[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #18: Dinesh Dasa Sir Board, Mathematics Optional, Rajasthan Home State, Table Tennis Hobb

Date of Interview: 05/01/2024
Board: Dinesh Dasa Sir
Optional: Mathematics
Home State: Rajasthan
Background: M.Sc Mathematics, IIT Roorkee
Hobby: Table Tennis,

• To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page

Chairman

My medium was English but Sir started talking to me in Hindi and asked if I was comfortable in Hindi? And then told me that you can even answer in Hindi wherever you wish. He asked all questions in Hindi.

1. Meaning of your name? Some follow up questions on related concepts.
2.  Asked that you post graduated in 2019, how have you been engaging yourself since then?
3.  Have you given any other exams? Which exams?
4.  When we talk about Election Commission, there is one person whose contribution is still talked about? (TN Seshan). Why? What did he do?
5.  Honesty makes you a vulnerable person. Why then to be honest? Kya milega honest reh kar?

He then asked other members to ask. Also he was working on his laptop during the whole interview and was not looking at me directly when other members were asking. But he was listening carefully as he asked for clarification once or twice when I was answering to other members.

Member 1

1.  You must be following the Israel-Palestine issue. Do you think the conflict will escalate or peace will be restored?
2.  Even if the conflict goes on, what should be the priorities in this conflict?
3.  Asked about the Aadhar judgement, tell me 2 things for which Aadhar is mandatory and 2 things for which it is not as per the judgement.
4. In your view is Aadhar serving its purpose or are there any concerns regarding it? Cross questioning on it as per my answer.

Member 2

1.  You can see portrait of Gandhiji in front of you. When he was assassinated, there was one newspaper which did not cover it on its front page, which was that? Since I did not know it, he said I will tell you. Told it was The Hindu, and then asked why do you think it did not cover? And then asked okay what do you find on The Hindu on its front page everyday? I said advertisement, and then said ‘Exactly! The Hindu had advertisements on the front page so it published that assassination news on the second page. And then laughed loudly. All other members including me were also laughing.
2. Some follow up questions on the same advertisement thing  regarding government welfare schemes which are published in newspapers and a SC judgement on the same.
3. Why Indian Table Tennis players not able to progress on the international level? Some follow up questions.

Member 3

1.  I can say you participated in the elections in Rajasthan held recently. How do I know? (I had the ink of voting still on my finger, so I told him.)
2.  What issues are there in elections? Electoral process? Follow up questions on EVMs and criminalisation in politics?
3.  Concentration of CO2 in atmosphere? Itna sa hi toh hai, kya faraq padta hai and then laughed.

Member 4

1.  Meaning of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam? In which literature is it mentioned? Where  was it  used recently?  (G20 Theme)
2.  There is a general fear of Mathematics among girls. What according to you are the reasons?
3.  Then chairperson told that your interview is over. Thank you. You may go. I thanked everyone and left the room.

Your assessment of the board/your performance: The board was extremely cordial. They were listening patiently with some follow up questions in between. Nervousness ka ‘N’ bhi nahi aane de rahe the. Beech beech me to interview vaali feel bhi nahi aane de rahe the vo log. It was a round table setup. It was more of a conversation and they kept adding few points by themselves. The members asked questions in Hindi mostly and used English in between. I answered accordingly.

I could not assess much how I performed.  But experience wise too good.

Good luck all! 🙂