[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #39: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla Board, Geography Optional, fruit gardening Hobby

Date of Interview: 12/01/2024
Board: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla
Optional: Geography
Background: MSc Physics

DAF pointers: Sannadha Sena(community volunteer corps), fruit gardening, Physics

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Chairman

1. You know who is Abraham Lincoln? He went on to give a monologue on a quote by Abraham Lincoln (a quote about integrity while aiming for achievements is what i comprehended, it was a difficult quote for me, I even requested him to repeat the quote again)
2. What do you think of this quote? Is it practical or just a moral teaching?
3. Why do we have rampant corruption despite such teachings?
4. Do you think honest people have an edge over others in decision making?
5. Don’t you think honest people would be best placed to achiever more? (I opined that it not always the case, he went on to give me an example in politics, I acknowledged and added some points)

Member 2 

1. Where did you study?
2. Have you observed people suffering from poverty, any direct experience?
3. If you are appointed as an IAS officer how will you address the stark poverty people face?
4. What is Sannadha Sena?
5. What all activities did you do during COVID, it was very infectious right?
6. You have done crowdfunding, how will you address the transparency and accountability issues? I was elaborating, she asked me give to answer just in points

Member 3

1. You are from physics background, have you heard of alloy?
2. How many phases are there in an alloy? I asked for a clarification but he retorted by saying that you are the one who studied physics not me😅
3. Have you heard of honeycomb structure? I said i am not very aware, he explained it to me
4. So you have been mentoring, what do you do?
5. Have you seen the logo of apple, is it a full apple or a bitten apple? Why so?

Member 4

1. So your optional is geography right, have you heard of chicken neck? What is its importance?
2. He gave a monologue on dismal state of Indian agriculture, why is it so? Since you are into fruit gardening, what do you think can be done in horticulture?
3. In Kerala recently any exotic fruit crop has become popular?
4. Avocado has been becoming popular recently, are you aware of the different varieties of it?

Member 5 

1. Have you heard of Thomas Friedman?(I got confused with physicist Richard Feynman, asked for clarification )
2. He is a famous journalist, has written a book, Earth is flat, but geography says otherwise, why so?
3. Do you think monetisation was a good step?
4. So it was not successfully implemented, it couldn’t achieve its purpose, you still support it?
5. Recently, RBI withdrew ₹ 2000, if there is a plan to withdraw ₹500 would you be supporting?
6. How will the liquidity crisis could be resolved in such a case?
7. If you are reintroducing a currency already withdrawn like ₹1000, what is the entire point of demonetisation.
8. How do you think by withdrawing ₹500 black money could be curbed, they can still change it for new currency right?

Chairman gave an indifferent face and said thank you, I felt a bit confused then I said thank you and came out.