Interview Transcripts: CSE/IFoS 2020
An attempt to crowd-source transcripts for future reference and use
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
Candidate from Maharashtra
PT on 2nd August FN
Manoj Sony Sir Board
Qualification: BSc, MBA (Finance), CAIIB.
Optional: Public Administration
Place: Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Work Experience: 5 year + experience and last assignment was
Assistant Manager in Public Sector
Bank. Now fully preparing for civil services.
Hobby: DIY, Quora and Teaching.
I am not mentioning some of questions which were related to
very personal information.
Well questioned are not in sequence too. But written for
separately for chairperson and other members.
Chairman Sir:
1.Tell me about yourself in 40 second?
2. Why did you leave your public sector bank?
3. Wasn’t it possible to prepare with public sector bank
job.
4. What did you learn from your two year stay in Tamilnadu
while working in bank?
5. Civil Services is of lot of uncertainty. Do you have any
plan B?
6. Being from humble background how did I contribute to your
Society. Especially in Taluka or
District?
Members:
1. Why do you want to become IAS?
2. You are science graduate and you can use your science
knowledge for administration?
3. You got two now national level prizes for optimizing
banking operation? What was it about? (I just
told topic and asked do he want me to explain in details. He
asked me to explain). I explained my work.
4. What learning from of Shivaji Maharaj can be useful in
present governance system?
5. Why higher cases of COVID in NAGPUR?
6. Do you know a writer who writes on Shivaji Maharaj? (I
did not remember. I said I am not able to
remember his name.)
7. What is Afghanistan issue? How do you see India’s role in
it?
8. Why banks are making lot of NPA (told them in policy
issue and operational issues format)
9. Should governments go for privatization of bank?
10. Why NPA is lower in Private bank and higher in Public
sector bank.
11. How do you see banking after 10 years when privatization
and merger is going on?
12. Why Videocon group has failed (it was continuous
question to IBC reference in one of my answer)
13. Asked me to explain DIY (Hobby). What innovations I did
in It. He asked can you explain them. ( I
told one. He asked me one more )
14. He said will it be right to call them DIY? ( as per my
understanding there are part of DIY. But sir,
if other name available please suggest me. He smiled)
15. How we are performing in Disaster management and what we
can learn for future? ( I mentioned
DM in one of answer related to Diversity of work of IAS
balwintejas,sjerngalBoard : Air Marshall Ajit Bhonsle Sir
Order : 4th in sequence
Academics : B Tech in Computer Science from IIT Hyderabad
Work Experience : Worked for 2 years as Software Engineer at
Flipkart
Optional : Political Science
Chairman
- Read my DAF out loud - IIT, Flipkart, Hobbies, etc
- "You must be very popular in college"
- Who was your best friend in college?
- If we call and ask him to tell good things about you, what
would he say?
- What are bad things about your friend?
- What is the most important thing in communication?
Member 1
- How has India's journey been in EODB? What are our
challenges?
- Mention few factors of EODB
- Have you invested your money anywhere? How did you invest
and where? [Along with other things, I
mentioned cryptocurrency here]
- Differences between shares and mutual funds
Member 2 [Lady]
- You worked at Flipkart, how did e-commerce revolutionise the marketplace?
- Aren't these big companies a threat to retail stores?
- You mentioned investing in cryptocurrencies, what is
RBI/Govt doing in regulating cryptocurrencies?
- What are the pros and cons of investing in
cryptocurrencies?
Member 3 [Lady]
- *She Corrected my answer on regulation of
cryptocurrencies*
- How did covid 2nd wave affect us?
- You are from Warangal, why was Warangal in news recently?
- How does a site get recognised as UNESCO World Heritage
Site?
- What is the other site that got this status along with
Ramappa?
- Who are "Covidiots"?
Member 4
- You studied Computer Science, what is Quantum Computing?
- How does Quantum computing affect encryption technology?
- What is the difference between Gandhi and Marx? (one more
follow up question on this topic)
balwintejas,sjerngalBackground
B.tech in Mechanical engg, MNNIT Allahabad
Work ex- Tata Motors, New Delhi
Native- Gorakhpur
Optional- Philosophy
Prof Manoj Soni Sir Board, 2nd Aug, afternoon shift
First in the group
M1(Chairperson)
Asked to remove mask to verify photo.
1) So 'my name', How is life?
2) So you left your job in TML after a couple of years to
prepare for civil services, are you also giving
other exams?
2) Why philosophy as optional, was it due to interest or a
tactical decision?
3) Name six schools of Indian philosophyi.e. saddarshana, in
order. Name various Vedantic schools.
4) After more than 70 yeras of independence has India been
able to fully utilize its soft power?
M2(Lady member)
1) Meaning of name.
2) Tata leader who inspired you most. What was most
prominent leadership lesson you learnt from
him?
3) What strategies would you follow to promote soft power in
abroad?
M3
1 - Does your interest extends to sociopoltical philosophy
also? What is the relation between
democracy and socialism? Have read book titled 'democratic
socialism'(also mentioned writers but i am
not able to recall)?
2- What is the relation between FR and DPSP?What happens if
conflict arises? Name the judgements
related to it in order.
3- How EVs benefit in reducing carbon emissons?
M4
1- Why the EV market is not picking up?
2- Continuing with Constitution, what provisions for Power
devolution between centre and state? What
happens in case of conflict?
3-What are various environmental protection laws in india?
4- What is the forest cover in india? What's the trend, by how much it has increased?
M5
1-What do you like to read? Favourite biographies. What
other writers do you read?What about poets?
So you like purist poems?
2-You are also interested in philosophies of other nations.
Which ones? What about Sartre? Have you
read philosophical books like that by ayn rand?
3- In what groups of people you can classify the population
in Gorakhpur? What about for someone as
development office?
4-In reference to your statement on diaspora, what do you
think are reasons for attacks on indians in
african continent?
balwintejas,sjerngalECE graduation, MNNIT Ald
State - Uttar Pradesh
Hobby- life Hacks, mediation, pranayama
Interview date - 20 Aug 2021, Afternoon
Sujatha Mehta ma'am ( 3 male members & 2 lady members)
Chair
1. Give a brief intro including your education & employment background. Emphasised on asking "any" type of employment.
2. What kept you motivated for this exam?
3. Question on hobby - what is innovative life hacks? Any examples ?
4. Asked opinion on a case study related to hobby.
5. Types of hacking & whether hacking by nerds good? Even for good intentions?
6. What should government do?
7. Follow up Questions on Hackathon event by government ? Their Significance? Role of government vs big private companies?
Lady member 2
1. About problem of malnutrition in UP? Give figures.
2. What has government done ?
3. Details about Poshan Abhiyan? Changes in Poshan 2.0
4. Role of Aanganwadi, Asha etc.
5. What else government can do?
6. Follow up question on e Rupi ?
Member 3
1. Do you know about insurance? ( Random question & follow up questions)
2. What are the different types of insurance?
3. Who regulate it?
4. Why do we need regulation of this sector?
5. What is the purpose of life insurance?
6. Gave a complicated long case study on life insurance- whether it is ethical or not to transfer a life insurance by a critically ill single person to someone else for money? Or can he auction it?
Member 4.
1. What is cyber security framework in India?
Elaborate across different sectors - financial, defence, governance, etc. ( Very long question & some follow ups)
2. Manifestation of Sagarmala Project.
3. About Blue Economy. What are the areas etc
Member 5. ( Mostly sociology)
1. Tell me about Weber.
2. About his Bureaucracy. Why are the problems in it?
3. Contribution of Elton Mayo?
4. Difference between Weber's model & Elton Mayo's. Which one do you prefer?
5. Difference between group & team?
6. What is the "one" reason for school dropouts. How Nep will help in solving this issue.
7. How will sociology & engineering knowledge help you in civil services?
Chair
Thankyou Anurag your Interview is over. Do you want us to ask anything else that you have prepared or interested. I took a pause & said thank you ma'am it was a great experience & I'm satisfied.
Total around 35-40 minutes.Very cordial & engaging members. Much better experience than mock interviews.
All the very best to everyone.
balwintejas,sjerngal20-aug
Afternoon session
Psir
Btech in IT
What your company do
What was your role
What u have been doing after college
What u did for social service after college.
Cloud computing
Big data
Block chain explain
How will you prevent data on cloud from hacking
International agreement for cyber security
What is Arab Spring
What about Egypt
What is happening in Syria
Why USA is after Syria..
What is situation with China.. What is your assessment.
Why parliament debates are deteriorating
What is role of anti detection in it
Do you think members feel free to speak due to party discipline
Why HC has given violence problem to CBI despite competent state Police
CBI is caged parrot.. What do have to say now.
What are positive and negative of PPP
Why we charge extra amount to foreigners in Tajmahal
Do you support public defamation of sexual harrasers..
Boys will boys.. What do u think
What is legal provision to prove Patrineliality
Apart from political, what is important in IR
If CPEC is complete, how will it affect India Pak trade relationship
Compare dams in cpec with bakra capacity
How cpec will impact manufacturing capacity of Pakistan
Why Yamuna is dry in Agra
What will you do to revive it
Kept counter questions on same..
balwintejas,sjerngalsjerngal,Background
Ashish
Graduation : - NIT Nagpur
Optional :Sociology
Place : Buldhana
Work ex : Currently working in jPmorgan chase
Was waiting outside the cabin of tc anant till called from inside .
Went and sat on the chair forgot it was a moving chair and there i was sliding after sitting:
Chairman ( T C Anant)
We are old people speak as loud as you could . YOu can remove your faceshield and put it on the table
1. You are from akola
2 . Tell me something about buldhana ?
3. Strengths and weakness of buldhana?
4 . You are doing good in life . Here your salary will be less than half and then why you want to join?
5. What you do in JPMorgan ?
6. What kind of flows are in it ?
7. From where are you based out of ?
8. So you are working from home ?
1 st member
1 . Do you write algortihm?
2 . So while working you stole some time from job is this so and prepared for civils?
3. You have been topper all through why didn't you think of doing mba?
4 . What is the measure for you by that ou will say you brought change in lives of people ?
5. How did you study for this interview. What was your approcah ?
6 . What drives ashish ? Is it money power fame ?
2 nd member
1. Which newspaper you read ?
2. tell me 3 news ?
3. Did you read indian express or economic times ? As 2 of 3 were financial news :)
misc: Did you read about gautam buddhnagar news ? (This hint was not given : Some distrct name where mahapanchayat happened ) Not able to recall.
4. You are to be advising PMO on Afghanistan what will you say ?
5 .what is blockchain?
6. Few uses of blockchain ?
7. What will be you reaction if tomorrow govt accepts bitcoin as legal tender?
8 . What is the current price of 1 bitcoin ?
3 rd member
1 . What type of work you do under CSR ?
2 . How govt ensures 2 companies doesn't work for same ngo ? (Not aware)
3 . Are you aware about national audit framework something (Indas)? (Vague idea but not sure )This was asked to everybody irrespective of their background?
4. Is climate change the truth ?
5 . There have been similar changes in the past ?
6. Two govt initiatives which you think are step in write direction?
4 th member
1 . Continuing on climate change more carbon more plants will consume why the hoax?
2 . Are we only serious about it ? USA doesn't seems to bother? (Some discussion and counter questions)
3 . About csr activities should be centralised or local responsibility should be maintained?
Chairman : thank you much . ur interiew is over.
balwintejas,Manoj Soni sir Board
Last (6th) to go
Optional- Anthropology
Chairman-
1. Tell me about your Upsc journey (told about my attempts and preparation phase)
2. This seems a very simple journey, no struggle story? (Told him that journeys are not defined by the struggles you face but the lessons they teach)
3. Meaning of you name
4. Your name and your medical background- any story behind it?
5. Situational question about being SP
6. One question on Afghanistan
M1-
1. Can India ever coordinate with Russia and China over Afghanistan issue?
2. Coming from an Army background, you have seen the Defence closely. Tell me positive points and negative points
M2- very analytical questions
1. Relation between culture and religion
2. Society is moving from status to contract to status
3. Linguistic pluralism should lead to pluralistic laws. Do you agree?
M3-
1. Reforms needed in bureaucracy
2. Why Babu culture?
3. Why stagnation in bureaucracy?
4. We are already having community engagement, what more needs to be done to change public perception towards bureaucracy
5. Why doctors praised but bureaucrats criticised during Covid
M4-
1. Questions about right to protest
2. Questions about Odisha Government giving reservations in medical and engineering colleges
3. Questions on education sector in general
Chairman-
Questions on saree.
Asked to recite a poem
Thank you. All the best. Stay healthy and stay safe.
balwintejas,B/g - comp sci engineering
Optional : Anthropology
Other mentions: badminton, drawing, jogging
From:- UP
Ch : sir very nicely explained the whole process - Asked me not to be worried about anything.. Just want to have a good conversation.
Ch:-
1. Wat is sec 66A of IT act
2. 2. SC stand on it
3. Related to newspaper- india russia NSA meet
4. Threat to India due to devpt in afg
5. As a student of anthropology tell me:- Wat is modernisation;
6. Wat is tradition;
7. how backwardness and tradition are linked
M1:-
1. Wat is e- rupi
1. Wat are types of cryptocurrency
2. How are they regulated in India
3. Wat govt is doing for digital currency
4. How CBDC difft from other cryptocurrency
5. Wat is Jan dhan adhar mobile trinity
6. Wat is SC observation on freedom of expression
M2:-
1. RCEP full form
2. Members in it and give 3 economic reasons why India left RCEP
3. MSME sectors and what govt did for it ( I mentioned few schemes den he asked me it’s funding pattern)
4. Question on custom union n its example
Ch:-
1. diff between judicial activism and judicial outreach
2. Examples based on them
3. Wat is bilateralism
4. Diff between finance bill and appropriation bill
M3:-
1. question related to hobby- 2 female player who play doubles in badminton apart from PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal
2. Ok.. then tell me 2 female retired players from badminton played doubles
3. Wat is data autonomy
4. Wat is pink economy
M4:-
1. what is statelessness
2. Explain in brief social, cultural, biological and political anthropology.
Chairman:- gave some insight on tradition and modernity and gave me 60 sec to speak on it..
Thank u; ur interview is over
The board was very welcoming and cordial; helped me in between wen I got stuck.. chairman Sir kept motivating me throughout..
Few more questions were asked Wich I am not able to recall..
balwintejas,Board :- Manoj soni sir
Time duration - 35 to 40 minutes
*Chairman*
1.Meaning of my name
2.Have you heard of Azeem o shan Shahansha song?
3. Seen film jodha akbar?
4. You studied in Mahatma Gandhi University. Tell me why
Mahatma Gandhi is great?
5. Is Gandhian Economic model practical? Why, why not?
6. Tell me three things that u can do practical with
Gandhian economic model?
7. Define yourself
8. What qualities you have that take you to greatness?
9. Name 5 areas of your interest? ( most of questions asked
by board members revolved around these
interests areas of mine)
*Member 1*
1.Medals for India in Olympics?
2. why india weak in sports?
3. What's the relation of sports with education?
4. You studied electronics and communication engg. Is Social
media good or bad?
5. What's the issue going on now regarding privacy?
6. Explain pegasus controversy
7. If transparency is necessity in public affairs , why issues?
*Member 2*
1. Why kerala good in education?
2. Why people moving gulf if its that good?
3.Impact on tourism due to Covid
4. What shd be done to improve tourism sector
5.Kovalam resort condition
6. You studied in Jawahar Navodaya vidyalaya. What are it's
positives?
*Member 3*
1.Why 'Bin Latheef' in name!
2. Explain the social development indicators of kerala.
3. Why then people moving to gulf?
4. How can kerala's economy be made better?
5.What you will do as an ifs officer to make the situation
of NRIs better?
5. Even small and poor countries like Ghana plays football?
Why football not getting momentum in
India?
*Member 4*
1.Why your profile says that you are an educator? ( educator
at kerala state civil service academy
mentioned in DAF). What you have to do in Kerala State civil
service academy?
2. Why you didnt work as engineer? Why turned into civil
service?
3.Whats ur father and mother doing?
4. Favourite football club? (said FC Barcelona)
5.Why arsenal in decline? ( seems member is Arsenal fan)
6.Why keralites not joining army ?
7. Why spice trade from Malabar declining?
balwintejas,
Duration: 30 minutes
Chairperson: Smita Nagaraj
Optional: Sociology
Hobbies: Jogging, Photography, Frisbee
Work exp: SBI(3.5yrs), Delhi Govt. (Food Dept), currently working since 2019.
Chairperson:
- Why SBI to Delhi govt.?
- Why UT's are formed?
- Why Chandigarh is a UT?
- Hindi speaking people are increasing, reason in South India? Give in point 1, 2, 3!
M1:
- Suppose you are DC, priorities these, Education, Revenue, Health, law & order.
- Justify your preference.
- Why govt.'s are not following this preference?
- TFR reduced from 5.7 to 2.1? Reason being?
M2:
- You were sports councilor in IIT Bombay, what exactly was your work?
- Can we appoint such post at school level?
- How to increase participation in Sports?
- Give two names of famous photographers?
- Any Indian photographer?
- What type of photography they do?
M3:
- Food subsidies from in kind to in cash needed?
- Recently PM announced something relevant to this? ( It was eRUPI)
- So, can we go for this? how beneficial it can be in Food department?
- Political parties at University level is good?
- Can we introduce it at college level?
M4:
- After merger of SBI with Associate banks, NPA in SBI increased. Why NPA is too high?
- Suggest solution for NPA in our banking sector?
- Tell two things which you liked most about St. Stephen's college?
Good Luck!
balwintejas,Session: Afternoon
Graduation : BE (Mechanical)
Optional : Literature of Kannada
Interests : theatre workshops/educator on YouTube/reading novels
Board: Bhonsle sir.
Chairperson:
(Asked me to remove the shield.
Briefly gave an idea about the process, not a Q-A but a conversation to see the suitability. Made sure I was calm and settled properly before starting)
Read out some parts from the DAF.
1. On Mission Karmayogi-Let's not get into the details. Just tell one feature which caught ur attention (said- rule based to role based)
2. Is rule based bad?
3. What's the need of role based now? (Said changing times wrt technology, capacity etc)
Member 1:
1. U said tech change. One such is 5G. Tell me about it.
2. how do you decrease latency
3. How are these waves affecting us?
4. Don't you think we need to stop these harmful radiation?
5. How are length and mass measured?
6. If you are using tools in shop floor how would you say the instruments are accurate?
7. Who sets standards of these tools at national level?
8. At intl level?
Member 2:
1. (From DAF -Was opposition party leader in school)
Tell me the role of opposition Party and the tools available in constitution for opposition
2. Why do we need standing committees?
3. If you are the DM of a dist and there is a sudden influx of migrants what will you do to assist them
Member 3:
1. Continuing with the migrants- on July 29 or so SC came up with a verdict. Any idea? ( couldn't recall exactly, said it could be about migrant data)
2. Yes. Data was part of it. Why data on migrants are important now? Any progress in this regard?
3. Are you a body builder or do some physical workout?(nope) ok i thought you were and prepared some questions on it. U said no. I have to skip them.
4. Anyway what do u do for brain work?(mentioned the same in DAF, member asked any other. Said Sudoku and read non fiction etc)
5. Minimum no. of logical moves required to solve a sudoku.
6. U said role based- rule based etc why not reason based? (said that's foundation quality in both and therefore not explicitly talked about)
7. But reasons can be good or bad. How will a role based person choose better reason. (Said ethical, logical, legal dimension must be considered)
8. How ll you choose ethical point here? (Said utilitarian, rights approach etc)
Ok but these are hypothetical and outdated ethical views isn't it. Anyway let's not get into philosophy.
Member 4:
1. U are into theatre who is your favourite? (I Asked if i have to name a playwright or actor) member said Both.
2. Why Karnad
3. Your fav play of Karnad?
4. What's so good about tughlaq?
5. You are from Bengaluru there are too many complaints on lake water and its deterioration. Why lakes are facing these and how to deal?
Chair- what plans now? You must be hungry. Ur huge body needs good food. Go eat nicely.
Looking fwd to see u in the service soon. ATB. U may leave.
Thanked everyone. Came out.
(Asked an attendant sitting outside how long did it go. He said more than half an hour)
sjerngal,-2nd September
-Morning session : 4th to go
- B.Tech ( Mechanical Engg.)
-English literature optional
-Questions have been paraphrased in some cases; unable to recall exact wording
Chairman questions:
- What are non-state actors?
- Are Naxals non-state actors?
- You mentioned corporations as non-state actors too. Could you explain?
- Your opinion on the trend of demolishing statues in the west on the basis of perceived past racism?
Member 1
- Should we make China our friend or foe?
- Whats should be the language policy for India?
Member 2 ( English lit discussion)
Discussion on post-modernism, linkages with authority and order, and Sanskritization
Memeber 3
- Issues regarding border dispute with China
- Suggested measures for border resolution
- Alleviating technology gap in critical sectors
Memeber 4
- Nearest island to India?
- What do you know about Indonesia?
- Why our level of engagement with Indonesia is not higher, and suggest measures for better engagement
- Tribal groups of Afghanistan; dominant tribal group?
- What is their population?
- What is the specific religious ideology they follow? ( Not something like Sunni islam, needed more specific)
- Given that Pakistan has more Pashtuns than Afghanistan, and given the dominance of Barlevi order there, won't it conflict with the Deobandi version in Afghanistan? ( May have missed a few more keywords in this question )
Chairman:
- Do you want to tell us something?
Have missed some questions, will update if I recall.
Overall, very very cordial and supportive board
Dauminashun,Bhosle sir's Board
Forenoon session
1st candidate to go
Duration: 25-30 min.
(No questions from Railways and lots of questions from my medical background and covid management)
Background: U.P. State, IRTS probationer at present, 6 months service as medical officer in U.P., MBBS KGMU, Badminton, Sketching etc
Chairman:
Made me comfortable by explaining everything calmly, faceshield removed but mask was on face...
1. What are you doing at present?
2. Can you name any Dr. who as an administrator has done exceptionally well in COVID management?
3. Mumbai city COVID management strategy?
4. As an adminitrator what will be your strategy in case of a 3rd wave of COVID?
1st Lady Member:
1. Difference b/w drawing and sketching?
2. What type of sketching you do?
3. Since when you are sketching and what is the motivation behind it?
4. As an administrator how you can use your sketching skills to improve administration ?
Member 2:
1.People are talking about curative aspect of covid management, can you tell me about some preventive management strategy to tackle covid?
2.Ayurvedic preparation for covid?
3. Strategy of GoI to manage COVID?
Member 3:
1. Why agitation happened in case of Citizenship Amendment Bill?
2. Provisions of CAA?
3. How is it related to Assam?
4. Your opinion on CAA?
5. Do you know about Insolvency and Bankruptcy code?
6. How it is beneficial for banks and companies?
2nd Lady member:
1. What made you decide for civil services preparation despite being a doctor?
2. What type of work you did as medical officer during covid times?
3. What else could have been done at that time to manage covid better?
4. You come from a family of govt. Employees, tell me what is more important for a govt. Servant- Honesty or Efficiency!!
Chairman again:
1. There is a narrative that US has given Afghan control to Taliban with an idea that Pakistan will take over Afghanistan by controlling Taliban. What is your opinion?
Thank you. Your interview is over.
Bonus question by chairman:
what is your plan for today after this interview?
sjerngal,
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