[UPSC Interview 2022] – Transcript #282 : Dr. Manoj Soni Sir Board, Anthropology Optional, Poetry Hobby

Date of Interview: 13/4/2023, forenoon session, 4th to go.
Board: Dr. Manoj Soni Sir
Hobby: Poetry
Optional: Anthropology
DAF keywords: Doctor, Academic director of free coaching for NEET. (There were lot others too)

• To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2022, visit this page

Chairman

Asked to Remove mask to verify photograph. Gave option of wearing or keeping off mask(i chose not to wear)

-So from masks and as u are a doctor, in N95 mask, what is N and 95 exactly?
-coaching is a menace on education system, what are ethical issues involved?
-what steps can be taken to tackle it?
-what is size of coaching industry.

Member 1

-U are so against coaching and still u urself running a coaching class?
-if u are an education secretary, what u will do tackle/regulate coaching industry?
-What is Ayushman Bharat?
-Have u seen any patient getting benefit of PM-JAY?

Member 2

-So Dr…u criticised lot the education system, but same system produced good people who lead MNCs and not the people who have studied had so called IB board schools who promote creativity and all. Why so?
(I humbly denied abt criticising whole education system. I reminded of criticism to coaching and pointed out to Resilience among studnts who face hardships and also to educational excellence of Public funded Higher Education institutions (IIT, IIM, AIIMS, JNU)

-Yes Adverisities bring best out of people.
And luxury of studnts from boards like IB, lack that (i said, sir i think we cannot generalise that), the he said there is data about that, (I didn’t say ye or no for that)

Member 3

Picked up my earlier discussion about Teacher training-
You are doctor, but talked lot abt education and esp teacher training which happened to mu domain( i said , thats great sir, I m glad to know).
-what changes in entrance examination like JEE/UPSC u wud bring if u are made UPSC chairman or head of exam conducting body. ( preceded by long monologue abt high difficulty level of questions in JEE)
-monologue abt short cut tricks  taught at coaching and then erosion of values , my take on it.
(He was interested in asking more questions, but chairman sir signalled him to pass)

Member 4

(Speaking in Hindi)
-Narrated his experience abt unnecessary diagnostic tests he had to do at private hospital and mentioned abt demand-supply concept in  such scenarios. Asked abt my take.
-So is there any regulatory body to control/prevent such malpractices
-(taking que from work medical ethics i used in earlier answer)case study abt whom i ll throw from boat if there is a situation of saving any two from three(a pregnant lady, young boy or an elderly)

Chairman in the end- best of luck for ur future. Smiled.

Overall experience- i think panelists were very much involved in conversation(unlike still faces). Everything except first question abt N95 and abt Ayushyaman Bharat was like sitting for a discussion with learned people.

Mocks- i gave nearly all mocks (16-18) available in the market!  As i was immune to getting low confidence after critical feedback. i was using to gradually refine myself.
Helped me in practising articulation.

DAF based guidance from Mahesh Bhagwat (IPS) sir, Dr Prasanna (IPS) Sir and SOMP Mentor(Utkarsh sir) helped to define boundaries of preparation without getting panicked/anxious.

Duration:30+ minutes approx.