRY SIR I’M UNABLE TO RECALL NOW L

M2- Okk.. Have you heard about Arab spring? What is its current status? Was it successfull.

Me- told but with little hiccups.. (then asked me few factual questions..like tell me which of this area nations are DEMOCRACY ? ) ..Tried to tell few like Turkey….Syria…(went BLANKKKK …)…SORRY SIR I’M UNABLE TO RECALL MORE because definition of democracy is very subjective.

M2- Okk tell me Is Russia a democracy?

Me- Yes sir Russia is reasonably a democracy ! ..(HOW?)…sir Regular elections happening there..(yesgood..what are other elements of democracy?)..grass root participation..decisions by discussion and debates like in Parliament or by direct democracy devices like referendum etc..(okk good)

M2- IS CHINA A DEMOCRACY?

Me- although China claims it to be a democracy but in true aspects..( M2 INTERRUPTS….NO CHINA DON’T CLAIM TO BE A DEMOCRACY?.. THEY CLEARLY SAY THEY ARE SINGLE PARTY RULED STATE?)..Yes sir butttt they claim They have democracy within CPC so they are democratic..but as dissent or alternate views/ideologies is not permitted..thence not a democracy!!

M2-okkkk…!!!!!!.. LET’S MOVE TO INDIA..tell me Kashmir issue..External angles..Internal angles..relationship between them..?

Me- (told well..)

M2- Solutions?

Me-  DIPLOMACY ..“To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war” Churchill !!.. although irritants like rogue neighbour..PM said “Blood and talk can’t flow together..BUT STILL HAVE TO TALK SIR..BACK CHANNEL DIPLOMACY must go on !!.. (Good..what else we can do??).. told like Economic ties..culturalties..Developmentetcetc

(Reasonably satisfied he seems to be..but quite fumbled in these 7 8 minutes !!..2 3 times I DON’T KNOW USED !…Baton to member 3 from North East probably!)

Member 3

(One brief question on motivation Hobby)

Me- telling something..(INTERRUPTS..OKK leave it !!!L )

M3- tell me.. Global happiness index report.. India very dismal performance..only Africans behind..

Me- yes sir 122 rank !! (READ IN NEWSPAPER IN MORNING..JUST RANK I KNEW!)

M3- GOODDD !!..You read Newspaper today??..TOI??

Me- (smilinggg..) yes sir 3 Newspapers i referred today !!

M3- goodddd..tell me why we so unhappy? [AREY TAU YRR SIRFFF RANK PTA THI..ARTICLE NHI DEKHA THA YRRR..SHITTT !! ? ]

Me- (trying to make few points..) sir firstly criterion subjectivity is there in such indexes.. then sir our aspirations are rising so now Basic needs only not sufficient…( WENT BLANKKKK AGAIN !!..)…

M3- so Srilankans happy with whatever they getting but Indians not? This is what you want to say?

Me- no sir..i mean as we are progressing towards MIDDLE INCOME group kind economy so aspirations are increasing fast !!

M3- okk..take your time tell me few more reasons why low?

Me- after thinking for some time.. Sorry sir I’m unable to recall now !!L

M3- unemployment..life expectancy at birth?? Aren’t these reasons of low socre?

Me- yes sir Unemployment is definitely a source of unhappiness !

M3- okkk tell me as a SDM how will you tackle this unhappiness/unemployment?

Me- told like skilling via ITIs/Vocationalsetcetc steps (FORGOT SKILL INDIA L )..

( DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH HE WAS SATISFIED !!…Baton moves to next member!)

Member 4

M4- Recently Merger and Acquisitions in news..two companies decided to merge yesterday..which one? Two- three factual questions about customer base/telecom subscribers numbers etc…ALL TOLD EXCEPT ONE !

M4- So why M & A?

Me- (smillinggg because now 1^st time predicted and prepared area directly asked !).. Basically sir reason is that IN business 1+1=3 !..economies of scale.. efficiencies ..cut throat competition ..Jio entry etc..

( he asked 2 3 counter questions..replied quite satisfactorily like HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT 5 PLAYERS WILLL LEAD TO OPTIMUM COMPETITION/ USOF ?? etc..all done quite well)

M4- Should we promote companies like Jio..does these M & A trends good for market?

Me- Yes sir !currently it is good..but in long term we need STRINGENT regulations to prevent Monopolies etc..MARKET TENDS TO SERVE CLASSES RATHER THAN MASSES !!( M1 M2 from behind..GOODGOOD !!J )

M4- But why do we need regulators at all.. Why can’t we let market work freely?? SURVIVAL OF FITTEST isn’t it a good principle?

Me- (sixerrrtime !!..smilinggg hard)… SIR survival of fittest is good for market BUT FOR DEMOCRACY IT IS NOT !!..for democracy SURVIVAL OF ALL is necessary.. ANTODYA AND SARVODAYAA… SBKA SAATH SBKA VIKAAS.. !!.. and if it is not happening than STATE MUST CREEP IN AND REGULATE !!

( EVERYONE seemed IMPRESSED ON THIS SHOT including M4…Baton to Chairman sir again)

CH- okk let me ask you last question before you leave..what was UN resolution on Kashmir ?post independence when we went there.. do you know it.. can you tell me it’s 3 key points ??

Me- ( although knew few things..BUT STILL CHOSE TO DON’T LET LOSE IN A UNKNOWN TERRITORY IN END !!) … SORRY SIR I DON’T KNOW it in that details !!L

CH- OKKKKK..than tell me WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL OPINION ON CURRENT SITUATION IN KASHMIR??

Me- telling something..( INTERRUPTS..)

CH- NO NO TELL ME YOUR OWNNN PERSONAL ASSESSMENT..i know you must have been reading MANY magazines and newspapers .. BUT I WANT YOUR OWN PERSONAL OPINION..!!

Me- sir seeing the recent trend… ( INTERRUPTS AGAIN !! L)

CH- tell me your personal opinion..[ TO MATLAB CHHODOGE NAA TAU BCHE KO !!!.. ASLIYAT WALA SUN K HI MAANOGE ]

Me- ( told…!! ;).. PURE PERSONAL OPINION…BUT WITH GREAT CAUTIOUSLY CHOSEN WORDS)

CH- VERY GOOD !!… asked few counter questions.. replied QUITE GOOD ..!! ( HE SEEMED SATISFIED WITH THIS FINAL SHOW)

OKKK ….GET LOSTTTTTT NOW ;)..thanked everyone ?

TIME TAKEN– 30-35 minutes

SATISFIED..90% interview was from NOT PREPARED AREA AS SUCH..NO ECE/PUB ADM/HARYANA ISSUES..JAAT WALA/KHAAP WALA/SEX RATIO…NOTHINGGGG !!L …HOPEFULLY WILL NOT FALL BELOW MY MINIMUM MARGIN ie 165-170 marks.

JAIII HIND. Prelims preparation begins soon.

PS- DON’T EVEN ASK ME WHAT I SAID AS MY PERSONAL OPINION ON KASHMIR IN LAST..I WILL NO TELL TILL MY FINAL RESULT COMES. ATB to others !!

#HumHongeKamyaabEkDinJ ?

Source: Forum IAS

Interview Board: B S Bassi
Date: 28 march Forenoon
Background: BTech Biotech
Employment: Solar Sector

Chairman

What are the current prices in solar sector
Do you think they are sustainable?
Are they cheaper than coal based generation
Cooking your hobby or out of necessity?
Tell me some dishes of awadhi cuisine

Member 1

How to keep vegetables green in the process of cooking?
What is biotechnology?
What are GMOs
Name some GMOs
Types of biotechnology
What is LMO

Member 2

You also mentioned spending time with pets
Are you worried about wild life?
Threw some light regarding 50%fall in number of species.
What are the reasons of this fall in population
What can be done to arrest this fall?
What can be done to prevent cruelty against animals?
What were the targets of demonetization?
Were they fulfilled?

Member 3

You make a pitch to convert my home into solar rooftop system.
Chairman also asked question regarding it

Member 4

Asked some biotech industries but i was not aware about them.
Then asked question pertaining to parents IPR compulsory licensing

Chairman
Tell me what were the reasons of failure of Arab spring
Told some point but then said think about 2-3 minutes and then give a talk of 2 minutes on the topic
Then had some discussion about dictatorship and dictatorial regime

Overall cordial board!
Some fumbling regarding pitching for solar project
Also Arab spring took many aspects

Source: Forum IAS

• PK Joshi Board
• 30 minutes

Here is the Transcript:

Chairman

Why IFS?

– Why such cadre pref?
– Why did you leave such good paying job?
– ITC… hmm.. do you smoke?
– What steps you suggest to control air pollution?
– Hyperloop?
– Govt. spent so much on iitians and here they are.. shortage of engineers ? (!!!! , engg. ki shortage vermin declare kar do  )
– Which nonfiction have you read , Tell me the authors?
– Why arrow in news ?

Other members
– Ecotone, edge effect, NPs in Raj, Chambal Ravines, Trappist-1?
– Kota students suicides, coral reefs, Mangroves species, GSLV vs PSLV, CRISPAR CAS 9
-Indo-Myanmar relations, H1B visa, refrigeration, layering, Red tide misnomer?

Thank God no CGPA!

Source: Forum IAS

Board BS Bassi
Date 23 rd march
Background Civil engineer
10 yrs of experience 
6 yrs on grp A Post in government department

Chairman 

Where are you currently posted
If I will tell you to make runway in 7 days, how will u proceed.

Member 1

What is the status of education of SC & ST children in our country, what is the literacy rate among them, what is overall literacy rate, have we not been able to reduce the gap between them and general since independence, which are the various scheme for them, what is the problem associated, if you are the dm how will you tackle the situation.

Member 2

What are the threats to Indian external security, which countries are the major source of that threat, who is bigger enemy Pakistan or China, why China, how will you use the kautilya teachings against Pakistan and China, why China and Pakistan are collaborating other factors than common enemy, who need the other more China needs pak or pak need china, where India and China have collaborated…
Why China is called expansionist historically give examples.

Member 3

How will you construct a helipad at 9000ft height in aru. Pradesh, give detailed steps…
What is wbm…
Where it lies wrt blacktop
How roads in hilly area constructed
What are the precautions
Methods to control landsliding
How road drainage is taken care of
How curves in hilly area roads accounted for

Member 4

Which project management software do you use.
What all it does
What others are available
How do you procure it
Have you heard about indradhanush
What are npa
What is asset for banks
In what form government invest in banks
Have you heard about indradhansh 2.0

Passed on to the CM
And the interview was over with all smiles.

Overall nice experience, Board was cordial.

All the Best!

Source: Forum IAS