[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #187: lt.Gen Raj Shukla Board, Sociology Optional, Kerala Home State

Date of Interview: 6th march, 2024 AF(3rd to go)
Board: lt.Gen Raj Shukla sir
Optional: Sociology
Home State: Kerala
Daf key words: supply chain mgmt, ayurveda, engineering,  sociology, kerala

Environment of room: extra large office, chair sitting 10-15 ft apart, 4 other members sitting at a distance from me. 2 female and 2 male

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Chairman

1. What do you do now? (Operations manager in sports ayurvedic firm?
2. What is sports ayurveda?
3. long monologue (in hindi) on how india unfortunately left traditions for modernity, do you think we should teach mahabharata and ramayana in school?
4. What would it’s negatives be?
5. do you think ayurveda and modern medicine should converge?

(I said it should integrate rather than converge)

6. But modern medicine don’t accept ayurveda right?

(Said there are integrated course already existing in india)

Member 1

1. Do you know G20? What are the initiatives taken in G20?
2. What is a troika?
3. Current g20 president?
4. Do you know AQI?
5. What are the 8 pollutants in AQI?

Member 2

1. Kerala polity is fragmented. Do you think it’s the reflection of it’s society?
2. What is it that keralites find in common? (He also added not to say language- I said 3 points and then he added migration to it and asked me whether it is true, i acknowledged it)
3. Why kerala has a rich history of ayurveda diff from other parts of india?
4. What is a payment bank? Do you know any examples of payment banks other than paytm payment banks?
5. One question about a concept that I have not heard of for which I said don’t know sir. Cant even remember the term he asked

Member 3

1. How old is your company?
2. How long have you been working in your company?
3. Taking from what Chairman sir asked how would you improve acceptability of ayurveda since modern practitioners don’t accept it saying no data is there?
4. What from your graduation have you implemented in your firm?
5. Do you think fintech was a disruptive technology? Was it or is it the way out?
6. Asked some new concept implemented in NEP which can help ayurveda? (Said I don’t know sir. I don’t have the facts to make an opinion on this particular question)
7. Kerala people are known to protect their Environment and biodiversity? ( Said yes sir)
8. Kerala is also lacking in industrial sector. Do you think this Environmental protectionism is causing this?

Member 4

1. Why do so many engineers come to civil services? Do you think engineering graduates don’t have enough skills?
2. Why socio despite engineering?
3. What is the unique thing about kerala society sociologicaly? (She seemed very happy to hear matriarchal families among Nairs)
4. Changes in migration pattern in kerala?
5. Impacts of migration in kerala society?
6. Is kerala govt doing anything for countering this issue?(add on to some negatives that i mentioned)

Chairman: chalo hogaya. All the best.

Experience: Board was cordial.  No grilling. Seemed satisfied with most answers or atleast was acknowledging my answers with nodding and adding points. Chairman sir was looking in his phone after his line of questioning often but at times was also watching me.

Questions were mostly opinion based and work experienced related. Except one member who only asked factual questions. Overall an enhancing experience. Feels like a conversation that they are interested to hear from us.