Interview Guidance Programme
For the UPSC Interview Discussions/Civil Services Personality Test or Interview, the most fundamental and necessary requirement from an aspirant is twofold- first is clarity of thoughts and the second is the balance of thoughts. Lack of clarity over an issue may create a fog of uncertainty about the decisions that one has to take as a bureaucrat. Similarly, if one’s opinions and points of view are not balanced enough and are rather prejudiced or stereotypical, then the correctness of the decisions taken on the basis of his/ her perception becomes highly questionable.
The interview board of UPSC tries to test this very important aspect. While preparing for the Mains examination, an aspirant gets clarity of thought with respect to a range of issues. However, whenever it comes to the balance of opinion, it is found that the opinions are shaded by the continuous inflow of information from numerous sources which might be partisan or highly critical. It is, therefore, important for an aspirant to have his/ her own critical thinking, based upon his/ her own moral compass.
But this is easier said than done. The best way to do it to think about what one has already read or learned. Then it is important to rethink those learning’s from one’s own critical moral prism and finally learn to create and produce a response that is ethical, balanced and unbiased.
The Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) initiative does precisely that. For a duration of almost two months, your intellectual and moral leanings will be tested by the questions posed by Centre For Ambition. These questions would be highly deliberative and would encompass a range of issues that are relevant for the Personality Test.
Why You Should join Our UPSC CSE Mock Interview Programme!
- Free of cost - No Charges at All.
- Exceptional results and plentiful selections.
- Exposure to some of the finest bureaucrats retired as well as working, subject matter experts, psychoanalysts and faculty members who have had direct experience in recruitment and personality analysis.
- Understand interviewer’s psychology.
- Improve your answering style and body language.
- Current Affairs update by experts.
- Build up your social quotient and emotional quotient.
- A video recorded session for critical self-assessment.
- Personal discussion with experts after UPSC Interview Guidance Programme for a critical assessment of his/her performance.
- Scientific evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of the candidate by experts.
- Individual DAF analysis and summary of UPSC interview questions.
- Overall balanced feedback by experts on how one can ace the questions asked in UPSC Interview.
Why one should join multiple Mock Interview Programmes before the actual personality test?
A personality test is of 275 marks. Therefore, it carries a game-changer weightage. The final merit is decided based on the sum total of marks obtained in the main examination and the personality test and so a Personality Test is of critical importance.
It is presided over by a board of eminent panelists which includes former civil servants, retired IAS/IPS officers, senior bureaucrats, eminent faculty members, psychoanalysts and subject matter experts.
The purpose of UPSC Mock Interview is to help a candidate assess his strengths and weaknesses more accurately before the actual UPSC personality test. This way, he can perform his level best in the final stage of the Civil Services Exam.
What are the advantages of UPSC Interview Guidance Programme?
- Prepares you in advance
- Provides a simulated environment like that of an actual UPSC interview.
- Brings out one’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Improves answering style for Questions asked in an actual UPSC interview.
- Moulds body language as per the needs of the IAS interview.
- Imparts a positive attitude by giving a real-time experience of what a personality test could look like.
- Helps identify possible mistakes one could commit at the time of the actual IAS interview.
- Removes fear factor from candidate
- Improves confidence level.
- Helps a candidate understand the possible questions that could be framed from his/her DAF
The essence of a personality test lies in the words of Warren Buffet as follows:
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”
- Warren Buffet, Investor, Philanthropist, Billionaire, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Understanding the importance of a Personality Test:-
As per the latest UPSC notification, the purpose of a UPSC interview is to gauge the personal suitability of a candidate for a career in public service. It is overseen by a Board of competent and unbiased observers (senior bureaucrats and experts) headed by a Chairperson.
A UPSC interview is of 275 marks with no minimum qualifying marks. A UPSC interview aims to understand the motivation, inspiration and intention of a candidate towards a career in public service. The candidate will be assessed by a Board who will have beforehand a Detailed Application Form (DAF) filled by the candidate at the time of his/her registration for the main examination.
A Detailed Application Form (DAF) would give an idea of the record of his/her career. A Candidate generally get asked many direct questions from his/her DAF and also about national and international issues and on matters of general interest.
Indian Administrative Services in addition to other Civil Services are permanent executives and is one of the most challenging jobs on earth. S/he is responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue and general administration, policymaking and policy supervision, public funds supervision and handling daily affairs of the government.
Your interpersonal skills have a role to play in such a diverse job profile. An IAS officer is a team leader, s/he has to deal with and understand the needs and aspirations of common people. This requires him/her to be empathetic towards the general public. A civil servant can be a genius, but if s/he is not sensitive towards the common public, then s/he does not really serve the purpose s/he was hired for.
What qualities are UPSC Interviewer's looking for?
The main examination assesses a candidate’s intelligence, aptitude and knowledge already.
Then why does UPSC conduct a separate Personality test?
Why does UPSC want to assess a candidate's personality when they can largely churn out the most intelligent minds based on marks obtained by candidates in the written test?
APTITUDE+ SOCIAL COHESION + CURRENT AFFAIRS ABSORPTION
As per the latest UPSC notification, The one-to-one dialogue of a UPSC interview is aimed at understanding the mental competence of a candidate, his ethical tendencies, mental aptitude, critical point of view, clear and logical presentation, fine and balanced sense of judgement, interest in current affairs and social issues, social quotient and leadership skills, intellectual abilities and moral integrity.
In the end, a candidate must look for IAS Interview Questions of past year, the highest and the lowest marks in IAS interview to get an idea of the marking style of a UPSC interviewer. A candidate must be natural in his answering style and conduct and focus on being himself/herself in the UPSC interview. This will help him in securing the best of marks in the Personality test.
Frequently Asked Most Important IAS/IPS/UPSC Interview Questions
Note: These are not random questions written based on self-intuition, it’s based on actual experience of upsc civil services interview of last 5years’s selected candidates.
- Why or When did you decided to prepare for UPSC Examination?
- Why you want to become an IAS, IPS or IFS Officer?
➢ If you have filled common or general service preferences, there won’t any questions on those lines but if chosen IPS over IAS or IFS as First or Forth Choice you must justify the reasons.
➢ What if you don’t get your desired service or state?
- What are the areas that you would like to primarily focus or work upon?
➢ How you will improve the bureaucracy for better development of state or nation - only say well thought visions not impractical dreams.
- If you are working or already in the service, then there will more questions on your work profile then your academics. (academic questions are also dependent on the no. of years i.e. before how many years you were graduated, if recently there might be technical questions otherwise very basic or less questions will be asked)
- Job Profile Details - Important key concepts of your field / stream / work (just to check how much curious & aware you are about the place or organization you are associated with)
- Have you ever Visit Delhi? (generally followed by a question related to change in recent years, whether you are native or if visited 1-2years ago)
- Sometimes question go even on the lines like are you a vegetarian or nonvegetarian? (Ethical Vs Unethical)
- Primary Schools, Parks, Rivers, Adjoining Districts Nearby your Area?
- Questions Related to Rural & Urban planning ( interconnectivity )
- Famous or Important Historic, Social, Economic, Political Event (Policy, Reform, Law) related to your city or state (not much technical or detailed so don’t run for searching too much) Major Issues or Development Related to your state
- Types of Taxes & Impact of GST (especially if have economics as optional or from commerce background otherwise less probability)
- Voting, Elections, Democracy,Media,Funding,Election Commission of India (Power & Autonomy of ECI)
- Politicians having criminal background (Law & Related Problem)
- Recent Law related to reservation – Economic Weaker Section (10%)
- DRDO, ISRO, Rocket launching centre, Use of Satellite Technology & remote sensing, Ordnance Factory, Defence System - Allowed FDI?
- You should stay on your point if your takeaway or approach of answer is right, incase if it’s wrong sometimes you must correct yourself by accepting your mistake & respecting their answer. (Never try to prove yourself always right - Awareness is the Key, Think:Compare:Decide)
➢ one should not fear in taking the appropriate stand.
- Women Empowerment, Women Reservation in parliament, Euthanasia, Gini Co-efficient, Black Money, POSCO
- Presidential Vs Parliamentary form of Govt, National Land Record Modernization Program – land records Public Vs Private Institution Work life & Culture, E-Governance, Work Ethics, Subhas Chandra Bose - INA
- India Vs USA – Why we are poor, how we can improve?
- Education, Unemployment, SETU, Unemployment Vs Underemployment, IITs, AIIMs, Primary Vs Higher Education Vs PG or PHD
- Formation of New States (mainly if you are from Uttarakhand(UP), Jharkhand(Bihar), Chhattisgarh(MP), Telangana(AP) – Q also in Mains 2018)
- Rural Visit & Status of Development (Specially if you are from metro city or settled in city from rural area for profession or education)
- UNDP, GDP, 1991 Economic crisis, GDI, Terrorism, SEZ – Role in Development, Fiscal Deficit, Primary Deficit, import substitution, Make in India, Skill India, Atal innovation mission, RBI
- Farming issues – Agriculture, Fertilizer, irrigation
- Loss Making PSUs (May ask to them – Mainly your State Specific)
- Indian Technological Developments - Param, Search Engine
- May ask you to join a Random puzzle without lifting a pen ( to check your attitude reasonable try or give up)
- New or Status of development in your area, district or state
- River flowing from your city or state & its tributaries – interlinking of rivers, Various Govt Schemes & initiatives
- Hobby/Graduation Field – it’s relevance or application in administration, how it will help you in becoming a better officer! ( Never Be Too Much Technical & Specific relate to your field only- Comprehensive Thinking)
- Budget, E.Survey ( Difference, Comparison of with Previous Year – Your Views – are politicians misusing it for personal gains & vote bank)
- Important topics of your optional subject – (If Expert is there then specific questions otherwise not much detailed questions only basic questions like why you chose & it’s relevance in administration or how it can be helpful in solving major Social, Economic problems, your takeaway from subject)
- HDI, Happiness Index, Literacy Rate, Crime Rate, Malnutrition, National Birth Rate, Death or Mortality Rate (Statewise & National)
- Judiciary – Justice Delayed is Justice Denied ?
- Disaster Management, UNESCO, UNEP, Social Media, Cyber security, Smart city, Nuclear energy
- SAARC, McMahon Line, Redcliff Line, Art 368, Indo-US, India-Iran relations, North India vs South India.
- British Civil services , Air India, AFSPA, India Vs China’s Economy – Exports, Border disputes or conflict , illegal immigrants, drug trafficking, Panchsheel Agreement
- 2nd Oct, 2nd Dec, 26 Jan, 15 Aug (If your birth date or interview is on any such kind of important dates)
February 4: World Cancer Day
February 12: National Productivity Day
February 13: National Women's Day
February 14: Valentine Day
February 20: World Day of Social Justice
February 21: International Mother Language Day
February 24: Central Excise Day
February 28: National Science Day
March 1: World Civil Defence Day & Zero Discrimination Day(UN)
March 3: World Wildlife Day & World Hearing Day(WHO)
March 4: National Security Day
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 13: No Smoking Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 16: World Sleep Day
March 18: Indian Ordnance Factories’ Day
March 20: International Day of Happiness
March 21: World Forestry Day
March 22: World Day for Water
March 23: World Meteorological Day
March 24: World TB Day
March 27: World Theatre Day
- Important Amendments, Decentralization: 73rd & 74thConstitutional Amendments, Due Process of Law Vs Procedure Established by Law, How many ways the constitution of India can be amended?
- There is difference between Hobbies & Interest…!
➢ if you like traveling but haven’t visited many places it becomes your interest, Same way if you like singing, playing some sports but don’t know famous peoples related to that field or if your are not following it regularly you should avoid it writing as your hobby.
➢ if your hobby is Public Speaking, they might tell you to deliver 1minute speech on some topics. Speech as Indian envoy or You are the Indian ambassador to the UN & giving Speech on UNSC Membership.
- Basically, there is no fixed no of questions or list like Economy-2Qs, Polity-2Qs, Optional-2Qs Noathing like that. They just want to have 25-40min conversation to understand your personality & decide your suitability for job profile. (Listening skills, Balanced Approach, Positive Attitude, Behaviour, Confidence, Body Language, Logical Decision Making, Analytical Ability, Eye Contact, Presentation, Communication Skills, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Awareness, oncern for Public Service)
➢ it’s you who can make conversation more interesting or boring!
Other General Questions Commonly Being Asked by UPSC Board Members & Some Final Tips for Personality Test:-
- How does your graduation or work experience will help in Civil Services? (On such questions they expect out of box thinking & unique answers)
- Tell us something about Recent innovations in your graduation or workstream?
- What is the difference between Engineering and Technology?
- The government or nation suffers from a considerable loss when such technically sound engineers or doctors are not doing their filed related work.
- Importance of Willpower, planning & management)
- Sex ratio (if high or low in your state)
- To produce 1kg of rice on requires 1000-1200kg of water.
- One phase to three-phase electricity conversion as a motor or water pump mostly works on a 3phase power supply.
- Gujarat 7000cr revenue deficit to revenue surplus how – 5946cr in 2017? SEZ Companies near Mundra? Gujarat's model of development.
- Maharashtra has b administration still many farmer's suicide. Why?
- Outline some changes took place in the education system & the government examination.
- Why don't you join politics?
- LBSNAA: Many Marry There & Divorce later. Why?
- Have you observed or seen any illegal work in your area, city, or state?
- There might be some questions related to their stream or interest not necessary, you know. (don't lie or try to fool them)
- Sometimes they get an idea of what you are going to speak, so they interrupt you in-between & say to move on: please don't mind or feel disrespect.
- What are some contemporary challenges or problems that India is facing for a long time?
- There might be some questions related to their stream or interest not necessary, you know. (don't lie or try to fool them)
- Student-teacher ratio present & recommended in schools and colleges.
- If you have done graduation 4-5 years ago or have work experience, then there will also be many questions on academics.
- Sometimes there might be no questions based on your hobby, interest, Optional subject, graduation subjects, current affairs & sometimes even whole Interview goes on current affairs topics. (Editorial Title of that day)
- What's DOB, Roll No, Graduation Subjects, Strength & Weaknesses, strengths so many no weaknesses or fake weakness showing inside or indirect strength!
- No Income Tax Till 5 Lakh is a good step for the economy. (6Cr+ Taxpayers About 4Cr Taxpayers has an income between 2.5Lac to 5Lac)
- Public Duty Vs. Public Safety Vs. Law Enforcement (What's more important)
- Lateral Entry in Civil Services Vs. UPSC Exam (Public Trust & Legitimacy)
- Be confident but cross the height of confidence & try to answer everything even if you can't answer first 2-3 questions don't lie or bluff they Are 60+.
- Do not believe in myths like "A-interview Board Marks" Vs. "B-interview Board Marks" Higher & Your Interview is First or Last. (Anyways you can decide your panel & time so better focus on preparation)
- You are capable enough only there for you are being called for an interview. If you can think of 100 possible questions from your DAF & Practice it thoroughly, you will easily score great marks. (inter-view = inside-view: don't try to hide your personality & freely express yourself)
- There is a hidden thread between questions. If you can understand & decode, it would be much easy for you to predict the questions & drive the Interview.
- Cricket Chit Chat To Brutal Crimes like Rape, Murder & Terrorism. There might be a huge contrast in interview questions. 3 Hours Mains Paper of 250marks & 25-40Min Interview of 275marks. Make it count! (it's not your last day on earth so don't worry, Be fearless, Be confident & answer with best of your knowledge & intellect)
- They are present & aware want you to deal just like that: It's exactly as it is called "Personality Test," You might not understand by kind of questions, but it will reflect in your marks!