[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #238 : Preeti Sudan Board, PSIR Optional, Andhra Pradesh Home State

Date of Interview: 24th March 2023 (Afternoon)
Board: Preeti Sudan Ma’am
Home State: Tirupati / Nellore (AP)
Optional: PSIR
College: St. Stephen’s (Political science, Economics), JNU (IR)
Service Preference: IFS (nothing asked explicitly)
Hobbies: Social Service volunteering
DAF Key Words: NET-JRF

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Chairman

Take your seat. This is just a conversation
1. So, you are born in Nellore? (Brought up mostly in Tirupati though)
2. Tell me why Tirupati has high number of child marriages and cases of domestic violence
3. What will you do to curb it? (Education, Awareness involving the temple admn was one suggestion)
4. Is education enough to tackle these problems?
5. So, you are from JNU and Stephen’s
6. Compare these 2 institutions
7. Since you are a JNU student, tell me what learnings you did while in college and how will you use them as an administrator. (I was in Online-COVID batch, but told whatever learnings I had)
8. Good, you have a NET also, why don’t you pursue teaching? (Told that I am not sure about teaching, but research will continue irrespective of my career choice)

Member 1

1. What grievance redressal mechanism is there for telecom related complaints? (I thought he was asking of portals etc and then he only suggested TRAI)
2. What other mechanism you know? (He mentioned some other name I couldn’t recognise; I said I don’t know)
3. How and what research you would pursue? (Mentioned about applying for PhD program and on wait list currently for the seat)
4. Have you submitted thesis? (I said it’s still at proposal stage)
5. He inquired what it was?

Member 2

1. Argue in favor of the statement – India will be a developed country by 2047
2. What are the main road blocks that prevents from that road
4. Status of infrastructure in India
5. What financing options we have for infrastructure
6. What are the global implications of the Russia-Ukraine war? What has changed?

Member 3

1. So you said you are volunteering in the social sector; tell me about the what we could do about persons with disabilities? Firstly tell me all the disabilities you can identify(Mentioned both Physical and Mental disabilities and types I could identify)
2. What are the key issues?
3. What provisions do we have? Heard about the PwD Act?
4. Apart from Reservations what other schemes are there?

Member 4

1. Do you agree with the statement that we are having worse ties ever with our neighbours ? (I said mixed view about the statement and explained why so)
2. What about Nepal? (The conversation on these 2 questions went on for a while)
3. What are the foreign policy measures that you commend or not commend?
4. Internationally, name 3 personalities who have impacted global affairs. (I said Mikhail Gorbachev and why, Indira Gandhi)
5. Indira Gandhi is more of national leader, tell me internationally (I said also international because impacted the course cold war, signed India-USSR and liberation of a new country, Bangladesh)
6. Third personality? (I said can’t think of anyone else)
7. She suggested, Heard of Henry Kissinger? (I said Yes, Mentioned a few reasons why & she added a few more points)

Chairperson – Thank you, you may leave now

Overall Experience: It was a good conversation that captured most of my interests. Smooth experience. Felt happy afterward.

Utility of Mocks: Chahal, Vajirao, KSG was good. Rau’s I enjoyed even more (The IFS member here actively took interest in my words, spoke to me in French as well).
Vision Faculty Online Mock helped me prepare well (through some grilling)

Mocks helped me work on my formal speech, gestures, greetings etc. Helped me pick the right saree for the day as well. Some Mocks were held in big hotels. This helped me maintain composure and not be overwhelmed even after seeing the grandeur of UPSC Bhawan as a first timer there.

O2O Discussions: Mohan Sir of IAS Baba, Vinay Sir of Insights helped me shape some answers and perspectives. Khan Sir cleared last minute doubts. Vision DAF Analysis session was very detailed.

All the best!