Vikes. 22/7/20.
Sujata mam board. 3rd one to go.

Electrical engineer from NIT Durgapur. PSIR optional.

Hobbies : Watching web series and Short distance running.

Chairperson:
1. Is this your photo
2. Introduce yourself
3. U didnt work or didnt get placed or ..?
4. Do u agree that civil servants are status quoist.
5. How will then they bring changes.
6. Ques on recent labour reforms.
7. Shld economic reforms be undertaken at cost of labourers.

Mam's response at end: ok. Good.

Member 1:
1. Suppose u get selected and posted in ur home state. What would be ur priority.
2. Follow up questions and few cross questioning.

Member 2 :
1. So, I see u have studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya. Their quality of edu is so good. Do u knw whats their administrative, teaching methology etc ?
2. I see you are a good sprinter. What was your 100m timing.
3. World record ? By ? Country from ?
4. Do u knw a person who is known globally for record in long jump.
5. U also run 200m. Whats timing there.

Member 3:
Stretched ques on sports.
1. Do u agree that there is a biological race that has advanatage in sprinting race ?
2. Are u aware about any constitutional provision regarding prohibiting cow slaughter
3. Whats diff bw KV and JNV.
4. Some question on name of my village and significance.

Member 4:
1. I see you are from political science background. Difference bw Kautilya's Arthashastra and Chankya niti. (Something he asked...).
2. Comparison bw western thinker and Kautilya. -> name of Machiavelli's Book.
3. Do u agree with notion of "Ends justifies means"?.


Back to chairperson :
U want to discuss something else.

Ok thank you.
-----------------------
It gets bit uncomfortable appearing for interview in gloves,mask and shield. Had to adjust and clear my shield couple of times.

But nothing much to worry. Once u get onto hot seat, things get going.

Overall very cordial board.
No grilling.
No technical question.
No IR question.

Had a satisfying experience.

Sujata mam switched on Tv and wasn't much focused.

Last takeaway : mocks and actual interview dont have any direct relation as such (not in my case so far). I changed my entire strategy in last one month. (Will share post results, if any!!).
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

State: Tamil Nadu
Date: July 22nd afternoon (4th to go)
Sociology Optional
Geoinformatics (UG) Young India Fellowship (PG)
Hobbies/Interests/ Sports- Carnatic Music, Tennis, Theatre
Work: Nasscom Foundation and Chargebee ( currently working as a Customer Success Manager)
Board: TCA Anant

Chairman

1. What does your name mean?
2. Briefly explain all your job roles
3. What does your startup do? And your role?

M1

1. What was the Sathyam Scandal?
2. What is corporate governance?
3. Recent corporate governance issues in news? Expansion of Franklin templeton issue?
4. How is risk in debt market different from equity market?
5. What parameters do VCs look at before investment?
6. Role of credit rating agencies?
7. Give me a sociological explaination of the naxalite movement.

M2

1. Why did you do liberal arts after Engineering? (PG)
2. What were your main learnings from Ashoka?
3. What are the 4 grand slams?
4. Which is the most prestigious?
5. What is the venue of US open called?
6. Favourite tennis player and why?
7. Why Federer when he is weak in Clay court? (Discussion after)
8. Which player has won the grandslam twice in a row? (Didn't know)

M3

1. What skills did your CSR project fund?
2. Was it linked to Geoinformatics?
3. Tell me the layers to prepare a GIS map for water scarcity in Delhi.
4. What was the important measure taken by the TN with respect to water saving? (Rain water harvesting)
5. Is it still successful?

M4

1. What role did you do at Nasscom foundation?
2. Why is China and US overtaking India in technology?
3. What is the role of Nasscom?
4. Has it achieved its objectives?
5. What can India do to compete globally in AI/ cloud computing?
6. Why civil services after a startup?

The 4th member seemed like the seniormost. He wished me good luck to get into the civil services and said thank you.

Chairperson said thank you Srutanjay and I wished everyone.


House keeping pointers:

1. The board never spoke anything about mask/ shield. I kept adjusting my mask when it came off since there were many old members.

2. The room was compact and the members are quite close to us. The setting was very informal since there was no table for 4 members. Only Chairman had a desk.

3. Overall the members and employees of UPSC were super sweet and helpful. :)
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

Name: Rajanikant Chilumula
Background: B.Tech & M.Tech (Dual degree) from IIT Madras (Energy technology specialization)
State: Telangana
Optional: Psychology
Hobbies: Writing motivational articles
Date: 23rd July 2020, A/N (2nd to go)
Board: Manoj Soni Sir board

Chairman:
1. Your hobby seems to be interesting. Do you publish your articles? What was your recent article about?
2. Why do you want to leave your specialisation? Is it not waste of resources? There are very few specialists like you in India. How is specialisation useful if you get a Postal service job?(tried to corner me!)
3. Gave me a long hypothesis..Do you think the changes in the energy sector led to increase in disequilibrium of ecosystem as well as rise in internal & international conflicts over a period of 500 years? Do you believe in this hypothesis? Can you give us examples?

Member 1: (Lady member)
1.What do you understand by Energy security?
2. How much is India dependent on other countries for energy needs?
3. Do you know about a recent deal between India & US regarding?
4. What does US gain by giving India such access?
5. Do you know about any modern technologies in the Ocean domain?
6. Did you hear about the new project of ocean exploration and stations similar to space stations(gave few foreign names which I was not aware of)? Do you think India must invest in such modern energy technologies?
7. Have you heard of Hydrogen economy? (I said using Hydrogen as fuel like fuel cells technology).. She said think of entire life cycle of Hydrogen.

Member 2:
1. Tell me what are Life Skills? How do we teach them? (DAF based)
2. What is the difference between Psychologist & Psychiartist?
3. What kind of therapies are used by Psychologists?
4. Do you think you are a good psychologist? You have studied Psychology for almost 3 years. You are like a graduate (Was not clear what he was expecting)
5. Which departments would you prefer as an administrator? What would you do if given an urban development role?
6. What is the scheme being implemented for urban development in cities?
7. What changes have you observed in Telangana with the implementation of the schemes?
8. What is the mission being implemented for drinking water supply? What was the challenge to implement this?

Member 3: (COVID-19 based)
1. Recently there was a culture of Work from home for employees? What was the effect of it?
2. Do you think it is good for Government employees? How would you make sure public are satisfied?
3. Recently banks were insisted to give loans liberally to businesses by RBI. But banks say MSMEs are not ready to take loans. How do you resolve this issue?
4. Do you know about the 3Cs hanging over the necks of bankers? Why is it said so? How do we manage this?
5. What was the impact of reverse migration of skilled labour from Telangana? How did the Government tackle the issue?
6.We have seen that the no. of patients with other diseases in hospitals reduced. What do you think is the reason? How long can the patients delay their surgeries?

Member 4:
1. Can you name one famous Educational Institute in India which is internationally famous? Which was build before Independence (Only after I said IISc Bangalore, he went to next question)
2. Tell me 3 negative qualities of a good leader. Give me examples
3. Who is more famous in India Amitabh Bachan or Rajinikanth? What about foreign countries?
4. I will give you a case study. Answer me directly ( If you are going to use AI & use robots for surgeries, let us say the patient died. Who will you find accountable?The doctor, the hospital, the Government or the manufacturer of the robot?)

Chairman: Asked me to remove mask for a final verification & wished me All the best!
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

My interview transcript
Name- Satyendra
State- Uttar Pradesh
Board- T C Anant sir
Date- 23rd July, forenoon
Edu- BA from Allahabad University,passed out in 2016.
Hobbies- reading fiction, football and interest in other sports..
This is my third interview in 3 attempts in a row-2017, 18 and 19...
Chairman
1. Why no pg ?( But didn't ask my attempts etc)
2. What sort of fiction ( I said no particular genre per se.. named to kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee)
3. Lee wrote another book? ( I forgot the name😅..it's actually Go set a watchman..
4. Any other author?( I told arvind adiga - the white tiger)
5. What it's about ( about a guy called balram halwai😂..didn't say so although!)

M1
1. Why Allahabad University lost its sheen?
2. Is student politics always bad?
3. What other reasons?
4. Is anything being done of late to revive the situation?

M2
1. Why anthro as an optional even from graduation?
2. Diff between anthro and sociology?
3. Why and Andaman and Nicobar tribals are always in news? What to do( wrst to tribal issues)
4. Why left wing extremism in tribal areas..
5. Const safeguard fr tribals( could tell only 5th 6 th schedule.and art 46 on general)
6. What about ncst ( told about its mandate)

M3
1. Have you heard about Rakhigarhi?
2. How the findings significant?
3. Dating techniques ( 😅 don't get me wrong- it's about dating of sites!)

M4
1. What are your fallback options( with a BA degree..that question almost made me laugh.. told also trying fr state services..
2. How ics emerged
3. Did ics provide sound administration fr Indian people?.. something of that sort.. I said they were tools of colonial exploitation..but was known fr its efficiency and calibre..
4. Ics and ias comparison? .. who continued it?
5. Reforms in civil services needed..

Chairman
Your interview ( ordeal)is over..

General gyan
1. Do practice fr waiting and then speaking with mask and face cover on..can get annoying..
2. Upsc is super cooperative in all respects..
3. For morning shift , the gate 3 ( museum side ) doesn't open before 9 am, so if you come too early say 8: 15 ..will have to wait on the roadside itself..
4. Don't take too much gyan from people like me!🤣.. give your best and leave the rest..
My best wishes 👍
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

State: Telangana
Date: July 23, FN (1st to go)
Sociology Optional
Hobbies/Interests - Playing Cricket and Ethical Hacking
Board: Smita Nagraj Mam

Chairperson:

1. What were you doing since 2014 when you graduated ?
2. Would be easy for you get back to technology field ?
3. What are the social faultlines you see in today's society ?
4. How are the caste inequalities being manifested in the society today ?
5. Would you consider caste as a determinant for marriage ?
6. What is vote bank politics and how is it affecting caste system ?

M1

1. What is Howdi Modi event ?
2. Do you think India should go for Presidential system ?
3. Why didn't you go abroad for higher studies?

M2

1. What is Ethical Hacking ? (Hobby)
2. How is it ethical ?
3. How is IPL helping promote Indian Cricket ?
4. Is it leading to commercialisation?
5. Should the cantonment areas in Hyderabad be completely closed for civilian population?

M3

1. Does caste system only have dysfunctions?
2. Caste based inequalities - are they because of social or economic factors ?
3. What is the difference between Tax evasion and Tax avoidance ?

M4

1. What the various tools required for Ethical Hacking ? (Just name them)
3. What is the biggest internal security threat in today's society ?
4. State of Naxalism in Telangana ?
5. Was the state successful in its approach ?

Chairperson:

1. Recent encounter in Telangana ?
2. Why was there popular support for the encounter ?
3. Do you support the encounter ?

Thankyou, You're interview is over.

The board was very welcoming and cordial !
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

Arjeet
Board-manoj soni
Chattisgarh
Raipur
Public administration
Electronics engineering

Ch- what is modern in new raipur
Water conservation how it can be jan andolan
What u have done to conserve water
M1-benefit of small state
Is it better to make small small state in india
How to improve blocks in administrative system

M2-naxalism
Pds of cg
Nyay scheme
M3- global innovation index we should be ashamed or proud choose only one
So hype about solar so y investing billion in other energy like coal gas plant

M4-forest fire
How to prevent
Innovative way to tackle it
Nano material
Negatives of nanotechnology
Prisoner dilemma how to solve it

Ch- your interview is over
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

Gavit

Date: 23/07/2020 (Morning)
Board: Choubey sir
Optional: Electrical engineering (no questions asked)
State: Delhi
Hobbies: Bonsai rearing
College: IIT Delhi
Job: IRSEE (Railways electrical engineering) currently on EOL/extension

Chairman
1. Please put your mask under your chin, this will be comfortable for you.
2. So you're from Delhi? That means you must have had a good breakfast at home. People staying at the state Bhawans are complaining that they don't get good breakfast. (All laughed)
3. We will ask you certain questions. If you do not understand something, feel free to ask again. If you don't know anything, just be honest. We appreciate that.
4. So let us start. Tell me something about yourself, about your education and work experience? (My last sentence was that I'm currently on extra ordinary leave EOL from railways)
5. Let us start with railways? Why do you think railways should be a departmental undertaking? (I answered that some parts are being privatised but the welfare motive also has to be kept in mind)
6. If we see aviation sector, it has reached parity with AC class of railways. On many routes even airways is cheaper than AC class of railways. Shouldn't we do the same to railways? If we privatise railways it too will become cheap.

M1
1. When a country becomes independent, it embarks on the path of growth and development. We have doctors, soldiers, bureaucracts, engineers and other people who drive this growth. According to you who is most the important of them all in the development process?
2. In wildlife act, there are animals declared as vermins. What are vermins?
3. Should they be killed?
4. Do you think they need to be relocated?
5. Should killing be done or relocation?
6. Give an example of vermin?
7. Do you think in the fight against coronavirus, it is the politicians who know nothing about science are taking all the decisions, and not the scientists? Your take?
8. Should politicians take decision in such pandemic situations?

M2
1. We have created the post of CDS, how will it help? (My main point was that the aim is to have jointness in training, procurement and operation)
2. So you mean to say that jointness in operation was not there earlier?
3. How can we use technology for development of rural areas? (I talked about health and education sectors and use of technology in them)
4. What about technologies in agriculture sector?
5. What is capital punishment?
6. Is it justified? (I said according to me it should not happen)
7. There are murderers and rapists on parole. They come out and do such crimes again. Still you think it is not justified?

M3
1. Are you interested in international affairs?
2. What is happening around the world? (I talked about a multipolar world and how power is shifting eastwards)
3. Tell something with respect to boundary issues?
4 What are the reasons for wildfire in the Siberian forests?
5. What do you understand by Hinduism and Hindutva?

M4
1. Are bureaucractic reforms needed immediately or they can happen slowly over time?
2. So what are some reforms that are needed?
3. So you live in Delhi. Have you heard about Bawana? (Yes)
4. What is important about that place? (No idea)
5. IIT Delhi is doing some work in Bawana and Ghazipur to curb pollution? What is it? (Had no idea)
6. What are INDCs?
7. What are India's three main contributions under it?
8. You have bonsai as a hobby. In doing that, we're promoting dwarfism. If we do this to a human, it will not be appreciated. Is doing the same to a plant justified? (One of my points was that we do things such as plucking fruits and flowers)
9. But plucking fruits and flowers is not the same as promoting dwarfism. Why are you promoting dwarfism?
10. So you are disagreeing with me. I like people who disagree with me. Okay tell me finally, do you justify bonsai as an art or not?

Chairman
1. Anything else you'd like the board to know about you?
2. Are you sure?
3. All the best for your result

#sharing_is_caring
👇For interview transcript
@upscinterviewscript

UPSC 2022 strategy
@insightsonindian