[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #40: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla Board, Economics Optional, Roller skating, Chess, Editor Hobbies

Date of Interview: 12th January 2024
Board: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla
Optional: Economics
Key Words: SRCC, DSE, Women Rights, Hyderabad, Roller skating, Chess, Editor (Magazine)

Morning, first to go.

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Chairman

1. Where are you from? What is your graduation subject? Where did you graduate from?
2. Debt- In many countries’ debt is rising what is your opinion about it considering you are an economist?
3. So, developing countries should not be considered about debt?
4. What about developed nations- US debt?
5. USA has a very high debt, but it is not concerned about it. Why do you think so?
6. Do you also think the military of US plays a major role for it being a great economy?
7. Sir, talked about how US forced Saudi to sell oil in exchange of military. Then the question was, So, is it military power that is making USA a strong economy? (I deferred from this opinion, and gave Russia’s example, sir cracked a joke- “Lets kill Americans first, will deal with soviets later)
8. Russia. It has a reckless military policy, its Economy is not strong, why does it not care about it? Does it not fear of economic consequences of its military actions?
9. What is GDP of Russia?
10. Let’s talk about middle east. What is your opinion about Iran. Why is it violating basic principles of economics?
11. How does Iran dare to violate US Sanctions, and still continue to fund its proxies?
12. What is the aim of Iran, why is it funding Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis?
13. We have seen recently increased attacks in the red sea region, and also China is following is a aggressive military policy against India. Do you think India’s defence allocation in budget is enough to deal with it? (I told defence budget is increasing- Sir disagreed with me)
14. How should India deal with these threats, what should it do in terms of economics?
15. Do you think Technology can substitute man power in Military? (Sir agreed with my answer, and gave example of Ukraine)

Member 1

1. In your opinion, what should be the Ideal share of Direct taxes, and Indirect taxes in the tax revenue?
2. So, direct taxes should be higher or Indirect taxes? And why?
3. There is demand that income tax be abolished. What is your opinion?
4. Are we not imposing burden on corporates. We have corporate tax, and also capital gains tax? Are these both duplicate of each other, is there any cascading effect on them?
5. Shall the capital gains tax be abolished? (I said no), How you justify your stand?
6. Is GST violating the federal structure in India? Has not it taken away rights of states?
7. In USA, states have different tax laws and they have ultimate taxing powers. In India there is an integrated tax. Why? Which fiscal federalism is stronger?
8. What is the share of states in GST council?
9. Has any resolution been passed that required voting in the council?
10. What is the share of Union in GST council? What is the majority required to pass a decision?
11. Any reforms that you suggest in GST council? (I said consensus)
12. Consensus cannot be a law. How will you enforce it?

Member 2

1. What is the current employment situation in the country?
2. Why there is unemployment, though we are growing at a very fast rate?
3. How do you impart skills?
4. Despite several skill initiatives, the skills are not being improved, and the gap is not being closed?
5. Why is it taking so long?
6. So why are you interested in writing about women rights?
7. How will blogging help in changing the family thinking, because what is society, its a bunch  of families?
8. What do you write about?
9. There are many cybercrimes happening in the country. Why are police not able to prevent it?
10. Why are they happening, Is our cybercrime law not strong?
11. India’s is an agriculture economy; Agriculture is very important for us. We cannot ignore, hence, the government Introduced farm laws. But there were so many protests. Why did they happen?
12. Why are the middle men so strong in India, especially in the rural markets? (Agreed that it is a sad stage in agriculture)
13. Despite achieving high literacy rates, the culture of dowry still exists, specially in the states of Andhra and Telangana. Why do you think?
14. How can we bring a change in the dowry culture?

Member 3

1. How can budget be used to empower women? What kind of intervention do we need in budget?
2. Is gender budgeting derived from the budget or is it compiled before the budget?
3. What are the components of gender budgeting? (I said I am not aware- She asked me to guess)
4. Does gender budgeting be done in all areas? Where do we need to intervene?
5. You are constructing a road, and bridge? Can this be made part of gender budgeting?
6. Samagraa Siksha Abhiyan, What kind of schemes the government has introduced just for the sake of women?
7. You have written this magazine in your college. How did the COVID-19 impact your ability to write magazines?
8. What about your master’s course, was it impacted by COVID?
9. Can you remember the articles in constitution that relate to allocation of business? How does the government allocate business?
10. In USA, we have seen one or the other day there is a shooting. Why?
11. Why are gun laws a problem in USA, what is the significance?

Member 4

1. In Hyderabadi cuisine, what else do we have other than Biryani?
2. Why did the introduction of CAA lead to protests? What was the driving force for these protests?
3. Does CAA take rights of Indian Muslims?
4. What are the concerns with the law?
5. What about NRC?
6. We have seen many developments in technology recently. Can you tell me any latest development in Economics? (I talked about RCTs)
7. How can RCTs be used. What is the Abhijeet Banerjee’s theory?
8. Give me an example how this worked on ground, anything that you know?
9. Gossips (Picked up from RCTs answer), and word of mouth is a better way of spreading news. That’s not something new, isn’t? (I agreed)
10. Saudi and dollar exchange rate is always constant. Why? Do you think they have any agreement on this?