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Interview Transcripts of CSE/IFoS 2022

Please post interview transcripts of UPSC CSE or IFoS 2022 here, so that all can access and get benefitted from them.

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Date and session:- 28 March, afternoon session
Board:- Preeti Sudan Ma'am
Optional:- Sociology
College:- Hansraj College (English Honours)
Hobbies:- Jogging, gardening, Reciting Sanskrit Stotras and Shlokas
My experience:- The board was very cordial. They were listening were attentively. Members were also nodding.

Chairperson (Preeti Sudan Ma'am)
1) You've studied from Hansraj College (DU) and you've been the headboy of XYZ school in your home city. How was your experience?
2) You recite Sanskrit Stotras and Shlokas. Where did you learn Sanskrit?
3) What is the difference between Stotra and Shloka?
4) Recite any stotra or shloka whichever you like...
5) Can you explain it's crux in English in a few lines?

M1 (female):-
1) What is subsidy?
2) What is DBT?
3) What is the difference between subsidy and DBT?
4) What are the challenges in implementing DBT?
5) How would you have resolved these challenges?

M2 :-
1) Why are India's northern borders called unresolved borders?
2) If you're posted as an administrator in Pithoragarh at the trijunction of India, Nepal and China, what would be the challenges ahead of you?

M3 :-
1) Have you ever, knowingly or unknowingly, broken a law? Jumped a red light? Trespassed a neighbour's property?
2) You were the head boy. Would you say you're a leader?
3) What are the qualities of a good leader?
4) How did you lead by example as the head boy?
5) In the corporate sector, whom would you call a good leader?
6) RBI governor Shaktikanta Das was recently given the award of the best governor. What were his policies and contributions which led to this award?
7) You do gardening. How is vermicompost made?

M4 :-
1) What are your other interests (besides what you've mentioned in your DAF)?
2) Which is the latest web series you're watching? (I mentioned elementary which is a modern adaptation of Sherlock Holmes)
3) What is the difference between the modern and the original Sherlock Holmes?
4) Which state has recently faced an internet shutdown?
5) Do you feel it is a good measure to shut down internet?
6) Which is the most popular sport in Haryana?
7) Why is it so popular?
8) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao started in Haryana. What are its accomplishments?
9) What is the scope for improvement in women's development in Haryana?
10) What is the problem of bought brides in Haryana?

Chairperson:- Thank you! Your interview is over.

Utility of mocks:- Mocks I gave with Samkalp were the best! I also gave mocks with KSG, OnlyIAS, Drishti, Sleepyclasses, Dronacharya, IAS Gurukul. All were good.
O2O with Khan sir was very very good.
1.5k views
Date and session of interview-28/03/2023; Afternoon-last one to go.
Board-R.N.Chaubey sir
Optional-Medical Science
College-BDS; MDS
Profession (if any)-Assistant Professor
Hobbies- Watching documentaries, teaching
Your experience in interview-Satisfied; cordial
Utility of mocks or O2O (if any)-helps in gaining confidence.

Chairman
 1. Tell us about your academic background and profession.
 2. Do you enjoy your job?
 3. How many patients do you do daily?
 4. What does finance commission do?
 5. Why do we need to redistribute funds?
 6. Then why dont we just give more taxation powers to states?

M1
 1. What did you do between 2012 and 2015?
 2. You must have heard about demographic dividend; such a huge young population - is it a liability or an asset?
 3. Where is the labour cost less ? India or china? Why?
 4. Should we follow Chinese model of economic development ?
 5. They completed tibet railway line before time ? Can we do it? Here it takes decades to complete projects. Give examples.
 6. Chinese goods are cheaper than indian goods; why?

M2
 1. Since you’re a dentist; can you tell me what are the evolutionary factors that has led you speech ability in humans and not in animals? Taking the case of chimpanzees.
 2. (“Conservative” word in Job profile) what does conservative mean in politics?
 3. Is Indian polity conservative?
 4. And economy?
 5. It is said that India has a liberal constitution but conservative society; what do you understand by that?
 6. Does it lead to conflicts?
 7. Can you give any example.
 8. New education policy - What are the regulatory bodies in higher education?
 9. Should we have one single regulatory body? Why?

M3
 1. Long monologue on young actors dying in Mumbai of heart attacks.
 2. Why is it happening?
 3. Is it because of COVID?
      4. Why ED has become so active?
      5. What changes have been made in its powers?
     6. What is money laundering?
     7. What is round tripping ?
     8. How is it done?

M4
 1. Why Indian youth not opting for entrepreneurship?
 2. Why they are running behind jobs.
 3. Long confusing monologue on entrepreneurship - chairman told him to clarify. Nobody understood. Chairman said what is the question.
 4. How western countries became economically and technological advanced without cheap labor? (Gist of the question)

Chairman - we’re done; would you like us to ask something else?
I said - about my hobbies - watching documentaries.
Chairman said ok tell us - i gave a monologue; no questions asked.

Thank you; we enjoyed talking to you.
1.5k views
Date : 28/03/2023
Board : Preeti Sudan Madam
Name : Pseudoman

Chairperson
How was your journey from amazon to ips?
Opinion on IRMS
Railways is technical organization won't it affect IR?
How is life in NPA?

M1
Difference in corporate and government?
Why process is important in government?
What you want to change in your district?
Administration is seen as glorious work but looks like reptative work?
Is there any scope of innovation in government system?

M2
How Indian economy is doing?
What are threats to Amazon/flipkart?
How to ensure protection of undertrails in jail and lock ups?
No technological use??
DK Basu guidelines?
what came to your mind when I say bulldozer?

M3
Which part of Indian ocean is important ? Eastern or Western?
What are threats to Eastern Parts?
How to ensure security of Eastern islands?
What you will do if posted there?
How IT can be harnesed to achieve it
Man power training vs  machines which is better for policing?
What we are doing in that direction?

M4
what are FTA?
India have FTA with which countries?
Why problems signing FTA with USA?
What is Lakhina Pattern?
How gossiping was avoided in the office?
Has it lost zeal?
How you will implement in policing?
How single window system can work in policing?
How file management can be implemented in policing ?
Will you implementation it?
VJTI is good and glorious institution is this true?
1.5k views
Date: 27/2/23 Morning
Board: Lt Gen Sukla sir
Optional : Sociology
Graduation: BE Electronics and communication

Key words in DAF :
Kabbadi, Movies , Mysore , Karnataka

Chairperson:
In context of recent World Bank appointment, why Indians able to achive success abroad

Do you think English language played a role ?

What's your opinion on English and regional languages ( In context of MP's medical education in Hindi )

China -India relationship way fwd

Trade and Security , which should give priority more ?

M1:
Asked about Kabbadi and other questions related to it

Asked about Kannada movies ,Kantara and old movies

Seattle law on caste reservation

M2:
AI and chat gpt
Chatgpt like bot for painting

Semiconductor consumption in India

Why need to focus on Semiconductor and chip manufacturing

M3:
Nature vs Nurture theory and follow up questions

Crypto currency and NFT difference
SC's view on Crypto
Legality of Crypto
Taxation of crypto makes in Legal

M4:

Declining of ece vs other branches ?
How to make it attractive

About NEP
Interdisciplinary in Higher education and in engineering

Which brach would go best with ECE

About IPCC

Utility of mocks :
Helps in knowing your weak areas
Gives confidence
Some questions repeated

One question on Sociology and Social work
1.5k views
29th march , afternoon session, 2nd to go
Board - Preeti sudan mam
Daf - IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Coal India Limited(resigned), Bokaro steel City (Jh)

Ch- why did u resign from Coal India?
Your experience at coal india?
Future of coal india in the times of renewable energy.?
What is the importance of bokaro?
How did the steel plant help during Covid?

M1 ( lady)- what is IPO?
Why is it brought?
Difference between competitive and cooperative federalism?
Evaluate the lateral entry in civil services?

M2 - situation in Pakistan.
Pakistan should be more worried about india or afghanistan? Analyse
What is the life of a steel plant
Why coal is imported

M3- what are u presently doing?
How is ur experience with IPAC?
How do you interact with people on ground.
Give any 3 postives that u have found with ur interactions with people on ground
3 things that coal india needs to do for better coal production
Compare michael jordan with kobe bryant.Who according to you is the better player.

M4- which subsidiary of cil u worked in?
Tell me the best mines of that subsidiary?
What are the issues between power sector and coal?
With ur experience of directly working on the ground which sector is most important?
Why education is more important than health?
What is one thing that you can suggest to the government to improve the condition of rural areas?

Few questions especially from m2, I am forgetting.

Overall decent experience but Preeti Sudan mam didnt show much interest after her own set of questions and she even went outside the room for around 5-7 mins.
Board was cordial but slight grilling was there.
Mocks - overall this was my second interview so in my opinion mocks actually do more harm than benefitting us.
They take away our natural flow and sometimes too many feedbacks in mocks go on to confuse us. Sometimes the board members in mocks try to enforce their own biases on us which again can be very problematic.
My suggestion is to go for 2-3 mocks but not to take feedbacks too seriously unless feedbacks are too obvious.
O-to-O with Khan sir and Sriram sir was good.
1.5k views
Manoj Soni Sir
DAF Keywords- Indore, Biology, Chess, American music
Duration- 25 minutes, first to go. Started after 2.15 pm in afternoon shift, much later than other boards.

Opening thoughts- grand chambers of the chairman. Beautiful round table. Smiling Soni sir asked to be seated, removed mask so he can verify the picture. Said it was my choice to wear or not wear the mask.

C: How are you feeling today?
- Read out DAF and said you have a variety of interests, studied from eminent institutions etc. How did you get interested in your graduation subject
- You are from MP, so you must be well prepared with the cheetah reintroduction, so I am not going to ask anything from there *everyone laughs*.
- Have you heard of a prestigious research institute in hyderabad?
- Have you visited CCMB? Did you ever think of pursuing PhD from there?
- Do you understand Sanskrit? Can you recite the full shloka of which Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam is a the ending phrase of?
 - goes on to recite it himself, as I said I dont know.
- What is the meaning of VK and do you think this is a practical idea today? Discussed about India's leadership on this front.

M1 (straight forward questions, few counters but no grilling)
- Are you aware about crypto? Can it be regulated? Discussion followed.
- What about drones? What are their applications?
Cannot recall some questions.

M2
- Since you like American music, have you heard of Bob Dylan? What do you think about him getting a Nobel?
- You have played chess. Tell me, if I keep one grain of wheat on one square, 2 grains on 2nd square and so on, what quantity of wheat is required to fill up 64 squares?
- Indore has been the cleanest for long now. How has this behavioural change been cultivated in people?
- How can you apply the same to Delhi dumps? Smiled and said, good, I think you will clean Delhi as well.

M3 (spoke very slowly, fortunately was sitting very close. Cordial member)
- Continuing with chess, what is the difference in approach between chess and *some Chinese board game* that I hadn't heard of.
- What can be the implications of trans national animal habitats?
- What security threats are posed by translocation of animals? How can this be managed?

M4 (longest interaction, almost 10 minutes)
- Are you aware of *some south african animal corridor*? Said no
- What is the utility of animal corridors
- What is the difference in animal corridors built in India and in other countries?
- Are you interested in international relations? I unknowingly did a very enthusiastic nod.
- What do you think about the Russia Ukraine war?
- Do you see any correlation between war and defence manufacturing companies?
- What does your company do? (DAF)
- What is your role? Tell us what all steps you follow once you receive a manuscript? How many hours you give?
- What is minimum wage? Discussion followed.

C: Your interview is over. Take very good care of yourself.

Mocks- 7-8 mocks. Board was not overly cordial or smiling throughout, but there was no grilling and minimum cross questions even in questions that were followed by a longish discussion. Nothing extraordinary or life changing, just another day at office.
1.5k views
Date of interview: 27th march
Board: choubey sir (with an all male panel)
Afternoon session, 4th to go
Background: BA Econ, MA social work
Work experience: LAMP Fellow, Reliance Foundation, NITI Aayog
Home state: Kerala

Chairperson cordially invited to sit and mentioned that I should not hesitate to inform them if I'm not comfortable with any question or if I dont know the answer to any.

Chairperson (was smiling despite me being unable to answer few questions with precision):
1. Briefly mention your academic background and eork experience.
2. Define IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act
3. How are the different from each other?
4. When were these formed?
5. What is the difference between the Constitution and an Act?
6. Why do we follow IPC, CRPC etc. Which were formed before our Constitution was enacted? (He said "Old habits die hard?") -could not answer this question too well so the Chairman moved on.

M2 (he maintained a poker face throughout with an ocassional smile):
1. Why is there so much superstition in our society?
2. Long monologue on scientific temper and rationality. Has our state been unable to foster scientific temper in our society?
3. Long monologue on man animal conflict with multiple questions: why it happens? Should humans take precedence over animals? To what extent it should be allowed? How do we manage long term? (I ended my answer saying the long term way ahead is to sensitize communities for peaceful coexistence and the member seemed to agree)
4. Asked if I could give an example of peaceful coexistence of humans and animals. (Could not recall at the moment and he gave a brief description of Gir forest)

M3 (very pleasant):
1. Difference between religion and superstition?
2. What would did you do at NITI Aayog (I described my work which also involved work on Global Hunger Index)
3. Follow up from GHI, he asked about GHI rank over the years and why it has been falling?
4. Does it highlight a failure of policymaking? How can we improve ourselves?
5. difference between planning commission and NITI.
6. Mandate of Planning Commission and NITI+DMEO (My ex-office)

M4 (looked pretty serious throughout):
1. I had mentioned about a data governance project that I was part of at NITI, so asked me about few data sources of the Government.
2. Which ministry published NHFS?
3. Any other organisation that helps in data collection of NFHS?

He asked one more long question that I can't recall now. But to this question, the chairman interrupted and said "In essence, this is what he means....." and reframed the question precisely.

M5 (very serious):
1. Why has Dharavi been in the news recently? (College and previous work in Mumbai for 7 years)
2. List out 5 salient features of Dharavi.
3. What made covid management in Dharavi so efficient?
4. Long monologue of how communities in the Konkan areas, especially women have been migrating to Mumbai for work. Asked me the reasons for it.

Chairman said it was good talking to me and that they are finished with the questions. He asked if there is anything I would like to share with them. I just thanked them for the opportunity. He asked if I was comfortable. I said yes sir and smiled. He said "Great, you may leave now".

Overall: Except for the Chairman and one panelist, the board was not very pleasant. No expressions from the board while I was answering. Two members tried to probe deeper but other two did not.  They were neither cordial nor grilling.

Mocks: ShankarIAS (Trivandrum and Delhi), Byjus, Samkalp, KSG, NextIAS, Raus, AmritaIAS Trivandrum
One on one with Ravindran sir, Vinay sir, Bassi sir, Shinas sir (ilearn), Nitin sir (IASMentor)

Utility of mocks: Except at understanding few etiquettes, I think I would have performed the same way if I hadn't attended any mocks.
1.4k views
31st March 2023
Forenoon,2nd to go
Board: Honorable Smita ma'am
Key words from daf: IITB, Mechanical engineering, Chemistry, farming ,Rajasthan.

Ch:
1. You are from a princely state ,so tell us about privy purse.
And what were the legal and ethical issues with abolishing it.
2. Election commission of india, recent panel for its selection. What are the benefits of it.and following questions like about reaching on consensus, is that so easy and how can we reach on it.
3. Governor ,why do we have this office .
Why tussle and controversy related to it.
Can we think about the same mechanism like panel for appointing the governor.

M1:
1. What are the perpetual machines.
2. What major developments do you see in the mechanical field in the coming time.
3. Name of the person who got Nobel prize both in chemistry and physics.
4. India and South America ,why do we have low trade with it. And relation with Brazil ,and role of BRICS in it.

M2:
1. What kind of crops do you cultivate in your region.
2. Kind of irrigation, about its sustainability, state government subsidy related to it.what would you do as an administrator for promoting micro irrigation.

M3:
1. Mode of transport like normal train vs Bullet train.
2. Benefits of having bullet train, why not to other routes like Delhi -Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai.
3. Bullet train vs. availability of basic train at mass level..
4. Genesis of Russia Ukraine war ,and who is responsible for it and discussion on it.

M4:
1. What is the national government.
And why not have it during normal time ( as I said during emergency and war time),national interest, unanimity vs. checks and balances.
2. State in north eastern India who formed this type of government
3. Judicial intervention why , and Is it good .
4. Solution for issues like land fragmentation , why not cooperative farming is so successful.

Ch: Your interview is over.
Utility of mocks: for confidence building and to have possible questions related to daf...
1.4k views
Date and session of interview- 31/03/2023, Afternoon session, 2nd to go
Board-R N Chaubey Sir
Optional-Sociology
College-Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
Profession (if any)- Bank PO
Home State -Bihar
Hobbies- Sudoku,poetry writing, thriller novels

Chairperson -
Usual words from sir.. we are just here to have a conversation.. make yourself comfortable..
1. Your academic and professional background
2. On what grounds states can be bifurcated
3. Can it be done for Financial Sustainability?
4. Does NE States have Financial Sustainability?
5. Can a state be rich but the state government be poor?

M1 -
1. Why large number of Biharis clear civil services? What is the differnce from other state candidates?
( I answered that lack of industrial and private sector opportunities is the main reason behind their large participation and hence success,
also unable to go for higher studies hence civil services.. but sir said he want to hear personal traits..)
Some other question.. can not recall

M2 -
1. ICS before independence were mainly responsible for following britishers rather than working for indians.. what is your opinion?
Some cross question
2. Who invented mobile phones?
3. What is the future for mobile phones?

M3 -
1. What protects tall buildings from lightening?
2. What protects tall electricity distribution towers from lightening?
3. What can be solutions for discoms to prevent financial losses?

M4 -
1. What changed Indians from subjects to citizens?
Some cross question
2. Difference between prose and poetry
3. poetry are also not following rythms then what is the difference

(Some questions might be missing)


Your experience in interview- Chairperson sir was smiling.. M2, M4 were nodding in between the answers.. M1, M3 were more or less neutral..Questions were random.. but even in this randomness you will get the chance to showcase yourself.. so just go inside with your best personality..

Utility of mocks or O2O (if any)-
Mocks - Gave mocks at Samkalp, IQRA, Vajirao & Reddy, Chanakya Mandal Parivar, Chahal, KSG, Only IAS.. all were good experiences.. learnt from everywhere.. Only IAS, KSG, Chanakya Mandal and IQRA IAS were encouraging
O2O - Ayush Sir, Vinay Sir, Ravindran Sir, Khan Sir.. All were very good.. Session with Khan sir was very encouraging..
Utility of Mocks - depends upon the interview board.. i personally had no question in final interview from mocks.. but mocks did help me to shape up my personality..

All the best to everyone..
1.4k views
Board- Smita Nagraj Madam
Date-23rd February
State- Maharashtra
Optional - PSIR
Hobbies- Watching Travelogues

CH Mam
Remove the mask and get comfortable

1. Why Maharashtra govt promoting Zunka Bhakar stalls (part of Maharashtra Cuisine)?
2. Why only Zunka Bhakar?
3. Which Part of PSIR you like the most?
4. Thinkers have given thought on a particular time, why we need to study it? Are they relevant in practice?
5. Your favourite thinker? Why?
6. Greatest happiness of greater number and it's relevance.

M1
1. What is Maharashtra government doing to promote development?
2. Why LWE is still there in Gadchiroli, MH, if Maharashtra is a developed state
  3. Urban Naxals
4. Issue of opposition to Migrant labours in Maharashtra?
5. Mumbai and repeated flood? What the govt is doing for this?
  
M2
1. Human life linked to stragetic policy. Agree/How?
2 . Weaponization of water? It's example
3. how are India Bangladesh relationship
4. Is good relationship because of the political party in Bangladesh which favers good relationship with India
5. Humans has unlimited greed, do you agree?

M3
1. Fundamental rights promote social justice? Give examples
2. development leads to Individualism. Do you agree?

M4
1. Weaponization of water any other example?
  2. Difference between strategic and tactical?
3. which travelogue you watched recently?
4. Involvement of money in the famous drug case in Mumbai and defection in parties in Maharashtra ?
5. What was the issue of money there?

Mam - Thank you

The board was cordial. Most questions were from state and optional.
1.4k views
Date and session of interview - 31/03/23 Forenoon; 35 minutes around
Board- Manoj Soni Sir
Optional- Geography
College- BTech + MTech in EE; IIT Kalyanpur
Profession (if any)- worked at qualcomm; currently unemployed
Other keywords - Varanasi; running; ghats; cricket; old people; Physical education
Your experience in interview-

Chairman Sir -
Please enter; It is advised to wear MASK but you can remove it if you want - kept wearing it throughout interview
1. You live in varanasi, how does it feel like waking up in the morning everyday? - surprised by the first question but handled it i guess
2. Kashi Vishvanath corridor banane me administrative challenges? - told; Which act was used in land vacation? - said land acquisition act - sir asked again - a bit awkward moment - i retreated on my stance
3. what one thing you observe at ghats apart from being calm and serene? - sir himself told my prepared answer; i said life is transient, everyone has to die at one point - sir said vairagi nature😛

M1/2/3/4 -
1. Malacca strait geopolitics - told
2. old age people problems? Don't you think older people are themselves responsible for their condition by not interacting with others? old age homes too costly or in poor condition? How do you improve it? - told
3. difference between lakes and lagoons - told wrongly;
4. india's biggest lagoon - realised here - chilika lake🥲
5. Can a lake have brackish and freshwater both - said don't know exactly but there is a place where the both meet and do not mix
5. Arctic countries - related geopolitics - told
6. Physical education - difference in being fit, tough, resilient? What should a young and an old civil servant should have? - thoda hesitated but told
7. Tim Cook - MNC CEO or topmost civil servant - which would have greater impact? What would you choose? - told
8. Haridwar - many lineage history kept in record books. What could be its future application? - could only tell one
9. Difference in Varanasi in recent years - told few points - told but hesitated - non fluent repeated a word thrice - vocabulary gave up🥲 
10. What is qualcomm into? autonomous cars? Is their car in market? - told
11 What is snapdragon i hear about qualcomm? - told
12. World Bank head? said not know exactly - would like to guess - ajay bagga said - banga it is
13. Malacca strait discussion? Geopolitics around it. Who controls it? - told
14. Which is your favourite area in Electrical? - said communications
15. Future of communications? - drove conversation towards 5g
16. What is special and different about 5g? Difference between 4g & 5g? - told



Utility of mocks or O2O (if any)- helped me cover DAF; gave aroud 10 - improved somewhat in communication but couldn't improve much beyond a point;
Chankya mandal pariwar - very helpful; Chahal; Only ias were close; O2O with khan sir; ravindran sir;
Members listened patiently - didn't interrupt in between; questions were deep - felt they were testing something with each question
1.4k views
29th March, forenoon session
Board:-Smita Nagraj Mam
Optional:-PSIR
Qualification:- MA, Pol.Science
State:-Rajasthan
DAF keywords:- Table tennis, waste to art, fiction, meditation,first aid.



Chairperson:-
What are you doing these days?
Why didn't you pursue further specialization in your subject?

1.A monologue on how countries small in size, resources, population are prospering.
The question was related with naming few such countries and reasons for the same.
2.What is your opinion on progress of South korea and Israel.
3.How israel is convincing other countries of its significance? Follow up on same
4.How west asia would do if there is no israel? Is it going to be peaceful there?
5.India's policy towards israel and Palestine.


M1:-
1.Does the comment by USA that it is watching proceedings in Rahul gandhi's case closely, an interference in internal matter?
2.What is the philosophy behind continuation for russia-ukraine war?
Follow up question on USA's role, particularly on its sales of arms.

M2:-
1.What is Delhi-Mumbai Expressway?How it would help Rajasthan.
2.If you are DM of any district in Rajasthan, what are the 3 initiatives you will take?
3.Reasons for inflation.
4.Why government promotes inflation? Basically why country don't target zero inflation.

M3:-
1.How to deal with judicial pendency?
Follow up question on the role of lawyers in delays.
2.Does Supreme court represent the will of people?
3.Techniques and utilization of urban waste.
4.Is swaach bharat a success?
5.How does your city,Pali fares in cleanliness?

M4:-
1.Implications of ICC's arrest warrant against Putin.
2.What if countries party to ICC arrest him when he goes there?
3.Which is the recent fiction you read?
(Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripathi)
4.Name other books of Amish.
5.Do you know about Saraswati civilization?
6.What is the significance of IVC.
7.Are there evidences of Shiva being worshipped during IVC period.
8.Define mythology.
1.4k views
Background- Mechanical Engg, M. Tech-Energy Systems
Work ex- No
Optional- Sociology
Home state- Uttarakhand
Hobby- Religious Tourism
Board- Smita Nagaraj Mam
CP- What do you like about your Hometown?
Which is your biggest achievement so far?
Government promoting mass transport to control pollution and at same time automobile manufacturing together. Why?
Why Should mass transport for women be free?
If you have to frame a policy for providing free transport to women, what factors would you consider?

M1- Sir
How will you use religious tourism to promote livelihood of local people, considering situation in Joshimath?
Swami Vivekanand meditated in Uttarakhand, which place?

M2- Mam
What are various energy systems?
Why are we promoting nuclear energy?
What are concerns with nuclear energy?
Isnt it costly because the fuel has to be imported?
Recent nuclear disaster?
Can we ever replace fossil fuels?

M3- Sir
Issue with battery technology?
How can we manage e-waste generated through electro chemical batteries?
Why India not going for e-voting?
What are measures taken in this year's budget for infrastructure?

M4- Sir
Issues with renewable energy systems
What are problems with electricity distribution and transmission?
Protest against hydropower project in uttarakhand?

Chairperson-
Drawbacks of religious tourism.
Why Religious Tourism?

Thank you your interview is over.

Cordial Board. Smiling and attentive
1.4k views

Date of interview: 24th march

Board: Raj Shukla sir 

Forenoon session - 5th to go (after 3 hours of waiting)

Background: B.E Computer science

Work experience: Nil

Home state: Tamil Nadu

Optional: Sociology

Key words from DAF: watching sitcoms, 1st preference -IFS (no questions from other areas in DAF)


Chairman:

He told me Good afternoon(time was 12:00 PM) when i opened the door. I greeted them later (Lucky)

He asked me to remove my mask. He was smiling throughout the interview.

He went to the rest room once and was using his computer for a few minutes while other member was asking questions.


1.You watch sitcoms. Is there any difference between sitcoms and the previous profession of Ukraine leader Zelensky?

(I told him that zelensky was a standup comedian and sitcoms are television series)

2.Make a comparision between zelensky and winston churchill

3.Sitcoms are based on comedy genre. How do you see zelensky as a comedian turned politician?

4.Is there any relations between comedy and leadership?

5.Advantage of being a humourous person and taking up a leadership role?

6.Are you working? No

7.Tell me three areas where you will concentrate after getting into civil services.

8.You are prefering Foreign services. How do you see strategic autonomy? is it real?

9.I feel it is a cliche term. Practically it does not exist. Who do you think?

10.You are saying that we are diversifying our partnerships particularly with defence purchases. It has multiple challenges. Do you know?

11.How do you see the rare earth metals, semiconductors dependence in few countries? It is not making us autonomous. Right?


Member 1 (male):

1.You are CSE graduate. Tell me the difference between normal and quantum computing.

2.Since you are preferring for IFS. I will ask a question in IR.

What are the differences in damages faced by USA and EU in Ukraine war?

3.What benefits USA gets from Ukraine war?


memeber 2 (female): She was very cordial and smiling.

1.Since you are preferring for IFS. What Geographical area do you want to work?

I said South asia and told her that it has lot of potential to work in improving neighbourhood relationship.

2.Tell me 2 neighbours where we have to improve our relations. I said Pakistan and Nepal

3.Is there any border issues between India and Nepal?

4.Do you think corruption is a big issue in our country? What rating you will give to corruption as an issue which makes our country backwards?

I told her that i will rate it as top 5.

She asked me then what are the other areas?

5.How patriarchy is affecting our country? (since i told her - patriarchy as one area for the previous question)

6.Other then relaxation, what is the reason for you to watch sitcoms?

7.Do you watch only American sitcoms? Yes.

She told me that it has slang. British sitcoms are better.

She suggested some few British sitcoms to watch like "yes minister". I Cant recall other names.


member 3 (male): Cordial but asked tricky questions which needed some time to think and answer.

1.Do you know Rousseau?

2.Rousseau said that Men lived in a state of bliss when there was no state(govt). After establishing state, constitutions, people are not satisfied.

Analyse it with the current situation in Pakistan. (A bouncer straightaway)

3.Tell me something about Weber's model of Bureaucracy. Relate it with Indian bureaucracy.

4.You want rules based or roles based bureaucracy?

5.You might be aware of the foreign policy of India. Is it national interest based or ethics based?

6.Tell me the difference between money bill and finance bill.

7.Tell me two constitutional provisions regarding money bill.

8.Tell me one speciality about your birth place

9.Tell me one speciality about madurai(where i live)

10.Madurai is seen as a place of rowdies and law and order issues. Is it true?

11.What do you know about Alanganallur?


member 4 (male): He had a rude face and gave reactions of dissatisfactions for few answers.

1.You might have studied about Operating systems in CSE.

What do you know about CDMA?  (CSE related)

2.What is a switch in OS?  (CSE related)

3.Tell me some changes in civil services recruitment process.

Few cross questions with which he made me stressed.

4.Tell me one strength of you which will make you a good civil servant.

5.Tell me one weakness. Then he asked me any other weakness you have?


Chairman:

Are you an overthinker or a deep thinker? (Since i told overthinking as a weakness to M4)

It is good. Right?

I explained it why it is my weakness.


Thank you. Your interview is over.



Utility of mocks: They will change your faults in mannerisms, sitting posture, give us questions based on DAF, prepare you for the worst.

The real interview was far far better and comfortable than the mocks.


Interview Experience: Very good experience unlike mocks. Members did not make me stressed except one member.

If they feel that i am struggling with any answer, they went to another questions.

Chairman was smiling throughout which reduced my anxiety to a great extent.


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>Interview Transcripts 2022: Date: 31/03/2023
Name: @The_Underwoods
Manoj Soni sir
Keywords from DAF: IDAS, Bareilly, geography, Classic fiction

Chairman- reading the DAF...
So, you are from Bareilly, ..., you have filled that you have been recommended for the services before.
I explained to him that by the time DAF-1 was filled, I hadn't joined the services.
1. You don't want to be part of IDAS?
( I said that I will happily work here if I don't get into IAS)
2. Why did u go for geography? Were u genuinely interested or just because of the nature of this examination? ( I said that I had interest in both physics and geo but ultimately chose geo)
3. Geography is a multi-disciplinary subject. So do sociology, economics, anthropology affect geo or vice-versa?
4. Give me 2 eg. each- geo affecting social dynamics and geo affecting culture and vice-versa
5. Do we take these interconnections into notice when we go for policy-making? Can you give me one example of any law which takes into consideration these interconnected aspects?
(One more question, which I forgot)

M1
1. Since you mentioned geo, let's talk about geopolitics...how are India-China relations affected by geo?
2. Tell me about transboundary rivers. With which neighbours does India have these issues?
3. What about inter-state river issues happening inside India?
( By mistake, I said Center forms a committee...)
4. What is the mechanism for the resolution?


M2(lady)
1. I have heard that Bareilly is famous for textiles. What is that?
2. What is the difference between the two textile patterns which you said?
3. Did it originate in Bareilly or did it come from outside?
4.Can taxation laws be changed only through constitutional amendments?
5. Why did introduction of GST need a constitutional amendment?

M3( probably IFS)
1.  Do you know about (Note: question wasn't "Have you read" ) any book on Asia?
I said that I haven't read any particular book but I know about one.
2. What is it about?
3.  What is the importance of Karakorams for India?
4. What is Shaksgam valley and Siachen?
5. Why are they important?
Since I wasn't giving a straight answer, so he pressed on to his point again.
6.Why do we need to protect Siachen and Shaksgam?
7. What is metaverse?
8. Why have we lost interest in metaverse?
9. is metaverse the way to AI or the reverse is true?

M4
1. I have always associated Bareilly with Barfi and Jhumka. How can district authorities break this perception?
( I said it's due to popular Bollywood songs)
2.You mentioned physics. Are physical laws absolute?
I said not at quantum levels.
He added also not at the cosmic level.
3. Then what's the point of studying them?
4. Is there any theory working for unification of all laws?
5. The recent debate about Elon Musk. Is he a genius or a reckless guy?
6. Decision to buy twitter- what was it?
I said it was a good one initially, but presently it shows Musk's recklessness.
7. Why?
8. Employees can be fired for efficiency purposes also.
9.When can a book be considered classic?
10. Can a book written 1-2 years back may enter the category of classics?

Chair(Smiling)-
It was nice interacting with you. All the best for your future. Your interview is over.

Overall experience: Cordial board. The ambience was quite relaxing and positive. At one point, I felt nervous since members were making some non- verbal gestures to each other, but I ignored that and went on to answer questions.

Utility of mocks: last year, I went for 5-6 mocks and couple of one to ones. The mocks literally sucked the energy out of me. I felt demotivated which badly affected my PT. (Ravindran sir's one to one was the best though)

This time, I went for mock only at Samkalp and Vajirao and Reddy's, but had many one-to-one interactions with my batchmates and friends. This helped to improve my overall communication skills, and also talk about things in a broad perspective. Talking to friends is a good way to relieve overall stress. >Interview Transcripts 2022: As a previously qualified candidate, I think I am in a position to give this advice- don't worry much about PT stage.
1. This is the most unpredictable part of CSE. So u can't do much about it.
2. The mains marks really matter much more than PT. Do the maths.
3. Worrying will only make u forget ur strengths. Be confident that u have made up to this stage, u can go on further.
This is NOT a test of ur knowledge, remember this always!
All the best to everyone here. Let PT day be one of the most memorable days of your lives.😊👍👍
1.4k views
Date:31/3/23
Board: RN Choubey sir
Optional: Anthropology
Degree: Zoology
State: Kerala

Chairperson:
Tell me about your educational qualifications and work experience and 1or 2 followup questions on the same

M1:
1. Lokpal has been in news recently with regard to low number of cases being filed. Are you aware of it? What do you know about Lokpal
2. Since the cases filed are low, is it an indication of less corruption in the country?
3. How many members are there in lokpal?
4. What is the scientific name of the common monkey that we see frequently?
5. Why is there increasing instances of monkeys coming into cities and human settlements?
6. What are the government initiatives to counter it?

M2:
1. What are the challenges being highlighted as a result of foreign universities coming to India?
2. The proposal for foreign universities coming to india has been there for a long time, why is it being more significant now?
3. What is your opinion regarding sedition law? Should it be scrapped?
4. There are instances misuse of sedition law happening, how to tackle it?

M3:
1. You talked about humans responsible for habitat fragmentation of animals. So why not stop producing humans?
2. So human population is to be valued more than animal life?
3. What measures can be taken to tackle human-animal conflicts?
4. You are talking about a biocentric approach, what is the significance of it?

M4:
1. What is greenhouse gas effect?
2. If the emissions are causing such impacts, it would be beneficial to reduce greenhouse gases to zero, don't you think so?
3. We are increasingly hearing about Hydrogen as an energy source, what is the reason for its popularity now?
4. Which gas is the largest contributor to the green house emissions and global warming.
5. Have you heard about Chloroflurocarbons? What was the recent development regarding CFCs?
6. What is green hydrogen?
7. What is blue hydrogen?

Chairperson:
Do you want to talk about any issue that we haven't asked you yet?

P. S. Nothing much asked from DAF, except for the questions related to graduation
1.4k views
Chair - Soni sir
Date -31 march 2023
PSIR CIViL engineering reflective writing

 1. You are civil engineer , got 82 percent from reputed institute in graduation Then why civil services ?
 2. So you are easily persuaded by family or friends
 3. PSIR , u have interest or took purely for civil services
 4. How to draw ceasefire in RU war , what india can do , there are reports that india can play role for peace ? As a Indian diplomat appointed for it tell me some principles about solving the war and drawing a ceasefire and long term solution to prevent conflicts ?
 5. Is this idealism working ? u r being and idealist again?

M1-
About raw water treatment (Daf)
Desalination technology available
Problems in desalinisation
How to prevent Joshimath repeat ?
What is ur contribution as aspirant of civil services to society since 2017 ( graduated )
Why we have complicated borders with our neighbors
How USA Canada solved their borders

M2-
Continuing border discussions , what technology is used to demarcate borders
Myanmar what’s happening
Why Myanmar is important to us
What we r doing wrt Myanmar
How borders between india-BNG and india Myanmar differ ?

M3
Regional trade agreement , name some
Why they are gaining importance
Do we have FTA with USA
NAFTA which countries
Why changed recently in nafta
Does regional trade agreements violate WTO
What is reflective writing? (Daf)
Is it helpful in any way ?

M4
Does PSIR include Indian polity ?
Role of social media in our life’s , is it constructive or destructive
How as DM will you prevent communalism in social media ?
Judicial appointement is present system right ?
What’s ur take
Any data to cite nepotism in judiciary
1976 amendment to preamble is it right ?
What’s ur take on socialist ?
But we moving toward capitalism?
Basic structure doctrine , is it right to have , is it right that judiciary decides in case to case basis ?
So u support constitutional supremacy ?

Chairman -
Thankyou have a nice weekend and stay healthy
1.4k views
date: 29/03/2023
Board: Nagaraj madam
optional: none asked
graduation: civil engineering from IIT
hobbies: none asked

Chairwomen:
0. what are you doing nowadays?
1. how will you reconcile the demand for reservations by numerous groups (urge to prove oneself backward) with the celebration of indias growth story?
2. why these groups are mobilised around some particular identities- is it easy mobilisation or something else?
3. how can we overcome these identities?
4. after you got selected and then your community invites you for a function , will you attend/

M1:
1. how will you use civil engineering (graduation subject) in civil services say diplomacy ?
2. how is state of rajasthan contributing to help india address climate change challenges?
3. negatives of large solar plants and how can those be overcome?
4. isn't solarisation of canals costly?
5. intermittency of solar power, how to address? - hybrid plants and converting solar to potential energy of water.
6. are these steps being implemented anywhere in the country?

M2:
1. milieu viaduct ?
2. why we no longer build cantilever bridges and mostly go for suspension bridges?
3. why civil engineers have not been able to make new innovative techniques like 3d printing a movement in the construction sector?
4. work done by BRO in north east region?
5. steps to double farmers income?

M3:
1. causes of joshimath case from civil engineering point of view and how to address?
2. if we will not build large highways, then how will we be able to match the chinese infrastructure on the border?
3. we see china has build infrastructure at such large scale with considerable pace, why we are not able to do so-- is it due to lack of civil engineers , or our incompetency or geographical difficulties on our side in himalayas.

M4:
1. how to overcome chinese challenge?
2. what is aukus and its members?
last: people from jodhpur area are so polite and humble, what is the reason for that?

experience in interview: board was cordial, chairwomen and two of the members were very attentive and engaging. overall was a good attempt, could have been better.
suggested mocks: Chahal; samkalp.
Good luck to the remaining candidates for upcoming PT
1.4k views
State: UTTAR PRADESH
Date & session:- 31st March, Forenoon (4th to go)
Board: Smita Nagraj Ma'am
Optional: Geography
College: Digvijay nath PG college, Gorakhpur
Profession: No
Hobbies: no ques asked
Experience: cordial board,... didn't grill (unlike done in mocks)
Utility of mocks & O2O: Get familiar with the environment and speak in front of elders...a few ques were similar (in Vision faculty mocks) but not exactly the same...

NOTE:-- The most anxious moments are those when You sit outside the board's room...and wait when they call you in.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:

Chairperson:
1. What have you been doing
2. Where do you live right now, in Delhi or in UP?
3. What is the NCR region & why has it been created?
4. A long monologue on administrative difficulties people are facing in NCR...and asked should we create a new state taking the NCR region? (Follow ups)
5. What is your opinion on Bifurcation or trifurcation of UP?
(Follow ups)
6. What is Referendum and plebiscite and what is the difference between them?

M-1:
1. Asked about an issue about which I wasn't aware of...
2. Which are the countries where Khalistani uprisings are there?
3. Is it not our Diplomatic failure?
4.why riots are there in France nowadays (follow ups)
5. Who was Digvijay Nath
6. What is the philosophy given by Digvijay Nath?

M-2 (Lady member)
1. How UP impacts our relationship with Nepal
2. Are the borders of Nepal closed or what, and what is the political status of Nepal in present?
3. So Do we not close our borders
4. What is chicken's neck?
5. What is your opinion on renaming places?
6. Is it not like we are eliminating or forgetting one aspect of the history by renaming places?
7. Whatever would be a populous demand, should the government follow that? (I've mentioned "populous demand" in two of my answers earlier)

M-3:
1. Why is the price of Gold increasing fast nowadays? (Follow ups)
2. Explain to me the system of Single Transferable voting
(A discussion on it)
3. Why is there a sharp increase in investment in Uttar Pradesh this year? (One follow up)

M-4 (He is from Northeast and the accent was a little different so I felt difficulty in comprehending the words, so I asked twice then answered)
1. You are against the bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh, so can we say that the division of Uttarakhand was a mistake?
2. A monologue on unstable nature and disasters of Trans Himalayan region...and then asked...should we construct roads and other infra there and large dams there?

Then he turned towards the Chairperson...and the chairperson said to me "Thank you....Your interview is over.."

Chairperson ma'am and M-3 have smiling faces...others faces were expressionless...

But the overall experience was very pleasant and the board was very keen to hear me...they heard carefully and didn't interrupt even a single time in between the answers.
1.3k views
Date : 28th March 2023, Afternoon, Fourth to go
Board : Hon’ble Smita Nagraj ma’am
Background : Electronics and Communications engineering
Optional : Geography
Work Ex : Semiconductor verification@Intel | BPSC
Home state : Bihar
DAF keywords : South Asia’s best speaker, Best outgoing student, Model UN, Madhubani painting, Badminton, Intel woman leader in silicon verification

Chairwoman ma’am :
1. What are you doing these days?
2. (Follow up) Should we congratulate you, are you happy?
3. What were the criteria for the ‘Best outgoing student’ award?
4. (Follow up) Should these criteria be conveyed to the students or not?
5.  A scenario where some part of students’ fees goes in a prize award, should the criteria’s of awards be conveyed then? [some discussions]
6. Subjectivity on code of conduct, what does it mean?
7. How would you judge a person’s conduct?
8. Should the convention of addressing seniors as sir or ma’am be removed? If not, why?
9. Did you address your seniors in Intel as ma’am/sir or with their names? (some discussion around this)

M1
1. Why did you leave such a well paying job for civil services?
2. You are from Bihar. Can you tell the name of a Chairman of the  Finance commission who hails from Bihar?
3. (Follow up )Tell some of his recommendations which differed from previous ones.
4. Follow up from previous question on Disaster management : Adaptation vs mitigation.
5. As the District magistrate of a district in Bihar, how will you address the issue of Disasters?
6. What can be done to ensure that the dependency on funds from centre be reduced for disaster mitigation and response?

M2
1. What is insurgency?
2. How does elements from inside and outside the country impact it? Give examples
3. Can it be removed completely? Steps taken till now? 
4. What is the Great Wall of steel?
5. (Follow up) How does it impact India?
6. In case of a war with China, can India hold its grounds?
7. (some more follow ups on this)

Chairwoman ma’am:
1. About this Great wall of steel, according to you, is it offensive or defensive?
2. What was the significance of Great wall of China?
3. Why did President Xi choose to call it the Great wall of steel only?

M3
1. Asked about the MUN mentioned in DAF.
2. What is the significance of MUNs?
3. What about the UN? Does it need reforms?
4.  (follow up ) What is complementarity of UNGA and UNSC?
5. Stand of UN on the Russia - Ukraine war.

M4
1. You have a technical background. Don’t you think you are wasting your talent and resources  by switching to civil services?
2. You have played football in University. How many years did you play for and what did you learn?
(Politely corrected him that I played Badminton)
3. Why is Badminton gaining popularity in the country?
4. Don’t you think the players doing well is the most important reason?
5. (Follow up ) Is this role modelling approach helpful in socio-economic context in any way?

Chairwoman ma’am:
1. Can you give an example where models have been replicated from one state to another, tell wrt Bihar.
2. Where was the implementation done first?
Thank you, your interview is over.

Overall experience: Very cordial and attentive board. Real interview is different from mocks. It is an enriching experience of a discussion on your own interest with an extremely dignified panel.
Utility of mocks : Helpful in understanding the formal setting of an interview, content structuring based on your background and DAF, gives room for self analysis.
Good ones: Vajirao and Reddy, Chanakya Mandal Pariwar, Unacademy.
O2O : Extremely helpful.
- Vinay sir for discussions and his continued guidance| Ravindran sir’s O2O was the closest | Special mention to Utkarsh sir from SOMP for his constant support |Ayush sir for multiple discussions | Deepak sir from IAS PCS factory for his help on certain DAF related prep

Discussions with my friends and seniors helped the most. Also thankful to the community for the transcripts.
Hoping for the best. Good luck everyone!
1.3k views
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