[UPSC Interview 2025] – Transcript #64: Anuradha Prasad ma’am Board, Uttar Pradesh Home State, poetry

Date of Interview: 19/12/2025 (Forenoon)
Board: Anuradha Prasad ma’am
Home State: Uttar Pradesh
DAF Keywords: Tiger conservation, UP, free verse poetry, South Africa, Human rights, Fantasy fiction novels

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Chairman

1. What did you do in Tiger Conservation project?
2. Suppose if we want to put a railway line in a forest region, what kind of clearances do we need?
– Why do we need these clearances?
(She herself then nudged towards cutting of trees)
– What measures can we take for these cutting of trees? (I said compensatory afforestation)
– Where are these afforestation done? (Said sorry, not aware about the technicalities)
3. You write free verse poetry. Can you name any poets?
– Have you read any contemporary poets? (I mentioned Rupi Kaur, but I don’t follow her writings)
– Have you heard about Golden Gate? Vikram Seth-does he write free verse? (Said I’ll have to check ma’am, not sure)

Member 1

1. How did you defend South Africa, on human rights?
2. You’re from UP, there are some problems on ground-what are they?
– Said we are progressing as GSDP in top 5, but problems still there, talked about demography, regional inequalities.
– She said you are correct, but despite such projects, not much seen on ground. What other problems there. (I said law and order, implementation issues-which we are working on, named few policies)
– Do you think UP should be bifurcated? (Said I don’t think it will address ground issues, need inclusive development and connectivity)

Member 2

I think he was from economics background (I had economics as a subject in 12th)
1. Continued from previous- what will connectivity projects do?
2. Will these projects increase labour mobility to western up? What about the wages then? (I said if we have industrial development in eastern up then labour migration will reduce, and even if it does happen, it will be skilled labour-which may impact wages)
3. Trump’s claims of South Africa human rights violations. What is your view?
4. Have you heard about Ricardo’s theory (I said sorry)
5. Tell me what comparative advantage means.
6. Are we witnessing a shift in trade from comparative advantage to any other theory?
– I said I’m not sure about the exact theory but we are witnessing a shift where trade is being influenced by politics.
7. Some statement by Economic Adviser that we need to increase FDI from China. What is your view?
– Said we currently allow through govt route, which is fair since we need to have due diligence when it comes to Chinese investments.
8. What pressnote was this?

Member 3

(Male)- very soft voice, had to try hard to hear it
1. View on all party delegation after Op Sindoor
2. Were our objectives achieved? (I said not sure of exact objectives but we were able to highlight China Pak Nexus and counter anti India narratives)
– Can’t recall 1-2 ques

Member 4

1. What does your name mean?
2. Have you heard about Maslow? Who was he?
3. Tell about his hierarchy of needs.
4. What stage has India achieved?
5. Why do we have myths and supernatural traditions?
6. When does history become myth?
– I gave a detailed reply on when we lose our records, gave example of Nalanda
– He asked what about oral traditions? I said when we lose a generation or they lose touch with these traditions, that link is broken.
Then, he said thankyou.

Then, Chairwoman said thankyou. I thanked everyone and left.

It was more of a fluid conversation, everyone was smiling.