[UPSC Interview Transcript #4] Manoj Soni Board, Kerala Home State, Watching satirical shows, Opera music, Football, online chess hobbies

Interview Date: 11/02/2020 [IFoS]
Board: Manoj Soni Sir
Background: Mechanical Engg. from IIT Bombay
Home state: Kerala
hobbies: Watching American satirical shows, listening to opera music, following
football, online chess

Chairman

1. You have had a long wait, (I was 5th in the session) would you like some tea? What were you during the waiting time?
2. What did you read in the newspaper? What caught your attention?
3. You like watching American Satirical shows, which shows do you watch?
4. Is ‘Friends’ satire?
5. Why is IIT Mumbai, still named Bombay?
6. How do forests help in improving the quality of water?
7. You have good forest cover in your state. Is it the highest?

Member 1

1. What is an ecosystem?
2. If I write with my pen, biotic and abiotic factors are interacting, is it an ecosystem?
3. What happens in an ecosystem?
4. What are the ecosystem services in agricultural land?
5. .What are the dominant crops in Kerala?
6. What do you know about silent valley?
7. What are the different types of forests in Kerala?
8. Where else do you see Tropical evergreen forests?

Member 2

1. Place of Birth Thrissur, why is the festival famous?
2. What about the environmental impact of firecrackers?
3. What is CRZ?
4. Have the restrictions been eased? Why do you think so?
5. What happened in the Kerala floods?
6. Kerala is a high literacy, tech-savvy state. Why does mining, deforestation, quarrying take place? Is it a governance deficit?
7. Can’t we use technology to stop this quarrying? How can we do so?
8.  What are the concerns with respect to Mullaperiyar Dam?

Member 3

1. Where do you find the best forests in India?
2. I say climate change is a hoax. What do you think?
3. Don’t you think it’s a natural process?
4. What changes have you observed with regard to climate change?
5. What is your analysis of the Kerala floods? Don’t you think dam mismanagement is the main cause?
6. Recently a few buildings were demolished in Kerala. What is your opinion?
7.  What is your opinion about the parading of elephants in Thrissur Pooram?

Chairman: Thank you, all the best.

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