UPSC Interview 2024] – Transcript #63: Sheel Vardhan Singh Board, Kerala Home State, Mechanical engineering, Global politics Hobby

Date of Interview: 03/04/2025 AN 3rd to go
Board: Sheel Vardhan Singh
Home State: Kerala
Background: Mechanical engineering
Hobbies: Global politics
DAF: Chess, Badminton, Global politics, Mechanical engineering, ITS, Kerala, Gujarat

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Chairman

How do your friends address you?
1.You play online chess. Have you heard of Joshua Waitzkin?
(Said no then he explained)
2. How did you learn chess? Whether by King and pawn or random positions?
3. Which combination of pieces in chess is more advantageous?
4. Should India hold the Olympics considering how badly it effected the economies of Brazil and France? (Said yes)
5. Which is the skill that India should be focussing on to improve employment? (said coding)
6. So should India spend money on developing coding skills or on Olympics?

Member 1

1. You were born in Kerala, but grew up in Gujarat. Can you tell what both people can learn from each other?
2. What can both states learn economically from the other?
3. The number of applicants for Civil Service from Gujarat is less. Why so?

Member 2

1. You have hobby of following Global politics, what exactly do you in it?
2. In the last quarter, what we’re the major events that interested you?
3. If the Russia – Ukraine war is stopped at the current position, what are the wins and losses for both Ukraine and Russia? ( Chair interjected asking why is Ukraine’s capital spelled as both Kyiv and Kiev? (Didn’t know and he replied ). Further asked have you heard of Chicken Kiev speech ( saying watch it since you are interested)
4. The era of annexations were believed to be over with World War 2. Is it making a comeback now?

Member 3

1. How will you use your mechanical engineering skills in administration?
2. How will you use in meeting Net Zero targets? (started with Renewable energy but intervened asking is Net zero only about energy)
3. How will you use skills for meeting Net Zero in waste and water management?
4. Earlier India had good badminton players. Why is India not producing similar players now?

Member 4

1. Kerala and Gujarat both have linkages with the Middle East since ancient time continuing to this day. Can you elaborate?
2. India is now trying to have connectivity through IMEC. Which country in the region is opposed to it?
3. India is building another connectivity project in the region. Which is it?
4. What India is constructing as part of the project?
5. Since you are from DGFT, what is your opinion on the tariffs of Trump on India?

Chairman said your interview is over. It was nice talking to you.