[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #66: Suman Sharma Board, PSIR Optional, Kerala Home State, IFS Service

Date of Interview: 19 Jan Afternoon
Board: Suman Sharma
Optional: PSIR
Home State: Kerala
Hobby: Cricket
Service preference: IFS

DAF Pointers: Integrated MA Economics, University of Hyderabad, Kerala, Student politics, Global politics, English literature by Indian authors, Cricket

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Chairman

1. Query regarding my degree in Economics. (Clarified that it was trans disciplinary and contained different topics including political science)
2. Does student politics not distract students from studies? Is it necessary in a campus ?
3. follow up question on whether I agree with her that student clubs or associations are enough. I agreed.
4. What would be your 3 major priorities for Budget 2023-24?
5. Follow up on whether allocated capital expenditure is being utilised by all ministries.
6. what do you mean by ‘time lease’…something related to lease which i did not understand and skipped
7. If you had the authority, how would you deal with cryptocurrency? Ban it or allow it?

Member 1

1. Tell me about Raja Ravi Varma.
2. What do you think about trade unionism in Kerala? Has it been helpful or not?
3. Would you prefer a government that is sensitive and people friendly or a business like approach?
4. Why despite so much progress Kerala has been lagging in per capita income?

Member 2

1. Has police action against terrorism been successful over the last 30 years or so ?
2. If you were the DM of a district what would you do to improve farmers’ situation?
3. Follow up on which larger scheme is Agriculture Infrastructure Fund part of?
4. The wife of PM Rishi Sunak was in news last year. Could you tell us the reason?

Member 3

1. You are from economics and you chose PSIR optional?
2. (Politely reminded her of my previous answer that it was a trans disciplinary course. She smiled and said “oh, I forgot “ )
3. What is the Parliamentary mechanism to manage/oversee finance? Name the three committees.
4. Followed up with question on how exactly does the Budget process take place ?
5. What are the differences that you have observed between Hyderabad and Kerala?
6. Kerala is a well educated society and yet it has a high share of mental health burden as well as suicide. Why?
7. Do you know about Palghat (Palakkad ) district?
8. There is a special cultural festival there.

Member 4

1. Arrange USA, UK and India in terms of their Gini coefficients 🫠
2. What is the warranted rate of economic growth ?
3. How is Dearness Allowance (DA) calculated for Central Gov employees?

Chairperson: Thank you. Your interview is over.

My take: While I managed to answer most questions satisfactorily, and tried to smile, chairperson had a poker face (no expression), except for smiling nods by M1 and M3 (lady member)

Also, despite my DAF announcing IR in service preference, optional and hobby, they deliberately avoided IR questions.

Yet, all were DAF questions based on graduation and my State.

Mixed experience.