UPSC Interview 2024] – Transcript #46: Dr. Dinesh Dasa Board, History Optional, Tamil Nadu Home State

Date of Interview: 19th March
Board: Dr. Dinesh Dasa Sir
Optional: History
Home State: Tamil Nadu
Session: 5th to go in the morning
DAF – History, Tamil Nadu, Foreign Policy, Weight loss and Strength training, Training underprivileged children (Rest not asked)

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Chairman

Greeted me smilingly
1. You’re a history student from Tamil Nadu. So you must be aware of Tamil Nadu culture. Imagine you’re the secretary of Culture of Tamil Nadu and you’ve come to Delhi for a cultural event and you have to deliver a speech on the outline of Culture of Tamil Nadu. So please stand up and deliver the speech
2. Recently, there was a movie based on which there was tense situation in Maharashtra nah (I said yes and I think it’s Chava). Ya, if you’re the Director of CBFC what would you have done?
3. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin has announced $5 Million dollars for deciphering the Indus script. Despite Tamil Nadu being geographically distant from IVC, why is he doing so and what is the reason behind it? ( First I clarified that it’s $1 million dollar, then asked the member near me how much is that in INR, he was doing some calculation, then I said it’s around 8 crore. He said ya around that amount to the Chairman)
4. Tamil Nadu is mostly ruled by regional states and they said good bye to National parties, and still they are doing exceptionally well in most sectors. What do you think is the reason for that?
5. (Follow up) Is there any historical or cultural reasons for it?

Member 1 (Gentlemen with no expression):

1. There are lot of talks about language these recent days like language diktat is being imposed on them. What do you think about it?
2. You put weight loss as your hobby. Why is it so?
3. You follow foreign policy as your hobby. What is IMEC?
4. (Follow up) Through which country which it passes through? What are the significances of it?
5. In Africa, China is undertaking a lot of projects and India is also undertaking a lot of projects, what is the difference between both countries’ projects?

Member 2

(Lady listening and nodding her head throughout)
1. UCC is one of the constitutional mandates. It’s given in DPSP and some states implemented it. What is your view on it
2. (Follow up) If the government implements it, what will be the challenges or we should consider anything while doing so?
(Forgot 1 question)

Member 3

1.Tamil Nadu is performing well in many things than the rest of the country. Tell me one thing in which Tamil Nadu is performing better than other states. (GER of 47%)
2. (Follow up) Do you know what is the reason for it? There is one reason why it is so and that is being implemented all across the country. Do you know that? (MDM)
3. If you are posted as the Director of a loss making Public Sector Undertaking, would you disinvest the company or make reforms in it?
4. Which state would you like to serve?

Member 4

1. Since you’re training underprivileged children, do you know what is Teach for India?
2. I want to pick up your answer for 3 language policy. Some of our neighbours are pushing English to reap the benefit of English (in the context of service sector). But we are promoting mother tongue for primary education for multiple reasons and rightly so, do you think that would result negatively since English advantage we have now could be lost?
3. (Follow up) Ya I understand that but will the proficiency be lost in doing so and won’t it affect India’s advantage?
4. History is mostly written by victor. The other side of the history is not mentioned fairly. So do you think, history should be rewritten?
5. (Multiple Follow ups) What evidence can we follow for rewriting?
6. Have you heard of time capsules? (I said I am not aware of it) Explained it and asked can we take that as evidence to rewrite history?
7. Then how can we believe the other evidence too?
(Dasa Sir asked mam to stop)
Finally Dasa Sir said thank you

Almost all questions are from DAF. Board was listening mostly except Member 4 alone kind of followed up on the same question. Thankful to my friends in the process.