[UPSC Interview 2020] – Transcript #13 : Manoj Soni Board, PSIR Optional, Utter Pradesh State, Reading Book Hobby

Board: Manoj Soni Sir
Graduation: BTech, Material Science, and Engineering IIT Kanpur
Optional: PSIR
Hobbies: Listening Talks on Advaita Vedanta and Reading Non-Fiction Books
State: Uttar Pradesh

Chairman

1. What’s going on in life?
2. Advaita Vedanta – Philosophy of Shankara, Right! Very unusual for a young person!
3. Your graduation subject is a very specialised subject with high demand, why do you want to join services?
4. Which of the following subject are you most comfortable with – PSIR, Agriculture, Forestry etc. – follow up on IR!
5. So, there is a concept called Thucydides trap in IR, have you heard of it? What is it?
6. Do you think this was applicable to India-China Relationship in recent times?

Member 1

1. After IIT, Why IAS? Don’t you think it’s a waste of a seat!
2. You are a sports person, volleyball! You Run Marathon too! What is the best timing? Do you run regularly!
3. What do you think of Odd even scheme, do you think it worked well!
4. Why is zomato IPO getting oversubscribed! Don’t you think it’s a risky thing?
5. Why did you change your school after 10th ( JNV Ballia to JNV Pondicherry).

Wanted to ask few more, I guess! But Soni Sir reminded him of time!

Member 2

1. Have you heard of Max Muller? Translated Upanishads!
2. What do you think of disinvestment by government? Some areas where we shouldn’t disinvest?
3. Does genetics have to play some role in sports? Why do you think we aren’t doing well? Offer some solutions.
4. Are you following olympics! What happend in today’s match!

Member 3

1. Have you heard of Badrayana? What does shankara has to do with him?
2. Have you heard the name of Plato! What’s the name of his book? What is he talking about?
3. Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya! Tell your interpretation of it!
4. Russia, France and Isreal – Indian Relationship[1]A follow-up question on – Economic Dimension of the relationship!

Member 4

1. Why IAS, IPS over IFS when you have good knowledge of IR?
2. You didn’t work after graduation, didn’t you ever think of it!
3. What are the similarities between Machiavelli and Chankya?
4. Why do people put Machiavelli ahead of Kautilya?

Chairman: Best wishes, your interview is over.