UPSC Interview 2024] – Transcript #78: Suman Sharma ma’am Board, PSIR Optional,

Date of Interview: 07/04/2025 (Forenoon)
Board: Suman Sharma ma’am
Optional: PSIR
Keywords: Gujarat, Haryana, Chartered Accountant, PSIR (nothing else asked from DAF, no question from hobbies)

• To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2024, visit this page

Chairman

1. Gujarat has a lot of semiconductor industries coming to it. So tell me what are the companies which are coming?
2. In which region they are coming in?
3. Why Dholera SIR? What is it’s significance?
4. But Gujarat has a lot of SEZs also to incentivise these companies. So what is the difference between SEZ and SIR?
5. You mentioned that in SEZ tax exemptions are provided, so aren’t any incentives provided in SIR?
6. On one hand we say that smoking kills, on the other there is a lot of tobacco cultivation in Gujarat. So what is your take on that, should we ban it?
7. If we respect consumer choice, should we legalise marijuana in India?
8. Currently, wars like the Russia Ukraine war is going on, so do you think that another nuclear arms race is into play?

Member 1

1. Gurcharan Das in his “India grows at Night” has mentioned about the rise of private sector amidst public failure, as was the case with IT sector as well. So do you think govt should stop interfering?
2. How has govt supported the IT sector or has it risen by itself? Which policies have the govt initiated to support them?
3. Why are companies in the SEZs of China more successful? What have they done right?

Member 2

1. As you are aware that Trump has imposed reciprocal tariffs all over the world. What are its advantages for India?
2. What are the challenges for India w.r.t. above?
3. The recent remark about Indian startups engaging in delivery apps is on the rounds. So give me three reasons why startups and MSMEs are not progressing in India in this regard.

Member 3

1. What is the role of independent directors in a company?
2. Whom do they report to? Where do they report?
3. Who are the intended stakeholders for such reporting?
4. Suppose a fraud happens and the independent director has no knowledge of it. Would he be accountable as he is an independent director?
5. What is your opinion on the recent negotiations regarding India-USA bilateral trade agreement? Will it be successful?
6. With how many countries does India have an FTA? Name a few countries?
7. What is your observation on the various FTAs that India has with other countries vis a vis the proposed bilateral trade agreement with USA?

Member 4

1. Tell me 5 good things and 1 bad thing about Haryana.
2. What is the contribution of Haryana to the Indian economy?
3. What is the difference between the Democrats and Republicans of USA?
4. Which one is better: Democrat or Republican ideology?
5. You are sitting in Dholpur house, so why is it called Dholpur?

Chairperson: Thank you, your interview is over.

Mocks: Vajiram, Samkalp, Chahal, Drishti, Chanakya Mandal, Next IAS, Symbiosis IAS (Gujarat),
O2O with: Mahesh Bhagwat Sir, Shubham Sir (Vidyapeeth IAS), Vivek Thakar Sir (Symbiosis IAS), Jaymin Patel Sir (Gujarat Administrative Services), Ravindran Sir (Vajiram)

Overall experience: It was a round table setup. All the panel members including the chairperson had a serious face the entire time. Mocks are useful for practice and confidence purposes, no questions repeated otherwise. O2O proved better for me. Thank you to the community for sharing the transcripts as a few questions were repeated.