Sunday, February 24, 2013

UPSC IAS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE (44)


K K PAUL SIR BOARD
MY INTERVIEW WAS ON MARCH 26,2011
THIS YEAR MY OPTIONALS ARE PUBLIC ADMIN AND PUNJABI LITERATURE
IT WAS MY SECOND INTERVIEW.LAST YEAR IT WAS WITH NIRBHAY SHARMA BOARD.
THIS YEAR THERE WERE SOME NUMERIC COINCIDENCES.
26-LAST TWO DIGITS OF MY ROLL NO. , 26 IS MY DATE OF BIRTH ,26 IS DIWALI THIS YEAR AND 26 WAS DATE OF MY INTERVIEW..I WAS CONSCIOUS OF THIS NUMERIC THING AND DID PREPARE. (BUT OF NO USE IN INTERVIEW AS NOTHING SUCH WAS ASKED).
I GOT UP AROUND 5:40 (THOUGH DIDN’T HAD THAT SOUND SLEEP)
I TURNED ON MY INTERNET AND RAPIDLY WENT THROUGH VARIOUS MAJOR NEWSPAPERS.(IT DID HELP I MUST SAY).
I WENT TO THE VENUE BY 8:30 AM

THERE WERE M1: DRESSED SINCERE ASPIRANTS,MOST OF THEM WITH THEIR PARENTS.AS I HAD EXPERIENCE OF LAST YEAR SO WAS NOT GETTING ANYMORE CONSCIOUS OF THE TOUGHNESS OF COMPETITION.

AS THIS TIME MY BROTHER WAS WITH ME SO WAS RELATIVELY COOL AND CALM AND ENJOYING..GOT INTO ROW AND ENTERED THE BUILDING.REACHED HALL..SAT ON E 4 TABLE..

ONE OF MY KNOWN FEMALE ASPIRANT WAS IN SAME BATCH..

ON OUR TABLE THERE WERE 6 CANDIDATES INCLUDING ME.

THEN CAME PERSON FOR FORMALITIES.I LOOKED AND RELAXED ON FINDING THAT THIS TIME AM NOT LAST ONE IN MY BATCH TO BE INTERVIEWED (LAST YEAR I WAS LAST IN MORNING BATCH AND MY INTERVIEW WENT FOR 12:20 TO 1:05)..THIS TIME I WAS THIRD TO BE INTERVIEWED….

THEN STARTED THINKING THE MILLION..RATHER BILION DOLLAR QUESTION….WHICH BOARD? (THOUGH HAD CONVINCED MYSELF NOT TO THINK BAD OF ANY BOARD BUT HUMAN NATURE)

AFTER SOMETIME AROUND 10:04 I MUST SAY FIRST CANDIDATE WAS CALLED..AND WE GOT TO KNOW THE SOOTHING NEWS THAT OUR BOARD OF K K PAUL

I WAS NOT WORRIED AT THAT TIME MUCH BECAUSE HAD HEARD THAT HE IS REASONABLE PERSON.

ALSO FEMALE WHO WAS KNOWN TO ME EARLIER SHARED WITH US THE INFORMATION THAT PAUL SIR DOESN’T SPOIL CAREER USUALY AND HE GIVE YOU MORE THAN 140 NORMALLY THOUGH HIS RANGE IS 140-180….AND SHE SAID HE DON’T ASK MUCH FACTUAL QUESTIONS(IT MADE ME RELAX BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN REAL IS A STORY NOW LOL )

MY OPTIONALS(MAINS WRITTEN) HAS WENT QUITE M1: SO I AM EXPECTING THAT WITH AROUND 150 MARKS WILL GET ME IN ATLEAST..

THEN THE INTERVIEW OF FIRST CANDIDATE WAS OVER AROUND 10:20 I THINK..I THOUGHT I WIL BE CALLED AROUND 10:40 AS INTERVIEWS ARE RUNNING FOR 20 MINS.AND THEN I WAS CALLED AROUND 10:40 AND HAD TO SIT OUTSIDE FOR 6-7 MINS.PERSON INTERVIEWED BEFORE ME WAS A NICE PERSON WITH GOOD PERSONALITY…I WAS QUIET THIS TIME AND SOMEWHAT SINCERE OR YOU CAN SAY SERIOUS WHILE LAST YEAR I WAS TALKING A LOT AND DOING FUN.

AND MY TURN CAME………THE MOMENTS WHICH ARE GOING TO IMPACT MY FUTURE IN REALLY GREAT MANNER.. JAI MATA DI BOL KE I ENTERED THE INTERVIEW HALL..

CHAIRMAN:PAUL SIR

THREE MALE MEMBERS

ONE FEMALE MEMBER:TOOOOOOO NICE AND SMILING AND WAS SITTING ON RIGHT SIDE TO CANDIDATE CHAIR

ME: MAY I COME IN ,SIR

CH:COME IN AND SIT DOWN (AB KYA DARWAAZE MEIN HE BAITH JAUN  )

I MANAGED MYSELF AND DIDN’T THOUGHT MUCH AND EENTERED WITH CONFIDENCE..WHEN I REACHED NEAR CHAIR.SMILING LADY MEMBER VERY SOFTLY SAID ”TAKE YOUR SEAT BETA”

ME: GOOD MORNING SIR,GOOD MORNING SIRS AND LITTLE MORE SMILING GOOD MORNING MADAM

I OCCUPIED MY SEAT AND “THANK YOU SIR,THANK YOU MADAM”

CH:YOUR NAME

ME: AJAY PAL

CH:ROLL NUMBER

ME: TOLD
CH:DATE OF BIRTH

ME: TOLD
CH: SO YOU ARE FROM LUDHIANA?

ME:YES SIR

CH:WHAT IS MEANING OF LUDHIANA?

ME:SIR LUDHIANA IS MADE OF TWO WORDS LODHI+ANA. IT WAS NAMED AFTER IBRAHIM LODHI WHO WAS A MUGHAL RULER, I AM SORRY SIR FROM DELHI SULTANAT. ITS NAMED AFTER HIM.

CH:WHEN WAS LUDHIANA FOUNDED?

ME: SIR I DON’T KNOW EXACT YEAR BUT EARLIER IT WAS A VILLAGE NAMED MIR HOTA.

CH: NO NO WHEN WAS IT FOUNDED?

ME: SORRY SIR I DON’T KNOW THE YEAR.

CH:YOU HAVE DONE BDS

ME:YES SIR

CH:WHAT IS IT?

ME:SIR ITS BACHELOR IN DENTAL SURGERY

CH:OH SO YOU ARE A DENTIST.

ME:YES SIR

CH:NOW YOU ARE WORKING IN LIC

ME:YES SIR

CH:AS A DENTIST IN LIC?

ME:NO SIR,I AM WORKING AS ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

CH:SO YOU HAVE LEFT DENTISTRY COMPLETELY

ME: (JYADA KAHANIYAN NA BANAATE HUE) YES SIR

CH: (SMILINGLY ) OK, EVERY PERSON GETS AGED AND OLD WITH TIME AND DENTAL PROBLEMS START ERUPTING SO EVERYONE NEEDS A DENTIST AT A STAGE OF LIFE.SO THERE ARE MANY PATIENTS AND SO A GOOD JOB.ANYWAYS

CH: OK THEN U HAVE TAKEN PUNJABI

ME:YES SIR

CH:THERE IS SOMETHNG GURMUKHI ALSO…SOOOO WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUNJABI AND GURMUKHI

ME:SIR GURMUKHI IS A SCRIPT IN WHICH PUNJABI IS WRITTEN

CH:YES RIGHT!

ME:THANK YOU SIR

CH:TELL ME ABOUT TREATY OF AMRITSAR

ME:SIR TREATY OF AMRITSAR WAS SIGNED BETWEEN MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH AND BRITISHERS (INTERRUPTED BY CH)

CH: MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH?HE WAS DIED BY THAT TIME.

ME: (DAMN I WAS TOTALLY TAKEN ABACK.I HAD READ IT IN NCERT BUT HE SAID OTHERWAY.I COULD NOT AFFORD TO MESS WITH HIM) M SORRY SIR

CH:THERE WERE TWO TREATIES WHICH WERE SIGNED QUITE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER,TREATY OF AMRITSAR AND TREATY OF LAHORE.TELL ME SOME TREATY WHICH IS STILL RELEVANT.FORGET ABOUT RADCLIFE LINE..

ME:THINKING FOR A WHILE(3-4 SECONDS) M SORRY SIR I DON’T KNOW.

CH: OK YOU PLAY CRICKET?

ME :YES SIR

CH:YOU PLAY THESE DAYS TOO?

ME : (MAY BE HE WANTED ME TO TALK OF WORLD CUP MATCHES BUT I HAD NOT WATCHED ALL BUT HE HAD M SURE SO PLAYED SAFE) YES SIR WE FRIENDS PLAY WHENEVER WE GET TIME.

CH: OK THESE DAYS WORLD CUP IS GOING ON

ME: YES SIR

CH: TELL ME WHATS GOING ON IN WORLD CUP?

ME: INDIA HAS WON IN QUARTERFINALS DEFEATING AUSTRALIA AND TOLD ABOUT PAKISTAN AS M1: AS SOME OTHER

CH: WHICH TEAM HAS REACHED WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS 5 TIMES?

ME: (THINKING FOR TWO SECONDS) SIR NEWZEALAND

CH: ( THINKING FOR A WHILE WHILE BENDING AHEAD A BIT) YES YOU ARE RIGHT ITS NEWZEALAND.

CH:HOW MANY TIMES INDIA HAS REACHED SEMIFINAL?

ME : SIR THIS YEAR WE HAVE REACHED WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS,2003 AS M1: AS 1983 WORLD CUP..

CH:NO NO I AM ASKING HOW MANY TIMES?

ME :M SORRY SIR AM NOT ABLE TO RECALL.

CHAIRMAN NOW PASSES TO FIRST MEMBER….

HE WAS A SOUTH INDIAN M SURE

M1: AJAY TELL ME ABOUT WORLD CUP MATCH OF INDIA NOW

ME: SIR INDIA WILL BE FACING PAKISTAN IN SEMIFINAL

M1: WHEN IS THE SEMIFINAL

ME: SIR 30 APRIL

M1: WHERE

ME: SIR MOHALI

M1 : AJAY OUR PRIME MINISTER HAS SENT AN INVITATION TO SOMEONE FOR THE MATCH

ME: YES SIR

M1: TO WHOM?

ME :SIR OUR PRIME MINISTER HAS SENT INVITATION TO PAKISTAN PRESIDENT MR ZARDARI AND PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER MR GILANI

M1:YES GOOD ,AND THIS HAS BEEN TERMED AS CRICKET DIPLOMACY

ME:YES SIR

M1 : ARE YOU IN FAVOUR OF IT

ME : YES SIR BECAUSE TALKS CAN BUILD THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE AMONG TWO NATIONS

M1 : SO WE SHOULD INVITE THEN TO EVERY FUNCTION OR OCCASION

ME : SIR WE CAN INVITE THEM IN WHICH THEY ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST

M1 : AJAY HO WILL YOU IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

ME : SIR PEOPLE TO PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACT CAN BE RAISED.FOR EXAMPLE ON WAGHA BORDER THERE CAN BE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AMONG THEMSELVES.

M1: YOU HAVE DONE LITERATURE.HOW CAN LITERATURE BE USED TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN.

ME : (I KNEW ITS AN OPPORTUNITY) SIR,SHIV KUMAR BATALWI (WHEN I TOOK THIS NAME HE NODDED THE HEAD IN YES AND OTHER MEMBERS TOO GAVE POSITIVE RESPONSE) IS M1: READ IN BOTH EAST AND WEST PUNJAB AS M1: AS IN OTHER REGIONS TOO.LITERATURE CONNECT THE PEOPLE OF TWO NATIONS.WE TWO HAVE SHARED COMMON HISTORY AND THUS HAVE VARIOUS BONDS CONNECTING US. SIR IN RECENT YEARS PAKISTANI ARTISTS HAVE COME TO INDIA TO PERFORM CERTAIN PLAYS AND INDIAN ARTISTS HAVE VISITED THERE.

M1 : YOU HAVE READ PUNJABI LITERATURE.WHATS DEFINITION OF LITERATURE?

ME : ( SERIOUSLY FELT UNNING OUT OF WORDS ON THIS ) SIR LITERATURE IS WHEN THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS SUCH AS POETARY STORIES NOVELS THE SITUATIONS OF SOCIETY ARE EXPRESSED ALONGWITH OTHER FEELINGS

M1 : CAN WE CONSIDER NOVELS OF SYDNEY SHELDON AND ( ONE MORE NAME HE TOOK ) AS PART OF LITERATURE?

ME: M SORRY SIR I HAVE NOT READF THEIR NOVELS SO AM NOT ABLE TO COMMENT

M1 :WHAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT

ME : (AGAIN RUNNING SHORT OF EXACT DEFINITION,TRYING TO ANSWER) SIR THE SOCIAL PROCEESSES ARE EXPLAINED……(HE INTERRUPTED)

M1 : OK,WHICH ARE TWO NOVELS YOU LIKED

ME :SIR CHITTA LAHU BY NANAK SINGH NAVALKAR AND IK MYAAN DO TALWAARAN.

M1 : IN CHITTA LAHU FROM LITEARY ASPECT WHAT YOU LIKED?

ME : SIR THE NOVELIST IN THIS NOVEL HAS TOUCHED VARIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEMS AT A TIME

M1: NO NO FROM LITERARY ASPECT

ME :SIR THE LANGUAGE AS M1: AS SIR HE HAS ROMANTICISED THE NOVEL WITH PASSION IN IT

M1 : YOU USED TWO TERMS ROMANTIC AND PASSION.WHATS THE RELATION BETWEEN TWO?

ME : SIR WHN THERE IS ROMANCE,PASSION COMES ITSELF

M1 : (SMILED) OK

CHAIRMAN PASSED TO SECOND MEMBER,SARDAR JI ON MY LEFT,BLUISH EYES WITH SPECS..HE WAS LOOKING LIKE AN INTELLIGENT PERSON..

M2 : YOU ARE FROM PUNJAB.IN PUNJAB IT IS SAID THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE CULTURE AND THATS (I SPOKE ALONG HUMBLY ALONGWITH) AGRICULTURE

M2: DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS?

ME :SIR IN PUNJAB AGRICULTURE IS M1: DEVELOPED SECTOR AND LARGE WORKFORCE IS IN THIS SECTOR

M2 : NO NO TELL ME ONLY ABOUT CULTURE

ME : SIR CULTURE OF PUNJAB IS VERY VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC BECAUSE HISTORY OF PUNJAB HAS BEEN VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC..(HE INTERRUPTED)

M2 : WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT PUNJABI CULTURE?

ME : SIR I LIKE OPEN MINDEDNESS OF PUNJABI CULTURE,ALWAYS HELPFUL.SIKHS MUSLIMS HINDUS ARE THERE IN LARGE NUMBER AND LIVING IN HARMONY.

M2 : OK,PUNJAB HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYER IN GREEN REVOLUTION ESPECIALLY WITH LUDHIANA AT CENTER FROM WHERE YOU BELONG.THERE IS ALSO PUNJAB AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY WHICH HAS PLAYED IMMENSE ROLE.BUT PRODUCTIVITY HAS STAGNATED IN PUNJAB.DO YOU AGREE?

ME: SIR PUNJAB HAS PLAYED VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN GREEN REVOLUTION.SIR,THE PRODUCTIVITY IS INCREASING BY LESS AMOUNT BUT ITS STILL INCREASING.FOR EXAMPLE CROP INTENSITY IS 196 AND…(INTERRUPTED)

M2 : OK WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY?

ME : SIR OPTIOMAL FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT..

M2 :WHAT?( HE CUDNT GET WHAT I SAID)

ME : SIR SUFFICIENT FUNDS SHOULD BE SLLOCATED FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE SHOULD BE PROVIDED…SIR I WOULD LIKE TO USE AN EXAMPLE FROM THIS YEAR BUDGET.FOR EXAMPLE FOR PULSES PRODUCTION RS 300 CRORE HAVE BEEN ALOTTED TO 60000 VILLAGES AAND WHEN WE CALCULATE IT TURNS OUT TO BE JUST RS.50000 VILLAGES WHICH COULD BE RATHER MORE FUNDS FOR LESS NUMBER OF VILLAGES (INTERRUPTED)

M2 : BUT THAT’S ARITHMATIC CALCULATION YOU HAVE DONE.BUT ITS NOT GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED LIKE THIS.

ME : YES SIR BUT I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITH MORE FUNDS TO LESS NUMBER OF VILLAGES AND THEN COULD BE RAPLICATED.

(SUDDENLY SOMETHING CLICKED TO MY MIND,MOVING MY HEAD AND ALSO GIVING A LOOK AT CHAIRMAN I SAID) SIR ONLY YESTERDAY IN NEWSPAPER I READ THAT 30% OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN PUNJAB GO WASTE BECAUSE OF LACKING PROPER STORAGE FACILITIES AND THUS WE NEED TO WORK ON THE STORAGE FACILITIES ,WAREHOUSES

I THINK THEY NODDED HEAD ON THIS…

CHAIRMAN PASSED TO THIRD MEMBER..A VERY VERY NICE SMILING LADY MEMBER

LM : OK AJAY YOUR HOBBY IS BLOGGING

ME :YES MAM

LM : DO YOU HAVE YOU OWN WEBSITE?

ME :ANSWERED

LM :NARRATED A LONG QUE..BUT SHE FELT SHE MESSED UP AND THEN SAID OK NAME TWO SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

ME : MAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

LM : WHATS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO?

ME :MAM TWITTER IS MICROBLOGGING SITE WHERE WE CAN TYPE ONLY SHORT TEXTS

LM : HOW SHORT?I MEAN HOW MANY LETTERS?

ME : (THINKING FOR 3-4 SEC)M SORRY MAM I DON’T REMEMBER

LM : ITS 140 (THEN SHE STARTED CONFIRMING FROM M1)

LM :DO WE COUNT THE SPACE?

ME (DON’T KNOW IN WHAT FLOW) NO MAM

LM : WE COUNT

ME :M SORRY MAM

LM : YOU PLAY CARROM

ME :YES MAM

LM : DO YOU PLAY IT SERIOUSLY

ME : YES MAM

LM: THERE WAS RECENTLY A MOVIE ON CARROM,(I NODDED IN YES) CAN U NAME THAT?

ME : MAM CARROM WAS ALSO PLAYED IN MUNNABHAI MABBS ( I WAS NOT GETTING NAME OF THAT MOVIE SO TRIED BUYING TIME TO RECALL)

LM : NO NO IN MUNNABHAI IT WAS IN SIDELINE..BUT IN A MOVIE THE GAME WAS AT CENTRE

ME : MAM I KNOW THERE WAS BUT AM NOT ABLE TO RECALL THE NAME

LM : OK IT WAS STRIKER

ME : (BECAUSE I KNEW THE MOVIE SO UNINTENTIONLLY CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH YESS MAM STRIKER)

LM : OK AJAY U WERE DISCUSSING CRICKET DIPLOMACY WITH SIR,THERE WAS ALSO ONE PING PONG DIPLOMACY

ME :YES MAM

LM : IT WAS BETWEEN WHICH TWO COUNTRIES?

ME : (THINKING) MAM IT WAS BETWEEN CHINA ANDDDD (LM :YES YES CHINA AND YES YOU ARE RIGHT CHINA AND) MAM,TAIWAN (DAMN I WENT IN FLOW AGAIN)

LM :NO ITS USA..BETWEEN CHINA ND USA\

ME : OK MAM THANK YOU MAM

LM : ( CHAIRMAN SIGNALLED HER SOMETHNG I FEEL THOUGH M NOT SURE) OK AJAY I WOULD ASK YOU ONE MORE QUESTION,ONE LAST QUESTION..(SHE MADE A LONG STATEMENT AND THE SHE REALISED IT GOT MESSED AND THEN SHE BROKE IT INTO PARTS.AJAY PEOPLE BLOG AND USE SITES FOR SO MANY HOURS A DAY AND DAILY.ISNT IT WASTAGE OF TIME?

ME : MAM I DON’T BLOG FOR MANY HOURS BUT FOR ( INTERRUPTED SAYING NO NO NOT JUST YOU BUT MANY YOUNG ONES)

LM :OK TELL ME IS IT NECESSARY TO BLOG?

ME : ( MAKING SERIOUS FACIAL EXPRESSION) MAM BOUT NECESSITY I WOULD SAY WE HAVE AROUND 40% POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE WHO DON’T HAVE ANY ACCOUNT ON BLOGGING/SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES SO IT DEPENDS UPON PERSONAL WILL.

LM : OK AJAY CAN IT BE DANGEROUS SHARING PERSONAL INFO ON THESE SITES?

ME : MAM SHARING TOO MUCH PERSONAL INFO WITH A STRANGER CAN BE AT TIMES DANGEROUS TOO

SHE WAS OK AND THEN CHAIRMAN PASSED ON TO FOURTH MEMBER..HE WAS LOOKING NOT IN VERY GOOD MOOD WHEN I EVEN ENTERED..MAY BE SOME PERSONAL MATTER.HE SHOWERED QUESTIONS ON ME

M4 : YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WAGHA BORDER.HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?

ME : NO SIR I HAVNT BEEN THERE

M4 : OK IN PUNJAB AGRICULTURE HAS IMPACTED UPON THE ENVIRONMENT..HOW?

ME :SIR GROUND WATER LEVEL HAS DIPPED TOO MUCH AND THAT’S REASON PUNJAB GVT HAS BANNED SOWING OF PADDY BEFORE 10 MAY

SIR THE SAME CROPPING PATTERN OVER SO MANY YEARS HAS DEPLETD SOIL OF NUTRIENTS

M4 : OK WHATS HAPPENING IN LIBYA

ME : EXPLAINED

M4 :WHATS HAPPENING IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES OF LIBYA

ME : I EXPOLAINED

M4: WHATS NO FLY ZONE

ME : EXPLAINED

M4 : WHATS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

ME: SIR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS USE OF RESOURCES IN SUCH A MANNER SO THAT NEEDS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE NOT COMPROMISED

M4: WHAT?

ME : EXPLAINED AGAIN

M4 : SO WE SHOULD STOP THE USING RESOURCES?

ME : SIR WE SHOULD USE THEM OPTIMALLY

M4 : WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

ME : EXPLAINED AND ALSO TALKED OF CLIMATE TALKS

M4 : (DNT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ANSWERING ABOVE QUE,HE ASKED IS USA DEVELOPING NATION?

ME : SIR USA IS DEVELOPED NATION

M4 : CLIMATE CHANGE IS SAID TO BE GOOD.RUSSIANS ARE SAYING THAT MORE LAND ON ARCTIC WILL BE AVAILABLE AND THUS MORE OF RESOURCES

ME : SIR CLIMATE CHANGE MAY CAUSE SEA WATER LEVEL RISE WHICH WILL SUBMERGE LARGE LAND ARE AND COUNTRIES LIKE MALDIVES..MOREOVER CLIMATE CHANGE CAN IMPACT CROPPING PATTERN THUS BRINGING LARGE SCALE MIGRATION AMONG PEOPLE WHICH WILL NOT BE GOOD

M4 : OK

NOW CHAIRMAN GOT BACK TO HIM….HE WAS ALL THE TIME VERY ATTENTIVE

CH : HAVE YOU READ PUNJBA HISTORY?

ME : (HAVING NO OTHER CHOICE AND DON’T KNOW FROM WHERE CONFIDENCE CAME) YES SIR

CH : (AGAIN) HAVE YOU READ PUNJAB HISTORY?

ME : YES SIR

CH : WHEN MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH DIED?

ME : SIR 1839

CH: WHEN DID MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH SIGNED TREATY WITH BRITISHERS?

ME : SIR IN 1839

CH : (LOOKING DOWN TO HIS PAGES) OK YES THERE WAS TREATY THAT BOTH SIDES WONT CROSS SATLUJ

ME : YES SIR

CH : TELL ME ABOUT ANGLO SIKH WARS

ME : SIR THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ANGLO SIKH WARS, FIRST WAS FOUGHT IN 1845-46 AND SECOND IN 1849 AND SIKHS WERE DEFEATED BY BRITISHERS

CH : WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT?

ME : (TWO THREE CONFLICTTING THOUGHTS STARTED POPPING IN MY MIND AND I FOUND NOT ANSWERING AS BEST OPTION) M SORRY SIR I DON’T REMEMBER

CH : CAN U NAME FEW PLACES OF THE WARS?

ME : SIR BATTLE OF SABHRAWAN( I HAD READ IT SOME TIMES IN PUNJABI)

CH : BNATTLE OF SABHARAO

ME : OK SIR THANK YOU SIR

ME : SIR SAMRALA

CH : OK

ME : M SORRY SIR I AM NOT ABLE TO RECALL MORE NAMES ( THIS WAS WHAT I HAD READ SO MANY TIMES BUT INTERVIEW TIME IS TOUGH I FEEL)

CH : CHILCHILYANWALA

ME : OK SIR

CH : ARE YOU SURE?

ME : M NOT SURE SIR

CH : OK, ( THEN HE LOOKED AT WALL CLOCK AND THEN ON HIS WRIST WATCH AND SAID “ OK WE HAVE TIME SO WE CAN TALK MORE”

(WHAT ELSE I CUD SAY)

ME : YES SIR

CH : OK TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT UPSC ( I WAS DELIGHTED THAT HE WILL ASK ME OPINION BASED QUESTION NOW BUT IN VAIN)

CH: WHEN WAS UPSC FOUNDED?

ME : SIR IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1926

CH : (THOUGHT) YES RIGHT,GOOD BUT THEN ITS NAME WAS SOMETHNG ELSE.WHAT WAS ITS NAME?

ME : SIR ITS NAME WAS FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

CH : YES RIGHT,WHY WAS IT ESTABLISHED?

ME : (FINDING APPROPRIATE WORD FOR 2 SECONDS BUT THEN WENT ON) SIR TO SPPOINT PEOPLE ON POSTS OF HIGH RESPONSIBILITY

CH :YES RIGHT BUT WHY IT WAS FOUNDED ONLY THEN?

ME : SIR IT WAS FOUNDED ON RECOMMENDATION OF A COMMISSION

CH : YES BUT ON RECOMMENDATION OF COMMITTEE NOT COMMISSION

ME : OK SIR

CH : WHAT WAS NAME OF THAT COMMITTEE?

ME : M SORRY SIR I HAVE READ BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO RECALL RIGHT NOW

CH: OK TELL ME ORIGIN OF RIVER BEAS

ME : ( I HAD PREPARED SATLUJ YAMUNA LINK SO M1: THAT STLUJ STARTED POPPING IN MY MIND,I TRIED SUPPRESSING IT AND FINDING ORIGIN OF BEAS BUT AFTER 3-4 SECONDS) M SORRY SIR AM NOT ABLE TO RECALL

CH : HAVE U READ IT?

ME :YES SIR

CH : THEN YOU MUST BE HAVING SOME IDEA WHETHER ITS IN PUNJAB HARYANA HIMACHAL,J&K,TIBBET)

ME : ( TIBBAT AND SATLUJ GHOOMNE START FIR SE) SIR IF I HAVE TO MAKE A GUESS I WILL SAY TIBET ( THE ANSWER WAS BEAS KUND AND WHEN I CAME OUT OF ROOM IT IMMEDIATELY CAME IN MIND)

CH : OK THANK YOU AND MOVED BACK FROM HIS FORWARD ATTENTIVE POSTURE.

ME : (FEELING GOOD) GOT UP THANK YOU SIR ,THANK YOU SIRS ,AND AGAIN SMILINGLY THANK YOU MAM 

THERE WAS A PINK FILE ON TABLE..I WAS LIL PUZZLED BECAUSE OF BEAS WALA ANSWER AND COULD IN THAT PUZZLED MIND PICK THAT FILE BUT THEN I GOT ATTENTIVE THAT YET I HAVE TO WALK OUT OF ROOM AND TIL I WALK OUT INTERVIEW IS NOT OVER..AND I WALKED OUT WITHOUT ANY MISTAKE

WHEN I CAME OUT SAME FEMALE WHO WAS KNOWN TO ME WAS SITTING AND MY FIRST WORDS WERE “ HE IS ASKING FACTUALS ONLY”

MY ASSESMENT IS THAT MAY BE HE WILL REALISE I AM NOT STUDENT OF HISTORY BUT STILL ANSWERE ATLEAST FEW QUESTIONS M1:..

SOME ANSWERS I REALLY FELT PROUD OF LIKE THAT OF GURMUKHI,DO U HAVE YOUR OWN SITE,SOME DATA RELATED TO AGRICULTURE, UPSC YEAR ( THAT HAS A STORY WHICH I WILL SHARE ) AD OPTIMAL USE OF RESOURCES, TREATY OF 1839 ETC.

REST WAITING FOR RESULT.THATS IT !!!!
Courtesy: Ajay Pal, Rank 160 - UPSC 2010

UPSC IAS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE (43)


Name: Nidhi Choudhari
Interview Writeup:1. What is Gargi Prize? (Reason: mentioned in Awards/Achievement in Bio-data)
2. Why Gargi?
3. Wherein this debate mentioned? (only these three questions were asked by the Chairman)
4. Why do you want to join IAS after working for RBI? (Reason: Working as Manager, RBI since 2006)
The member didn’t listen to me and stopped me from answering the question and himself suggested some reason5. What is the talk about public debt management and RBI?
6. What is the conflict of interest in public debt mgt?
(Member 1)7. Where are India’s forex reserves?
8. What is RBI doing with forex reserves?
9. United Nations and some government’s failure? (asked whether middle east but he said no some other government then I said I am not aware about this.)
10. Difference between Public Administration and Management? (Reason: MA in Public Administration from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 2007)
11. Goal of Public Administration?
12. Are you following what is happening in Delhi at Jantar Mantar, what will happen of Lokpal Bill? (Reason: Working in RBI, New Delhi)
13. What is sex ratio in Rajasthan? (Reason: Born and Brought up in Nagaur District of Rajasthan)
14. What will you do if you are posted in a district where female foeticide is prevalent?
(Member 2)15. Are you aware of Forbes list?
16. Forbes most inspiring women of India? (Reason: Being a woman)
I didn’t know it.
17. Two women from contemporary India who have inspired you? (Aruna Roy and Shyamala Gopinath)
18. Why?
19. What is the role of student union? (Reason: Vice President, Student’s Union in Government Bangar College, Didwana)
20. What is your take on their present way of functioning?
21. Political parties’ involvement in Students Union?
(Lady Member)22. What is the difference between gift and dowry?
23. Recently, in a marriage in Delhi expensive gifts were given to guests whether that is dowry?
24. Which Act?
25. How the act defines dowry? (Not able to recall)
26. Upto what level reservation should be given?
27. When in corporate sector CMDs are not appointed on the basis of reservation why government appoints through reservation?
28. I am in medical field and have seen that no MLA / MP wants to undergo medical treatment by somebody who has been selected through reservation. Then why reservation? (Member 4)
The interview ended.

Exam Interview Details :

Date: April 8, 2011
Subjects Taken : PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & SOCIOLOGY
Interview Board : PURUSHOTAM AGRAWAL
Result of Interview: Qualified
City : New Delhi

UPSC IAS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE (42)


Name : Amit Goyal
Type: Interview
What is your name, DOB, Roll No. etc.
Me: Ansered
C: Which type of devotional music you listen (It was my hobby to listen devotional music)
Me: Sir I listen to songs by Vinod Aggarwal, Krishan bhakti songs.
C: Why not other music?
Me: Sir I listen other music as well, but mainly I listen devotional one.
C: Why you listen devotional music?
Me: Sir it gives me peace of mind.
C: So you are usually in stress?
Me: Yes Sir I do as after long hours of working there is a bit of stress. I prepare tea, coffee etc. listen to devotional songs and my stress is gone.
C: What is Trial by Media?
Me: Sir when due to reports in media a perception is made in the mind of general public as to who is guilty and who is innocent, without the case being completely tried by the court.
C: Then what about journalistic ethics?
Me: Sir its clearly a case of violation of these ethics.
C: Then why Press Council is not taking any action?
Me: Sir First It does not have enough powers to take action and secondly it does not cover electronic media.
Member1 (M1): Amit you have got 46th rank in C.A. you was having good opportunities to earn money. Then why are you coming to civil services?
Me: Sir first of all money is not every thing, secondly govt. pays a good salary and finally working in corporate would have restricted my scope of work to Accounts, Audit or Tax, but working in civil services is working for a larger cause.
M1: What are the problems of women in Haryana?
Me: Sir the condition of women in Haryana is really worrisome and is reflected in very low sex ratio of 861 and esp. 617 in literate people. In addition to it are problems of Khap, Honour killing etc.
M1: What will you do if you are a DC in an area affected by such problem of low sex ratio?
Me: Sir I will go for a two pronged strategy- Implementation of Pre Natal Diagnostics Act and creating awareness among people.
M1: How will you use media for this purpose?
Me: Sir we can have big sign board along the roads giving message that if girls are not there then with to get marry your sons with? Similarly we can use mass media.
M2: Amit do you think that cricket is squeezing out other games in India?
Me: Mam, I do not think so as I think that any game is made popular by its achievement as it is in case of cricket. Once we had achievements in Hockey, it was pretty much famous.
M2: What achievements we have made after 1983. No 2nd world cup?
Me: We have won many important tournaments. Individual records like that of Sachin are almost unachievable.
M2: But all sponsors are going to cricket leaving nothing to other games.
Me: Mam that has a natural reason as cricket has a scope of advertisement after every six balls while other games does not have such advantage.
M2: We are a big nation and got only 3 medals at Olympics. Is not it a shameful thing?
Me: Mam, its not a shameful thing but an eye opener for us to go into the reason for such low performance.
M2: What are those reasons?
Me: One such reason is Infrastructure gap. We do not have playing ground for people to practice. Whatever infrastructure we have is for champions only, for AAM ADMI they are always LOCKED.
M2: Is there something like Sporting Culture?
Me: Yes, since our childhood days we were told that “kheloge koodoge banoge kharab, padoge likhoge banoge nawab” meaning that the stress was on the studies only.
M2: Is it changing now( I said yes), and why?
Me: Today parents know that sports and study are not contradictory to each other, there is good career in sports and lot of money and fame for the family.
M3: When are IFRS going to be introduced in India?
Me: The date is 01 April 2011, but I consider it to be 01 April  2010 as companies prepare comparative accounts for two years and there for figures for 2010-2011 are to be adjusted as per new standards.
M3: What problems will Indian companies face?
Me: There may be shortage of skilled personnel, more compliance as number of standards in IFRS are higher.
M3: Do you think that we will be able to adopt them?
Me: Sir ICAI has issues INDAS to be followed. So we are adopting as it is but are modifying them as per our needs.
M3: Whats the need for IFRS?
Me: Sir today global firms operate in India and India firms operate worldwide, that why we need them to have a common business language.
M4: What is PAC?
Me: Sir PAC is a parliamentary committee to look into the CAG reports on PSEs.
M4: on PSEs?
C: Is not there something called COPU?Me: Sorry sir realize that I made a mistake. PAC is a parliamentary committee to look into the reports of CAG on accounts of Central and State Govts.
M4: is there any PAC like mechanism at State level?
Me: Sir I am not sure but I think that there is.
C: ok Amit you can go now.
Me: Thank you every one.

Exam Interview Details :

Subjects Taken : Commerce, Public Administration
Date: 23-Mar-2011
Interview Board : Dr. K.K. Paul
City : Palwal (HR)

UPSC IAS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE (41)


Name: Prince Garg
Type: Interview
C- Prof. K.S. Chalam
O- Other members

I entered after taken permission…
P- Good afternoon mam, Good afternoon Sir
C- So Prince you are from Delhi.
P- Yes Sir
C- Have you ever visited Noida
P- No Sir
C- Strange you have not visited Noida ever, Have you ever gone to Gurgaon.
P- Yes Sir
C- Thank God
(I was still standing, they had not asked me to sit yet)
C- Oh Prince, have a seat 1st
P- Thank you Sir
O- Mr. Prince while coming from Laxmi Nagr, You would have seen Red Fort
P- No Sir, Autowala brought me from different route.
O (1st member)- No problem, so tell me what's written on RED FORT main gate
P- Sorry Sir, I do not know.
O- So tell me how many times Delhi has been made
P- Its seven times.
O- Name them chronologically, a nd who built them
P- (I could name only 4 times , had 4 gotn chronology)
O- What changes you have seen in infrastructure of East Delhi after CWG.
P- Sir more number of flyovers, roads have been widened.
O- He cut me in b/w and asked how many flyovers to be precise..
P-Sorry sir..
C- Prince, basically you are from Delhi?
P- No Sir, My roots are in HARYANA.
C- Have you ever gone to any village?
P- Yes Sir, I have gone to my village Khanara many times.
C- Ohh Khanara…so tell me what problems you have seen there.
P- Sir 1 biggest problem I have seen is that, women are not considered as human beings there
C- What? What are you saying prince, No women are not human beings.. ha ha, everybody started laughing like hell, they were killing me
P- (I started stammering), Sir I want to request something
C- Ya Please say!
P- Sir I have stammering problem in English, but I can communicate well in Hindi, Can I use some Hindi in between
C- GO Ahead! I have no problem.
O- See Prince, We will ask questions only in English but you can answer in Hindi
P- Sir I can speak English but some where I’l use Hindi, Thanks, Sir in my village I have seen discrimination of women, they are not supposed to study, only work they have to do is: household chores, bearing children and worshipping their husbands
C- ha ha
P- Sir UNDP 2010 report places INDIA at 114th rank in GDI, according to ADB’s report even the Pakistani women are in better position than Indian, in whole South Asia only Afghan women are behind than Indian that too because of Taliban
C- Then why Indian women is so much discriminated, there is no Taliban in India?
P- Sir there are various mini Talibani groups in India
C- ha ha
(He started talking to other members which I was not able to understand)
P- (I cut them in between) Sir, what happened in Manglore two years back
C- What happened? Come on tell me (Again he was laughing)
P- Sir a group of 30 women was beaten because women wanted to enjoy in a pub, they said women should not go out of home after 7 pm., Is n’t it Talibani attitude?
C- Oh come on that was just hyped by media
P- Sir 1st it happened only then it came into news ?
(At this Chalam Sir became restless)
C- Have you ever seen women discrimination? Where tell us. Don’t give us newspaper data.
P- sir I have seen it in my home, my sister was always discriminated vis a vis me in many respects..
( at this Chalam sir became serious and ..)
C- It happened in your house and you are telling me here in front of board?
P- yes sir! Facts are facts.
(At this Chalam stopped, and passed on to other member)
O- Prince, tell me about the problems of Indian defence system,  why we import every  and do not make in country?
P- Sir we are allowing only 26% FDI, It should be at least 74% as recommended by many committees, We can open sum SEZ for this purpose, less expenditure on R&D and we do not have funds to establish such huge arms and industries..
O- But we have to spend even in importing and my dear DRDO has more than 50 labs across country so hw can you say that we do not spend on R&D, (he was not satisfied),
O- (3rd member)- China never imports arms, they build them on their territory, y cant India do that? China exports huge arms to the whole world.. is not it?
P- Sir, at least 70% of Chinese exports come from its huge SEZ, we do not have such big SEZ
(at this , they he became silent but still he was nt satisfied)
C- Prince suppose I give you a land of size of this room, how will you increase your agricultural output there? Can you mention sum problems of farmers?
P- Sir Indian farmers are uneducated, they do not understand novel ideas, size of land is too small to use big machines, credit problems, chemical fertilizers have sucked the fertility of land, bio fertilizers should be used
C- no no, tell me how will you increase fertility in short run, u r telling long run solutions
P- Sir in Punjab, farmers r getting benefited from PPP, a company named PEPSICO hire farmers, company give them credit, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, new methods and farmer just puts its land and labour
(Members were quite convinced and I had a smile of victory. lols)
Again
C- So Prince you have done B.E. from DTU, one of the best technical university of country and still you coming here?
P- Sir frankly speaking I wanted to study humanities after school but my family and friends told me that after B.E. you can earn easily but after humanities you can't earn just after graduation and as my financial position wasn’t good so I opted for B.E., Actually I was forced…but I never enjoyed engineering, It wasn’t my aim, I felt it in college..
C- Oh to tum paise kamane aaye ho yahaa.. (he started talk in to other members, Sir I am telling you this boy wants to earn a lot of money etc etc…)
P- I interrupted them in b/w, Sir I was offered 6 lacks package in DCE campus but I didn’t accept, many friends of mine are in IIMs today and some have been offered Packages of 15-18 lacks, civil services can never fetch me that money..
(At this Chalam again laughed and again started talking to members like ma’am I m telling you this boy want to give a big shot, ek baar me hi kamana chahta ha hahahaha)
O- Prince your hobby is internet surfing, tell me the name of Indian search engine.
P- Sorry Sir, I do not know.
O- Tell me about PARAM
P- Sir its indian supercomputer and was fastest in Asia Two years back now a Chinese has overtaken
O- Tell me difference between Indian super computer and American Super Computer. What's the basic difference in their infrastructure
P- sir US super computer Are faster than Indian, that's all I know. (He wasn’t satisfied)
(Chalam passed on to the last member then)
O ( lady member)- It seems you want to say that men are enemy of women, every time you are saying men discriminate women, but women discriminate the women most, do you know this Prince?
P- You are right mam but that's because women have already been brain washed, unko bachpan se he bol diya jata ha ke pati is parmeshwar (I used these words there)
(At this reply Chalam sir bich me he kood pade)
C- You know madam why he is so much talking about women and all because he has read sociology. ha ha..
Madam laughed 1st time
P- Sir, in my last attempt I wrote mains with Maths, this time I changed Maths and took Sociology, I have never heard of Sociology before ever.. (at this Chalam passed a smile)
(now lady member who seemed to b a Sociologist was determined to screw me)
O (lady member)- What steps will you take for women empowerment if you become collector.
P- Mam I’ll ensure their education and employment, self help groups can be strengthened, once they will be Economically empowered, they will have a say in household decision making (I quoted Karl Marx)
O- No prince, Its not right, even the highly educated, employed women suffer domestic violence..
(I was about to say something but mam stopped me and asked)
Tell me the problems of elder people in India and what can be the solutions?
(I was about to start but Chalam Sir said, just tell us the solutions)
P- Sir parliament made an act in 2007 where elder people can sue their children in court if they do not care them
O (lady member)- oh come on its not a practical solution, how come a 70yrs old woman can go to court?
P- you are right mam but that act can be made more elder people friendly, also like we have a campaign ie BELL BAJAO CAMPAIGN in Delhi 2 counter domestic violence.
(Chalam Sir stopped me and asked)
C- why elders are facing problem today, pehle to aisa nahi hota tha
P- Sir because of diminishing moral values, norms…Sir in joint families elder used to enjoy much more respect but in todays nuclear families
( Chalam cut me in between)
C- oh come on, on one side you want development, industrialization and on the other hand you want moral values, aise nahi hota. Hahahahaha
Finally lady member said.. Prince you are good, you are on the right track but you need further studies.
C- Ok Prince you can go, your interview is over..
P- Thank you very much sir, have a nice day
(When I came out of room my body was completely shivering but I was happy anyways.)

Exam Interview Details :

Subjects Taken:  Sociology, Public Administration
Date: 24-Mar-2011
Time: 12.20pm to 12.50pm
Interview Board : Prof. K.S. Chalam
City : Delhi

UPSC IAS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE (40) rank 4


Name : Abhiram G. Sankar
Time: 25 Minutes
My interview was on the afternoon of 11 April 2011, and I was the second candidate in Ms.Rajni Razdan's board. The board was cordial, except for the chairperson who appeared to sleep after asking her quota of questions.
I entered the room, greeted the members & stood till I was offered the seat. Thanked the chairperson Rajni Razdan (RR) & sat down smiling.
RR: What’s your name?
Me: Answered
RR: Roll No?
Me: Answered
RR: Date of Birth?
Me: Answered
(Initially I was a bit confused why she was asking these things!). Then RR read out aloud from my summary sheet – optionals, graduation, hobbies, team activities etc. I kept smiling & nodding, with a ‘Yes Mam’ in between.
M2: Born in Tamil Nadu, but staying in Kerala?
Me: yes sir, my family is settled in Kerala.
RR: So, which is the country sharing longest border with India?
Me: Bangladesh.
RR: The shortest?
Me: Afghanistan.
RR: Ok, Tell me about the McMahon Line.
Me: It’s the line dividing India & China, but not accepted by china as such. It was signed in the early 1900s by Treaty of Tibet. (I made a mistake by unintentionally mentioning the year & name of treaty.)
RR: Which treaty & year?
Me: Repeated the same, but doubtfully.
RR: It was in Shimla, in 1913. Who were the parties to the treaty?
Me: British India & Tibet.
RR: And one more?
Me: Don’t know.
RR: Myanmar.
Me: Thanked her.
RR: What is Radcliff line?
Me: Line dividing India & Pakistan.
RR: Who drew it & when?
Me: 1947 by Radcliff
RR: What are the issues between India & Pakistan?
Me: gave a list – borders, Siachen, sir creek, 26/11, water sharing, fishermen & prisoners etc.
RR: Suppose you are SDM of a district, and are traveling. You see an accident on the road. How will you respond?
Me: I’ll stop on the spot, and get to know exactly what happened. Then call the ambulance or police station. If the above vehicles are not available, then take the injured in any other available vehicle.
RR: What is so special with your car that you will not take the injured in your car first? Why wait for ambulance /police? Is your prestige more important or the person’s life?
Me: (I was stunned briefly, as it did not occur to me while answering that an SDM would be traveling in his/her own car. But I quickly recovered & said,). The person’s life is most important. I should have thought of my own car first. I apologise for my mistake.
RR sat with the same emotionless expression from beginning till end of her question time. Now she signaled to another member, locked her palms together, placed them to her forehead & slept leaning on the table.
M1: You are from Kerala. How is geography advantageous to Kerala?
Me: Another list – rich & productive coastal alluvium, water resources, blessed by monsoon, fisheries, plantation sector, forests, ports etc.
M1: What about tourism?
Me: Yes sir, that too depends on Kerala’s unique geography.
M1: Since you are a computer science graduate, tell me what is cyber crime?
Me: (Didn’t know the exact definition) It refers to the various illegal activities performed in today’s IT-linked world like phishing, hacking, fraudulent info, theft of data etc.
M1: How will you use computer science in development of India?
Me: Another list – efficient information dissemination to illiterate poor about health, agriculture etc. through audio & video, adult literacy programmes, transparency & lesser corruption.
M1: What is MIS?
Me: said don’t know after thinking.
M2: It is management information system. Don’t you people study in B.Tech.?
Me: No sir. That paper belongs to IT branch & not CS.
M2: Name some areas which you studied in B.Tech.
Me: Some programming langs like C & C++, microprocessors, assemblers & compilers, hardware etc.
M2: Name an important temple in Kerala.
Me: Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum.
M2: Others?
Me: I started with Guruvayurappan temple, but was interrupted mid-way.
M2: No, no…which temple brings in most money?
Me: Sabarimala temple.
He was happy it seemed, because he smiled graciously.
M3: What is track-2 diplomacy?
Me: Talks between countries conducted by retired officers, NGOs, activists etc. It’s very good for betterment of bilateral ties. More people to people interaction takes place through this route.
M3: what is bus diplomacy?
Me: Cross LoC bus to improve ties..by Vajpayee Govt…
M3: So what is diplomacy?
Me: It’s the art of maintaining relations among countries at international level. (Not exactly the same words, but not the exact definition also).
M3: What do you think about India’s ‘big brother attitude’ in south Asia? what are the issues with each of the neighbouring countries?
Me: India is the largest country in south Asia, and its actions are only perceived as big brotherly by neighbours. It is not true. India’s ties with its neighbors carry historical baggage with it which is the cause of today’s problems.
Again a list – partition issue with Pakistan…
M3: (Interrupted me) but partition is way back in history.
Me: but sir, our relations are based on that event. (continued above answer)… Tamil issue with Sri Lanka…
M3: no…don’t speak about all issues…one issue at a time (in fact he had asked me for listing out all issues!). let’s talk about Pakistan. How will you solve Kashmir issue with Pakistan?
Me: We need an innovative solution…
M3: (Again interrupting me)…you need to talk more…
Me: Sir, I’m coming to the point. Realistically looking at the issue, I don’t think Pakistan will hand over its part of J&K to India. Our present borders may not be changeable. It’s better to acknowledge the same without a formal announcement as our maps cannot be changed & territorial integrity can’t be sacrificed. No internationalization of the same can be allowed. At the same time, cross border links & trade have to be improved & people-to-people contacts increased with development of J&K in mind.
M3: How should India proceed on Indo-Pak talks?
Me: Sir, instead of focusing on just Kashmir, we have talk on several issues like Siachen, sir creek, cultural ties, trade, water sharing etc.
M3: We have been doing that for long. But no results have come out.
Me: Sir, the issues are not at fault. Talks broke down because of events like 26/11, 2001 parliament attacks & cross border terror. India is not responsible for the breakdowns. So it is better to continue on multiple issues.
M4: Can I also continue on Kashmir? Are you confident? (almost laughing!)
Me: Yes sir, you can.
M4: Why not conduct plebiscite & solve the issue?
Me: Sir, there are some preconditions. Complete demilitarization must take place on both borders. Kashmiri Pandits who were chased away must be allowed to return. Only if these happen, plebiscite can be allowed.
M4: You say India & Pakistan must talk about Kashmir. But where are the Kahmiris in the scene? Has their voice been neglected?
Me: Sir, we definitely need more Kashmiri opinion. It is heard very less.
M4: Do you mean they have been ignored completely or given inadequate representation?
Me: sir, definitely they were heard. India did talk with separatists like Hurriyat conference. But more needs to be done on this front. (should’ve mentioned the pm’s interlocutors at work now, but forgot).
M4: Elections are periodically held in J&K. people vote new Govts to power. can you consider this as a sort of plebiscite?
Me: Yes sir, they reaffirm peoples faith in our system.
M4: Do you think those elections are proper, free & fair?
Me: There have been allegations in the past about rigging.
M4: No. I don’t want other’s opinions. What do you think now?
Me: Sir, thanks to a strong election commission, I can confidently say that recent elections have been free & fair, not only in J&K, but also in other states of India and I am proud of this fact.
RR: Thank you. (she smiled for the only time in the whole interview!)
Me: Thanks the board & left.
The 4 male members were smiling & very attentive, unlike Ms. RR. I too tried to keep up a smiling face through out the interview. The board was cordial on the whole. Interview lasted for about 20-25 minutes.
Interview Date : 11-Apr-2011
Interview Board : Ms. Rajni Razdan
Place : Thiruvananthapuram
Subject : Geography & Political Science & International Relations

UPSC IAS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE (39)


Name: Gokul G R
Time : 35 Minutes
My interview was scheduled for the afternoon session on the 4th of April 2011. After the document verification, by around 14.15 hrs, we were told that we will be interviewed by the board chaired by the UPSC member I.M.G. Khan. I was the last candidate in the list.
I entered the interview room by around 16.50 hrs. This is the transcript of the interview:
Me: May I come in, Sir?
The chairman asked me to come in. The room and the table were quite small. So I had a hard time distinguishing the chairman from the five members.
I got in wishing the chairman, lady member and the other members Good afternoon. But before I could finish the niceties, chairman was asking me to sit down. He seemed very cordial and the mood in the board was surprisingly fresh even at the end of the day. I sat down saying ‘Thank you’
Chairman: So you are Gokul?
Me: 
Yes sir, Gokul G.R
Ch: I will call you Gokul. Will that be fine? (smiling)
Me: Yes sir that will be fine. ( me too smiling)
Ch: Gokul, you have taken Physics as an optional. Are you going against the trend as we see a lot of engineers and science graduates taking non-science optional?
Me: Sir, physics is a subject that I have been studying form my school days. It is the most familiar subject for me and I like it. I wanted to take a subject that I would enjoy studying.
Ch: (going through my bio-data): So you passed out from NITC with first class with distinction. Some chap came to a place near Calicut some time back no? Who was he?
I was confused and thought for a fraction of a second when I knew he was talking about Vasco Da Gama…
Me: Vasco Da Gama sir. It was in 1498. He landed at a place called Kappad. It is quite near to my college.
Ch: The beach has a memorial saying this is where he landed. Have you seen that?
Me: I have been to the beach twice. It is a rocky beach. But I don’t remember seeing the monument.
Ch: It’s a small monument which says ‘this is the spot where….’ (the other members nod at this)
Me: sorry sir. I don’t remember seeing the monument.
Ch: Why did he have to find a route through the sea?
Me: I don’t exactly remember the details but the land route was blocked by some reason.
Ch: No No that’s not possible. They could have found some other route.
Me: Sea route is cheaper and it also facilitates large scale trade.
Ch: Yes. Besides don’t you think it is safer? Taking the land route they would have to come through hostile territories and through bandits and hooligans. But again they face pirates in the sea route.
Me: Yes sir.
Ch: Why did the Europeans land in Kerala?
Me: They were looking for trade in spices, especially pepper.
Ch: Is spices still an important component of your state’s economy?
Me: Yes sir. Spices are still a major component of our exports.
Ch: Why is that Kerala has not been able to diversify from traditional agricultural commodities? Why is Industrial growth not strong in Kerala?
Me: There is a general lethargy within the government and people about inviting capital and setting up an investor friendly climate. We also have a very strong trade unionist culture. It definitely has positives for the society. The wage rates and working conditions are one of the best in India. But various elements have misused it and used it for personal ends at the expense of industrial growth. It was a mindset that was set in the 1970s and 1980s that is still preventing investors from investing in Kerala. But we are definitely changing. We just commissioned the vallarpadam project and signed the agreement for the Smart city project.
Ch: So you think that the situation will change? That the future is bright?
Me: The change is already happening. It has already started sir (smiling).
Ch: Tell me about this smart city.
Me: It is a PPP between the Kerala Govt. and Dubai’s Tecom to set up a Technology park which will provide the necessary infrastructure for software and electronics firms to set up office.
Ch: Where exactly is it?
Me: At Cochin. Kakanad to be exact.
The chairman nodded at the first member. Having taken Physics as an optional, his questions were only on the safety of nuclear power and nuclear reactors.
M1: In the context of the Japanese disaster, do you think we should continue our expansion plans for nuclear energy or should we stop it? How safe is nuclear energy?
Me: Nuclear energy is a dangerous technology and it can never be 100% safe. But nuclear energy is a vital energy source for the future. So stopping it is not an option. But we should put in place better safety and security systems. Even in the Japanese case, the reactors withstood the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and the tsunami and the reactor stopped working also. But it was the failure of the cooling system due to the damage to the electric grid that led to the current crisis.
M1: So what all should be done?
Me: We already have better safety systems. Our reactors are PHWRs as opposed to the BWRs of Japan which are inherently safer. Besides, the newer reactors have a Passive heat removal system by which air can be used for cooling in the event of failure of active cooling systems. New reactors will also have Hydrogen capture systems to prevent the kind of explosions that occurred at Fukushima.
M1: But still you think it won’t be 100% safe?
Me: Achieving a 100% safety line would be impossible but we should put in place mechanisms and safety systems to take the safety level as near to 100% as possible. Besides the safety guidelines should be placed under an independent regulatory body outside DAE.
M1: Very recently the former chairman of the AEC said that India should not import foreign reactors. Even he is not so sure about the safety of the rectors.
Me: The foreign reactors especially Areva’a EPR 1600 has untested safety features and has been rejected by a number of nations. Also, foreign reactors will have different safety systems and we will have to be experts in each of these. We will also have to depend on foreign know-how to learn their safety features also. But our reactors have been completely designed by us. So we have a better understanding of their dynamics and can better perfect the safety systems for them. Even the former chairman has supported the use of indigenous reactors.
M1: The proposed reactor at Jaitapur is coming up in a seismically active zone. What all measures need to be taken to prevent damage due to earthquakes?
Me: Building standards need to be strictly applied. Earthquake-resistant technology need to be incorporated which building. The effect of this was seen in the recent earthquake in Japan. The 8.9 magnitude quake, which is one of the largest ever killed only 20,000 people while the 7 point magnitude quake in Haiti last year killed more than 2 lakh people.
M1: You said about smart city? What all are the criterion for selecting a place for setting up a project like this?
Me: Connectivity to major city centres, road and rail connectivity, presence of good colleges in the vicinity.
The chairman interrupted asking me whether human element is also a factor that is considered.
Me: Yes sir. Availability of prospective employees is a major factor. If a Keralite is given a choice between a job in Smart city and in Bangalore, he will choose smart city even if the salary is a bit less. Given that about 50,000 engineers pass out from Kerala every year, this will give a competitive edge for the recruiters.
The turn was passed to the second member, a lady member. Her questions were about social issues.
M2 (looking at the summary sheet): You were selected as the ‘Young Scientist’ at the National Children’s Science Congress and you were second in the Regional Mathematical Olympiad. Why have you chosen civil services after coming from a science background like this?
Me: The project that we did for the Science congress has in fact played a very important role in me choosing civil services as a career. It was a social project. It was about the nutritional status of the people in a particular rural area in my district. The project gave me a firsthand exposure to the problems in the rural areas and about the various government departments working on these issues. The results of the project painted a very grim picture about the nutritional status of the people with respect to protein and vitamin deficiency. Besides, my aptitude is in an administrative job. Civil services will offer me the variety and challenges that no other job can give. I chose engineering because of my interest in science and to keep my options open. But civil services have been my dream throughout. It was always there in the back of my mind. That was why I started my preparation at the end of my third year itself.
M2: Suppose you are posted as an SDM in your state. What will you do to improve the nutritional level of the people? Are you aware of any schemes in that regard?
Me: ICDS, PDS, NRHM etc are the schemes for improving the nutritional and health levels of the people. Most of these projects suffer from poor implementation and leakages. For e.g., in ICDS, the anganawadi workers are ill-paid and their responsibilities are quite heavy.  This has led to a lack of morale among them. I will concentrate on proper implementation of such schemes.
M2: But as an SDM you cannot make policy decisions. You can’t give them more salary. What will you do in that context?
Me: I will look for implementation of the schemes with support from the local bodies and community organisations. Involving of Panchayats can also create the political pressure for change.
M2: Kerala is called ‘God’s own country’. In what context is that name used.
Me: It is essentially a tagline coined by the tourism department for promoting tourism in Kerala. But otherwise also, Kerala can be called God’s own country (smiling).
Everyone laughed at this and the chairman interrupted asking me ‘Why is that Gokul?’
Me: The climate is good throughout the year,  people are well educated and friendly, presence of some of the most ecologically diverse areas, greenery all around……
With this, the Third member took charge. He was jovial throughout.
M3: You have taken public administration as an optional. Do you think decentralization through Panchayati raj is good?
Me: Definitely sir.
M3: Then why is it that in spite of being inserted in the constitution, it is not properly implemented in many places?
Me: Although they have been inserted in the constitution by the 73rd and 74th amendment, it is still the prerogative of the state governments to delegate powers to these bodies. In the case of Kerala, most of the powers in the 11th and 12th schedule have been delegated. Besides, 25% of the plan expenditure in budget is passed to the local bodies.
M3: So what should be done in the other states?
Me: People should be politically motivated and should demand more powers. Education can play a very important role in this.
The member said ‘Oh, you Keralite have 100% literacy’ and laughed. Everyone joined with him. I smiled and said 94% according to the provisional census figures
M3: Tourism is affecting our culture. Should we stop tourism due to that?
Me: No sir. We should not close ourselves to anyone. The tour operators act as the interface between the tourists and our people. They should be given training and orientation to properly orient foreign tourists before they land in India. The foreign tourists should be given a basic idea about the culture and society into which they are stepping in.
M3: But shouldn’t masses be educated for this to be effective. (He turned to other members and joked ‘our sanskrithi will become apasanskrithi by then)
Me: A well educated society is definitely good for developing a service industry like tourism. That should be our long term goal. But in the short term, educating the operators will help us develop tourism sustainably.
M3: A DM was recently kidnapped by the Maoists. In such a dangerous environment, do you still want to be an IAS officer?
Me: I heard about Mr. Vineel Krishna for the first time after the incident. All the reports in the newspapers were very positive about his work as a DM. In fact, he was kidnapped when he went to check a development work in a remote area without any protection. The people of his district rallied behind him. So if you are upright and do your work, you will have the support of the people and will be perfectly safe.
M3: So you think if he is honest and upright, nothing bad will happen?
Me: Yes sir.
The turn was passed to the fourth member.
M4: Did you write CAT, GRE or GATE in between?
Me: No sir. I was preparing through my final year and gave the exam right after my final exams.
M4: So you were focused. Tell me the advantages and disadvantages of Mobile communication. Advantages first: Economic advantages:
Me: Better connectivity, ability to make fast economic decisions, buying and selling goods using mobiles, advertising.
M4: Social
Me: People and families are always connected. You can call everyone at any distance at very low rates at any time.
M4: Political
Me: Campaigning, Communicating political ideas and schemes…
M4: Any disadvantages?
When I thought for a while, he said ‘it’s Ok, if you can’t think of any’.
M4: What are the uses of space technology for people?
Me: It has revolutionized communication. Weather satellites like Metsat help us in better prediction. Remote sensing satellites help us in planning. We have recently put in orbit Oceansat which observes the ocean. The information gathered by it is beneficial for the fishermen.
M4: Cyber security is a major issue now. What do you know about it and what is being done by the Indian government?
Me: It is a very dynamic area. It is a constant battle between a large number of hackers and security establishments. We need to keep ourselves updated always. DRDO is developing an operating system for use in govt. systems. The operating systems that we use now are available throughout the world and hence are more prone to hacking. We have set up cyber cells in the major police stations. The CERT-In is the body that is responsible for cyber security at the national level.
M4: Define ethics.
Me: The set of standards that we are supposed to follow in a particular realm.
M4: Can you point out some of those that you are supposed to follow. Was there any committee that made recommendations about ethics?
Me: It was a committee that was appointed in the U.K (couldn’t remember the name of Nolan committee) that gave detailed guidelines regarding ethics in public life.
M4: No Indian committees?
Me: A number of committees to look into corruption have also given similar recommendations.
M4: Can you list out a few of those standards?
Me: Honesty, integrity, leadership by example…
M4: Those are general things. Don’t you have any set of professional ethics as an engineer? Is there any Body that sets such standards?
Me: IEEE sets the standards for us. But I am not aware of any code of ethics.
M4: No Indian bodies? IETE?
Me: Sir, do you mean ISTE?
M4: No, IETE. Ok, tell me the ethics that you are supposed to follow as a communications engineer.
Me: Respect for IPRs, honesty…
M4: Ok.
The chairman took over. The interview was in its last phase.
Ch: Very recently a Bulgarian group was arrested in Delhi for robbery. What does this incident mean for India? Have we become a soft state that people from faraway places are coming for robbery?
Me: It may be a random, off the cuff incident.
Ch: No no. It was a well organized group with a lot of members.
Me: A number of foreign groups are active in a number of nations like the Italian Mafia in USA. As the economy improves…
Ch (interrupting): So you think it is a good thing!!!( and laughed…the members also joined him)
Ch: So Gokul, what will you do after getting out. Tell me the first thing that you will do on exiting this room.
Me:  Sir…..I will be removing my tie (It was a spontaneous reply)
Everyone burst into laughter at this and the chairman asked me whether candidates think they won’t be selected if they came in half sleeves without tie (Every male member in the room wore half sleeves without tie). I started with the usual answer, ‘Sir, this is one of the most important occasions for us. We respect the occasion’ when the chairman joked once again. Then I said, “Sir, frankly candidates tend to be a bit conservative in this regard”
Ch: Ok. Your interview is over. It has been nice talking to you. Thank you.
I thanked the chairman, the lady member and other members and left the room. It was 17.20 by then. The interview went for around 30-35 minutes.
The session felt more like a candidate discussion rather than a strict interview. Hoping for the best!!
Exam Interview Details : CSE 2010 Interview
Subjects Taken : Physics, Public Administration
Interview Date : 04-Apr-2011
Interview Board : Shri I. M. G. Khan
City : Palakkad