[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #284 : Manoj Soni Board, Public Administration Optional, Uttar Pradesh Home State, poetry, blogging Hobby

Date of Interview: 10 April 2023
Board: Manoj Soni Sir
Optional: Public Administration
Background: Electrical Engineering ( NIT Dgp )
Home State: Uttar Pradesh
Hobbies: Writing poetry, blogging
Other daf keywords: Taekwondo, job in cement sector, home district.

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Chairman

1. Remove mask to check and match photograph. Then gave choice to keep mask on or remove it. I kept it on.
2. Are you a poet who is engineer or an engineer who is poet ? ( I tried to be diplomatic but he said to be straight).
3. Recite the poem you wrote. ( Done)
4. ( Based on poem) Other seems like you have a negative view of the society why so negative ? ( I said not negative but hopeful, some counter questions)
5. Said let’s change the topic, then he asked about Jammu Kashmir incident where some stone Peltor was tied to army vehicle as human shield. Agree or disagree. ( He started grilling on my opinion, some counter questions ).

Member 1

1. Up is a big state but when compared to many southern states it is not doing so well economically, what could be the reasons and what would you do to make it better ?
2. What do you think about panchayat Raj? How is panchayat performing on your village ?
3. (Based on last answer) What changes have you seen in your village on last 5 years where panchayat had a role ?
4. (Based on last ans) How panchayat helps farmers in village?
5. If given charge of your district what are the key areas you would work on ?
6. Since I pointed agriculture, she asked about credit problem for farmers and what is being done about it ?

Member 2

1. “Leaders are one who do right things while managers are one who do things rightly. Also leaders are made not born.” Your views and who in your view is a leader.
( Chair intruptted that it’s a fine question but you should not take name of any political leader).
2. Since you worked in pvt sector , give any anecdote where you had shown leadership quality in workplace. (Told one experience).

Member 3

(He was very chilled out )

1. Since you have public administration as optional, in UP panchayat there is a phenomenon of “Pradhan Pati”. What do you thing what would you do to remove it ?
2. In your district there is a problem of soil erosion due to a river. It happenes every year . Given charge of your district what would you do to prevent it ?

Member 4

1. Started with some of his experience related to “sarpanch pati” then without asking anything gave his opinion that its deep rooted and requires societal change (which I had covered in answer already so I agreed and nodded).
2. What happened in joshimath ?
3. What is land subsidence ?
4. Some big hydro plant is there and also Himalayas are bit fragile what other places are on radar after joshimath ? ( I couldn’t remember so said don’t know)
5. ( Jumped to daf) You did taekwondo. Did you get any belt ?
6. Were you able to continue taekwondo after an year of mandatory course?
7. What about blogging ? What do you write about ?
8. (Based on last answer) Why should people be interested to read about your life or views . Would you read about my life or views if I start blogging? ( I said I would love you read and learn form your experience. He and others started laughing . He said you are saying this because I’m sitting here.) Then he again asserted why should people read your blog ?
9. (Situational question) Since your district faces some floods, suppose you are on a boat in floods which includes a pregnant lady, a young guy, an old man and a dog. Water starts getting inside the boat. You must let one go to save others . What would you do ?
10. ( Since I said I would save human life over others ) Would you not let old man go he has lived his life ? ( I said no).

CP: okay your interview is over, all the best, have a nice day and take care.

Overall experience: Some grilling, daf and opinion based questions mostly.

Mocks: (gave 4) Vajirao > Unacademy > Samkalp > Rau.
O2O: Next and Ravindran sir.