[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #67: Suman Sharma Board, Geography Optional, Rajasthan Home State, Badminton Hobby

Date of Interview: 18/04/2024. Morning shift. 3rd to go
Board: Suman Sharma Ma’am
Optional: Geography
Home State: Rajasthan
Hobby: Badminton

DAF keywords: Rajasthan, Geography, Badminton, NGO, Cultural Exchange Programme with Germany,  (others not asked)

• To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page

Chairman

1. No time given to settle down. No basic chit-chat*
2. Started with a serious question right away, which i can’t recall.
3. – Gig economy?
4. – Steps taken by Rajasthan for gig workers
5. – How much workforce is in gig economy?
6. – Is it good or bad
7. – Rajasthan doing well in renewable energy. There was a time in last years, when all the operations were halted, what was the reason?
8. – as i mentioned about some other reason, she said there was a bird. (Then I talked about Great Indian Bustard and mentioned the reasons)
9. – what was the verdict (i had mentioned SC verdict in the above answer)
10. – So you play badminton  (hobby)
11. – India’s achievements in last year
12. (Thomas cup in my answer)
13. – Who won it? (Team members)
14. – Fastest smash in that? By whom? What was last record
15. – shuttlecock’s feather, where does it come from?
16. – Which one is Faster- feather or plastic?

Member 1 

1. Now a days large hydropower projects being discouraged etc etc. why?
2. – so what should we do then?
3. – We have some ministries at central level, even if those subjects fall in state list. Why, what’s the need, should we do away with them?
4. – Geography determines history. Comment on it.

Member 2 

1. – Rajasthan shares border with Pakistan. Then something about – Survey of India not sharing maps of border areas for security reasons. What is the status now?
2. – A vaguely structured question on governance
3. – One more vaguely structured question. Government keeps changing priorities, what to do etc.

Member 3 

(perhaps had squint or something, I struggled to maintain eye contact with him)

1. – Which is calmest ocean
2. – Something regarding, countries opposite in globe and 12 hrs time difference (i answered interpreting it like this, not sure whether he meant this or something else)

Member 4

gave the most comforting vibe

1. – So you learnt German language (I said No, i was part of Cultural Exchange Programme with Germany during school)
2. – do you know of xyz in Delhi (perhaps a place/institution/something related to german language)
3. – what is social audit
4. – As you had mentioned NGO, what role can they play in social audit.  (I had mentioned about my experience in NGO in governance answer)
5. – Then, said something about issues with social audit-not done timely etc and expected my comment on that
6. – Black sea- why the name is black?
7. – Countries bordering black sea?
8. – where is white sea?

Chairwoman- Your interview is over.

*Chairwoman was listening and observing keenly throughout the interview*

Can’t recall some questions.

My experience:

Not much “cordial” vibes. Not as “enriching” as i expected. Not much “conversational”, not much experience/opinion based, rather more like prelims/mains questions.

Perhaps, transcripts had raised my expectations too high.

Observations/Gyaan:

– Transcripts seem more “clean and polished” than actual interview.

– In mocks, we know that the panel will give us a feedback later. So, the whole focus is on answering the questions. In real interview, a part of mind is occupied in understanding the expressions of panel. That’s needed to understand the vibe of room, but also takes away a little focus.

– Like prelims & mains, prepare syllabus (DAF, current) and PYQ (transcripts) well, but at the same time, be prepared for random questions.

Hoga vahi jo Manzoor-e-khuda hoga.