Board - Sheel Vardhan Sir

DAF Keywords - Computer Engineering, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Surat, Fitness enthusiast, Sports, Cricket

Chairman -
You are fitness enthusiast... What would you suggest 62 year old like me to do?
What is the way to measure fitness parameters without using device? What is isometric ..?
You might have heard about DOGE.. Which Indian department or ministry should be slashed? Sports Ministry? Climate? Coaching system?

Member 2
Difference between DOGE and Minimum Government Maximum Governance? Specific?
What is Surat most famous for?

Member 3 (Lady)
You are Computer Engineer...Cyber fraud, financial fraud are on rise... What strategy will you apply to fight this? Specific?

Member 4
You are from Jharkhand? I am born in Jharkhand but native of Uttarakhand... Why was Jharkhand separated? Have they achieved their demand?
When Uttarakhand was separated, some other place than Dehradun was thought to be the capital... What was that?

Member 5
Why have you written following Indian Men's cricket specifically? Men specifically? India specifically ( you're like us as we follow only India - laughter among all)
Is underarm bowling allowed in cricket?
Where is best sports facility in India?

Board was cordial.

Please find my transcript for interview on 3rd March today - Civil Services

Board - Suman Sharma Ma'am

DAF Keywords - Computer Engineering, Rajasthan, Indian Oil, Surat, Jogging, Women Empowerment, Mumbai, Sociology, NIT

Name : Rhne do yrrr..
Date : 20th Feb, Afternoon
Chairman
How many years you are working in indian oil?
When you have planned to start preparing for upsc?
Why you want to join?
IndianOil renewable target?
What is the impact of drill baby drill on USA?
Why we need import? Can it be eliminated?
Imagine a society in which we are self sufficient, whatever we produce we are consuming, then is there any need for import?
10000 steps per day? What is the history behind it?


M1
Tell me about Rajasthan Crude oil production
What is the name of refinery in RJ?
What is the share of ownership?
Why it got delayed? Specific reasons?
Which state is best in health sector?
Compare that state to rajasthan
Scheme of Rajasthan in health sector?
Tell me about Annapurna scheme and its benefits?


M2
How women can be empowered?
Whether we should privatized PSU or Not?
What will be the future of Oil sector?

M3
Tell me names of Seven sisters?
What are the issues in this region?
Who is holding the power in Myanmar?
What is the refugee issues in Myanmar India Boundary
Which critical minerals is found in Rajasthan?

M4
How Manipur issue can be resolved? -- here he was pressing for more points but I am not able to produce more than 4 points
What we can do in NE region?
Which natural resource is found in NE?

Chairman : Your interview is over. Thank you


Mocks: preferable Mocks - Next IAS(Both), Ed-Sarthi One2One, Vajirao and reddy, Vajiram and ravi
Mocks to be avoided : UPSCPrep

Date: 24/01/2025 (Est. Time: 25 minutes)
Board: Sheel Vardhan Sir
DAF keywords: Chemical Engineering, IIT, Jharkhand, Academic Mentoring, Pharma sector
Optional: Chemistry
Hobbies: Academic Mentoring
State: Jharkhand


Chairperson:
1. What is Academic Mentoring? What do you do?
2. What support do you provide to students?
3. Suppose a student is having a Maths exam the next day and is very stressed, anxious and nervous. What will you do to help him?
4. A student is told by his parents to take Maths as his subject but he wants to study History. What will you do? How will you convince his parents? Then, some more cross questions.
5. Can you share any case where you helped any student in a similar kind of situation?
6. What is the Kolhan movement?
7. What is the circadian cycle?
8. What chemicals are released that relax while we sleep?
9. Have you heard about Dopamine? Then, a few more questions about chemicals/hormones.

M1:
1. Tell me what has happened in Bangladesh?
2. Where is its impact on Bangladesh’s people, minorities?
3. How can it affect India?
4. What does the Bangladesh government want from India with respect to former PM Sheikh Hasina?

M2:
1. Do you know about Rajendra Singh?
2. Why is he called the waterman of India?
3. Recently someone from Pakistan visited Bangladesh. Who is he?
4. How should India respond?
5. How India-Bangladesh depends on each other? [I said trade, river, medical tourism etc.]
Then, questions on Chemical engineering (I do not remember)

M3
1. Were you staying in a hostel or day scholar at IIT? These days, students are spending a lot of time on social media after academic hours. Is it good? What would you recommend to utilize their time more productively?
2. What are the applications of drones?

M4
1. What is the problem with respect to Municipal waste?
2. Why is this problem existing? Then, a few more follow up questions.
3. What can be done more?
4. Is it not the failure of Chemical engineers?
5. Why is Jharkhand lagging in developmental indicators?
6. What are the problems in Jharkhand?
7. What can be done?

Chairperson:
1. You told us various applications of drones eg. insurgency? Are drones not used for controlling terrorism? (I said yes sir)
2. Tell me the difference between insurgency and terrorism?
3. What is naxalism- insurgency or terrorism?

I forgot few fact based questions...

Board - Sheel Vardhan Sir

DAF Keywords - Computer Engineering, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Surat, Fitness enthusiast, Sports, Cricket

Chairman -
You are fitness enthusiast... What would you suggest 62 year old like me to do?
What is the way to measure fitness parameters without using device? What is isometric ..?
You might have heard about DOGE.. Which Indian department or ministry should be slashed? Sports Ministry? Climate? Coaching system?

Member 2
Difference between DOGE and Minimum Government Maximum Governance? Specific?
What is Surat most famous for?

Member 3 (Lady)
You are Computer Engineer...Cyber fraud, financial fraud are on rise... What strategy will you apply to fight this? Specific?

Member 4
You are from Jharkhand? I am born in Jharkhand but native of Uttarakhand... Why was Jharkhand separated? Have they achieved their demand?
When Uttarakhand was separated, some other place than Dehradun was thought to be the capital... What was that?

Member 5
Why have you written following Indian Men's cricket specifically? Men specifically? India specifically ( you're like us as we follow only India - laughter among all)
Is underarm bowling allowed in cricket?
Where is best sports facility in India?

Interview transcript :28-02-25, AN
Name: Arya
Daf: Cooking, Zumba dance, internship in Bastar , chattisgarh, development, IRMS

Board: Sanjay verma

Chairman:
1) Meaning of your name
2) discussion on origin
3) any famous thinker who writes articles on development
4) Can a developed nation have poor people?
5) can development and poverty go together?
6) Tell me a developed nation with no poverty
7) Tell me the states which are doing good and bad on all development indicators
8)Origin of Zumba ,origin of rumba music,how many calories you burn
9) Any famous Carnatic musician
10)famous songs of her
11) Any famous Hindustani singers

M1
1) Origin of naxalism, how it got spread
2) why they were many killings
3) tell me if you are a DM , what will you do
4) what about the women naxals, what will you do for them

M2:
1) tell me role and responsibility of SEBI
2) what is insider trading
3) what will SEBI do
4) tell me about corporate governance

M3: (lady)
1) what crafts did you buy in Chhattisgarh
2) tell me about bronze statue you bought
3) tell me 3 handicrafts of different regions and how will you promote them
4) how will you connect rural artisans to market when the products they made are time taking, costly

M4:
1) do you cook daily
2) difference between Andhra and Telangana cuisine
3) Tell me the name of famous chilly
4) origin of Osmania buiscuit and uniqueness
5)names of famous biryanies
6) what did you taste and liked
7) Why Hyderabadi is your favourite
8) If you have to give GI tags to what will you give first and why?


Thank you
Your interview is over
Almost on DAF
Board was very cordial

Keywords : IRS, Production and industrial engg , Punjabi Lit , Punjab , Punjabi folk songs

Board : Dinesh Dasa sir
Date 28/02

Chairman
So good to see u here , i hv seen Sardarji at this chair after long time. You are quite young also ,
1. Why do u think People from Punjab are not coming for armed forces or Bureaucracy and all are going abroad
2. Punjab was at no. 1 at one point, now at 17th . Causes ? What will u advise as a Chief secy ?
3. What is creative economy: sir explained me !
4. What do u think people are making remix of folk punjabi songs but not paying enough to original writers/ singers?

M1
1. You sing punjabi folk , sing your fav song ;
2. VP talked about unlimited amendment powers . What do u think about doctrine of basic structure?
3. From where it came from ? Should it be there or done away with ?
4. Uttrakhand came up with ucc ; why is need to regulate live ins , they can live as per their wishes; why states want to interfere?
5. Will it lead to violation of their privacy ? What is art 21 ?

M2

1. Drug issue : Linkage with Pakistan
2. Can we open Medical tourism for Pakistan ?
3. Aspirational district program
4. Name any district that has been transformed thru this program
5. India Canada issue ; what went wrong?

M3
1. Should there be laissez fair or full state control over economy
2. Then why farmers of punjab opposing wto as well as apmc reforms
3. You are a production engineer, what is diff between PERT and CPM

4. Should legislators be barred permanently if convicted?

5. Should be also retain civil servants after they complete their sentence after a cooling off period

6. Do u think people choose their leaders rationally ; they vote only on caste, religion etc basis


M4 (Lady Member)

1. As u are already in service, what do u think about DOGE like reforms in civil services?
2. What do u think of min governance?
3. How do u see civil services down the line after 10 years

Chairman interrupted and asked not to extend further

Transcript for interview:
Date: 04/03/25
Time: 10.00 am (1st to go)
Board: Raj Shukla Sir
Daf: bihar, jnu, socio, russia ( rest nothing asked)
Chair:
1. Where are you from?
2. Are you working?
3. A long monologue on how there is very slow induction of women in the workforce...... He gave an example of armed forces, Nda etc and asked if women should be inducted for talent or representation?
4. Followup and counter questions on why women are increasingly being selected in services but not get the post of secretary etc.
M1 : (not satisfied with any answer, actively countering everything)
1. Okay, why India has had women pm and president while usa didn't. Is it that with more development, women not get more power etc?
2. Followup, I didn't understand what you mean by gender polarisation here? What is it?
3. Followup and counter: when did politics become masculine and feminine. I have never heard anything like this. Did you make it up yourself?
4. So, if men do politics it's masculine and vice versa. (Chairperson interrupted and said she means wokeness )
5. What do you understand by wokeness?
6. So, were Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi masculine or feminine?
M2: (aggressive but less than M1)
1. So was indira gandhi a hard power ruler?
2. How do you compare your hometown with jnu in particular and Delhi in general?
3. As a DM of your hometown, what changes would you bring to your district based on learnings from JNU?
4. How women has more freedom?
5. Is too much freedom of speech and expression harmful?
6. What did the Supreme court say about it?
M4(lady) ( went outside for 10 mins for a phone cal)
1. What do you mean by empowerment?
2. Said some hindi word I didn't know.
3. Okay, fine going by your definition. How would you "facilitate" women as you said earlier.
4. Fine, but why are women not empowering their own girl?
5. Tell me about Vishakha vs State of Rajasthan.
6. Just the law!
7. Is the law being misused? Then what should be done?
M4 (least threatening, smiling and warm)
1. Is silk and odop product?
2. How is odop harming artisans?
3. Why Russia despite being so agrarain historically, is industrialized?
Chair: you can go, interview over.
Experience: Can't say anything now. Very different from mocks. In mocks, questions are actively asked in a short and crisp way. Here, mostly, there were long monologues. Can't really gauge if the interview was bad.
Mocks: Quantel, Chahal, Samkalp, Shankar IAS.
O20: Mahesh Bhagwat sir, Frank Pereira sir, Pranay Agrawal sir.

Transcript for interview:
Date: 04/03/25
Time: 10.00 am (1st to go)
Board: Raj Shukla Sir
Daf: bihar, jnu, socio, russia ( rest nothing asked)
Chair:
1. Where are you from?
2. Are you working?
3. A long monologue on how there is very slow induction of women in the workforce...... He gave an example of armed forces, Nda etc and asked if women should be inducted for talent or representation?
4. Followup and counter questions on why women are increasingly being selected in services but not get the post of secretary etc.
M1 : (not satisfied with any answer, actively countering everything)
1. Okay, why India has had women pm and president while usa didn't. Is it that with more development, women not get more power etc?
2. Followup, I didn't understand what you mean by gender polarisation here? What is it?
3. Followup and counter: when did politics become masculine and feminine. I have never heard anything like this. Did you make it up yourself?
4. So, if men do politics it's masculine and vice versa. (Chairperson interrupted and said she means wokeness )
5. What do you understand by wokeness?
6. So, were Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi masculine or feminine?
M2: (aggressive but less than M1)
1. So was indira gandhi a hard power ruler?
2. How do you compare your hometown with jnu in particular and Delhi in general?
3. As a DM of your hometown, what changes would you bring to your district based on learnings from JNU?
4. How women has more freedom?
5. Is too much freedom of speech and expression harmful?
6. What did the Supreme court say about it?
M4(lady) ( went outside for 10 mins for a phone cal)
1. What do you mean by empowerment?
2. Said some hindi word I didn't know.
3. Okay, fine going by your definition. How would you "facilitate" women as you said earlier.
4. Fine, but why are women not empowering their own girl?
5. Tell me about Vishakha vs State of Rajasthan.
6. Just the law!
7. Is the law being misused? Then what should be done?
M4 (least threatening, smiling and warm)
1. Is silk and odop product?
2. How is odop harming artisans?
3. Why Russia despite being so agrarain historically, is industrialized?
Chair: you can go, interview over.
Experience: Can't say anything now. Very different from mocks. In mocks, questions are actively asked in a short and crisp way. Here, mostly, there were long monologues. Can't really gauge if the interview was bad.
Mocks: Quantel, Chahal, Samkalp, Shankar IAS.
O20: Mahesh Bhagwat sir, Frank Pereira sir, Pranay Agrawal sir.

4 march

Daf : medical officer, chess, myhtology (only the questions related to these were asked)

Board : Raj shukla sir

Chairman:

Started with a monolgue on situation in Gaza.
1. What is the situation in Gaza?
2. Why are the talks disrupted?
3. Phase 2 of deal.
4. Why does Trump want real estate development in Gaza. Is he a fool?

Now Ukraine
1. What is happening?
2. What is the solution?

Not much discussion. Long monolgues after almost every question.

M1:
Discussion on targets given to doctors for conducting tests of patients.
Chess engines and what technological development (he called it revolution) made them better than humans.

M2 (lady member) :
Why civil services?
Mahabharata - why did Pandavas win.

Long monolgue on the suffering and learning of Pandavas in 12+1 years.

Are we giving too much to youth that they are lacking ambition?
How to develop value education?
What should be done to promote fundamental duties in schools?

M3 :

Use of ai in diagnosis. It should replace doctors completely.
Gender equality.
Use of medical knowledge in iaas.
(Does not seem to agree with any argument given for ai question)

M4 :

Why doctors are not counseling on diet?
Corporatisation of healthcare. Should we promote it or not?

Some other questions which I'm not able to recall.


Remarks : The experience was totally different from mock interviews. It was full of big monologues and members having their own strong views on most of the themes.
M4 & M3 did not seem to agree with most of the arguments I gave.

Expectations are low. But I've learnt a lot in this process.

Thanks to the members of this group who shared their experiences.

Mocks : Samkalp, NextIAS, Sriram, Unacademy.

Special thanks to MPOA for their support and guidance.

Name-Bose
Board Dasa Sir
Chairman- Why choose sociolgy over mechanical engineer as already IES machanical
Compare Marx and Weber
Relevance of Merton in Today world
Process of appointment of DGP
Relevance of working in community services
Member1
Role Of NGO
Budget scheme and expenditure on agriculture
Compare India China defence strength
Mission karmyogi iGOT rlevemace
Member2
Reciprocal tarrif and their impact
Discusion on globalistation and Deglibalisation.
Movies based on books you like
Member 3
Discusion on maritime security of India
2.5 front war
What is biggest internal security threat to India
What is IR4.0
Member4
Discusion on lateral entry
Social control methods based on sociology
Why right wing revival in Europe

Board member were cordial. Chairman after asking question went outside.
Special thanks to Shubham Aggarwal Sir (Vidyapeeth IAS)for one to one session and making me believe that I have more than enough to be there.Also Special mention of Mahesh Bhagwat Sir ADGP for keen insight on DAF.

Date of the interview: 05-03-2025
Board: BB Swain
Keywords: Tamil literature, poetry, agribusiness

Chairperson:
1. Tell me about contemporary Tamil literature with examples

Member 1 (lady member)
1. Asked about Air India disinvestment
2. So many Follow up questions on those.
3. Delhi air pollution related

Member 2
So many monologues
1. In which languages do you write poetry
2. Ethical question of a superior giving a direction of a policy that is contrary to my opinion
(Follow up on those lines)

Member 3
1. Questions on organic products, it's costs
2. Follow up questions on those lines
3. Ethical question on manipulation of scheme data to people
4. Difference between merger and acquisition

Member 4:
1. Income insecurity
2. Export potential of agricultural products
3. How to strengthen our agriculture?

Thank you.

Name
Dinesh dasa board
Botany, kerala
Cm- Hi how are you, (chairman read my qualifications)
what is kosikode?
I said I am not aware about it
He asked which place in kerala got creative city for literature tag in kerala ?
So I said kozhikode, and he asked if the pronounciation was right. I corrected him.
He asked how non malayalis could pronounce that?
I said they can call it calicut.
Why kozhikode is known and tagged so for literature?
He gave a statement: invasive sps threaten the natural biodiversity. Do you agree?
What kerala govt did to control this, any schemes?
Isn't there ecological restoration prog by kerala ? Like that in Tamil Nadu
What are the islands in kerala? And as an administrator how can you promote island tourism like the other tourism which is much developed?
M1-what is multidimensional poverty?
What was the project done by Abhijith sen and ester duflo? I said I am unable to recall
He said they used randomised control trial
Which district in kerala have high tribal population? As an administrator how will you use randomised control trial in ensuring no poverty in the place?
M2. Why palakkad is called capital of fake passports?
What initiatives were taken by govt of kerala to reduce that?
Why there is large scale murders happening in kerala now a days?
What is the socio-economic impact of migration to a road?
How it affects family and socialisation?
M3. Which temple in kerala is so famous?
Why opening of vault b an issue?
What sc ruled about it?
As a person empowered to open it, what will you do? Open or not
Why qatar emir arrival was so celebrated?
What is the significance of partnership with qatar nationally and internationally?
What happened last year between qatar and india?
Which ias officer is part of TVM sabha of padmanabhaswamy temple?
M4- as a minister, how will you manage the dynamic and hostile neighbourhood under neighbourhood first policy?
What as a minister you will do to ensure better relation with Maldives?
Cm.-which women have influenced you in life?
Why all female candidates are saying kiran shaw majumder, last year all were saying priyanka chopra, now kiran shaw majumder, why?
Difference between podcast and interview
If you are a famous person, what will you prefer, interview or podcast
Thank you
The interview was more of a conversation mode. The board was so cordial, listening and adding points in between.
One on ones and mocks {fortune ias (tvm)}
Shinas sir( ilearn),
Peer mocks...

Transcript
Name - Neo 3.0
Board - B B Swain Sir
Date - 03/03/2025
Keywords- Jharkhand, EEE , Movies on
Social Issues, Cricket ( Other keywords not relevant )

Entered the room and greeted the members
Chairperson-
How r u feeling ?
What has Jharkhand improved on since its formation? Tell me 4-5 indicators .
Follow up questions on health indicators and pèr capita Gdp ?
M1- why we have paradox of demographic dividend and high unemployment rate ?
What can we do regarding it ?
Why startups in India are not as successful as despite entrepreneurial spirit?
M2- You r from EEE. Tell me what do u understand by IoT and how is it helpful in our lives
Yesterday did u watch India- NZ match?
It had approx 35cr viewership as per the app. Don't u think it is colossal waste of manpower and shouldn't Cricket be banned?
Suppose u r DM, a case comes in front of u in which a poor women was caught stealing bread for her hungry children , so how will you deal in such situation ?
Who was the founder of Jamshedpur?
M3- picked up from M1 discussion
How can we create employment in our country? And follow up questions based on my response
M4- which movie on Social issue have u watched recently?
What are the issues have been highlighted?
How can we make our women empowered apart from education and skilling ?
Have u watched 3 Idiots since it also highlighted social issues?
Can u elaborate what it depicted?

Mocks attended - Panel( Vajirao,Vision,Vajiram,Samkalp)
O2O - Sajal Sir, Ravindran Sir, Utkarsh Sir, Puneet Sir, Pranay Sir

This conversation is over .Nice talking with you .All the Best

I said ,Thank you to Chairman Sir ,lady member and other Members..

‘Chairman Sir was observing carefully throught the interview ‘

Board was Very cordial

Mocks -Vajirao and Reddy,PW Only IAS,Maharashtra Sadan,Samkalp

Actual Interview is Class Apart..

One to one-Honourable IPS Mahesh Bhagwat Sir (ADG L&O Telangana )

Transcript

28/02/2025 , Afternoon
Board - Honourable Dasa Sir
Keywords - Civil engineering , reflective journaling , Jaipur, Nukad Natak (nothing else from daf)

May I come in? YES. Greetings to sir and ma’am. They asked me to sit down.
Chairperson:
How are you feeling sitting in UPSC Bhawan? ⁠How is your day going?
1. You have done ⁠Civil Engineering but has Anthro as optional. If we ask you why you will tell right because prepare karke aaye hoge ? (I said yes sir I have prepared it ) so they were considering whether to ask this question. One sir said lets see whether they can give some unique answer. So they asked this question.
2. ⁠Which civil engineering projects have changed the world?
3. What are some famous things about Jaipur?
4. ⁠why are artists coming to India for concerts?
5. ⁠what is the music taste of gen z? K-pop?
6. ⁠societies for music lovers, how can they improve music taste ?
7. ⁠us deportation of illegal immigration. How was it handled?⁠ Should we prosecute illegal immigrants?
8. ⁠Have you heard about PM Modi's statement in the budget session about foreign interference. Was it a dig at the opposition or foreign parties?
9. How do you see PM Modi’s visit to USA?


M1 (Lady member) -
1. Meaning of my name.
2. You did schooling in Delhi majorly. Lived in urban setting. How will you cater to rural women?
3. ⁠Schemes for women by govt of India.
4. ⁠Women in electoral politics. Does it help?
5. What is gender budgeting?
6 How can technology be used for this?

M2:
1. ⁠Is panchayat pri effective? Pradhan pati issue
2. Pesa act
3. ⁠presidential form of govt vs parliamentary form of govt Are we moving towards presidential form of govt? Where is it written in the constitution?
4. ⁠Difference btw due process of law and procedure established by law
5. ⁠India is bordering china and pakistan….. Quad - what is it and is it against some country? Will some other country come to protect India in case of conflict
6. ⁠India is in a position to defeat china?


M3:
1. Who was Maitreyi and what is bramvedini?
2. Tonk famous personality.He wanted to know a singers name.
3. How does govt generate resources?
4. ⁠does India give loans to other nations? Give example
5. ⁠how is this money divided between state and centre? ⁠Is css under the finance commission?
6. Should we have a life long ban on politicians with criminal cases? Why?
7. ⁠what is the 10% which pm Modi referred to? Edible oil consumption? Who was the inspiration?
8. Organic farming vs natural farming
9. ⁠what is vertical and horizontal devolution of funds?


M4:
1. Nukad natak vs theater?
2. Fact check meta twitter. How do you see it. Govt pib fact check unit +SC judgement.
3. Reflective journaling - one moment you remember the most Afraid of failures?
4. ⁠criminally prosecute illegal immigrants. He was pointing out as to why not criminally prosecute the deportees from us.
5. ⁠Bangladeshi should not be deported back?

Chairman: Your interview is over. I thanked them.

Mock given 9-10 - found Vajirao and Reddy, NEXT IAS, Samkalp and Vajiram Mock helpful. O2O with Khan sir and Ravindran Sir gave me a lot of confidence.
Special thanks to - Utkarsh sir (sriram IAS), SOMP (Puneet sir), IPS Mahesh Bhagwat Sir ( in depth DAF analysis)

3rd March

DAF: BA LLB, Moot court competition

Board: B B Swain sir

Chairman: sir straight up started asking questions. Asked only one question and two counter questions
1. Your opinion on All India Judicial Services
2. What are the challenges? Why are states opposing it?

M1:
1. Have you read NEP? What is your opinion
2. 5+3+3+4 provision
3. Foreign universities will lead to closure of domestic ones? How can we counter?
4. What are issues with inclusive education if foreign universities enter?
5. Do you appreciate brain drain?

M3:
1. What is delimitation? Concerns with it?
2. Relationship of delimitation with Women's Reservation Bill? Why halted till 2026?
3. Why Southern states concerned about delimitation? Any suggestions to resolve?
3. Why is census needed? Do you favour caste census? Why?
4. Asked why so many cases pending in courts? Two suggestions

M4:
1. Do you think judges vacations should be reduced? I said no, asked why not?
2. Asked why so many bail applications reach upto Supreme Court? Why isn't Supreme Court not chastising lower courts to grant bail?
3. Do you think there is need for a separate National Criminal Appellate Forum separate from the SC to reduce pendency?

M5 (the only lady member):
1. If you are appointed DM in a district, what vested interests can you face? Very broad question
2. Have you heard of the saying "Everyone loves a good drought"? I said no. She elaborated and asked me again, What can it mean?
3. Are you aware of the tanker mafia?

Interview was over.

Overall, cordial panel but little grilling too since I had moot court experience, Chairman sir himself said he will test me by countering me.

Mocks attended: Samkalp, Vajiram, Vision, Unacademy, Chahal.
Two online ones - UPSCPrep and Vajirao and Reddy
O2O with Satyam Jain sir, Ravindran sir, Aditya Tiwari sir (law optional), Akarsh Agrawal sir (IAS, 2023).

All the best to you all! 🌻

4 march

Daf : medical officer, chess, myhtology (only the questions related to these were asked)

Board : Raj shukla sir

Chairman:

Started with a monolgue on situation in Gaza.
1. What is the situation in Gaza?
2. Why are the talks disrupted?
3. Phase 2 of deal.
4. Why does Trump want real estate development in Gaza. Is he a fool?

Now Ukraine
1. What is happening?
2. What is the solution?

Not much discussion. Long monolgues after almost every question.

M1:
Discussion on targets given to doctors for conducting tests of patients.
Chess engines and what technological development (he called it revolution) made them better than humans.

M2 (lady member) :
Why civil services?
Mahabharata - why did Pandavas win.

Long monolgue on the suffering and learning of Pandavas in 12+1 years.

Are we giving too much to youth that they are lacking ambition?
How to develop value education?
What should be done to promote fundamental duties in schools?

M3 :

Use of ai in diagnosis. It should replace doctors completely.
Gender equality.
Use of medical knowledge in iaas.
(Does not seem to agree with any argument given for ai question)

M4 :

Why doctors are not counseling on diet?
Corporatisation of healthcare. Should we promote it or not?

Some other questions which I'm not able to recall.


Remarks : The experience was totally different from mock interviews. It was full of big monologues and members having their own strong views on most of the themes.
M4 & M3 did not seem to agree with most of the arguments I gave.

Expectations are low. But I've learnt a lot in this process.

Thanks to the members of this group who shared their experiences.

Mocks : Samkalp, NextIAS, Sriram, Unacademy.

Special thanks to MPOA for their support and guidance.

DoI : 05/03/25
Board : B B Swain sir
Duration : ~28-30min
DAF keywords : Karnataka, Geography, Badminton, Coach, Nature based Documentary series on Fauna, Active & Passive Cooling

Chairman sir
1) Are you comfortable Mr. X?
2) Tell me the historical significance of Central Asia

M1 (Ma'am)
1) What technologies would you use as an administrator coming from a technical background?
2) More uses in administrative field?
3) Do you know Aadhar?
4) Are there any misuse?
5) Any Technology to identify misuse of Aadhar
6) Bangladeshis coming into India. How would you use technology to identify them

M2 (Sir)
1) Why are landslides increasing nowadays
2) Institutional m/s to monitor Fake news
3) Fact Checking Unit
4) Any 1 mistake you have done in life that you regret
5) What is Islamic Republic?
Forgetting couple more Qs

M3 (Sir)
1) What if you are an administrator/officer & you commit a mistake?
2) How will you react when your subordinates get to know it
3) What if you commit the same mistake again?
4) What if that subordinate becomes your senior, will you be willing to work under him?
5) What will you do if your subordinate, who's now your senior, openly speaks about your mistakes & weaknesses infront of your office? How would you react?
Another couple of Qs forgotten

M4 (Sir)
1) You've been a sports enthusiast. What is happening in Indian badminton as you have been a coach as well
2) Why badminton is booming more from South India
3) Psychological & physiological traits you've picked up from badminton that you think are necessary in administration
4) Only 2 women have Olympic medals. What to do?
5) Who are Prakash Padukone & Pullela Gopichand?
6) What is the future of Indian badminton?
7) What if the polar ice caps melt suddenly?

M1 (Lady)
1) GDP? Is it a good parameter?
2) Tell me more on Green GDP & GNH Index
3) Air pollution, air purifiers? Increase in production of these = GDP increase?
4) Is it development?
5) increase of diseases, drugs & pharmaceuticals = Increase in GDP?
6) Your opinion about Development v GDP

Chairman Sir : Thank you Mr. X, your interview is over. All the best.

Mocks : Samkalp, NextIAS, Vajirao, Vajiram, Chahal

05/03/2025

Afternoon session, last to go (4:45 to 5:15 pm)

Board: Dinesh Dasa Sir

DAF keywords: BA LLB degree, IFS 1st preference, Public Administration optional, Kerala, father journalist (nothing else was asked)

Dasa sir
1. Minnowbrook Conference 4 - what all will I include if i was in charge of setting the agenda - counter question on how to improve the discipline of public administration
2. Questions about global south (I mentioned the term in my answer) - linking global south and de-westernization, is global south movement anti-west
3. Asked me to rate the performance of my MP (Shashi Tharoor) - his pros and cons
4. Investment as a share of GDP is stagnating in India - why and how to improve it
5. Indian remittances from abroad growing, Chinese remittances from abroad shrinking - why ?

Member 1:
1. Trump and his effect on US-India ties
2. Will India be pushed to buy more US goods
3. Personal relationship between PM Modi and Trump - how can it help ties
4. How should India engage with Trump 2.0

Member 2:
1. Non communicable diseases in Kerala - causes, how to tackle it
2. Mental health crisis in Kerala - why and what to do about it
3. Kerala's palliative care model
4. Kerala's local self govt model - what other states can adopt and what are its shortcomings

Member 3:
1. Media trials and its effect on judiciary
2. How to balance freedom of expression with sensationalism done by media in prominent cases
3. Problems faced by media in India

Member 4:
1. Is Kerala secular ? What is Kerala's form of secularism ?
2. About mental health crisis among youth - what are its causes and what practical steps to tackle it
3. Changes in migration patterns - how it affects Kerala's remittances

Dasa sir:
1. Kerala is highly literate state - but many people don't have proper conversational skills in English and Hindi - why is that ?
2. Why communist party still relevant only in Kerala ?
3. Asked me whether I know about glasnost and perestroika - I said yes - he asked me to compare Russian and Chinese communism and why the communist party fell in USSR while the communist party has been successful in China

Mocks: iLearn IAS, Fortune IAS, Amrita IAS, Kerala State Civil Service Academy (all Trivandrum), Samkalp, Vajirao & Reddy, Forum

One on ones: Nitin Menon and Achuth sir (Fortune), Shinas sir (iLearn) - a few questions were repeated from the one on one sessions, so that was helpful.

Overall experience: Extremely cordial and polite board, gave me ample time to answer despite me being the last candidate for the day, almost entirely opinion/analysis questions (didn't have to say "I don't know" for anything), full board was smiling throughout and 2-3 times when I said something funny all 5 members laughed together, felt more conversational than any mock I'd taken.

It felt different from mocks. Honestly, the mocks seemed much more formal than this. The entire board and especially Dasa sir seemed to be in the mood for a relaxed, casual conversation. Idk how they manage to do it, but they know how to make you feel super comfortable and relaxed. It seemed almost perfectly designed to bring out our honest opinions and thoughts. The closest experience like this was at Samkalp.

Very sincerely, thank you to everyone who shared their transcripts here. A few questions were repeated by Dasa sir. Reading transcripts was very helpful.

All the very best to everyone appearing ! ❤️

Name- Action Ka man 🧍‍♂️
Here is the transcript of the session:
UPSC CSE PT 2025
Time taken - 30 minutes exact
Board - Dr. Dinesh Dasa
Date - 5/03/2025
Afternoon Session second guy

DAF Keywords – IIT KHARAGPUR , Mhow, indore VLSI,microelectronics,Qualcomm,Synopsys,Bangalore,Hyderabad,Salary 😅,NCC, RF 5G isolation design, Sociology, Spirituality,SMILEY,Gita,Vedanta,Vaishnavisn

When i entered they were reading DAF , each one had one copy. Very cold vibes,. I didn’t open the button of my coat ( Last year i was complimented for not opening buttons and proving not a coaching boy ). All males members with sharp Gaze, very gentlemanly demeanour and with questions ready on their note padz. Took 3 min time to allow me after next candidate.

Chairman Sir
Smiled broadly and please sit.
1. Reading Key words from DAF , and talking to me in mode of confirmation . So From where are you ? Mhow right . What is this place.
2. This is district or village ?
( Another member said it is renamed as Dr. Ambedkar Nagar now ) . Yes though post office remains Mhow.
3. You are staff post in this company , what is your job profile ?
4.What is VLSI ? What is microelectronics?
5.really IIT Kharagpur provides degree in VLSI and Microelectronics.
6.Hmm you derive Thrice of a secretary , anyway i won’t ask why you want to come here ? You must have prepared it. But even PM goes to a DM for form filling . There is no comparison ; isnt it ? Yes sir to make a bigger impact.

To another member please ask.
Then interrupted
7.Ok tell difference in Vaishnavism shaivism shaktism ?
8.Shaktism is only for Durga or Saraswati and Laxmi also ?
Ok enough of spiritual talks. Again to member please ask
Then again interrupted
9.Who are Aghoris ?
10.How can you become one ?
11.where do they perform sadhana ?
12.Can we see them often ?
13.Are you sure of this initiation process ?

Chalo sir ab aap
Member 1 ( Bengal Gentleman)
1. Name two vedant philosophies ?
2. When is vedant traced in timeline of Indian history ?
3. When is vaishnavism traced in timeline of Indian history ?
4. Difference in RamanujAcharya and Chaitanya vaishnavism .
5. Does Gita discuss Vedant .
( on similar line factual questions )
Chairman sir interrupted time is over

Member 2 ( charming personality, smiling, a very engaging discussion)
So you are engineer. Then tell me , as collector of indore what 5 things you will do for healthy city. ( here begins a engineer’s grilling on biology) . Before that tell me reasons of high medical cost. ( himself explained medicine cost/out of pocket/private practice)

1. LevelUp infrastructure / with present doctors ? -good
2. Real time medicine stock tracking ?
2.1 who all this , only govt ? No all.
2.2 How will you know others ? Pharmacy license.
2.3 how well you do that ? - Big data . No not technical, administrative
2.3 do you have that right or it is life mogul emperor dictate ? ( i don’t know sir) is there go home and study that. Thank you sir
3. Medical insurance coverage , swachta abhiyan and Insurance abhiyan.
3.1 What mp follows Medical insurance or medical assurance ? Sorry sir technicians don’t know
3.2 what is difference in insurance and assurance ? Sorry. It is very easy to::: guess sir said insurance Premium company a middle man. Now, assurance is guarantee. Yes nice.
4. Human Resource?
5. Hospital density.

You are forgetting one . Guess guess. Something with cheap medicine. Yes sir Janausadhi . What can be done ? High density availability.
Chairman sir said Time up.

Member 3 ( i realised here how GS paper is set 😅 )
1. How Vaishnavism defines Indianess ? Festival/food/literature/equality/parity with example.
You forget reforms ( monologue on Tukaram namdev shivaji maharaj and caste reforms etc. though i had said equality. But no worries )
2. How India will become Vishwa Guru ?
Chairman sir interrupted
1. Will India vishwaguru, economical political and cultural ? Cultural
2. And Mr Trump ? Economical to get the best deal.
3. Not political? That also sir but primarily the best deal funda.

Continue — set own house to order. Kumbha impact/ ISKCON/Swami narayan.
Ok too much spiritual questions .

Time up

Member 4 ( sir from a army background, a towering personality and again a grilling discussion) let us discuss something on ground

1. Who is big brother ? China or India.
2. 5 points China has leverage on India ?
a Tibet , we have to climb then have to glide ? Good said some military terms for this
A.1 what China tells tibet ? TAR
A.2 why captured Tibet?
A.3 what is palm and finger philosophy ?
b. Economic dependence / we have to import from China to export to the world .
B.1 what all ? Batteries API .
B.2 chairman sir what’s API ? Before i say, all panel members answers . Chairman sir said let him speak . What is API ? Again few panel member answered tough i had said the acronym.
C. Army strength ?
D. Super engineering ?
D.1 are we safe due to Indian Ocean ? No
D2. Are we safe due to our
neighbours ? No
D3. What China doing to woe them ?
D4. What is this lone wolf strategy you said ?
E. River control?
E.1 which river ?
E.2 why ?

2. Will Russia help us against China ? No.
3. India’s 2 leverage ? Demography / democracy-EU allies .

4. Will China attack India ? No

Chairman sir Time up
Member sir ok my last question
5. Then what China will do ? Salami slicing .
6. What is salami slicing ?
7. What about treaty can we trust China ?
8. Shall India disengage from northern borders ?

Chairman sir loudly thank you .
I couldn’t understand , i said yes sir.
He sarcastically nodded head and said thank you. Another Member says your interview is over.

Thank you sir chairman sir nodded with a gait to show me the open gate.

And like a kid i was flied out .

Chairman sir was noting on laptop and hearing intently. He passed feedback forms to members and audibly told to write their opinion on it. All were listening the discussion.

Over all experience — no mock can mock it , unpredictable, as if they were prepared to not ask what i must have prepared. Diversity of interest and critical thinking based discussion. One has to be original And unique.

Mocks — Onlyias, forum, vision, levelup,chanakya mandal,KGS,dristi,Shankarias, quantel arranged 2-3 mocks.

Utility of mock - prepares us for
conduct in front of board. Gives us confidence to say i don’t know sorry. Provides diversity to though from DAF .

ShankarIas, Chanakya mandal,level up are were the closest to real discussion mode .