Hello people,
You are requested to share your interview transcripts of CSPT 2023-2024 for common good (in following format)

Name:
Key DAF details:
Questions asked:
(Can write answers also if one wishes)

Can give in chat/text format or word format

Please forward transcripts on following ids -
@Pegasus_IND @psm0506
@kaptaanjacksparrow
@Lankapati1729

#Sharing_is_caring
#SabHongeKaamyab
Team @csetranscripts
🙏🙏

Board: Suman Sharma

Profile: IRS, Cricket, Tamil literature, ECE

Chairperson:

1. Why Financial year starts from April and not from January? (Said not sure and took guess with permission)
2. What is the manufacturing to GDP ratio? (First, I said 26% and madam was asking, are you sure? Then I said that it is secondary sector’s contribution)
3. Why are tariff-based trade barriers levied by countries?
4. India is one of the countries with high import tariff, does it help the country?
5. (I said no) Then how can India deal with tariff barriers?
6. Recently there was news about a company (referring to Facebook indirectly) had taken a decision regarding fake news. What was it all about?
7. Do you think the move is correct? (Said the positives of community notes)
8. Do not the companies have responsibility to deal with the fake news?
9. (I said yes) Do you change your stand now?

Member 1:

1. You are an electronics engineer. Answer whether EVM can be hacked?
2. Should state sponsored elections be promoted?
3. What should be done regarding criminalization of politics?
4. How you see India’s drug discovery and production?
5. How many patents are filed in the pharmaceutical sector and of them how many are converted into products? (No way related to my profile. Said I have no knowledge about it)
6. How much electronics imports happens in India? (Said don’t know)
7. A huge volume of electronics imports is happening into our country. Why do you think production is not increasing?

Member 2:

1. Do you know what is KTS in Tamil culture? (Said, don’t know)
2. It is Kashi Tamil Sangamam. (Thanked him and I said I know about it and explained)
3. Do you know the modus operandi of KTS? (I said not sure about that part and he explained)
4. Difference between red, white and pink balls
5. Which ball is best for reverse swing?
6. Who are the pioneers in reverse swing bowling?
7. Do you know about the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)?
8. How are districts selected for that?
9. Who administers the scheme?
10. If you are the DM of one of the aspirational districts, what will you aspire for?

Member 3:

1. Should India conduct Olympics 2036, as countries conducted before had incurred financial burden, etc.?
2. While answering you had used the term multiplier effect’. Did you use it consciously or just said like that? (I said, I had used it consciously)
3. Then explain what is multiplier effect?
4. Should India go for Nature based farming? You have to take a stand
5. What happened in Sri Lanka (SL)? (From my reference to failure of immediate shift to organic farming in SL)
6. Then what shall we do about it?
7. What is Nano Urea? (From my response to previous question)

Member 4:

1. If you want to give 3 recommendations to FM for the upcoming budget, what you will give. It should be macro level recommendations and not small ones.
2. You studied communication in engineering, now communication happens in wire, optical fiber medium. What will future developments look like and what medium will exist?
3. How did the names Middle East, Far East came into existence? (Said, don’t know)

Chairperson: Thank you. You can leave.

Jan 17, 2025, Forenoon, 1st to go
Board - Swain sir
DAF details — Maharashtra, World Cinema, Tabla, Anthropology, IIT, Risk Management Consultant, Sanskrit in school, (rest details not asked - Civil engineering, Basketball, Formula 1)

Chairperson
1. Tell me about your district 
2. Followed up with a brief discussion and passed on to M1

M1
1. Any formal training in tabla? How often do you play?
2. Brief discussion on Zakir Hussain and Shakti band
3. What are the challenges and opportunities of Maharashtra’s industry and agriculture sector?
4. Lessons from the CoVID pandemic management 
5. Migration issue and informal labourers in Maharashtra - how were they affected during pandemic and what could be done?

M2
1. Meaning of my name 
2. Favourite character from the Ramayana and reasons? (follow up on the previous question)
3. What gives you happiness in life?
4. Work ex where? Job profile?
5. What practices from private sector can be brought into bureaucracy?
6. Stem cell therapy uses 
7. SWOT analysis of Steel and cement industry of India and a couple of follow up questions

M3
1. GRAP-III vs GRAP-IV
2. Majorly PM2.5 or PM10 from construction activities?
3. Why is Sanskrit considered a suitable language for computer programming?
4. Should we Sanskrit to Computer science curriculum?
5. Multilingualism in NEP > should we promote it? > North-south divide?

M4
1. Role of technology on human lives 
2. How do you see it anthropologically?
3. Is social media creating a divide in society?
4. Role of IITs in technological development?
5. Launch of FTI-TTP at airports - details about it
6. Single best invention of mankind
7. In which Hollywood movies has Zakir Hussain acted?

Concluded
Cordial board. Mostly DAF-based. 
All the best :) 

Chairman - Suman mam
Date - 20 jan morning
Time - 25/30 min
Daf - Gujarat, geography, mechanical

Chairman
1. What u doing and congratulations for epfo
2. Views on bullet train vs poverty
3. Diff between UAV and drone
4. Drdo doing for drone
5. Drone didi scheme

M1 -
1. What sports u followed
2. Any cricketer fan? - Kohli
3. What is MSP
4. Why it is given
5. Who was prime minster when it was needed most during draught year- Shastri ji
6. usa program for food security - PL480 program

M2-
1. What's fascinate in geography after mechanical engineering
2. What is polar vertex
3. Why is the cold wind located in only the North hemisphere
4. Why snowfall in Texas
5. Why jet stream more meandering

M3
1. Why pollution in delhi more severe
2. What to do with stubble burning
3. How to reduce vehicle pollution




M4.
1. Why gujrat so developed
1.1 what is budget deficit condition of Gujarat
2. Ease of doing in gujrat
3. Ease of living
4. Malnutrition in Gujarat
5. What u will do

Mock -

Mocks and one to one sessions with chaudhary sir of Gurukul academy. only relevant mock I find to improve personality and way of answering.

One to one with jalan sir is also help me in answering of questions of Gujrat , geography and Current issue

.

Apart from it sankalp and vajirao.

Board – Raj Shukla sir
DAF details: Home state – Karnataka, Born – Kerala, Home District – Udupi,B. Com – Tax, Anthropology, Non-fiction, Youth Parliament
Chairman
As you read non-fiction, do you think you receive wisdom by reading books?
I have seen many wise people in my village who have very little education. Where do you think they have received their wisdom from?
Is the ethics of Mahatma Gandhi still relevant?
Was the ethics of Gandhi based on pragmatism more than idealism?
Nehru, despite being a genius, why did he commit a blunder with respect to China?

M1
Do you know the trinity in Malayalam literature?
What are some of the constitutional bodies regarding federalism in India?
What are some of the Community development projects in India?
What are some of the issues related to MNREGA?
Some other sub questions relating to MNREGA?

M2
Why didn't you do CA after completing B. Com?
Why didn't you choose Commerce and Accountancy instead of Anthropology as your optional?
When was your district formed?
Name some of the banks that have originated from your district.
Do you know a famous personality from your district? What is he famous for?
What are the problems faced by your district?

M3
Do you consider yourselves a Malayali or a Kannadiga?
Have you faced issues being an outsider in Karnataka?
What are the reasons for anti-outsider issues in Karnataka?
Is it due to certain economic issues or due to instigation by political parties?
What do you understand by Anthropology?

M4
Do you think jobs should be based on merit or based on 'son of the soil' doctrine?
What is GST and how is it different from the earlier tax system?
What are the rates of GST?
Has GST truly simplified tax in India?
What can we do to resolve the delays in receiving Input tax credit?

Ending: Abrupt ‘Thank you’ by the Chairman
Thoughts:
The interview felt more like a discussion than a question answer session. The board was also very cordial.
I had attended 6 mock interviews, they were useful in building confidence, following etiquettes and being natural.

Name: Mr Blue
Chairman : Sheel Vardhan Singh
Date : 20/01/25, Forenoon 2nd to go
DAF: Kochi, Kerala, MA Economics, PSIR, Geopolitics, English Literature by Indians, Cricket

Chairman: Good morning. [Read out my name] May I call you * short form of my name*

I said yes I’d be happy

Chairman:

You are from Kochi. Tell me whats special about Mattancherry (a heritage area)

You read English fiction by Indian authors. Do you know about the Ibis trilogy?

Who is your favourite author?

Any contemporary author?

Which Indian authors won the Booker Prize?

You are interested in Geopolitics. I am a magician. I turn you into President Zelenskyy and those sitting beside you are Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin. How would you negotiate?

Now I turn you into Mr. Putin. How would you negotiate now?

Which person out of the two would it be easier for Zelenskyy to communicate?

Told me about how Zelenskyy knows Russian and the language dynamics in the conflict

M1 : Tell me the advantages and disadvantages of EVs? Would you buy EV or petrol car?

What about battery? [i had missed that part]

M2: I will carry on from the last member’s question. What are the geopolitical issues that may arise from rise in EVs

M2: Why is there a truce now in Gaza Conflict?

Chairman intervened after my answer: What did Israel achieve?

M3 : You are from Kerala and an economist. Tell me what is the status of remittances compared to tourism industry.

What changes in tourism industry

M4 : Who are the winners of latest Economics Nobel?

What did they win it for?

[further questions on my answer]

Where is economic power concentrated when we have inclusive institutions?

What are extractive institutions? Give example in the case of india.

What about Zamindari system?
[said yes]

Chairman: Your interview is over. You may leave.

Mocks: Fortune IAS, Lead IAS (Kerala), Samkalp, Vajirao and Reddy

Hello, I am sharing my Personality Test 2024 transcript.

Name : PSM
Date : 20/01/2025
Forenoon Session, 5th(Last) to go
Board : Sheel Vardhan Singh Sir
Medium of Interview: English
DAF Pointers : B. Tech, IIT Delhi (2020), Katihar, Bihar, Physics Optional, Test Cricket, Following Middle East Geopolitics; Other DAF Entries not relevant
Service Preference : IAS-IPS-IFS-IRS

Chairperson
1. Balfour Declaration
2. Anti-Semitism vs Anti-Zionism
3. Some random term
4. Language spoken in Israel
5. Language spoken before Israel was created
6. IPL as commercial venture and Virat Kohli the best employee. Do you agree?
7. Parallels between Silicon Valley and IPL
8. What exactly you like about test cricket more than other forms?

M1 ( Female Member)
9. 3 major problems in Katihar in your opinion
10. Solutions as a DM

M2
11. Bihar is digitising its PHC, health infrastructure, medical stores etc. Rationale behind that. Fashion hai digitise karne ka
12. What are the benefits of digitised record of patients
13. Learnings from the Israel issue
14. Parallels between India-Pakistan and Israel-Palestine

M3
15. What is Engineering Physics
16. Scope of Engineering Physics
17. Does creating more IITs lead to dilution of its brands?
18. How are the new faculty recruits in IITs?
19. Rumours about Seemanchal Area becoming a union territory? What could be the rationale?
20. Ethanol Blending Industries in the area. Why?

M4
21. Discussion on the liquor prohibition issue in Bihar
22. Why civil services and not research
23. List some fundamental duties
24. Should we make them enforceable?

Time - 31-32 mins approx

Mocks were not simulative, but had totally different experience here, except that some questions matched with Sankalp and Chanakya Mandal. However, O2O sessions with Baghera bhaiya and FB, Rahul Sir of IASPCS Pathshala, Mohan Sir of IASBaba, Ravindran Sir, daily discussion with a friend Shivam and group discussions with FB, Ravan, Prashant were really helpful.

Interview Date: 20 Jan
Board Name: Shri Sheel Vardhan ji Sir
Attempt: 6th (Last) Attempt, 4 mains, 1st Interview
DAF points: NIT Allahabad, Hockey, Hindi Poetry, Travelling, Hitchhiking, Teaching

Chairman sir - Read out my daf.
- Land records me corruption ho rahe hai digital record hone ke baad bhi. Kya kaise manage kar sakte hai?
- Long discussion on digital record. Loopholes still persists. Challenges etc
- caste based conflict still prevelant ?
- changes suggest on UP Land revenue code ?
- Why NIT Allahabad and Not NIT Prayagraj ?
- Process of dakhil kharij.

1st Member
- Area in which ISRO excel NASA?
- Why no human landing on moon after 1972?
- what you teach?
- teaching is a noble profession. Do you believe this point hold true in todays world?
- Imagine you are teaching maths to us and all of us have different understanding level. Then how will you make sure we understand your concept?
- we always neglect rote learning but in civil services you must have rote learn many thing. So it means civil services don't select intellectual and learned person ?

2nd Member
- NEP 2020 promote hockey. how ?
- some trick shots in hockey.
- AFSPA continues to be subject of debate ?
- militarization of Indian Ocean. Can do more harm than good ?

3rd Member
- Recite any poem of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.
- Why you choose this poem ?
- Hindi poety loosing its significane? Why hindi poet not as famous as eng poet even in India?
- question on No detention policy

4th Member
- how you promote tourism in your district. (then he said you are engineering. its good to see you are using technology)
- Hitchhiking india me hoti bhi hai? (then laughed)
- How India balance its energy demands with climate commitments?
- Since this is your last cse attempt and 1st interview. Looking back if you had known that it would take you 6 attempts to reach the interview stage would you still have attempted this exam?

Chairman Sir- Thank you, Your interview is over.


My Experience - For me it is literally once a lifetime opportunity. Board members were very cordial and supportive. No grilling. Initially thoda nervous tha kyuki ye mera last attempt hai lekin 1-2 questions ke baad sab thik ho gaya.


Mock Interview - Multiple mocks (almost 12) forum, nextias, samkalp, vajiram, vajirao, chanayka. Sabhi mocks thik the. Forum me mujhse factual zyada puche gaye wohi samkalp aur vajiram me opinion based. Real interview me questions se zyada waha ka mahul alag hota hai isiliye mocks kabhi real interview ko mimic nahi kar payega.


One to One with Ravindran sir, Sanchit (pcs officer) and Rahul Sir (IAS PCS PATHSHALA - definitely recommended, answer refinement and value addition points greats)
Sabhi ko dil se dhanyawaad support karne ke liye🙏 especially rahul sir ko jo unhone strength diya aur positivity di interview se ek raat pahle jab mujhe self doubt ho raha tha. Unki ye baat ki lohe ko uska jung hi khatam kar deta hai isiliye self doubt kabhi nahi karna shayad zindagi bhar yaad rahega.

Last me ap sabhi ka ka sukriya iss transcript channel par apna experience post karne ke liye. Hum jaise 1st time interview walo ko kafi madad mili. All the best sabhi ko jinka interview aane wale hai. Since ye mera last attempt, ya toh service me jauga ya iss cycle se bahar ho jauga. Karm kar diya hai ab dekhte hai kismat me kya likha hai. Agar yaha se nahi toh kahi aur se desh ki sewa karege.

Jai Siya Ram, Jai Hind🙏

Interview Date: 20 Jan
Board Name: Shri Sheel Vardhan ji Sir
Attempt: 6th (Last) Attempt, 4 mains, 1st Interview
DAF points: NIT Allahabad, Hockey, Hindi Poetry, Travelling, Hitchhiking, Teaching

Chairman sir - Read out my daf.
- Land records me corruption ho rahe hai digital record hone ke baad bhi. Kya kaise manage kar sakte hai?
- Long discussion on digital record. Loopholes still persists. Challenges etc
- caste based conflict still prevelant ?
- changes suggest on UP Land revenue code ?
- Why NIT Allahabad and Not NIT Prayagraj ?
- Process of dakhil kharij.

1st Member
- Area in which ISRO excel NASA?
- Why no human landing on moon after 1972?
- what you teach?
- teaching is a noble profession. Do you believe this point hold true in todays world?
- Imagine you are teaching maths to us and all of us have different understanding level. Then how will you make sure we understand your concept?
- we always neglect rote learning but in civil services you must have rote learn many thing. So it means civil services don't select intellectual and learned person ?

2nd Member
- NEP 2020 promote hockey. how ?
- some trick shots in hockey.
- AFSPA continues to be subject of debate ?
- militarization of Indian Ocean. Can do more harm than good ?

3rd Member
- Recite any poem of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.
- Why you choose this poem ?
- Hindi poety loosing its significane? Why hindi poet not as famous as eng poet even in India?
- question on No detention policy

4th Member
- how you promote tourism in your district. (then he said you are engineering. its good to see you are using technology)
- Hitchhiking india me hoti bhi hai? (then laughed)
- How India balance its energy demands with climate commitments?
- Since this is your last cse attempt and 1st interview. Looking back if you had known that it would take you 6 attempts to reach the interview stage would you still have attempted this exam?

Chairman Sir- Thank you, Your interview is over.


My Experience - For me it is literally once a lifetime opportunity. Board members were very cordial and supportive. No grilling. Initially thoda nervous tha kyuki ye mera last attempt hai lekin 1-2 questions ke baad sab thik ho gaya.


Mock Interview - Multiple mocks (almost 12) forum, nextias, samkalp, vajiram, vajirao, chanayka. Sabhi mocks thik the. Forum me mujhse factual zyada puche gaye wohi samkalp aur vajiram me opinion based. Real interview me questions se zyada waha ka mahul alag hota hai isiliye mocks kabhi real interview ko mimic nahi kar payega.


One to One with Ravindran sir, Sanchit (pcs officer) and Rahul Sir (IAS PCS PATHSHALA - definitely recommended, answer refinement and value addition points greats)
Sabhi ko dil se dhanyawaad support karne ke liye🙏 especially rahul sir ko jo unhone strength diya aur positivity di interview se ek raat pahle jab mujhe self doubt ho raha tha. Unki ye baat ki lohe ko uska jung hi khatam kar deta hai isiliye self doubt kabhi nahi karna shayad zindagi bhar yaad rahega.

Last me ap sabhi ka ka sukriya iss transcript channel par apna experience post karne ke liye. Hum jaise 1st time interview walo ko kafi madad mili. All the best sabhi ko jinka interview aane wale hai. Since ye mera last attempt, ya toh service me jauga ya iss cycle se bahar ho jauga. Karm kar diya hai ab dekhte hai kismat me kya likha hai. Agar yaha se nahi toh kahi aur se desh ki sewa karege.

Jai Siya Ram, Jai Hind🙏

Name : Lazy Lion
Date : 20/01/2025
Forenoon Session
Board : Sheel Vardhan Singh Sir
Medium of Interview: English
DAF Pointers : Vet Science, Army, Birdwatching, Pencil drawing, Kerala, Anthropology
Other DAF Entries not touched

Chairperson
1. Are you using any app for Birdwatching? How is it's functioning? How many birds can you identify?
2. What type of drawing do you do? What is calligraphy? Origin and styles of calligraphy?
3. What's difference between conservator and curator in a museum (totally out of nowhere)
4. Do you visited any museum (i answered tribal museum AnSI Port Blair). Difference between Jarawas and Sentinels.
5. Do you think acculturation is beneficial to tribes ( follow up question from What I said on jarawas). Do we go for isolationism ?
6. What's contribution of Veerier Elwin ( follow up question from previous answer. I mentioned about my visit to his house in Tawang. Chairman smiled). Who is the freedom fighter  he was closed to ? I said Nehru but he corrected as Gandhiji.
7. How Nicobar project affects fauna ? Can we do justice to Leatherback turtles?(follow up) Do you really think we can compensate with afforestation?

M1 ( Female Member)
8. Why you want to join civil service from army ?
9. Most memorable experience in army ? ( I mentioned about my operation sadhbahvana contribution, on youth skilling in Kashmir and its evolution as a brand. Few additional qns on its details and other sadhbavana activities i did)

M2
10. Why Kerala sees frequent outbreaks of birdflue. What the the response mechanisms.
11. How to secure public support for culling of birds ?

M3
12. Compare the R&D status in Vet medicine vs Human Medicine ?
13. Interrupted when I mentioned Pet humanisation and pet owners are now called as pet parents, as pets are now semi human and integral part of family. What are the benefits of pets for family
13. Chairman intervened and asked man keeps pet because it doesn't talk do u agree. I said I partially agree, bcz pets can respond in its own ways. Then he asked again, dogs are loyal to man and cats loyal to its place. Do you agree. I said I agree but it's not cat's fault, mentioned  how different is the evolution of cat and dog as pets. ( all were smiling and one member said, my cat didn't evolve fully)
16. Member returned to Tribe and asked what's my course of action if posted in Tribal dept. I mentioned about my own ethnography which I wrote and how it helped familiarization of govt depts and said familiarization is important. 
17. Then how to balance resource rich areas vs Tribe rights. My ans got a good comment from the Member. Discussion went to Red corridor, Arunachal and Andaman again.

M4
21. What's role of Animal Husbandry in climate change? How can methane be used? Do biogas plants effective in cutting green house gas ?
22. What's carbon credit and biodiversity credit ( I said I am not exactly aware about biodiversity credit)

Chairman said, okay your interview is over.

Time - 34 mins approx

Real interview was altogether different experience from mocks. Chairman and Members are very cordial, encouraging to speak and carefully listening my answers.

Did 6 mocks ( mostly kerala based Institutions) and over 15 one on one sessions. Useful to derive daf based questions, practice answer delivery, enrich confidence and shape up some opinions. And what I felt is, being organic and maintaining one's self in its purest and authentic form can help sail through PT safe and sound

Name: Mohammed Siraj Official (baaki sab fake hai :P)
Date: 20/01/2025
Afternoon session, 5th to go
Board: Suman Sharma ma’am
Optional: Law
DAF Pointers: B.A.LL.B. (Hons), Youth Parliament on River Pollution, Criminal Law Research, DPIIT – other DAF entries not relevant

Chairperson
1.  Fact-checking procedure in India
a.  Who appoints fact-checkers?
b.  What is the fact-checking procedure?
c.  Why did Bombay HC stay the government notification?
d.  What other remedies are available?
e.  What exactly did Meta do on this front? Why did Zuckerberg do so?
2.  Is the world heading towards unipolarity, with Elon Musk controlling everything?
a.  Why not?
b.  Why is he seeking entry in India?
3.  What is the legal position on attempt on commit suicide in India?
a.  What are its consequences?
b.  Don’t you think this would hide the actual attempts being made?

M1 (Female Member)
4.  Why is the problem of river pollution persistent in India?
a.  What can be done about the matter?
b.  The issue is not so much about capacity of STPs: we see so many unregulated colonies in Najafgarh releasing sewage directly, why are we unable to rectify the problem?
c.  Why is it still an issue, despite government awareness of the issue for years now?
d.  Polluting industries are shut down in Delhi: sewage is to be largely blamed. Comments?
5.  It is said that the Third World War will be fought over water – how can we save water in such a scenario?
a.  Should we ban swimming pools as well, if fountains are a problem?
b.  Why do we have so many river-water disputes?
i.  Within the country
ii.  Between countries
c.  What can be done in such a scenario?

M2
6.  What is the New York Convention?
a.  What do you know about it?
7.  Why are judgments from our Supreme Court not cited so much in other countries’ judgments?
a.  Is it because our judgments are too lengthy?
b.  Is it because our judges’ appointment procedure is said to be biased?
c.  Developing countries (like South Africa) may cite our judgments, but why not developed countries?
d.  As Law Secretary, how will you ensure that our judgments are promoted?
e.  How is the American legal system different from ours?
f.  How are judges appointed in the US?
8.  As a law graduate, how will you promote awareness amongst the common citizens about laws and their rights?

M3
9.  Should we ban expeditions to the Mount Everest?
a.  If this debate is in the context of waste piling up there, then how do we solve the problem?
10.  What are the consequences of legalising cryptocurrency in India?
a.  You’ve cited the positives, what are the negative implications?
b.  How should we regulate crypto in India?
11.  Have you heard the term ‘BIMARU’ States?
a.  Why is this term allotted to them?
b.  What has been or should be done on this matter?
c.  How should we address the problem of malnutrition?
d.  Don’t you think we should also be boosting local-level agriculture here?

M4
12.  What do you know about industrial corridors?
a.  How should their location be decided?
b.  Is it enough to just demarcate corridors? What more needs to be done?
13.  We see India taking no position between Russia and Ukraine, and having good ties with them all. How should we navigate the cause of peace in such disputes?
a.  How can India lead the world in this context?
Might have missed some Questions.

Time – nearly 25-30 min

Mocks: Vajirao & Reddy, Unacademy (conducted in a basement library in ORN 💀💀), Samkalp, Chahal.
Usefulness: marginal utility falls with each experience – one must look to incorporate their feedback, and get comfortable in interacting with learned senior civil servants.

One-on-One: Rajendra sir (Kalam IAS – SAR analysis of mock interview video was quite helpful), Varun Jain sir (SarrthiIAS).
While inputs in all these were helpful, the actual PT ended up on a very different line from what I had personally expected. Actual PT was across a round table (unlike the mocks): I was unable to maintain eye-contact with everyone at the same time.

The board was very cordial, and I was happy to see two women (unlike the mocks, where all were ‘manels’). I am very grateful for this opportunity, it was truly a learning experience – thank you!

Date: 20th Jan,FN
Board: Sheel Vardhan sir
Key DAF details: Patent,Tirupati,ECE,cooking,teaching maths,NGO

Chairperson:
1. Tell me about your patent
2. I am a 10 year old kid who doesn’t like maths how will you explain limit tends to infinity to me? …followup question on book which will reduce his fear for maths?
3. Man made object which is farthest in the Universe?
4. Is India undergoing Demographic dividend or are we moving towards Demographic Bomb.
5. Tell me 3 areas in which we can we skill our population?

M1(Lady member)
1. What is Tirupati famous for?
2. Is there any pressure on Tirupati due to high tourist footfall?
3. What is experimental cooking?(mentioned millets)
4. Why millets?
5. Jallikattu- should we regulate or not?

M2
1. Prime number and Large prime numbers link with ECE.( some discussion and followup questions)
2. Kho-kho are you still playing?
Chairman interrupted and asked about kho-kho world cup.

M3
1. Tirupati and government regulation( discussion and counter questions)
2. Electronics and communication linkage.
3. NGO work and stakeholders involved?

M4
1. Did you study Control systems as part of ECE?
2. What are control systems?
3. Draw parallels of control systems to government?
4. Stable and unstable governments which requires more control?
5. In which type of government is the control on people high?
5. Climate change and what is India doing in this regard?

Chairperson: Thank you. Your Interview is over.
Board was cordial.

Mocks: 8 (Shankar Ias,Vajiram,Samkalp, PW Only Ias, Next Ias, Vision Ias, Chahal, Unacademy). O2O Ravindran sir.
One to One with Sajal Sir was helpful.

Interview prep: DAF Discussion and Mock analysis with Anupam Jain sir(Smartworks lab),Ankit and Animesh sir(Smartworks lab) were extremely helpful.

Board - Mr. Sanjay Verma
Date- 9th jan afternoon session
3rd to go
DAF keywords - swachh bharat, B.ed, sociology optional, rajasthan , reflective journalling, rest not important as no questions asked

Chairperson -
- had lunch? Want tea?
- u r sitting since 1'o clock. What discussion went in the waiting hall?
- were u able to gauge someone in your group who was very unlike u?
- consider urself as india and do reflective journalling of past 2-3 days
- since 1925-2025 what major sociological changes india has made in which india has made great strides. Emphasised again on aspects only which india has made great positive changes. (Could only tell 2)

Member 1 (lady)
- low women LFPR and asked reasons for the same - whatever points i made she had a counter and didnt seem satisfy

Member 2
- linked swacch bharat to mental cleanliness( I had no idea as didnt get the context)
- startups - status and challenges
- GeM portal- what is it and whether it comes under make in india
- elderly population and its issues

Member 3

- One major challenge in swacch bharat which surpasses all challenges.
- how many national parks in rajasthan.
- what is conflict of interest (I gave a vague definition)
- put me in a situation where a friend of mine who has financially helped me during my prep days and now when i have become a DM so wants a favour in a tender in which he was also bidding.
- sanchi stupa (forgot it but he made me remind it then i added one more point)
- what is 73rd amendment?

Member 4

- 3 major challenges in education system
- should community service be made compulsory for students
- what is GER? (Gross enrollment ratio)
- no detention policy and my opinion on it
- so was that govt was right on this policy or this govt (everyone laughed) - I stood my by stand

Again chairperson-
Before u leave tell me 3 richest countries of Africa by GDP. Okay tell me 4.
I told only 2 (nigeria and s.africa) rest i didnt know

Thanked everyone and left

Overall experience - board was cordial. I think i could have done way better
Gave many mocks (good for practising but main interview is very different).

All the best everyone!!

Board: Suman Sharma ma'am
Date:14 Jan Afternoon,2nd to go
DAF keywords: Doctor (MBBS),Medical officer, Anthropology,Nanded, Maharashtra,Ambajogai(Beed),Nashik.

Chairperson: You must have heard about India Genome Project? What are its advantages and disadvantages?Are we sharing this data with other countries?what other countries have initiated genome projects?What is China's five finger policy? the palm region in this policy is called?

M1: Are Gandhian values relevant today? You have studied in Nashik ( question related to wineyard industry).Gandhiji also promoted prohibition. Then should we ban wine?So in Gadchiroli,what problems tribals are facing?Why Naxalism still persist despite the government efforts? Origin of word 'Naxal'? As DM,how will you address this issue?

M2:1)Your hobby is indoor planting, can you tell me what is hydroponics? Should we promote hydroponics instead of rainwater harvesting (for farmers)?
2)In rural areas there's dichotomy.They allow girls to wear jeans etc but they don't allow women to pursue jobs.Where should one draw line between traditional and modern values?

M3: Do you watch movies? What was the last movie that you watched and why did you like it? Who was Swami Ramanand Teerth? Tell me other regional leaders in Hyderabad liberation movement. Why ragging is so prevalent in medical colleges?

M4: How to increase women's participation in STEM jobs? Why they are aspiring for it?How will you inspire them to take careers like Payal kapadia?

Chairperson:Thank you, your interview is over!
Experience: Interview was mostly opinion based. No Grilling. More questions on women ,rural and tribals empowerment.

Interview guidance:
One to one sessions with Anupam Jain sir,Ankit Singh sir at SMARTWORK LABS and Shabbir Sir at Educamy were extremely helpful.

Mocks : Total 6. Samkalp(2),Vajiram,Unacademy ,Shriram IAS,etc

Boards this week ✅
1. Sheel Vardhan Sir
2. Suman Ma’am
3. Dasa Sir
4. Sanjay Verma Sir

Name: -
Chairman : Sheel Vardhan Singh
Date : 20/01/25, Forenoon 1st to go
DAF: Kerala, Pune, Roorkee, Architect, Theyyam artform, Football, Malayalam movies

Chairman: 

Good morning. So I am talking to Mr....  , Now we will be having a small conversation.

Do you play basketball? (Seeing my height)

Do you play this artform of Theyyam?

Are you aware about the origins of other western dance forms like zumba etc.

What do you know about urban design philosophy of Le Corbusier?

What about his opinion on aeroplane design ?

Some other concept by Le Corbusier, which I am not ware of 

So given a chance how will you approach urban design somewhere in North India?


M1 :

Why are so many young people wanting to join civil services nowadays?

You must have heard about Delhis AQI right? What do you know about it?

How can we improve the situation?

Can you name any Indian brand that you like and why?


M2:

You have worked in Pune right? How's the traffic situation there? now metro is also coming. What are its advantages?

If I ask you to name only one most important advantage of having a metro, whats will be that?

But I would say Bombay local has been working better than metros for a long time, what's your opinion on that?


M3 :
Since we are discussing architecture, I will stick on that itself. One of our politicians said that Indian building looks ugly like matchboxes. What's your take on that?

Given a chance as an administrator, which types of budings would you prefer in your city, glass and steel or brick and concrete?

When you moved to Roorkee from Kerala, where you readily able to adjust there?


M4 :
You must have read the constitution right, what's the need of putting DPSP?

Can you name a few DPSP? 

Few DPSPs which were implemented by law or policy?

Panchayati Raj is also one of the implemented one right. So, what's the status of decentralisation of governance in Kerala?

Since you talked about strengths, can you name two weakness of Kerala panchayati Raj system?


Chairman: Your interview is over. You may leave. 

Mocks: Lead IAS, I learn IAS, Enlite IAS, Fortune IAS, UPSC Studymates, Pala academy, Kerala State Civil Service academy,  Amritha academy.

Name: SP
DOI: 21-01-25
Board: (Retd) Lt Gen Raj Shukla sir
Keywords: IRS-IT, ITC, Sociology

Chairman:

1. Long lecture on why nobody likes to pay their taxes and don’t you think we as a country should do away with Income Tax Department altogether.

2. What has the Faceless Assessment done in this regard.

3. Do you think complete elimination of human interface is feasible. Or should we have a blended mix ?

4. How many people file ITR, out of them how many actually pay tax? Why is the % so low ?

5. Argentina abolished its income tax to revive the economy, do you think we can do something like that.


M1:

1. Recently sportspersons won laurels for the country and got cash prizes, still they had to pay taxes. Don’t you think it’s unfair.

2. Why not tax farmers. What’s the issue in this regard.

3. Why have both direct and indirect taxes. Shouldn’t we do away with one of the two.

M2:

1. Tell me something that’s famous about your district.

2. Why IAS, when you can do the same job on deputations.

3. Something in news about decarbonisation announced by Andhra CM. Do you know what he was talking about.

M3:

1. How do you handle criticism?

2. How is it different from online trolling ? Have you ever been subject to that?

3. Recently Australia banned children from accessing social media. Do you think we should also have such a model ?

M4:

1. You have done BTech in EEE, and then later took Sociology optional. Why this shift ?

2. What is QUAD

3. What is OECD. Is India a member of the group.

4. What is the tax to GDP ratio of developed countries vis-a-vis India. And what is the reason behind this difference ?

Chairman:

I still think the corporates are doing tax evasion, while the salaried class has no escape. This is a sad state. What’s your take on this.

Okay, your interview is over.

Time: 25-30 minutes

Overall experience: The board was cordial. Questions were opinion based and less factual.

Very close to the mock interview in Sankalp, PW, NextIAS in terms of opinion based questions.

All the best to everyone.

20th jan
Name Naam Hi toh Hai
Board - Dinesh dasa Sir
DAF-disability law, accessibility,
LLB hon, Odisha ,
Psir
Chairman
Q your hobby is public speaking speak on on justice delayed is justice denied for 2 minutes
Q issues with the commonwealth secretariat ?
M1
Disability accessibility issues in India and in USA comparison
How much will you rate India accessibility and how much will you rate USA's And why??
Russia Ukraine crisis what will be the trump's next action??
Follow up question
Why do you think Americans have voted for Trump??
M2
Subhadra Yojana? Empowerment of women?
What is the need for mentoring divyang children what are the challenges and and the outcome
Q USA haven't signed UNCRD you say USA is disable friendly how??
Q something related to the child marriage prohibition act which I didn't remember?
M3
Q geography of Odisha??
Q why Odisha is a poverty driven state??
Q issues of naxalism in Orissa and steps taken to overcome the naxalism issues??

M4
Why do you want to join civil services over judicial services??
What were you doing since 2019???
How we can improve UPSC Bhavan to be more accessible??
Q why do you want to settle in India??
Welfare state and freebies culture
Do you think India should remain welfare state?? If yes FROM where govt will collect the revenues??
Interview lasted for 25- 30 minutes around

Relevance of mocks ZERO