[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #210 : Preeti Sudan Board, Mathematics Optional, Assam Home State

Date of interview: 16th March, Afternoon Session, 1st one to go
Board: Preeti Sudan ma’am
Optional: Mathematics ( nothing asked)
College: SVNIT, Surat
Home State and district: Assam, Dibrugarh
Profession: ONGC Petro additions Limited
Hobbies/interests: Playing Blitz Chess, Watching American crime drama TV series, General interest in affairs of global importance
Sports: Badminton (nothing asked)
Duration: Around 30 minutes

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Chairman

We are here only for a friendly discussion. If you don’t understand something, please ask us to repeat the question.

1. You’ve worked in ONGC? What did you learn from your job? Why did you leave the job?
2. You are from Dibrugarh. Tell us about Dibrugarh.
3. You watch American Crime Dramas. Which Television Series do you like the most and why? ( I said ‘The wire’)
-What are the learnings from it for the Indian context?

Member 1

1. Difference between organised and unorganised workers ? (Ma’am summarised later that the organised workers are organised into unions which is not the case with unorganised workers)
2. What are the issues faced by the tea garden labourers from Assam? Any step by government and elected representatives? Discussion on this.
3. As a social worker where will be your focus for the upliftment of this community?
4. A long monologue about the riverbank erosion issue in Assam. What is being done and what can be done to address this? (I used the name of a native plant from Assam in this, ma’am was curious to know about the plant)

Member 2

1. Difference between Assam Tea and Darjeeling Tea. Why such a difference? Is there any difference in price?
-Which one do you like the most?
2. Do you have access to local tea which is not marketed elsewhere?
3. It is said that administrative efficiency reduces in India as we move from North to South and West to East. You have studied and worked in Gujarat and you are from Assam. Give your opinion on this.
4. What are the differences Assam and Gujarat have in the domain of health, education and sanitation? Tell us your experience.( Sir said, you don’t need to give technical data, just tell us your personal experience)
5. You worked with ONGC in Gujarat although you have OIL(a psu) in your home district. Now where do you want to work? Assam or Gujarat?

Member 3

1. Long monologue on Assam’s history, economy, development potential etc. Then, he asked about Assam’s opportunity to return to its past glory in the context of Act East Policy.
2. Discussion on AFSPA. If AFSPA is removed, investments will come to Assam. So, what should be done? (I may have mentioned insurgency in the previous discussion)
3. NRC-CAA protests in Assam. You certainly know all the cut off dates etc. I want to know your opinion on CAA.

Member 4

1. Child Labour- What is child labour? Any law prohibiting Child Labour? Discussion on this.
2. Case study on child labour. If a carpenter’s child is learning carpentry from his father, is it child labour? And discussion on this.

Chairperson: Thank you. Your interview is over.

Experience in the interview – The board was extremely cordial (specifically the lady member(M1) and M2). They didn’t interrupt me in any answer. And otherwise also, the whole process of the day was very smooth.

Utility of mocks – My interview was mostly based on my home state. Some of the questions are repeated from the mocks I gave. I have benefited from all of the mocks that I gave- Chanakya Mandal (the closest one), KSG, Vajirao, Samkalp and Next IAS.

O2O- Ravindran sir was very encouraging.