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Interview Transcripts of CSE/IFoS 2022

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SMITA NAGARAJ BOARD
DATE: FEBRUARY 7TH
KEYWORDS : COOKING TRADITIONAL CUISINE AND MILLETS, HIKING, CAPTAIN OF CRICKET TEAM.
OPTIONAL : HISTORY.
CHAIRMAN : Q1. TELL ME ONE MOST MEMORABLE EVENT IN LIFE THAT YOU THINK IT'S WORTH IN LIFE. (SAID ABOUT BEING CAPTAIN OF CRICKET TEAM).
Q2. AS A CAPTAIN YOU HAVE TO TAKE BLAME HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
Q3. INDIANS BOAST ABOUT BEING ALWAYS BEST WHY FO THEY DO THAT?
Q4. WHAT ABOUT ALL INDICES SUCH AS GHI, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL.?SHOULD WE ACCEPT SUCH REPORTS OR SHOULD BE ALWAYS BOAST OURSELVES ABOUT BEING BEST?
Q5. TELL ME SOME INDICES YOU WANNA IMPROVE INDIAS RANKING UPON(TOLD GHI AND HDI).
MEMBER 1.
Q1. SHOULD WE WRITE UNIFORM HISTORY OR SHOULD W E ALSO INCLUDE REGIONAL HISTORIES SUCH AS SOUTH INDIA AND NOERTHEAST.
Q2. WHY DONT WE EAT MILLETS WHY WE CONSUME RICE AND WHEAT?
Q3. NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS ABOUT MILLETS , RICE AND WHEAT
Q4. ARE MILLETS EASILY DIGESTABLE?
MEMBER 2.
Q1. WHAT IS SECULARISM?
Q2. DOES ANTI CONVERSION LAWS GO AGAINST CONSTITUTION?
Q3. HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE ACTS IN DETAIL!? I SAID NO
Q4. SHOULD WE RECLAIM ANCIENT RELIGIOUS SITES? IS SAID SIR I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
SIR TALKED ABOUT HISTORICAL INVASIONS AND CHANGING OF RELIGIOUS CHARECTER IN PAST , SO SHOULD STATE RECLAIM THEM? ( I SAID NO, DIGGING OF PAST LEADS TO RELIGIOUS DISHARMONY)
Q5. TALKED ABOUT STATE CONTROL OF TEMPLES SHOULD WE CONTINUE IT?
Q6.Difference between hyderabad, bengali, awadhi biryani. (DAF RELATED)
MEMBER 3.
Q1. AS A CAPTAIN OF CRICKET TEAM WHAT DID YOU LEARN HOW CAN IT BE APPLIED IN CIVIL SERVICES?
Q2. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH BANGLADESH? I SAID ECONOMIC CRISIS.
Q3. HOW IT HAMPERS INDIA? (I SIAD INCREASING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION)
Q4. HOW FO YOU SEE IF BANGLADESH IMPROVES BETTER THAN INDIA?
Q5. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VEGAN DIET AND VEGETARIAN
Q6. SHOULD WE PROMOTE VEGAN DIET?
MEMBER 4.
Q1. SHOULD WE TEACH ABOUT DIFFERENT RELIGIONS IN SCHOOL WHILE MANY SECTIONS ARE COMPLAINING WHY SHOULD WE LEARN ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS!? ( I TALKED ABOUT PLUTALITY OF INDIAN CULTURE)
Q2. SHE SAID DEFINITION OF STRESS AND DISTRESS (I COULD NOT COMPREHEND PROPERLY,) AND ASKED WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WAS IN DISTRESS?
OVERALL EXPERIENCE WAS CORDIAL, MOCKS HELPED ME IN GETTING OVER NERVOUSNESS, I GOT SOME QUESTIONS REPEATED.
3.7k views
Date and session of interview- 6th Feb, Afternoon session (4th to go)
Board- Sathyavathy ma'am
Optional- Law
College- National Law University, Lucknow
Profession (if any)- Nope
Hobbies- Journaling, watching anime (no questions asked)

Your experience in interview- Based on what I had heard, I thought the board would be too cruel and would grill me a lot but nothing like that happened. They were smiling, asked me to be comfortable, offered me to have some water and were cordial.

Utility of mocks- Mocks did help me to gain confidence. It had reduced the fear of actual interview to a certain extent.

Chairman:
What have you been doing since 2020?
Why didn't you become a lawyer?
Should reservation be economic or social?
(Cross questions. Many.)

M1:
NPAs are very high so what should we do to address that problem?
What are the reasons for the long time taken in the resolution process of corporate debtors?
Should appeals be allowed to the Supreme Court in resolution of such cases?
What is the future of arbitration in India?

M2:
What do you think about India's stance wrt neighbouring nations?
Chinese infrastructure is better than NE. How should India prepare for clashes there?
Attacks by chinese malware on nuclear plants. How can we strengthen our systems?
What is your take on IT Rules, 2021?
How sound is the IPR laws regime?
The fees is very high and the time taken for filing of IPRs is too much. What are we doing to address this?

M3:
What are your views on the Collegium system? What should be the way forward?
What is so different about Awadhi cuisine?
Is Pakistan's economic crisis like Sri Lanka's? Why?
Should India help Pakistan?

M4:
Darwin's theory of evolution vs creation
What is gene?
What programs do we have wrt genes?
Which tool is used for gene editing?
What is fullform of CRISPR Cas9? Who invented it?
(I couldn't answer most of his questions however he seemed very chill and rexed and didn't mind me saying 'I don't know')

Thank you! You may leave now.
3.7k views
Date of interview: 06/02/2023
Board: Smitha Nagaraj maam
State: Uttarakhand
Work experience: Microsoft
Education: MBA + BTech
Hobbies: Public speaking, latest Bollywood movies, jogging

Chairman (Smita Nagaraj ma’am):
 1. You are living a dream life. Microsoft - spectacular education background, high salary. What is it you’re seeking here. What is the purpose of life?
 2. Why do you want to do civil services?
 3. Let’s talk about Microsoft - do you think we need to regulate big tech firms?
 4. How can big tech influence policy making?
 5. What about allegations of big tech helping govt and vice versa - mutually beneficial relationship?
 6. If you were in policy making what would you regulate and what would you not regulate for big tech?

M1:
 1. Who is a better manager - management grads or politicians?
 2. If you’re the administrator and a politician wants you to do something that is stark opposite to your management learnings. How will you deal with it?
 3. Why do you watch only latest Bollywood movies? Isn’t it that all classic and cult movies that people say belonged to the golden period which has passed by?
 4. There was a movie released recently and it was in a controversy. What is your opinion on cancel culture?

M2:
 1. Tech firms keep pushing their employees? Did you face stress at Microsoft?
 2. Your opinion on Elon Musk firing at Twitter. Do you think what he did was right?
 3. What’s your opinion on moonlighting or slacking?
 4. If you were an IAS and your subordinate need to be laid off as their job is not relevant anymore - what will be your approach?
 5. Smita ma’am pitched in - if there’s a candidate outside who’s skilled and unemployed why not hire him instead?

M3 (Lady):
 1. There are different types of engineering. Chemical/Mechanical/Electrical. I won’t ask you about them. I want to ask you what is social engineering.
 2. Who propounded the concept of social engineering?
 3. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Explain.
 4. Which law governs the cybersecurity in India?
 5. Can you tell me the guidelines released under it in 2021?

M4:
 1. Continuing with the power discussion. Why do we give people power? What is the use of that power?
 2. Status of right to Privacy. How is it being enforced?
 3. What is beneficial for India a strong or weak Pakistan or Nepal or Myanmar?
3.8k views
Board- Preeti Sudan Ma'am
Date -7th feb ,forenoon session
State-Madhya Pradesh
DAF - Kanpur, Mathematics Optional , Scientific computing, Software Engineer

Chairperson -
1)Tell me something about Kanpur
2) You are already in good Job and then why civil services
3) Impact that you can bring to civil services administration by your software engineer background

Member 1(Lady)
1)What are Mathematics Models and tell me something of recent models.
2)Consolidated and Public Fund
3) Contingency fund of India
4)2 named industries of Kanpur and current progress?

Member 2(Lady)
1)what have govt. did specific for women in digitalisation( No clue specific to women, answered some common)
2).what are cyber crimes? Examples of some cyber crimes?
3)steps taken to tackle those crimes?said
4) data protection bill,cant remember more sorry

Member3 ( Sir)
1)What Is EVM ( no clue ,that was specific to job not electronic voting machine)
2).What is scientific computing and how it is different ?
Not able to remember more questions ,sorry for the short memory

Member4 (Sir)
Tell me about foriegn policies with the neighbourhood countries.

Your interview is over ,you may go now.
Timing- about 25min
Not much covered from DAF

Most of the members was expressionless , was not able to understand if it was good by their faces(felt😞 )

Mock interviews - It was helpful to gain some confidence ,but overall it is a different bowl altogether.
MAINS is the key

O2O with Vinay Sir, Next IAS practice Mock was helpful for me, SOMP sessions too

All the best for Coming ones :)
3.7k views
Board- Preeti Sudan Ma'am
Date -7th feb ,forenoon session
State-Madhya Pradesh
DAF - Kanpur, Mathematics Optional , Scientific computing, Software Engineer

Chairperson -
1)Tell me something about Kanpur
2) You are already in good Job and then why civil services
3) Impact that you can bring to civil services administration by your software engineer background

Member 1(Lady)
1)What are Mathematics Models and tell me something of recent models.
2)Consolidated and Public Fund
3) Contingency fund of India
4)2 named industries of Kanpur and current progress?

Member 2(Lady)
1)what have govt. did specific for women in digitalisation( No clue specific to women, answered some common)
2).what are cyber crimes? Examples of some cyber crimes?
3)steps taken to tackle those crimes?said
4) data protection bill,cant remember more sorry

Member3 ( Sir)
1)What Is EVM ( no clue ,that was specific to job not electronic voting machine)
2).What is scientific computing and how it is different ?
Not able to remember more questions ,sorry for the short memory

Member4 (Sir)
Tell me about foriegn policies with the neighbourhood countries.

Your interview is over ,you may go now.
Timing- about 25min
Not much covered from DAF

Most of the members was expressionless , was not able to understand if it was good by their faces(felt😞 )

Mock interviews - It was helpful to gain some confidence ,but overall it is a different bowl altogether.
MAINS is the key

O2O with Vinay Sir, Next IAS practice Mock was helpful for me, SOMP sessions too

All the best for Coming ones :)
3.8k views
Board Sathyawati Ma'am
First to go, morning session
Background - IRTS, Investment banking, Startup
Economics graduate, Hobby sketching

Chairman -
1. Why did you join when you were making $$$ before?
2. What was the favorite startup you have worked with?
3. What was the business model
4. Opinion on IRMS and Cross questions
5. Battery swapping failing why? (Daf) cross questions

M1-
What kind of bulbs do you know? (Random)
What bulb is the best?
Some other questions can't recall

M2 - adani issue?
If so leveraged then why were people buying it?
As a broker how will you convince me to buy it?
Cross questions
Since you liked startups, why couldn't you work in social sector through startups? Why this domain?
Couldn't you make a startup, sell it and keep working in diverse sectors?

M3
Are you nervous?
What did you do to manage the nervousness ( I said deep breathing, so he said what type and I said Anulom-vilom and then he just laughed the entire time)
What is the diff between art and science
Is a history study a science or an art
Should policy making be done scientifically or humanities based
You do pencil sketching? Isn't it just copying?? I said it is but perspective is involved and depends on who is drawing, outcome will be diff
But he said it's still copying isn't it - I said sir it does involve some techniques like hatching which can again be innovative
Said he doesn't think it's art cuz it's a copy.. - I said it is sir, but again copying is not entirely bad. He smiled.

Which question would you like to answer - How does a plane fly or how does a refrigeration cycle work ( out of syllabus for me cu no engineering background but I said Airplane)
Went on to explain in the most basic and crude form. He said this was very basic but ok


M4
What is green hydrogen?
How will you incentivise the bottom of the pyramid to take it up?
What do you think will be RBI stance today ?
On in head we are promoting MSME and on the other we are increasing the credit interest?
Why are we doing this? Cross questions
 
Third interview with Sathyawati Ma'am. May God help me !
3.6k views
Session: 6th Feb Afternoon
Board: Preeti Sudan Ma'am
Keywords: Haryana, PSIR


CM:
1. How has sex ratio improved in Haryana? ( Came to know in waiting hall that Ma'am initiated BBBP, so straight away mentioned that..)

2. Was there role of Khaps also in that?

3. How has community development worked in Haryana? Which was the first community development block of India ( Nilokheri- didn't know)?

4. Why has Haryana grown economically so fast?

M1:
1. Gave an example of mothers cooking food in Tamil Nadu School. What are the pros you will expect from that?

2. What bills are part of budget? What is contingency fund of India?
What should be its quantum?
How does it get recouped?

3. What are the new chapters that have been added to economic survey?

M3:

1. Musharaff died yesterday. What is he associated with?

What were the outcomes of Kargil?
I told shekatkar committe etc.

He then asked One Border One Force? I told all the paramilitaries associated with borders... He said One Border One Force came out of Kargil..

What major event in India during tenure of Musharraf? What were the outcomes of Agra Summit?

2. What is the difference between LoC and LAC?

2. What is the difference between LAC and International Border?

3. What is the biggest takeaway from India's relationship with Bangladesh in recent years? Told LBA.

What are the learnings?

M3:

1. What is your opinion of coaching centres? Answered for JEE. Then he asked about UPSC specifically. Long discussion.

2. What is holistic education? In context of NPE.

3. Is power generation in India enough for demand?

What will be impact of solar? Is hydrogen not the answer when I mentioned battery tech...


M4:

1. Who is India's best neighbor? Why not Nepal?

2  what is urban planning? Mumbai and Kolkata are dying, what is the solution? Do you have any onr particular solution?


3. What do you know of Chanakya? What was mandal siddhanta?

*

Gave only one mock this time: ForumIAS. Have given one interview before so didn't feel the need this time.

Learning from last interview was that mocks try to focus on DAF too much which takes away lot of energy and time while most of the time interview is from current affairs and core GS , optional etc.

So focused on content mostly this time and prepared DAF only uptil where it was reasonable.

Another learning from last interview: At the end presence of mind and confidence matters. For that you need to treat it a lot lighter than the pressure it usually brings. Easier said then done. But try it as much as possible.

About the Board: Extremely cordial.

All the Best.
3.6k views
7th feb 2023
Preeti Sudan board
After noon session
First to go


Everyone was sitting in criss crossed position
3 female member

Chairwoman
Plz remove your mask
Yes mam with smile.

Q-ok what is isha kriya.tell me in brief(daf)
Q-how it will help you in administration
Q-counter to my question.what is more important brain or heart while dealing with people-
Q-i will give you asituation.cm is callingyou.you have one vehicle.accident of one woman with your vehicle.what will you do?where you will go-cm or hospital.


Member 2
Q-govt provides lot of welfare scheme.tell me 3 most important


Q-i ask in detail.tell me more.
Ok lets talk about them one by one
First tell what is awaas yojana.what we are doing
How beneficiary is select ed.which data is used
What happens after that..
What afterthat.here now I had to say sir iske aage nhi pata


Ok now talk swach bharat.
Pillars
How states have fared.

Ok fine..

Member 3-

Q-
Tell me important places in rewa(hometown)

Q-i am from Bihar there people use local material for earthquake resistance.what it can be.

Q-ok but in delhi we might not have thosematerial.so how we will do retrofitting.tell me technical details of it...


Q-tell me something about pension scheme.what is this all fuss about

Q-then she asked in ops whether there was anyfund.how govt employees were paid..

Member 4-

Q-who regulate capital market
Q-full form of sebi
Q-what are assets and liabilities of company
Q-what is different between debt and equity
Q-will equity be a liability for a company

Q-ok tell me about hydropower.
What all civil engineer should kept in between (
(hinted talk about soil)

Q-ok what is aatmanirbhar
Ok so it mean we will be producing all items within the country
Ok tell me what is problem in pharmaceuticals wrt aatmanirbhar

Member 5-

Q-so you are associated with isha foundation?
Q-ok so you haven't went to isha centre
She said mahashivaratri mai jaao badhiya mahaul hoga..I said yes mam I m planning post my interview
Ok
Why shiva is called aadiyogi
Why mahashivaratri
Ok leave it .it is out of syllabus(mam said)
What is woodtest.how it is done
So you mention about Punjab in your previous answer.what is the reason of debt in Punjab

Punjab has major revenue form?

Nhi she said humara punjaab daaru ka consumption kaafi karta hai😂

Chair-ok interview is over.take your mask.
3.6k views
Date and session of interview- 08/02/2023, Forenoon session, 4th to go
Board- Sathyavathi Ma’am
Optional- Public Administration
College- NITRR, Chemical Engg.
Keywords- Certified nutrition and fitness consultant, Portrait Drawing
Your experience in interview- It was a pleasing board, esp. conversation with Sathyavathi Mam.
Utility of mocks or O2O (if any)- To gain confidence and reduce fear of speaking in front of eminent/experienced people.

*enters the room, with pleasing and welcoming smile of board members esp the chairperson. Wished them and was asked to sit and remove mask.*

Sathyavathi Ma’am: Reads out the DAF loudly to everyone. (esp Highlights the fact that he is a Certified nutrition and fitness consultant.)

1) What have you been doing since graduation. (Mam’s patent question)
2) You are a Certified nutrition and fitness consultant, so how do you go about it? What is your approach?
3) Suppose I come to you for consultation; considering my age what would be your approach?
4) What is this Keto Diet? Why is it popular? Do you recommend it?
5) What Is intermittent fasting? Is it the right way of dieting? Is it a good practice?
6) There is trend of food fortification, what is it?
7) Don’t you think one size fits all approach regarding food fortification is causing harm to general health of public in long term? Is it the right approach? What do you suggest?

M1:
    
1) You have mentioned that you like watching nutrition and fitness related videos. So you just like watching them or you yourself practice them?
2) What is your workout schedule like? How is the splits? What are the use of cables in the gym?
3) Since you told that you do strength training, how much weights can you lift? Does it include cable exercises as well?

What is your BMI ?
4) Ok, so since you are a chemical engineer, can you tell me about the water that is being supplied, what are the quality parameters that is ensured?
5) Have you heard about the recent water pollution issues?(and certain technical details like bod, cod levels, trace metal levels etc)

M2:

1) Have you heard about the Malnutrition issue in India?
2) Why do you think that present status is bad in India?
3) Suppose you a DM of an area, and there was a report published recently that because of low nutrition level of girls at the school level and its continuation till upper age, when they marry and bear child, there arises a lot of complications? So what would be your approach to handle this problem?
4) What steps would you follow?
5) Suppose you are a DM and going for a field visit, and suddenly you find that a child has fallen in a borewell and there’s no one around. What would you do? Whom would you contact (agencies)?

M3:

1) So your optional is Public Administration. What do you think is the most relevant theory or model of administration that is suited to India and why?
2) Why was Max Weber’s Bureaucratic model adopted? What does it offer vis a vis other models?
3) So in 2013 a separate paper of Ethics and Integrity was introduced, what was the reason behind it?
4) Is it a good idea to test ethics and morality through a written exam?
5) What purpose does it serve?

M4:

1) Before coming to this room for the personality test, were you nervous?
2) What do you do to remove nervousness and feeling of anxiety?
3) How does breathing help in this? And Do you recommend it?
4) Ok so coming to the introduction of ethics paper in UPSC, don’t you think that anybody can write answers for the questions asked? Are the candidates, who are writing the paper, really ethical?
5) Don’t you think people can write something and practice something else?
6) How does it ensure that people and good ethics and morality are getting in the system? And is it so?
7) Ok so you must be knowing about GPS System. In no time it is able to provide you exact information about locality. How does it happen?

*Ok your interview is over, thankyou* (with smiles from sathyavathi mam)

*stood up smiling and said thankyou to everyone in the room and left*
3.6k views
Board: Smita Nagarajan
Session: 07-02-2023, Afternoon, 3rd candidate.
Relevant words from DAF: Working as BDO, Andhra Pradesh. Electrical Engineering from IIT Hyderabad.

Chairperson(Smita Nagaraj):
1. What are u doing currently?
2. Tell me most interesting thing u have done as Mpdo ?
3. Is Andhra Pradesh economy doing well after Bifurcation?
4. What is your opinion on having three capitals?
Person 1:
1. Article 16(2) has provision of non discriminating based on descent. Any exceptions to that?
2. Can Compassionate appointments be claimed as a matter of right?
3. What are the rules pertaining to compassionate appointments?
4. What is Morality?
5. Now What is Constitutional morality ?
Person 2:
1. Is establishing more IITs reducing the brand value?
2. What benefits a college when it is given status of IIT?
3. Why do Colleges need more autonomy?
4. What is the difference between Naxalism and bands of dacoits ?
5. What is the ideology of Naxalites?
6. Where do Naxalites procure weapons from ?
Person 3:
1. Why Naxalism started in AP?
2. Why naxalism is still continuing in AP?
3. There is a provision in FRA that is acting as a hindrance in recognition of forest rights?
4. Situation Question: You are a BDO, and MLA asks you to get an approval from Panchayat for building community hall through MGNREGA. How will you handle this?
Person 4:
1. Why decline in number of students opting for engineering?
2. Which article of Constitution is related to CAG?
3. Who audits the records of state Government?
4. To whom CAG submits the report?
5. What are some power sector reforms undertaken by GOI?
6. Where is Hornbill festival held?
7. Why the hornbill festival celebrated?
Mocks given:  Unacademy (Good), Onlyias (Unprofessional management) , Chahal (Good ), Vajirao and Reddy and KSG are decent.
Utility of the Mocks: Just to get used to the personality test mode. Apply your own logic to their feedback.
Thanks a lot bro for all the support i received from your channel.
3.6k views
Date : 7th feb , forenoon
Name : captain
Board: M.Sathiyavathy mam
Optional: sociology
College: IIT Madras( chemical engineering)
Background : state civil service , Bihar
No questions from hobbies.

Chairperson:
 1. what did you do before joining service?
 2. Why did you take sociology ?
 3. What is your role in the department?
 4. How much corruption is there in your department ? (More follow up questions over this)
M1:
 1. What did you like in South India?
 2. Tell me about heritage sites of Chennai?
 3. What is government doing in electric vehicles domain?
 4. What more can be done to promote green mobility?
M2:
 1. What do you know about monsoon?
 2. How important is this for Indian agriculture ?
 3. What can be done to conserve rainwater?
 4. What are the measures in Indian context?
 5. How many provinces were there at the time of independence?
M3:
 1. Why families are breaking down?
 2. What values are responsible for breakdown?
 3. What is the status of Delhi air pollution?
 4. As an administrator what will you do check pollution in Delhi?
 5. What steps can you take to tackle pollution using chemical engineering ?
 6. There is a famous sikh gurudwara in patna . What do you know about it?
M4:
 1. What is courage?
 2. Are you courageous?
 3. Give an example from your life.
 4. What are electrons, protons made of?
 5. What do you know about CAA?
 6. What is the current status of CAA?

Experience:cordial board, felt like a normal conversation
Utility of mocks: for small things yet important such as- how to enter and wish members. Mocks helps you get variety of questions.
3.6k views
Date: 08 February 2023
•  Time: Forenoon Session (1st Interview of the day)
•  Board: Smitha Nagraj Madam
•  Period : Around 30 Minutes
•  Name : SK
•  Home State : Haryana
•  Current Service : ICAS
•  Optional Subject: Literature of Sanskrit
Chairman ma'am
•  What are the main provisions of the recent budget
•  Provisions that attract you
•  What provisions have been made for the MSME sector
•  What is the definition of StartUps
•  What are the criteria of StartUps
•  Give examples of some successful StartUps
•  What can the government do against companies that show overvalue in the corporate sector(Adani Case)
•  What challenges are you facing after coming from AFHQ service to Accounting service
Member-1
•  Which language is old among Sanskrit and Prakrit language
•  Tell the literary features of Kalidas
•  Mention the contribution of Panini in Indian Linguistic study
•  What is the contribution of Panini in the literature of Kalidas
•  What are the reasons for the present condition of Sanskrit language
Member-2
•  Explain the role of Government Accounting Standards Advisory Board (GASAB) in accounting
•  What is the composition of GASAB
•  Which Accounting Standards does the Government of India currently use
•  What is the difference between Defence, Railway, IP&TAF, IA&AS and Civil accounting
•  What is PFMS System
•  What are the achievements of PFMS System so far
•  Challenges for GoI related to PFMS System
Member-3
•  What is Jallikattu practice and in which area it is prevalent
•  Is this practice fair
•  What are the provisions for the protection of animals
•  Is Sanskrit a religious language
•  What is the myth about Kalidasa
•  According to you, is it right to teach Gita in schools
Member-4
•  Has the government been successful in doubling the income of the farmers?
•  What are your suggestions for the upliftment of marginal farmers?
•  What is the role of FPOs in agriculture
•  Tell innovative solutions to resolve stubble burning issue
•  What are the provisions for farmers in the recent budget
3.6k views
Board C.P- Mrs. Smitha Nagraj ma'am
Date, session - 06/02/2023, Afternoon, 2nd last to go.
Time- 30 minutes
Optional- PSIR
Keyword DAF- volunteered in NGO
IPS

C.P
1.Is this NPA's haircut ? So you joined? When did you join?
2. What are the things you have liked and disliked in the training.
3. Why drill/ parade is there? What is its use?
4. Discipline - why it is important?
5. Every organisation even like UPSC needs some or other kind of discipline. So, Can drill be included to instill discipline?
6.The concept of Authorities have been declining because of human evolution and understanding. Human Psychology also plays important part in it. Do you think authority is needed? What kind of authority you like?
7. What kind of authority is disliked, In NPA?
8. So, authority should be crowd pleasing? Populist?

M1
1. Do people need to fear police?
2. Why police has image of like this, how you as SDPO/SP can bring change in perception.
3. But if police become frinedly to people, then criminals would also flourish, frinedly to them also?
4. What do you think about politization of police? MLA just calls and transfers circle officers. why do you think this happens?
5. Have you heard of Prakash singh judgement? What unique feature it has?
6. Why police reforms are not happening?
7. How would you bring accountability in investigation and police?


M2 ( Called me by my father's name).
1. You talked about discipline, why it is important in armed forces ?
2. What is unity of command?
3. Is police only responsible for superior boss, not to the people?
4. Long long question - Law and order situation-riots, shooting has been ordered but inspector doesn't want to fire, he thinks it is not good and can cost life of people, what can be the ramifications?
5. Who decides order is legal or not, should he fire even it is costing life of people? What do you think?
6. About QUAD, I2U2 and AUKUS and how India should deal with it?

M3( Lady member)(called me by previous candidate's name)
1. Have you heard about NHRC and SC guidelines on Encounters? What is it?
2. Should bail be matter of right? Why?
3.You talked about arrests, are you aware about D.K basu case guidelines?
4. What is plea bargaining?


M4 (Called me by my name and confirmed😂)
1. You have worked as project leader in NGO, what one thing you have done , what initiative you have taken which you are very proud of?
2. I talked about learning deficit in children, so question - what GoI is particularly doing regarding Learning Deficits?
3. We have seen cases of George Floyd and recent Similar cases. We think that this happens only in developing countries or banana republic but in USA also? . Why you think this happens?
4. But USA police is not unchecked, unaccountable, still it happens?
5. So you think training of police officer is at fault?

Thank you!

Almost everything opinion based and on Policing.
All d best!
3.6k views
Date and session of interview- 09/02/2023 , 1st वन टू गो
Board- सत्यवती मैम
Optional- हिंदी साहित्य
College- BA(H)पॉलिटिकल साइंस DU, MAहिंदी साहित्य IGNOU
Your experience in interview- 1- सिंपल बातचीत जैसा लगा , प्रश्न मैने सुविधा के लिए अलग अलग लिखे है , लेकिन वहां चीजें प्रश्नोत्तर के रूप में नहीं चल रही थीं , फ्लो के साथ चल रही थीं, वाकई पर्सनेलिटी टेस्ट ही था
2- अधिकतर प्रश्न मेरे बैकग्राउंड , daf etc से ही जुड़े थे
3- बात करके मजा आया
4- रूम में सामने की दीवार पर upsc के सभी डायरेक्टर्स की फोटो थी

Utility of mocks or O2O (if any)- 2 दिए थे ,1 ऑनलाइन और 1 ऑफलाइन
, उपयोगिता केवल प्रैक्टिस के लिए

सत्यवती मैम
1- मैम ने गुड मार्निंग स्वयं ही कह दिया
2-Daf बोल के पढ़ा
3-अंग्रेजी में पूछूं तो कोई दिक्कत तो नहीं है
4-गैप ईयर में क्या किया
5-मेंटरिंग करते हुए तुम्हे क्या सीखने को मिला ( पिछले उत्तर से आया )
6-तमिलनाडु में पोस्टिंग हुई तो कैसे मैनेज करोगे
7-IFS क्यों नहीं बनना चाहते
8-रूस यूक्रेन युद्ध का समाधान कैसे करें
9-UN असफल रहा है क्या ( पिछले उत्तर से आया )

M2 मैम
1-गांव से शहर पलायन होगा तो खेती करने के लिए कहां से लोग आएंगे
2-फॉर्म साइज छोटा है , तो कैसे हल करेंगे
3-नाबार्ड क्या है , रोल
4-पॉलिटिकल साइंस और हिंदी साहित्य तथा वर्तमान समाज में एकरूपता

M3
1-QR कैसे काम करता? फुल फॉर्म
2-पर्वत पर अधिक ठंड क्यों पड़ती
3-विवाद,युद्ध इत्यादि क्यों होते रहते ? कोई समाधान ?

M4
1-गृह जिले के dm के तौर पर कृषि के लिए क्या करोगे
2-UN में कौन से सुधार होने चाहिए ( पिछले उत्तर से आया )
3-उन सुधारों का पैरामीटर्स क्या हो
4- 5G क्या है , लेटेंसी क्या है , स्पेक्ट्रम कितना है
5-तमिलनाडु में IAS के तौर पर डेली लाइफ कैसे मैनेज करेंगे , आप को लगेगा की ये कहां भेज दिया मुझे ?

M5 मैम
1-प्रेसिडेंशियल vs पार्लियामेंट्री सिस्टम
2-हमे कौन सा रखना चाहिए
3-BA और MA में सब्जेक्ट क्यों चेंज किया
4- वन नेशन , वन इलेक्शन पर आपका क्या विचार है

लास्ट प्रश्न - उठने के बाद M3
1-राष्ट्रकवि ? दिनकर जी की कुछ पंक्तियां सुनना चाहेंगे

रश्मिरथी की ये पंक्तियां सुनाई -
है बीच सिंधु में महायान
इस पार शांति उस पार विजय
अब क्या हो भला नया निश्चय
जय मिले बिना विश्राम नहीं
इस समय संधि का नाम नहीं
(रश्मिरथी)
3.6k views
Date: 07/02/2023
Board: satyavati Madam
State: Maharashtra (kolhapur)
Optional: PSIR
Hobbies/interest: kho kho, watching recent movies, NMMS scholarship, Event Head in college
Experience: Mechanical engineer, Auto industry experience

Chairman:
1. Which movies u watched recently?
 Your opinion on Pathan movie controversy
2. Pakistan crisis: is it oppurtune time for india to capture Pakistan
3. Should we capture Pakistan?
4. Should we take it over if all ppl of pakistan vote for merger with india? Discussion on economic burden of same
 Member 2:
1. Changes in auto industry to tackle climate change?
2. Battery related challenges
3. What infrastructure will u develop to address climate change, generate employment etc.
4. What kolhapur is famous for?
Member 3:
1. What is so spcl about kolhapuri chappal?
2. Have u watched pathan?
3. Opinion: is the controversy created by film makers to promote movies?
3. Do ubremebr anything from engineering😅? Recent changes in engine technology
4. Why high covid cases in china? Why not in india?
Member 4: (all related to G20)
1. What are focus areas?
2. Do countries hv any commitments as part of G20?
3. Women led development: what program in G20 for that?
Member 5:
1. Monologue on history (don't remember) ... Then asked Should we forget history and move ahead?
2. What are 4 basic forces in the world? (Technical question)
3.6k views
Date : 08-02-2023
Board : Smita Nagaraj Ma’am
DAF areas : Punjab , Automotive sector ,

Chairperson
1 what are you currently doing
2 Are you staying in your hometown
3 what is this Mera Pind 360 , a community service initiative (DAF)
4 what is the reason of Punjabis going abroad in large no’s
5 What do you think of diaspora as a soft power
6 does Indians at top leadership position abroad act as a hard power for India

M1
1. Why Punjab’s water table going so down
2 what measures can be taken to do that
3 How can we enhance crop diversification
4. What did you do as NSS volunteer
5 what messages you spread by cycle rallies (follow up)
6 what values you learnt from NSS

M2
1- Reasons for drug menace in Punjab
2- What are human rights . Where mentioned in Indian statues ?
3- who is your fav actor
4- how would you eulogise Punjabi language
5- Name Punjab is of Punj-ab (water) what are the five rivers of Punjab

M3
1- follow up on water table
2 - power subsidy issue . How to resolve it . Are there any measures currently taken
3 - why there is an issue of abandoned brides in Punjab
4- why we directly shifted from BS4 to BS 6 norms . Why most of diesel cars were discontinued .

M4
1- why punjabi youth are seeking asylum by illegally emigrating to western countries while there is no persecution happening here
2- no persecution happening in India ?
3- What do you think India s stand over Rohingya issue justified when we talk about Vausdhaiva Kutumbakam
4- You must be knowing aspirational districts ; as an SDO of one such Distt ; what  would you do for health of adolescent girls

Chairperson : Thank you
3.6k views
Date: 02/02/2023 (2nd last in afternoon)
Board: Sathyavathi ma'am
Optional: Sociology
Graduation: BSc (Hons)
Attempt: 1st
College: BHU
Time: ~22 minutes

Highlights of DAF: Taught CBSE students while in college, reading old newspapers, NCC 'C' certificate, field survey on socio-economic conditions of sanitation workers of varanasi, singing contemporary bollywood songs, blood donation drive

Sathyavathi ma'am:
1. What are you doing since 2021 (graduation year)?
2. Were you paid for teaching?
3. What were your observations from the field survey?
4. Any particular unknown observation that can be useful to the administration? (She meant that govt was already aware of the findings I mentioned)
5. How did you survey the mental health of those sanitation workers?
6. Who helped you in that survey?
7. Did you publish it anywhere?
8. What are the conditions for blood donation?
9. Can you specify for both male & female?
10. Why only 350 ml blood is collected?

Member 1:
1. What is the slogan of NCC? Of NSS?
2. Do you know about remote voting? What are the challenges?
3. If there are loopholes shouldn't we reject the concept of remote voting?

Member 2:
1. What is the significance of drill in NCC?
2. You've only 84% in 12th board exams, why?
3. BHU was considered the best university in India, but today its quality has degraded. Your opinion.
4. How does geography of a place determine it's economy?

Member 3:
1. How did teachers in rural areas teach during pandemic with no infrastructure?
2. You mentioned about budget, what was "unity mall" in yesterday's budget? (I'd quoted recent budget in previous answer)
3. How has cleanliness of Varanasi changed in recent years?
4. Compare sanitation and cleanliness of Dehradun (my hometown) and Varanasi.

Member 4:
1. Why do you read old newspapers? What benefit does it serve?
2. Why do you sing only contemporary songs? Why not old?
3. You taught at an Institute called concept learning classes. How did you ensure "concept learning" of your students?

Everything was DAF based. I used lots of data, gave balanced & honest answers, responded everything except 2 factual questions. Rest I've no clue if Sathyavathi ma'am was impressed or not. Other members looked satisfied, they were nodding and smiling.

Utility of mocks:
Don't take them seriously (EASIER SAID THAN DONE). Just look at the overall feedback and areas to improve. I gave a hell lot of mocks, some were decent, some were horrible and some very factual. This interview at UPSC was very relaxed. Luckily I wasn't asked any difficult sociology/GS/graduation questions or any random current affairs question. In fact, I prepared so much for Uttarakhand that I can clear UKPCS now!😅 But they didn't ask anything from Uttarakhand. That doesn't mean we should not prepare, it's just that you've to be ready for everything. I was told that teaching, NCC, blood donation are very generic things and they won't ask. But you can see so many questions were asked. So don't leave any part of DAF.

All the best! See you in LBSNAA.
3.5k views
Date: 09/02/2023
Board: Satyavati Ma'am
State: Rajasthan
Optional: PSIR
Graduation : ECE
Hobbies/interest: Founder Current Nomics YouTube Channel, Gardening , Badminton
Experience: Teaching

Chairwoman
1. Qn on cadre preferences ( Why you Choose Gujarat over Rajasthan Cadre)
2. What are u doing recently and related questions

M-1 :-
1.Tell me some important things of budget
2. Why Hike in Capital Expenditure
3. What is multiplier effect
4. Advantages of capital expenditure
5. FRBM act and their provision
6. Fiscal deficit targets for 3 consecutive years

M-2 :-
1. What is 5g and it's benefits
2. 5g bands and their uses
3. Semiconductor industry in india
4. What is the scale of semiconductor in India (nano scale)
5. Compare it with other world countries
6. Issues in semiconductor industry

M-3
1. What is disinvestment
2. India Disivestemt target for 2023
3. Give me examples of disinvestment
4. Questions on Air India

M-4
1. Question on Ethics paper.
A person who is not moral but writing moral things in a paper. Is it happening or not
2. Parameters to access a candidate in Ethics paper like aptitude etc
3. What is Darwin theory
4. Reasons of infection in Lungs during covid

M-5
1. Issues in PM awas yojana
2. How we can achieve target of 5 trillion dollar economy
3. Long monologue on Old age home and their opportunities ,challenges and solutions

Chairwoman : Thank you
3.4k views
Date and session of interview- 10 Feb morning
Board- Smita Nagraj ma'am
Optional- philosophy
College- Amity University Noida, computer science engineering
Profession (if any)- content writer in field of competitive exams
Hobbies-  cricket and introspective writing
Other keywords in DAF : uttarpradesh, haryana, CT scan automation project on lung cancer.
Interview language: Hindi

Interview transcript
Chairperson :
1. Ajkal kya krrhe ho? ( Satyam bhai explained me what to say by predicting it from previous day's transcript)
2. Content writing m kya krte ho? Paise milte hai? Itna earn kr lete ho? 
3. Democracy m Dissent kitna important hai? ( In morning Satyam bhai discussed about it in morning as expected question from today's Indian express)
4. Dissent  m "Constructive Criticism " hi kyu important hai? Give any example. 
(asked from previous answer)
5. konsa organ executive, legislative and judiciary m behtar kam kr rha hai apke according. ( teeno badia)
6. Give one reform you want to see in  these organs.

Member 1:
1. started with bullet train case where HC said that this project is in national interest and HC ne stay lagane se mana krdia.
He said itna paisa karch krrhe hai aise project m and if I criticise mjpar Contempt of court lagega?

2. CJI Ke upar allegations lagaye gye the ek mahila dwara, itni badi position par arop lagaye gye.. apko lagta hai ki jisne bhi allegation lagagye vo anti national kyu vo itni high authority ke khiladiyon arop laga rhe hai? ( Because chairperson ko mene constrictive criticism ke bare SC ka naam le lia tha)


Member 3:

1. apne Thesis and antithesis ki baat kari Hegel ki philosophy m (Dissent from chairperson question).. ye anti thesis ke bad kya hota hai?  ( Already Discussed in morning call with satyam bhai)

2. Darshan shastra and vigyan m kya fark hai hai? 

3. Vigyan m analysis krna kya cheez hota hai?

4. CT scan Project kya tha ye? ( Thanks to satyam bhai i filled it and ache se baatcheet hui ispar ek member ne baki questions yhi se puche)

5. Doctors Use CT scan, ye danger nhi hai??

6. Purane jamane m vaid log bina scan ke bata dete the, aaj ke doctors hazaro test likh dete hai, apka kya vichar hai?

7.Aisi Technology honi chahiye medical field m?


Member 3
1. Manovigyan pehle darshan shastra ka part tha phir alag se padne ki kya need?

2. Legal laws padayi jani chahiye sabko?

3. medical Clinical  kuch to pucha tha unone but ye term  nhi malum thi so I said - padne ki need hai


Member 4

1. China development krha hai apne border areas m so india ko usse paresa  hona chahiye (  very long question because member was sharing his  experience)

2. Politics m sirf power and money chlta hai, mere jaisa vyakti election nhi lad skta ap ishpar kya vichar rkhte hai?


Your overall experience:

1. Importance of DAF filling - thanks to satyam bhai..

2. Cricket se sawal nhi aye, learning kabhi kabhi jo cheez jada show krte hai DAF m, usse sawal nhi aate

3.Detailed analysis of mocks jo 20-25 mi ka hota hai ( but  hours long analysis for every mock with satyam bhai helped me most)


Mocks/one 2 ones that helped or didn't help :

1.Satyam bhai ke sath analysis, kaise sochna hai and kaise answer krna hai.
2. Group discussion, peer group mocks with IAS corridor and studyiq grp members
3.  I had good experience with :
Chahal Academy Mock ( really Good) : recommended to all
Chanakya Mandal : good
Only Ias : good
3.4k views
Board - Smita Nagraj ma'am
Date - 6th Feb, Afternoon
Relevant keywords - Software engineer, medals in basketball in college, Hobbies - playing badminton and listening to music

What is the one thing you enjoy about working in your company?
What are your company's products , what does your company do?
Layoffs and recession happening in USA, what do you think about it?
Work from home, is it good?

Collegium issues?
Isn't it necessary to maintain independence of judiciary in appointments?
Sustainable development defn?
Sdg, name any 3 of them.

Why civil services?
How will you use knowledge of your job(software engg) in administration?
Will AI replace humans?
(I titlted towards no as AI still has a lot of deficiencies like seen in accidents of driverless cars)
AI will become even better in the future. So, don't you think it will replace humans in distant future?

Should civil servants be allowed to become social media influencers?
Given need for technology in administration do you think engineers are better administrators than those from Social science background ?
Listening to music is a very broad category. Do you like a specific genre?

Full form of my company's name?
Why switch from permanent to adhoc? (Employment related)
Aiims cyberattack - what were its reasons,  and what are the solutions?
(I had said strengthen firewalls among other solutions). On this, he said that firewall can't be too strong due to public access, and backup wont help as lots of vips information will still get stolen, so what other measures for aiims specifically will you suggest?
You have played both badminton and basketball. How do you compare the 2 sports?

Thoughts :
Board was very cordial. There were a couple of light moments too.  But, some questions could've been handled better by me. Let's see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

Experience with mocks -
Decent experience with all but relatively Vajirao>Rau>Ksg.
One to one with Ravindran Sir was also good.
Mocks can help in getting over the fear of speaking in front of a panel and also in getting possible list of questions. But, would suggest not to give too many.

All the best to everyone.
3.4k views
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