[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #60 : M Sathyavathy Ma’am Board, Sociology Optional, Endurance cycling, Vipassana, Audiobooks Hobbies

Board:M Sathyavathy Ma’am
Optional: Sociology
Background: B.Tech Civil Engineering
Hobby: Endurance cycling, Vipassana, Audiobooks

• To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2021, visit this page

Very cordial board, board sitting on a round table, you are asked to sit on one end and other board members are equidistantly placed.

Chairman

Read out my entire DAF, then asked:

1. you’re related to startups, why is it that Indian startups are copied from the west?
2. What can we do to promote original startups.
3. What did your own startup do?

Member 1

1. What is Endurance cycling?
2. Where have you done Endurance cycling?
3. What did Leena AI do? ( my work ex) follow up questions on that
4. Have you used chatbots on banking websites
5. Do you think that AI can take over functioning of banks?
6. Do you think given the explosion of data and analytics, can such data be used for hacking and against our national interest?

 Member 2

1. You worked at Netherlands leprosy relief foundation, what is it?
2. Which act regulated foreign donations in India?
3. Follow up on what changes were brought in recently, (FCRA Amendment act)
4. Controversy around it.
5. What is you’re take on concrete vs. steel buildings, which so you support?

Some more questions I don’t remember.

Member 3

1. You’re a Shot putter, what is the physics involved in it? Followed up on projectile motion
2. What is the reason for seasons, followed up a little bit.
3. What is law of diminishing marginal utility?
4. He asked why drones are becoming so prevalent, and then the technological breakthroughs required for it.

Member 4

1. You’re from Maharashtra, for which god is the song “Digambara, digambara…” ( did not know)
2. Then said you’ve studied Sanskrit in class 10, do you remember it ( I said no).
3. He went on to ask can you finish a shlok I tell you… “Vidya dadati vinayam”, I said no, he asked the meaning, I deduced it.

Asked a few more I do not remember.