Inter

UPSC Interview Questions

UPSC Interview questions range from questions about your choice of subject to why you want to join the civil services. It is good to answer honestly but at the same time avoid cliches like wanting to do service to the nation etc. Questions on your hobbies are imperative so prepare well as they expect some indepth knowledge on that. Questions relating to your name, your college or school name are also a big posibility. If someone well-know shares one of these names please also prepare on that. Also learn up about important events on the year or date of your birth. As you can see, UPSC Interview questions are mainly from what you have filled in your form including your subject but here it is more a test of logic and presentation and awareness rather than pure subject knowledge. In the UPSC interview many questions are situational like what will you do if a Tsunami strikes your district and you are the DM/Collector/SP. Questions on your choice of service preference also need to be prepared. Current affairs analysis is important too.

Tips to improve your performance at the UPSC Interview

• There are generally 5 members at the board with the Chairperson seated at the center. Enter confidently and greet the Chairperson, who will probably welcome you, and pleasantly nod at other members. Wait till you are asked to sit.
• Intelligent listing is the mantra, and for this maintaining eye contact is very important. You should not glare but all the same appear attentive and do not glance at other members, it can be very distracting for the interviewer. However if some other member asks you anything, look at that member and answer and turn back to the first - this is what we do in normal attentive listening.
• Do not fidget or throw your hands around, or shake your head. Less amount of movement does not mean you should sit unnaturally stiff. Your posture should be attentive and relaxed at the same time. Do not crouch/bend forward or place your hands on the table.
• Cut your answer short to the required patience shown by the member talking to you. They usually like to talk more, so listen carefully and think for a few seconds before you start answering the question. This will show that you are organising your thoughts in mind before starting to speak.
• Leave some room for difference in opinion. Do take a stand, but do not look adamant or unwilling to appreciate the board's opinion.
• Use couple of words from the question while answering any question. It shows you have listened to the question carefully. But at the same time limit the use the technical jargon.
• Listen very carefully. Come to the central issue of the enquiry immediately. Wild guessing or speculation are a complete no no.
• Do not start evaluating your performance while still inthe interview. Even if you have committed mistakes in the beginning, do not think that you have already lost the game. They are looking for warm, sensitive respectful and attentive youngsters. They know you are good or you would not have come so far.
• Talk humbly about your achievements and hobbies. You may have mentioned some hobbies in the form without serious background in them, but before the interview it would be useful to pick up some basic info on the hobby.
• Say less to convey more. Less is more these days as per the minimalist creed. Argue logically and generalise correctly. Do not try to read too much between the lines.
• Remember, while answering any question, what is easy to see is easy to miss. We often tend to miss the obvious and go for some non-crucial aspect of the subject.
• Get up to leave only when the chairperson asks you to, not because you think everyone has asked a question. Similarly, even if someone has not asked a question and the chairperson asks you to leave then please leave. Some members do not ask questions at all, due to various reasons like limited time.
• Before leaving politely thank the chairperson and nod at the others politely. Avoid saying "Have a good day sir". A "Thank you Sir/Madam" is enough.

According to CERC, of the 666.01 billion units (BUs) of electricity generated in 2007-08, 20.96 BUs, or 3.15% of the total, were traded. PTC India Ltd, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd, Adani Enterprise Ltd, Tata Power Trading Co. (P) Ltd and Reliance Energy Trading (P) Ltd are among the companies that were active in the business that year.

WEF’s Global Risks 2009, the main risks that the world faces relate to deteriorating fiscal positions emanating from stimulus packages, a hard fall in China, lack of coordination in global governance, and natural resources and climate change issues.
oncerted global attention is that of protectionism.
India’s middle-class consumers number about 300-400 million, and are rapidly growing.
risk that the reform of international financial and development institutions will again be carried out by developed economies.
The financial crisis ultimately is a signal to the world to move towards better cooperation, better synchronization, and better joint response. While nationalistic sentiments are to be respected, there are certain issues where countries will have to set aside their national priorities in favour of global priorities. The world needs to act in unison and the voices of developing nations must be heard loudly and emphatically on global negotiating tables.”

A Keynesian recession represents a sudden fall in demand, and can be remedied within six months by pumping enough purchasing power into the economy. A Hayekian recession, however, is caused by misallocation of resources over a long period, driven by unrealistic interest rates, ending in a bust that requires years of structural adjustment. Such a recession can last a decade (as in Japan in the 1990s).

inter

(INTERVIEW) MY IAS INTERVIEW : TIRU (02 April 2007)

MY IAS INTERVIEW
I was interviewed by the UPSC by Air Marshal (Retd.) Satish Govind Inamdar's Board on 2nd of April 2007. I was scheduled to be interviewed in the afternoon session and was called to report at 1.15 PM. My interview started at 5. 30 PM in the evening and I was the fourth candidate to be interviewed that afternoon. It lasted for a little more than half an hour (in contrast to previous candidates who were interviewed for 45 or more minutes each).
I was wearing standard formal dress. A navy blue pant, white shirt with a bluish tinge and was sporting a half Windsor knot on my tie to give a confident look. My shoes were shining and my hairs and nails were neatly cut. In short, a perfectly conventional look for the job I aspired for. While waiting outside I remembered all the Gods that I have come across in my life. I did a bit of 'Baba Ramdev' brand pranayam too. That cooled me down a lot. The previous candidate came out and was wearing a sad look. I asked him what happened. He told me that the board is asking a lot of useless factual questions. In fact they asked him the per capita income of Russia (I came to know later that this guy was doing PhD on Russia). The bell rang and the peon indicated me to go in. I opened the door gently and before I finished my standard 'May I come in Sir?", the chairman called me in.
The room was quite big and the table was almost round and majestic. There were five people seated around it with one chair was empty (for me!). I walked with a smile and long steps. The table was around 7 steps from the door. The chairman told me to take the seat as I was walking down but I stood near my chair, saw that one of the members is a lady, wished her first and then wished the others and only then took my seat. (I speak loud and my voice boomed in this room or so I felt under pressure.) The chairman looked quite younger than what I had thought. He should be around 64 years as per websites but he looked not a day older than 50. He had quite a presence on the table and had a dominating appearance.
(for the sake of simplicity, CM stands for chairman, M1 is the lady member, M2, M3 and M4 are other male members)
CM: So you are Tirumala
Tiru: Yes Sir.
CM: Date of Birth?
Tiru: 23 Dec 78 sir
CM: Place?
Tiru: Shimoga sir
CM: Good.
CM: Tiru or Thiru?
Tiru: Tiru sir.
CM: What's the difference?
Tiru: Sir, It is not 'tha' but 'ta' (the pronunciation was in Hindi script) and my name being with 'ti' and not 'thi'
M1: OK, but how does TTD spell it?
Tiru: Sir they call it Tiru and not Thiru.
CM: What were you doing in Dhanbad?
Tiru: Sir, My father was in Central Industrial Security force and hence liable to be transferred all over India. As we stayed with him...X (I was stopped here)
CM: Oh, CISF?
Tiru: Yes Sir
CM: You are an Engineer then why do you want to be a Civil Servant?
Tiru: Sir, given an opportunity the best will move towards the best. (I had heard it from senior candidate) Moreover, the depth and breadth of experience that a person gets in civil services cannot be matched by any other job. One also gets an opportunity to serve the society in an effective way and that's why I want to become a civil servant.
CM: Do you say that non Engineers are not fit to be civil servants?
Tiru: No sir
CM: So you mean to say that non Engineers too can become civil servants?
Tiru: Sure Sir.
CM: But in order to be an Engineer, you have taken a seat which would have otherwise gone to someone else and he would have served the industry whereas you have decided to leave it? what do you say?
Tiru: Sir, In Karnataka, many seats remain vacant every year in many colleges and as such I don't think I have taken any one's share.
CM: You mean to say that the number of candidates are less than the number of seats in Karnataka?
Tiru: yes sir, it is so even in Tamil Nadu.
(Another member was nodding the head in affirmative while I said this and CM looked at him and understood that I am not lying)
CM: You passed out in 2002. This is 2007. What were you doing all these days?
Tiru: Sir, I was campus selected into Wipro fluid power in bangalore while in college and after college I worked with Wipro for two years and then changed my job and worked with Eaton Industries in Pune for 1 and half years. In Nov 2005 I quit that job and came to Delhi to prepare for civil services.
CM: Why Delhi?
Tiru: Sir, it is because in Delhi one get good material for stu...X (X symbol will mean that i was stopped at that point)
CM: Material?
Tiru: Yes sir, study material like books, magazines etc.
CM: Fine. (Looks towards the members and gestures them to ask questions)
M1 (lady member): I see that you had psychology as one of your optionals. How did you find it? Was in interesting?
Tiru: yes mam, it was very interesting.
M1: How many papers you had in psychology?
Tiru: 2 papers mam
M1: What were they?
Tiru: The first paper was on principles and theories of psychology and the second paper was on applied psychology.
M1: How will you apply psychology in administration?
Tiru: Mam applied psychology deals extensively in organizational behavior. The knowledge will come in handy to run any part of the administrative setup. The knowledge of various motivation theories will give me a chance to motivate my team to perform better. I also know community psychology. It is the application of psychological principles to solve social problems so that people can grow and realize their potential....X
M1: Why did you leave your job? Do you think you were a misfit there and that's why you want to move to civil services?
Tiru: No mam, in fact i was doing very well. I was a certified green belt in Six Sigma and my roles and responsibilities were growing every day...X
M1: What's your first option?
Tiru: IAS mam
M1: Why not IFS?
Tiru: (thinking for two seconds). Mam, to tell it in engineering terms, it all boils down to the leverage effect. An IAS (i lift my hands and place one finger of one hand on another finger of other hand to form a see saw lever) officer has a bigger leverage to work for society compared to IFS. The fulcrum position is better in his case. And mam, though I am proud to represent my country as an IFS, still I would prefer IAS due to this reason. However, it doesn't mean that I look down upon IFS. I consider both equally respectful. However the canvas to paint for an IAS is much bigger in scope due to the breadth and depth of the job.....X
CM: what is this breadth, depth and such terms? Did they teach you this in mock interviews or is it your own words? You know, coaching institutes and such places.
Tiru: (Smiling), Sir I don't believe in mocks or coaching as they are run now. These words are very much my own. In fact even to understand psychology I went to a reputed professor in Delhi University rather than going to run of the mill institutes. (The CM was looking at me as if he was expecting some more words on it but I kept quiet. I felt I had already spoken too much. He looked towards M2 and M2 takes over)
M2: So Tirumala, I saw that you said you can serve the society in an 'effective' way. What do you mean by that. What is effective?
Tiru: Sir, as an engineer I have a scientific approach towards any issue. As I said sir, I am a green belt in six sigma and that gives me a very effective tool to tackle processes....X
M2: Do you know anything about inflatable solar collector?
Tiru: I am sorry sir, I don't know.
M2: It's OK. Do you know about C A D and C A M. Can you tell me what is the advantages by using it?
Tiru: Sir, CAD stands for computer aided design and CAM stands for computer aided manufacturing but the latest buzz is CIM which stands for computer integrated manufacturing. It utilizes the synergies of CAD and CAM with an automated manufacturing setup. One can make a model using a CAD tool like Unigraphics and can readily export it after converting it to NC codes which is an inbuilt feature of the regular CAD tools and it goes to manufacturing....X
M2: You are explaining the process. I know it, can you tell me the advantages?
Tiru: yes sir, the errors comes down as the NC programming is automatic, that's number one. Number two, the total time from design to manufacturing comes down in such a setup and number three, because of these two the turnover time decreases and customer satisfaction increases.
M2: Good.
Tiru: thank you sir.
(when i was answering i was looking at all the members one by one and when i looked at the chairman, he indicated by hand to look at the member who asked the question and i devoted more time to M2 while answering his question)
M2: Tirumala, Rajiv Gandhi once said that out of every rupee allotted for the schemes, only 17 paise reaches the intended and remaining is wasted. What is your take on this sentence?
Tiru: Sir, When Raviv Gandhi said that, he was talking about our system. What he meant was that the system is so huge that the inertia and friction itself takes up so much money. He was not talking of corruption here but about the size of the system, the salaries to be given to people in it, the money that goes in maintaining files etc...X
M2: Don't call it system, call it delivery mechanism...and yes you are correct there but do you have any suggestions to bypass this mechanism so that this wastage is not there?
(I took a moment to think...around 2 seconds)
M2: Don't worry, you can take your own time...write it down if you wish..
Tiru: Thank you sir, I think decentralization is one answer. Sir, the funds can be directly allotted to grass root level panchayats. They can directly work on the schemes. That's one solution. Apart from that, one can also think of funding the NGOs who are working directly with people.
M2: Good.
Tiru: thank you sir.
M2: How can you apply IT in governance or in administration. And tell me very specifically how can it reduce wastage, time and corruption?
Tiru: Sir, IT as a process can be an integral part of administration. To answer corruption, in India corruption is basically what one calls speed money. The files goes into the system, one doesn't know where the file is, or how to move it and hence pays money to move the file or to know the status. Once the process is computerised, the whole process can be tracked online e.g. our passport system where a number is given and the status can be tracked online. That might weed out corruption. Coming to wastage, as the complete data is online it saves a lot of paperwork and trees and also the manual labor of calculations. Due to these two, the efficiency increases and will certainly lead to decrease in total turnover time for customers.
M2: How can you improve the process?
Tiru: Sir, if the process is already established one like our administrative setup, then one can use tools like DMAIC from six sigma which stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. The process has to be studied in detail, to start with customers have to be identified which in this case might be the citizens using the services....X
M2: The customers are well known here.
Tiru: That's good sir. Now the Critical to quality issues for customers have to identified which....X
M2: Ok, how much time do you think will take to improve the whole system....is two or three years sufficient?
Tiru...mmmmmm in fact sir, I believe the system is too huge to change in one go, in say two or three years, it would take time.
M2: Look at your whole career or say 30 to 35 years...would that the enough?
Tiru: Certainly sir, that's quite enough time to completely overhaul the system but it has to be a joint effort by all.
M2: Good
Tiru: thank you sir.
(Till this point the interview was dominated by me...or so I felt, as i was talking aloud, in clear tone and the board members were very supportive. From this point onwards, they tested my composure in adverse conditions. My voice didn't change and i didn't waver. But yes, it was really tough to maintain my poise as situation took a turn for worse)
M3: OK, Tirumala there is some issue with currency exchange rate, something to do with dollar to rupee and things like that...any idea what is it?
Tiru: yes sir, the rupee is appreciating with respect to dollar and that is a cause for concern for exporters and at the same time a good news for importers. And sir, I am not sure how it works but I read that it would also bring down inflation.
M3: No, no...this is not what I meant....Tell me specifically, how would it affect IT industry?
Tiru: Sir, the IT industry bills their overseas customers in dollars or in Euros and hence for the same amount of euros or dollars coming in, they will have less rupees after conversion. That would decrease their margin.
M3: And what would happen to Auto industry?
Tiru: Sir, using the same logic the Auto exporters too will take a hit.
M3: No, that is wrong. Think like a mechanical engineer, the auto industry has anicilliary and main makers etc...can you now tell?
Tiru: I am extremely sorry sir but I don't know the answer.
M3: Ok leave it. There is some issue with petrol and diesel and there is some arguments going on..what is it?
Tiru: Sir the petrol and diesel prices are going up.
M3: No no, I mean there is some other issue. Using it in automobiles etc..think in that line.
Tiru: Sir the last century was oil century and this would be gas century. We will have more use of gases in automobiles and less and less petrol and diesel as we go along.
M3: No no. that won't happen for next thirty years. Think in lines of pollution.
Tiru: Yes sir, both are polluting in nature as they produce....X
M3: No no, you are a mechanical engineer, think in terms of the engines.
Tiru: Sir, in past thirty years or so, diesel technology has made a lot of progress due to improvement in fuel injection technology and they have become silent and hence all major car manufacturers are now releasing a diesel versions...X
M3: No no...i was not asking that. OK, leave it. Do you have any idea as to how many cars India produces each year?
Tiru: Sorry sir, I don't have the figures.
M3: Do you have any idea how big is our auto industry?
Tiru: I am sorry sir, I don't know.
M3: Looks like you don't know anything about industries. Tell me which industry do you know about.
Tiru: Sir, I have worked in hydraulic industry for more than 3 and half years. You can ask about that.
M3: (he had a pencil in hand all the time which he put it down now as if giving up): I don't know anything about hydraulic industry.
(I was quite relieved)
M4: Tirumala, I see that you do bodybuilding. Do you still do bodybuilding?
Tiru: No sir, that was during college days. I now concentrate more on maintaining my fitness.
M4: So you go to gym?
Tiru: Yes sir.
M4: How much weight do you lift?
Tiru: 90 kgs in bench press. 80 kgs in squats and 130 kgs in dead lift sir.
M4: What is the world record in olympics?
Tiru: Sir, powerlifting is not an olympic sport.
M4: Ok, in commonwealth?
Tiru: Not ever here sir but there are competitions at other places and in dead lifts people are lifting around 700 pounds and that works out around 320 kgs.
CM: What is difference between bodybuilding and powerlifting?
Tiru: Sir, powerlifting is all about strength and bodybuilding is about beauty of muscles. In powerlifting one has to perform squat, deadlift and benchpress and the combined total weight is taken to judge the strength and in bodybuilding one has to pose and show his muscles.
CM: You do blogging? What is it? What do you do?
Tiru: Sir, blogs are online diaries which can be used to express one's thoughts or events. Even to share points of view on issues of general nature. I maintain three blog sites sir.
CM: What kind of books do you read?
Tiru: Sir I read any book as long as it is interesting which I judge by reading first few pages. If you ask what i am reading right now, I am reading Malgudi days by R K Narayan and before that I was reading Foundation by Isaac Asimov which is a science fiction and before that I read The inscrutable americans by anurag mathur and before that mritunjaya by shivaji savant and and few novels by John Grisham...X
M4: Ok, tirumala have you seen the roads and the highways?
Tiru: yes sir,
M4: How are they?
Tiru: good sir.
M4: No I mean, what is the shape, convex, concave or straight...how does it look like. (makes shapes with hands and shows)
Tiru: (I make my hands convex and show the shape): Sir it is convex.
M4: What's that called?
Tiru: Banking....no sir, it is not banking....I am sorry I don't know.
M4: It is called camber.
Tiru: thank you sir.
M4: Now tell me, why is this camber there?
Tiru: I am not sure sir.
M4: Take a guess.
Tiru: Maybe sir because the wheels give loads on ends of the roads and over a period of time....X
M4: No no that's not the reason.
Tiru: I am sorry sir, I don't know.
M4: It is for drainage purposes. That way, the water will flow sidewards and not collect at the centre.
Tiru: yes sir, that's logical. Thank you sir.
M4: Why is banking given on turns?
Tiru: To avoid vehicles from toppling over or skidding while taking a turn.
M4: and why does vehicle topple or skid?
Tiru: Sir the centrifugal force acting on the vehicle makes them do so. The reaction force tries to balance the centrifugal force acting inwards and when centrifugal force is more the vehicle topples.
M4: Centrigual force acts inwards?
Tiru: mmmmm...
M4: How does the vehicle topple?
Tiru: Outwards
M4: Then how should the centrifugal force act?
Tiru: yes sir, I was wrong, it actually acts outwards and in fact centripetal is the one acting inwards.
M4: Think again. I think you were right earlier.
Tiru: (I was really confused now...and though i knew i was wrong earlier but i took a moment here. All the members on the board broke into smiles and started laughing slowly. I too looked at them and we all laughed): Sir...X
M4: So you are confused.
Tiru: Sir I accept that I am confused.
CM: But you should know this. This is basic.
Tiru: yes sir, I accept I should know this. I agree.
CM: Do you know about the differential gears used in two wheelers?
Tiru: Sir as per my knowledge they are used in four wheelers.
CM: yes yes, wahi wahi. Tell me why is it used?
Tiru: sir when a vehicle takes a turn the radius of turn for the outer wheels is more than that for inner wheels due to which the number of effective turns required for the outer wheels is more than that required for inner wheels....X
CM: Why do engineers speak so technically. Tell me what will happen?
Tiru: Sir the tyres will wear faster.
CM: That's all? What's the major effect? That's just a minor effect.
Tiru: I am sorry sir, I can't recall any other effect.
CM: The axle will break. Remember the horse drawn carriages? Have you seen bailgadis? (Bailgadi = bullock cart)
Tiru: yes sir, bailgadis don't have differentials.
(I don't know why but when i said that all members in the board laughed.)
CM: Ok, tell me what differential mechanism do they use in trains.
Tiru: I am not sure sir.
CM: Think again. Don't you think they need differentials?
Tiru: To take a guess sir, the effective turning radius is very big for trains and they may not need them.
CM: But the load is very high. So they do need them.
Tiru: yes sir, that's logical.
CM: Ok, then take a guess. There are many types of differentials. Hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical etc. What type they are using?
Tiru: I am afraid sir, I don't have any idea. However it sounds interesting to me and next time I am on a train, I will make it a point to bend down and see what differential mechanism they are using.
CM smiles at me.
CM: Tirumala, your interview is now over. Good. Do you have any suggestions for the board?
Tiru: No sir.
CM: Do you have any suggestions for the exam system?
Tiru: No sir.
CM: You may leave now. Thank you.
Tiru: Thank you sirs. thank you mam.
I get up from the chair. Take two steps back. Turn around and walk out of the door.
I come out. I meet the last candidate who is waiting outside the room. I wish him all the best and come out of UPSC. Now I am waiting for the results. It all depends on how much I score in mains and in this interview. Hopefully things will work out well. Fingers crossed till then. The results are expected around Mid May.
Tiru

Courtesy: http://takethebreak.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-ias-interview.html

• root's blog
• Login to post comments

Inter

ALL INDIA RANK - 10
CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION 1995
Service : Indian Administrative Service
Cadre : Uttar Pradesh

Getting into IAS was like a dream coming true. Although I'd thought of joining this service much earlier in my school days, my mind kept wavering till few years back. It was in the third year of my engineering course that I firmly decided to take up this examination. Incidentally, I'm a graduate from IIT, Kanpur in Electrical Engineering and I passed out in 1994.

I started reading material on current affairs and on other subjects in the general studies paper from that very time. As far as optionals were concerned, I felt Physics and Electrical Engineering as the best bet for me. For the Prelims, I chose Physics. I'd decided not to attempt the exam unless I felt confident about my preparation. So I skipped the 1994 exam and took it up next year. By God's grace I made into the service in the very first attempt. I stood 10th in India. 18th June, the day I came to know about the result, was the happiest in my life. By the way a funny part of this story was that when I'd first inquired about my Prelims result, I was told that I'd failed.

As regard my other personal details, I'm a 24 year old bachelor and hail from a business family of Lucknow. I'm youngest among the four siblings of my family. I'd my schooling in Lucknow in Colvin Taluqdars' College till 8th standard after which I shifted to Mahanagar Boys' Inter College. My hobbies are traveling, particularly to places of natural beauty, and light music. I enjoy playing Billiards and am presently trying to pick up Tennis.

My suggestion to future aspirants of this service is that one should try to take one's subject of specialization as an optional in the exam. This saves lot of time and labor. The exam requires one year of full dedication provided one has a good base in general studies and good backing of graduation. One shouldn't rely solely on the optionals as G.S. and essay paper along with interview form a substantial portion in the total marks. The syllabus of mains should be finished before prelims so that one may get enough time for revision and updating current affairs before mains. As regards interview, one just needs to be natural and attentive before the board. The board members are in general very cooperative.

Presently, I'm having great fun in the academy at Musoorie. Here the main emphasis is on spirit de corp. among various services. Although the routine here is tightly packed, one gets enough time to learn new things and take up new hobbies. We received our cadres few days back and It's fortunate enough to get the home cadre.

ALL INDIA RANK - 10
CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION 1995
Service : Indian
(more content follows the advertisement below)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Administrative Service
Cadre : Uttar Pradesh

Getting into IAS was like a dream coming true. Although I'd thought of joining this service much earlier in my school days, my mind kept wavering till few years back. It was in the third year of my engineering course that I firmly decided to take up this examination. Incidentally, I'm a graduate from IIT, Kanpur in Electrical Engineering and I passed out in 1994.

I started reading material on current affairs and on other subjects in the general studies paper from that very time. As far as optionals were concerned, I felt Physics and Electrical Engineering as the best bet for me. For the Prelims, I chose Physics. I'd decided not to attempt the exam unless I felt confident about my preparation. So I skipped the 1994 exam and took it up next year. By God's grace I made into the service in the very first attempt. I stood 10th in India. 18th June, the day I came to know about the result, was the happiest in my life. By the way a funny part of this story was that when I'd first inquired about my Prelims result, I was told that I'd failed.

As regard my other personal details, I'm a 24 year old bachelor and hail from a business family of Lucknow. I'm youngest among the four siblings of my family. I'd my schooling in Lucknow in Colvin Taluqdars' College till 8th standard after which I shifted to Mahanagar Boys' Inter College. My hobbies are traveling, particularly to places of natural beauty, and light music. I enjoy playing Billiards and am presently trying to pick up Tennis.

My suggestion to future aspirants of this service is that one should try to take one's subject of specialization as an optional in the exam. This saves lot of time and labor. The exam requires one year of full dedication provided one has a good base in general studies and good backing of graduation. One shouldn't rely solely on the optionals as G.S. and essay paper along with interview form a substantial portion in the total marks. The syllabus of mains should be finished before prelims so that one may get enough time for revision and updating current affairs before mains. As regards interview, one just needs to be natural and attentive before the board. The board members are in general very cooperative.

Presently, I'm having great fun in the academy at Musoorie. Here the main emphasis is on spirit de corp. among various services. Although the routine here is tightly packed, one gets enough time to learn new things and take up new hobbies. We received our cadres few days back and It's fortunate enough to get the home cadre.

inter

IAS topper, Manish Ranjan's tips on how to top the Civil Services Interview

He prefers to work at the grassroots level. Perhaps thats why he chose to study Sociology from Hindu College, Delhi University. He almost made it to his dream career when he got selected for the coveted PG Diploma course in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA). And soon he got a call from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Pune. That was all he could ask for. But destiny had something else in store for him.

In March 2000, after much deliberation, this youth from Bihar decided to tread the highly uneven track to the Civil Services. And in two years time, he created a wave by securing fourth rank in the 2002 Civil Services Exam.

Meet Manish Ranjan, IAS topper, who decided to quit a meaningful and satisfying career as a motivator at NDDB in order to opt for the Civils, as it offers challenges like diverse service opportunities, policy implementation, bigger responsibilities, social esteem and of course, involvement with the masses.

Currently posted in the Jharkhand District in Jamshedpur, Ranjan today owes his success to his retired government servant parents, teachers, friends, the Almighty and not to forget, the whopping 225 marks that he scored in the Civil Services Interview Test. I was confident of clearing the Mains. Hence, almost immediately after the exam was over, I started collecting relevant information on my resume, read newspapers and watched news channels on TV, and took at least 10 mock interviews conducted by the Chanakya IAS Academy in Delhi. These interviews helped me form a balanced opinion about current issues, improved my body language and enhanced my listening skills.

So how was his experience with the Board Says Ranjan, I appeared before the Board on May 10, 2002 in the afternoon session. P. Abraham was the Boards Chairman. I was quizzed for nearly 50 minutes with queries ranging from my job profile, marketing strategies of Mother Dairy and Kwality Walls, street plays (my hobby) and their social relevance, geographical indicators, the consumer grievance redressal forum, a blueprint for the development of my State, Bihar, ways of improving existing rural development plans, policies and their execution in India and the implication of the French Presidential elections on Indo-French relationship etc.

According to Ranjan, All aspirants must be thorough in areas like their bio-data, hobbies, their home state and district, their optionals, national and international current affairs. They must be clear as to why they want to join the Civil Services. Adds Ranjan, It's a highly uneven track to traverse. Hence, think twice before treading on it, as youll need to remain determined afterwards. Mock interviews and numerous discussions with friends definitely help in developing clarity of thought.

So does he think that the interview should be given more weight in the final selection No, not really, he says. The problem lies with inter-Board variation in the final assessment. Hence, I think it would be wise to take three short interviews of each candidate on different dates with different Boards and the average of all these could make the final score. In fact, if General Studies is given more weight, then that will remove the disparity in the marks obtained in different Optionals and the selection will thereby become relatively fairer. However, the entire selection should also be compressed within a six-month period.

And what does he think is the potential of future IAS officers With globalisation, ethical work cultures and an increasing interface between civil servants and highly professional corporates, the efficiency of both the IAS and the IPS in terms of problem solving, high responsiveness and alertness has increased. My endeavour will be to encourage the masses at the grassroots level to come forward to contribute towards innovative development.

IAS topper, Manish Ranjan's tips on how to top the Civil Services Interview

<
(more content follows the advertisement below)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T

p class="text"> He prefers to work at the grassroots level. Perhaps thats why he chose to study Sociology from Hindu College, Delhi University. He almost made it to his dream career when he got selected for the coveted PG Diploma course in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA). And soon he got a call from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Pune. That was all he could ask for. But destiny had something else in store for him.

In March 2000, after much deliberation, this youth from Bihar decided to tread the highly uneven track to the Civil Services. And in two years time, he created a wave by securing fourth rank in the 2002 Civil Services Exam.

Meet Manish Ranjan, IAS topper, who decided to quit a meaningful and satisfying career as a motivator at NDDB in order to opt for the Civils, as it offers challenges like diverse service opportunities, policy implementation, bigger responsibilities, social esteem and of course, involvement with the masses.

Currently posted in the Jharkhand District in Jamshedpur, Ranjan today owes his success to his retired government servant parents, teachers, friends, the Almighty and not to forget, the whopping 225 marks that he scored in the Civil Services Interview Test. I was confident of clearing the Mains. Hence, almost immediately after the exam was over, I started collecting relevant information on my resume, read newspapers and watched news channels on TV, and took at least 10 mock interviews conducted by the Chanakya IAS Academy in Delhi. These interviews helped me form a balanced opinion about current issues, improved my body language and enhanced my listening skills.

So how was his experience with the Board Says Ranjan, I appeared before the Board on May 10, 2002 in the afternoon session. P. Abraham was the Boards Chairman. I was quizzed for nearly 50 minutes with queries ranging from my job profile, marketing strategies of Mother Dairy and Kwality Walls, street plays (my hobby) and their social relevance, geographical indicators, the consumer grievance redressal forum, a blueprint for the development of my State, Bihar, ways of improving existing rural development plans, policies and their execution in India and the implication of the French Presidential elections on Indo-French relationship etc.

According to Ranjan, All aspirants must be thorough in areas like their bio-data, hobbies, their home state and district, their optionals, national and international current affairs. They must be clear as to why they want to join the Civil Services. Adds Ranjan, It's a highly uneven track to traverse. Hence, think twice before treading on it, as youll need to remain determined afterwards. Mock interviews and numerous discussions with friends definitely help in developing clarity of thought.

So does he think that the interview should be given more weight in the final selection No, not really, he says. The problem lies with inter-Board variation in the final assessment. Hence, I think it would be wise to take three short interviews of each candidate on different dates with different Boards and the average of all these could make the final score. In fact, if General Studies is given more weight, then that will remove the disparity in the marks obtained in different Optionals and the selection will thereby become relatively fairer. However, the entire selection should also be compressed within a six-month period.

And what does he think is the potential of future IAS officers With globalisation, ethical work cultures and an increasing interface between civil servants and highly professional corporates, the efficiency of both the IAS and the IPS in terms of problem solving, high responsiveness and alertness has increased. My endeavour will be to encourage the masses at the grassroots level to come forward to contribute towards innovative development.

Interview

nterview took place on 17^th april in New Delhi for 35 mins

Raju: May I come in Sir?
Chairman: Yes, please.
Raju: Good morning, Sir. Good morning, Madam. Good morning, Sirs.
Chairman: You are Mr...
Raju: (Still in standing position), Matyalaraju Revu Sir.
(Chairman is writing something. Other members are keenly watching the candidate.)
Member 2: Please take your seat.
Raju: Thank you, sir.
Chairman: Mr. Revu, You did B.Tech from REC Warangal, ME from IISc, Bangalore. But why did you do diploma?
Raju: Sir, After completion of my 10th class, based on my financial background, my father joined me in polytechnic. After completion of polytechnic, we do get jobs. Also, since I will get scholarship, the amount of money spent on me is less.
Chairman: That means you will get job after diploma.
Raju: Yes Sir, I got a private job. Company is Cain energy limited.
Chairman: Then, why did you join B.Tech?
Raju: Sir, After completion of my diploma, I wrote ECET and I got state 1st rank. So I convinced my father that I will join REC which is a premier Engineering institute in our state.
Chairman: Then, you joined ME because your father insisted on that?
Raju: No Sir, It is based on my project guide ճ suggestion.

Sir, infact there are two streams to enter into B.Tech. One through EAMCET after Intermediate and other is through ECET. After ECET...

Chairman: What question I have asked?
Raju: Sorry Sir, you have asked me why I joined ME after B.Tech.
Chairman: OK. Then stick on to the question.
Raju: Sir, I am explaining it.
Chairman: Be specific.
Raju: OK sir, during my final year I got all India rank 3 in Gate. My guide on knowing this result suggested me to join IISc. He further told that this is the golden opportunity for me. ԉf you miss it you will not get it again! ՠ he told sir. Then, I informed about my career option as civil services. He then convinced me by saying that I can write civil services after M.E. also.

Chairman: That means you are preparing for civil services while you are in IISc?
Raju: I beg to differ with you sir. I started my preparation only after completion of M.E.
Chairman: You have written that you joined Railways in September 2004. That is of which exam?
Raju: Sir, This is based on IES-2003.
Chairman: That means you are in IISc.
Raju: Sir, I completed my second semester at that time.
Chairman: That means you have prepared for IES in IISc.
Raju: Sir, I have given IES in my own background i.e., Electrical Engineering. Hence I need not prepare much for this exam. I just gave the exam.
Chairman: For how many years you are in Railways?
Raju: Sir, I joined Railways on September 2004. Then I took leave for 1 year, i.e., leave on loss of pay.
Chairman: What did you do in that year?
Raju: Sir, I have prepared for this exam.
Chairman: How many months you are in Railways?
Raju: Sir, roughly 5 months.
Chairman: That means you are in Railways till February.
Raju: Sir, I am in Railways till the result of civil services exam 2005 was out. I was given leave for interview preparation in March.
Chairman: Then what did you do after the declaration of the result?
Raju: Sir, Once the result of out, I came to know that I will get IPS. So, I convinced my director for leave to appear civil services again. My director gave me leave.
Chairman: When did you join IPS?
Raju: Sir, I joined IPS on December 18, 2006.
Chairman: Which part of training you missed?
Raju: Sir, I missed foundation training in Mussorie. At SVPNPA, training started on December 18, 2006. So, I haven մ missed any training at Hyderabad.
Chairman: How many days you have taken leave for interview?
Raju: Sir, 4 days.

Member 2: How was your IPS training?
Raju: Sir, training is good and we are enjoying every aspect of training.
member 2: What are you learning in training?
Raju: Sir, our training is divided into two parts. Indoor and outdoor. In indoor, we have subjects like police in modern India, criminology and law subjects like IE Act, CrPC, IPC and other subjects.
Member 2: You are in IPS for 4 months. So I can ask some questions.
Raju: Yes, sir.
Member 2: Do you aware that the confession admitted to police is not allowed as witness. Why?
Raju: Yes sir. Confession admitted to police is not allowed as witness. Since there is always a possibility of getting the confession in the way the police like, law doesn մ allow it.
Member 2: What is Res gestae?
Raju: Sir, All the circumstances leading to the same transaction are allowable as evidence.
Member 2: You are on the line. Could you explain more?
Raju: (after 2-3 seconds), If some people wanted to commit dacoity and in the process if they theft a vehicle, eventhough theft of vehicle is not connected with dacoity but it is admissible as it forms the circumstance leading to dacoity.
Member 2: Could you tell me the section which deals with Res gestae?
Raju: Sorry sir, I could not remember the exact section.
Member 2: Then how sections you were taught in IE Act?
Raju: Sir, In our academy our sirs are not teaching according to sections. They are teaching the sections which are more useful for the police at first.
Member 2: Do you aware of RTI?
Raju: Yes. Sir. It is Right to Information Act.
Member 2: What are the provisions in RTI?
Raju: Sir, According to provisions of RTI, every government department has to nominate one officer as information commissioner to give information about duties, responsibilities and functions of various officers working in those departments...
Member 2: Then what is the benefit to common man?
Raju: Sir, Common man can know the functions, duties & responsibilities of various officers. They can know the status of their applications. This also increases transparency and accountability of officers. Hence reduces corruption.
Member 2: How can you say that people will get required information?
Raju: Sir, There is a provision in RTI that any one who refuses to give information or delays 30 days for giving information, they are liable for cut in salary.
Member 2: How much salary cut?
Raju: Sir, I think it is 250 Rs./ day.
Member 2: It is not cut from salary. It is separately cut.
Raju: Thank you Sir.
Member 2: Can you tell me what is the maximum limit?
Raju: Sorry sir, I don մ know.

Chairman: Your hobbies are meditation, motivating others and Indian Mythology. Don մ you think that all are inward looking?
Raju: Sir, Whenever possible I play cricket in addition my hobbies, which is a team game.

Member 2: Tell me which countries will reach final in the present world cup?
Raju: Sir, I think Australia and Srilanka.
Member 2: Already two countries reached semifinals i.e., Sri Lanka & Newzealand. What do you think about other two?
Raju: Sir, I beg to differ with you. Actually three countries i.e., Srilanka, New Zealand and Australia reached semifinals. 4th team depends on the outcome of the today ճ match between England & South Africa.
Member 2: Do you know about fly ash?
Raju: Sir, Thermal power stations produce fly ash while generating electrical power.
Member 2: Which state is using it more? Definitely it is not Haryana, My own state.
Raju: Sorry Sir, I don մ know.

Member 3 : (X-A) (X-B) has highest X power of 2. Do you agree?
Raju: Yes, Sir.
Member 3: (X-A) (X-B) (X-C) has highest X power...
Raju: 3, Sir.
Member 3: Then, tell me. What is the answer for (X-A) (X-B).... (X-Z).
Raju: (after 3-4 seconds), It must be Zero. Sir, because of the presence of the term (X-X).
Member 3: Whom do you think a greatest mathematician of all times?
Raju: Sir, Srinivasa Ramanujan, because even though he lived for only 33 years, he contributed more to mathematics in the areas like Numerical methods, Solution of algebraic equations, number theory like prime numbers etc.

Member 3: Can you tell me the formula for prime numbers?
Raju: Sir, exactly I don մ know but recently IIT, Kanpur professor along with his students wrote a software program which gives whether a number is prime or not within less time.
Member 3: You are an electrical engineer. Tell me where prime numbers are used?
Raju: Sir, they are used in coding.
Member 3: I am asking a question in your engineering only. Tell me how prime numbers are used in coding?
Raju: Sir, exactly I don մ know. But to the best of my knowledge, if the code length is prime, decoding and encoding are easy.
Member 3: You are on the line, but not exact answer.
Member 1: Your hobbies are meditation, motivating others and Indian Mythology. What you do in motivation?
Raju: Madam, many of classmates and Juniors came to me for clearing their doubts in subjects as I am the toper of my class. I usually listen to their problems regarding their understanding of concepts as many have problems either in one or many subjects. I tell them that every subject is easy if knew the concepts clear and we should like the subject what we are studying...
Madam: Do your response same for all?
Raju: Madam, I usually spend more time with those who are very much lagging. I take classes to clear their doubts.
Madam: Then do you call it motivation or strategic learning?
Raju: Madam, strategic learning may be the correct term.
Madam: What is the difference between these two?
Raju: Madam, motivation is a general term which includes not only academic motivation but also others like psychological, etc., Madam, I don մ know exactly the meaning of strategic learning.

Madam: Which books you read in Indian Mythology?
Raju: Madam, I read Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Madam: Since your hobbies are motivating others and Indian Mythology, tell me how Krishna motivated Arjuna?
Raju: Madam, When Arjuna refused to fight with friends, teachers, Krishna told him that it is the duty of the king to protect Dharma and fight wars for protecting it. We should not move away from our duty. Since soul is immortal and of which is born, death is certain, of which death happened, birth is certain. Hence you should not think that you are committing crime. Also he motivated him by saying that we should do our work only. We should not think about the results of our actions. Otherwise, attachment to the results will occur which is a major reason for unhappiness.

Madam: Do you practise it?
Raju: Madam, It is very difficult to practise.

Madam: Why?
Raju: Madam, for example, if we are about to play a cricket match, we will think about the winning of the match which is actually the result of the playing that match.

Madam: One last question. What kind of training our team got during our last year world cup?
Raju: Madam, exactly I am not able to recollect it. But it is like ҷe can do it this time Ӽ /span>
Madam: Sorry, It is not last year world cup but it is 2003 world cup. The team was given psychological training.
Raju: Yes, Madam
Member 4: You studied your B.Tech. from REC Warangal and M.E. from IISc Bangalore. Do you proud of your institutions like IISc?
Raju: Sir, I am proud that I have studied in a great institution like IISc, which according UNESCO survey conducted in 1997 was in 18th place among world universities. Recently a Chinese university conducted a survey in which IISc was placed at around 250th position.
Member 4: Do you think that 250th position is a good position?
Raju: Sir, even though it is not a good position, the position depended on the parameters they have taken into consideration like no. of nobel laureates present, no. of research papers presented, etc.
Member 4: Who are nobel laureate present in IISc?
Raju: Sir, now there is no nobel laureate in IISc. Earlier Sir C.V.Raman worked in IISc. Now, there are two internationally reputed professors working there.
Member 4: Last year government proposed to stop B.Tech entry into IITs. Do you support that?
Raju: Sir, I support it. Sir, due to hectic schedule, the professors of IITs are not able to concentrate much on research. Once the B.Tech entry is stopped, they will get more time for research and quality of research will increase.
Member 4: Don մ you think the quality of B.Tech students will reduce as IITs are known for better professors?
Raju: Sir, those students who are earlier eligible for entry into IITs, they will join NITs. Since they are the core students I don մ think the quality will reduce. But the professors in other institutes should get sufficient training to reach the level of IIT professors.
Member 4: You agree to that proposal. But the government has withdrawn the proposal due to very good argument against it. Can you tell me?
Raju: Sorry sir, I don մ know.
Member 4: What do you think is responsible for reduction in research?
Raju: Sir, IISc is not able to retain those students who completed M.E. and other courses there. One reason is brain drain, Sir. Second one is that research is not attractive in India, Sir. For example, in our batch out of 230 students who completed M.E. only 2 joined for Ph.D. in IISc. At the end of our M.E. we got campus placements. The minimum salary is around 6 lakhs/ annum. It is attracting most of us. Those who are really interested in research, they are going abroad as they will get more money and research is attractive there. Here, a Ph.D. student gets 12,000 - 15,000 Rs per month. Also material considerations have risen these days, sir. We have to include some compulsory courses in morale & ethics to stop this.
Member 4: Instead of choosing job or research, why did you choose services as career option?
Raju: Sir, The incident that took place in my village in November 2000, when I am in 3rd year of B.Tech, has changed my career options. Nearby Engineering college students came to our village for picnic as our village has excellent beach. 7 of them drowned in the Bay of Bengal and all of them has taken sand into their lungs in addition to water. Since our village is an island, there are no transportation, medical & meagre educational facilities, it took 2 hours to reach nearest town which is 16 Km away from my village. By that time, 6 out 7 were died, Sir.

Chairman: You are telling about an incident in your village. In that case who will respond first?
Raju: (3-4 seconds silence)
Chairman: Whether it is Block development officer, Doctor, or Police.
Raju: Sir, It is the police to respond first.
Chairman: Then, you are in IPS. Why did you come?
Raju: Sir, even for police it took 2 hours to reach that place as there is not enough transportation facilities.
Chairman: Thank you.
Raju: Thank you, Sir. Thank you, Madam. Thank you, Sirs.