[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #236 : M. Sathiyavathy Board, Commerce & Accountancy Optional, Madhya Pradesh Home State

Date of Interview: 24th March, Morning, Last to go
Board: Smt. M. Sathiyavathy Mam
Optional: Commerce & Accountancy
Professional qualification: CA & CFA
Work Experience: Audit and Taxation at a CA Firm
Home state: Madhya Pradesh (nothing asked)
Daf Keywords: Played hockey at states level, Volunteer for organ donation awareness, Leadership positions (Treasurer at Student Council in college, Head Boy of School), Interests cooking

First impression: Lovely grand room, big round table with flowers kept in the middle, Chairperson mam sitting right opposite to me with framed portrait of all previous UPSC chairpersons on the wall behind, Yellow lights made the room bright

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Chairman

– Read the whole DAF, asked me what am I doing since 2019?
Post this overall discussion revolved around Old Pension Scheme and New Pension Theme

– She said as you are CA I’ll like to talk about OPS and NPS. Tell me which of them is better for govt and which is better for govt servant
– Next she said how can we make NPS more attractive
(I answered we can followed middle path suggested by Andhra Pradesh govt covered and explained it in detail)
– She then cross questioned that it might lead to fiscal burden with the state. I re-explained my case. She countered with another set of issues again, said giving you one more chance
– I covered other wayouts for which she was only partially satisfied. After exhausting all my options I thought its better to hit a circuit breaker so that we can discuss something else. Once I said I’ll have to read more on it. She said okay keep reading, keep learning and passed on to M1

All this might sound like an argument here but it was in a normal conversational tone.

(I guess Madam has served as Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment. This is no way mean that we have to dig profiles of member in detail)

Member 1

Said I’ll talk to you on International Relations
– Big monologue before each question, made me wonder what he gonna ask ultimately
Q: USA entered Iraq, Afghanistan and now indirectly supports Ukraine via NATO. Tell me what will the next front where USA will confront? And why does USA choose to do all this confrontations?

Q: Monologue around Taliban. Then asked how US withdrawal and Taliban rule will affect India?

Q: Asked what is the political as well as strategic reason behind bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Q: Told that there is a train which is expected to start by Dec 2023 and will go till Baramulla, so tell me how it will benefit the overall region. I told sir I’m not completely aware about it. So he said it’s a train which will connect Baramulla thru Srinagar. So I gave my take.

Member 2

Q: What is the status of GST in India?
Q: Chartered Accountants have got a lot of work due to GST. So do you really think it has reduced the compliance burden or has it increased it further?
Q: What is GSTN? Which company runs it?
Q: Tell me sth about your cooking, what do you cook? (After I told them chairperson mam started smiling)
Q: Started talking about organ donation. Told me to highlight issues and solutions (in the middle mam of his question mam gestured to pass it on)

Member 3

Covered e-commerce overall, the discussion was generic so will try to cover its gist only

Q: Asked the status of ecommerce?
Q: Said what about international trade?
Q: Then said issues like grievance handling are prominent
Q: Tried to draw some links with WTO etc (seemed like he had some experience in working with the WTO)

Member 4

Lady member (right next to me)

Q: How to improve organ utilisation? (later added that we do not where exactly we will die so that’s an issue)
Q: Asked me how to promote hockey in the backdrop of popularity of cricket?
Q: How will you use your optional/work ex in administration?
Q: What were your lessons as a leader and its application in civil services?
Q: Final question, as you have been a leader. Let me give you a situation that you are in the phase on India’s freedom struggle in 1900s, now tell what will you do as a leader there?

Post this chairperson said your interview is over, All the best!