[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #201 : Preeti Sudan Ma’am Board, PSIR Optional

Date of Interview: 14 March, Morning (1st to go)
Board: Preeti Sudan Ma’am
Optional: PSIR
College: NSIT, Delhi
Profession: Assitant Manager at Bharti Airtel (resigned)
Hobbies: Research publication at IISc Bangalore, Close up Magic tricks

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Chairman

Remove your mask and be comfortable. If you don’t hear or understand the question you can ask us to repeat that. (The room was quite big)

1. So you have worked in Airtel, why did you leave the job?
2. Why Civil Services?
3. If you are a newly appointed SDM, what would be your first steps after taking charge of the district?
4. I see that you have a published research in IISc? Can you tell about the research paper in brief and what was your work?
5. Further discussion on the research.

Member 1

1. What is your opinion on the local self govt? How are they useful for India?
2. In reality, these local govt institutions are not working properly? Do you think that they have not been successful? What is your view?
3. What is your stand on UCC?
4. There has been religious harmony since ages in India, why then do we need to bring in UCC?
5. Would it not dissolve the diversity of India? What is the use of UCC then? (kept cross-questioning on UCC application, did not look satisfied)

Member 2

1. I see that you have magic as a hobby, how did you pick up this hobby?
2. How do you learn these tricks?
3. Since you have worked in Bharti Airtel and 5G has recently been launched, I want you to tell me about technologies similar to 5G which are under development? What are their uses?
4. Since you have PSIR, how do you think India can utilise its G20 presidency?
5. Brief discussion on G20 and India.
6. In brief, tell me any 3 takeaways from Russia-Ukraine war that can be useful for India?

Member 3

1. Differentiate bw Strategic Autonomy and Non-alignment in the past? Is it the same?
2. Some cross-questioning on this.
3. To counter China, which countries should India side with? How should India proceed?
4. Can you name some countries with which India has alliances or collab to counter China?
3. Why do you think India is siding with Russia when it is clear that Russia is the aggressor?
4. What are the reasons that Russia has given for starting the war?
5. If you don’t think that India is with Russia, then why has it not voted against Russia in UN?
6. Do you think India is losing on an opportunity by not choosing sides in this war?

Member 5

1. Long monologue about how Supreme Court has given landmark judgements which have made the society progressive.
2. One such judgement was the Vishakha judgement? Have you heard about it? What is it?
3. In Airtel, what kind of awareness was there regarding the sexual harassment at workplace?
4. What is the institutional setup regarding sexual harassment at workplaces? Can you tell me what is the outcome of Vishakha guidelines and what rules do the companies have to follow?
5. What is your opinion about Right to Information? Do you think that it has been a revolutionary step?
6. Suppose you file an RTI in my office, and I refuse to indulge details what appeal mechanism you have?
7. I said ma’am I’m not very sure about the mechanism, but she said what would you do as a normal person? Answer from that point of view.
8. What if PIO also does not help you and you have no recourse? What would you do then?

Preeti Sudan Ma’am looked at everyone then smiled and said ok beta your interview is over, you can go.

Experience in interview – Quite good, cordial board. Slight cross-questioning but great experience. Questions were largely from DAF (Job, optional, hobby) and few from general awareness.

Utility of mocks or O2O (if any) – Gave a lot of mocks (10-12). Helped in understanding the situation and framing my answers. Some questions did get repeated related to job, PSIR and hobbies.
Best mocks – Chahal (best one), Unacademy, Vajirao & Reddy, ForumIAS.
One to One with Khan Sir, Ravindran Sir, Ayush Sir, Vinay Sir all were very good.