[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #54: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla Board, Kerala Home State, Meditation Hobby

Date of Interview: 9th January, forenoon session
Board: Lt. Gen Raj Shukla sir
Background: MBBS
Home State: Kerala
Hobby: Meditation

DAF keywords- MBBS, mental health,  Kerala, army Hobbies(asked)-endurance cycling, mindfulness meditation

time- about 30 min

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Chairman

1. You have worn a nice suit. Where did you buy it from? ..They do great tailoring there!
2. how do you feel about your preparation?.. 80%, that is good enough!

Member 1

1. You had studied medicine, did you have to do any specialisation there? Which speciality did you do you like the best? I’m trying to lead you there
2. What are some of the mental health problems in our country? how to address the issues?
3. You spoke of patriarchy. Does Kerala face issues of patriarchy?
4. To which section of the population would you focus on awareness of mental health?
5. you had done research on covid? Was it related to mental health?
6. endurance cycling, what did you use to do there with regards to that?

Member 2

1. You spent how many years studying medicine? You had this idea of civil services before?
2. what qualities of medicine will help you in administration?
3. Does a doctor have leadership roles, isn’t it more academic and technical? What leadership role do doctors do?
4. what is the difference between a leader and a manager ?
5. We have seen the rise of technology in medicine, where all has it affected the practise of medicine, which aspects?
6. with the advent of technology, do you think a doctor can be replaced?

Member 3

1. Have you worked after your graduation? Do you remember anything related to medicine now?
2. Tell me, what are the fundamental rights?
3. Among Art 14 and Art 21, which is greater?
4. so you feel art 14 is greater, so you don’t feel that right to life is necessary?
5. what if art 14 was removed, will there be no equality in the country?
6. What is Art 20?
7. what do you mean by basic structure?

Member 4

1. You had done mindfulness meditation-. Do you know about chakras?
2. There are issues of mental health in our schoolchildren, What do you think can be done?
3. Why are there more suicides in the army? What do you feel needs to be done?
4. Kerala tourism industry is world renown. What do you think can the other states learn from Kerala?
5. India is going to face problems related to the aging population. What do you think needs India should do regarding geriatric care?

Chairman

1. When did you graduate? So you hadn’t worked since 2021?
2. So, you are from AFMC, didn’t you need to join the army there?
3. On a lighter note, So what did you feel disillusioned on, Army or medicine?

chairman says thank you

Overall experience- the panel remained largely neutral and unexpressive. So it was difficult to understand and judge how the answers were received and how the interview went.

Chairman didn’t ask me many questions, though I have a defence background and my hobbies relate to it- reading war history.