[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #140: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla Sir Board, Sociology Optional, Reading Self Help Books, Badminton Hobbies

Date of Interview: 20th Feb (afternoon)
Board: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla Sir
Optional: Sociology
Daf words asked: Education, IIT, Sociology, IRS (IT), Reading Self Help Books, Badminton coach

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Chairman

1. – where are you from
2. – what are you doing these days
3. – ⁠why didn’t you fill IFS??
4. – ⁠lot of popularity for S. Jaishankar and IFS officers why dont you want to go??
5. – ⁠You can be a good asset for external affairs. why dont you want to go.
6. – ⁠IAS can work in external affairs ministry but why dont you specialize in foreign affairs
7. – ⁠okay coming to serious questions, Mark twain said i didnt let my schooling hinder my education , your opinion
8. – Extremely long monlogue meaning these days lots of exams, no free time, why such a scenario
9. – ⁠but we had lot of free time, you guys dont have any time to think, what will you guys innovate if you are stuck by tests
10. – ⁠but even those micro credential courses have tests at end of course
11. – ⁠but even in IITs, no research is happening, rankings are low
12. – ⁠if you do not agree with the parameters of ranking, do you consider the overall scenario in India as fine??
13. – okay, you are optimistic about the direction in which we are heading then. Good.

Member 1

1. – long monologue meaning tax base is low. Reasons?
2. – long monlogue meaning tax compliance is low- reasons?
3. – but in US people fear IRS unlike in india – opinion
4. – But why shouldn’t fear be used to increase compliance
5. – okay, then existing measures to improve compliance
6. – ⁠what is progressive and regressive taxation
7. – What in your opinion should be the ideal share of direct and indirect taxes

Member 2

1. – What is Green accounting?
2. – green accounting is this this this… why should we do it?
3. – measuring to control and regulate is fine but why shouldn’t accountants just stick to their job and leave the climate change issues to experts
4. – long monologue about health care and asked public hospitals or private hospitals
5. – ⁠choice is good but are you fine with the current state
6. – ⁠what would you say if i tell that all those who pay tax should be denied govt benefits in healthcare coz they are welloff
7. – ⁠long monologue about rural credit and asked why micro finance institutions succeed in rural areas vs traditional banks
8. – ⁠but almost every village has atleast one traditional bank
9. – ⁠but mfi are offering loans at high interest rates and still they are succeeding.

Member 3

1. – what self help books you read recently
2. – favourite?
3. – ⁠what is atomic in atomic habits
4. – summary of atomic habits
5. – long monologue meaning that SHB gaining popularity means lack of inner motivation
6. – I deviated. Cut me short and repeated again same monologue with question does it mean people are having mental health problems??
7. – then what do you understand by a society with more doctors, lawyers and politicians
8. – prevention by doctors is fine but what about lawyers?
9. – politicians ?
10. – ⁠what is emotional intelligence?
11. – long monologue meaning ai will replace jobs?
12. – but ai cant replace one specific sector?

Member 4

1. – so you worked as Badminton coach before?
2. – ⁠were you preparing for civil services simultaneously??
3. – ⁠tanking AI discussion of previous member forward, what about it in mental health care
4. – ⁠You said before that measuring leads to better regulation. So if we measure responses of best mental healthcare professionals and feed that data to AI algorithms dont you think it can give accurate advices
5. – ⁠long monologue about futuristic scenario where AI does everything and people have nothing to do- do you know any concept regarding this scenario?
6. – ⁠think about Universal Basic Income in such scenario?
7. – ⁠what is UBI
8. – ⁠how would you feel about such scenario where we provide UBI for all basic amenities and productive activity is done by AI.

Chairperson: Thank you… your interview is over…

Thanks to all my friends for helping…

Special mention to Sajal Sir (Vajiram) and Deepak Surana Sir (Republic IAS)