[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #64: RN Choubey sir Board, Mathematics Optional, Badminton Hobby

Date of Interview: 19th January, 2024, Afternoon session
Board: RN Choubey sir
Optional: Mathematics
Background: Mechanical Engineering
Hobby: Badminton

DAF keywords: Assam, ONGC petro additions limited, Dahej-Gujarat, American Crime Drama TV series, Blitz Chess, Badminton, Mechanical Engineering

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Chairman

1. Tell us about your educational background and work experience.
2. Why did you leave your job?
3. Let us talk about Finance Commission. What is Finance Commission?
4. I am proposing an alternate mechanism. If states are given the power of taxation, say service tax, then there is no need for the Finance Commission to exist. What do you have to say about that?
5. Tax devolution to states- need based instead of making it performance based. Doesn’t it disincentivise the states which are performing well?

Member 1

1. NSCN( IM) signed a framework agreement with Govt 7-8 years back. Still there is no progress on the peace accord. The NSCN( IM) members are still collecting illegal taxes from the people and the government servants there. What is the way out here?
2. You know the conflict in Manipur. Organisations like NAMTA( North American Manipur Tribal Association) are appealing with the US, EU, UN about the violation of human rights by Indian State. Do you think US, UN, EU etc will intervene? What should we do if they intervene?
3. You have this hobby of watching American Crime Drama TV series. What do you like about this? Are these true stories?
4. What series specifically?

– I said the Wire and mentioned the city of Baltimore. Hearing this, Chairman Sir intervened and jumped into the conversation.

Chairman

1. What is this series?
2. What is it about?
3. – So I talked about the intersectionality of the crime problem and the drug economy there, and the role of administration,police, education system, media etc.
4. Sir commented- “Then I will have to watch this.” Apparently someone from his family lives in Baltimore😂
5. I added- “Sir it was a story from 20 years back.”

Member 2

1. ONGC petro additions limited- Is it a subsidiary or a JV?
2. There are lot of other industries in Dahej area. What are those?
3. Reliance Dahej manufuctures a commodity which it exports to other countries? Do you know about it?
4. There is a port in Dahej. Do you know about it?
5. Monologue about the economy of Northeast. And then he asked me to do a SWOT analysis on North East.
6. Uranium is also found in North East. You missed that. Where is it found?

Member 3

1. So in the context of your hobby of Crime Drama in the US, what are the differences do you observe between the security apparatus in the US and here?
2. I will give you a statement and you have to give your opinion. “Demography has absolutely no role to play in the growth of the economy of a nation.”
3. What are the skills that will make the workers future proof?
4. What is the difference between 4th and 5th industrial revolution?

Member 4

1. Tell me about the tea industry of Assam. What is the current status.
2. Which tea variety has the GI tag?
3. What are the national parks in Assam? Tell me the names.
4. Which national parks have rhinos?- Here Chaubey sir interrupted and told the member that let’s not go to areas out of comfort zone. So I didn’t get to answer this question.

Chairman

Is there anything on your DAF which you think we missed and you want us to discuss. (I  said No sir and thanked them.) Your interview is over. Thank you.

Assessment of Board: Cordial Board.

Utility of Mocks : I gave mocks only at Samkalp, Chanakya Mandal and Vajirao & Reddy and they are all very encouraging and motivating people.