Interview Transcripts of CSE/IFoS 2021

13/04/22 Afternoon

R N Choubey Sir

B. Tech ECE, PG Diploma in Rural Management, Work Ex: Coal India Ltd.

Home state: Rajasthan

Current state: West Bengal

Optional: PSIR

CP

1. Tell us about yourself

2. Why do you want to join Civil Services when you already have a stable job

3. When was coal mining nationalised? The evolution of coal sector?

4. Has commercial coal production started in India?

5. As most of the coal reserves are in reserved forest areas, should we remove those reserves from our proven reserves

2-3 Counter questions on the last one

M1

1. Last line of preamble?

2.What do the words adopt, enact and give to ourselves mean in legal terms? Counter qs on this

3. What will you do as an administrator to stop child marriages on the upcoming Akshaya Tritiya? Counter qs on this

4. Why is Kota infamous?

5. Is parental pressure a factor in student suicides?

M2

1. What is SAARC and why is it ineffective?

2. SAFTA?

3. What policy should India puruse in its neighbourhood?

4. About India's permanent seat in UNSC?

M3

1. Which ruler was exiled to Kolkata?

2. What kind of travel vlogs do you watch?

3. What is one remote place you have travelled to?

4. What were your learnings from the above journey?

5. Why is Anand (city in gujarat) famous for?

6. Evolution of coop movement in India. Recent steps of govt in this direction?

7. Why there is so much interferrence of coal mafia? What will you do to control them? Is the govt not controlling already?

M4

1. What is cryptocurrency?

2. What is the legal status. Can it be taxed?

3. Are we fulfilling the aspirations of tribals displaced due to mining? What will you do to fulfill them?

CP: Interview is over. Do you want to tell us anything else?

13.04.2022(Forenoon)

Board- TCA Anant

Optional- PSIR

College - MNIT Jaipur

Profession- Software Engineer, Teaching social science, EPFO since 2017

 Hobbies - Playing Badminton

 Utility of Mocks- My interview was completely based on DAF, no outside question and this mocks were quite helpful, although questions asked were not same.

 Chairman- Asked ro remove face mask, shield and read my DAF out loud .

1. What changes have you observed after joining EPFO

2. Gow would you ensure that establishments are complying as per the act

And some discussion around this.

M1

1. WTO- Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3 and Mode 4

2. History of NATO and how it is responsible for current situation.

3. Why did you taught Social Science after Software job

4. How did make it interesting for students

M2

1. You organised Ozone day in college, why it is celebrated.

2. What is Ozone gas

3. What are isotopes

4. What is Deuterium and its chemical formula

5. Difference between Drones and Robots

M3

1. You are from Rajasthan, what are socio-economic indicators in which Rajasthan is behind

2. Why Kerala is doing good

3. What measure you would take.

And some more discussion around it

M4

1. You have done so many things, but none of them are related to Electronics (Even your Optional), how would you justify this.

2. One the major social evil of Rajasthan

3. What is government doing to restrict child marriages

4. What steps would you take

Date - 12th April, Afternoon ( Last one - of whole lot of 23)

Board - TC Ananth

Optional - Economics

College - NIT Jamshedpur (EEE)

Profession - worked in Business Consulting firm (17 months)

Hobbies - Watching Mahabharat, Listening to old songs

Experience in interview - Overall good, questions mostly on my DAF (hobbies mostly) and Economics

Utility of mocks - It depends on person to person, I enjoyed taking mocks and took 6. It boosted confidence overall.

Chairperson

1. What did your firm do ?

2. What was your job profile and work ? and few counter questions for more clarity

3. Favorite singer from old songs ?

4. Do you think in today's songs, music dominates ?

5. Which Mahabharata do you like to watch ? - I said BR's Chopra and then counter question why  ?

Member 1 (most smiling person evert met )

1. Have you heard about Kundan Lal Saigal ?

2. In old movies, actor used to sing a lot with big piano. Why is this missing now ?

3. Comparative analysis on Cricket and movies ?

4. From Electrical and Electronics to Economics is a bold choice, why did you make it ?

5. Pandemic hit us hard , what do you think we could have done better ? - i pointed Migrant suffering and how ONOR could have been upscaled quickly

6. But that is marginal change ? - I pointed how our barbell strategy helped economy to achieve pre pandemic level quickly, so overall steps were taken by govt were good enough.

Member 2

1. Broad learnings from Mahabharata ?

2. Some factual ques -as which international author has written on Mahabharata ? - replied negatively

3. How does RBI target inflation ?

4. Problem of excess liquidity ?

5. How RBI sucks excess liquidity ?

6. Does RBI manage currency also ?

7. Give me one component for boosting Indian economy ? - I said Consumption

Member 3

1. Pension is gone now, why do you want to join govt services ?

2. Asked me about NPS (New Pension Scheme) and OPS in a very fudgy articulation, to which chairperson intervened and clearly articulated . - Honestly, the only question on which I had little knowledge, and thus couldn't satisfy the person.

Member 4 - a lady member

1. What happened earlier - Ramayana or Mahabharata ? and she tried to confuse me deliberately however I repeated the response

2. Timeline  of rise of Buddhism and Jainism ?

3. Which common family connects Islam and Christianity ?

4. What was Bhakti movement ? and asked me to elaborate on it

5. What is the difference between Public and Merit goods ?

6. Should we give electricity free in Chattisgarh or New Delhi ? -  I said, user fee should be levied and pointed out the issue of high tariff differential between consumers and industries

7. She countered by asking why do we give it free in New Delhi ? - I said that we target vulnerable sections and the free limit is upto 200 units only and hardly any welloff family can sustain within it

8. She came with a last blow - Electricity is in which list ? - I wasn't totally sure and didn't want to guess .

Interview gets over

So questions on DAF (Hobbies) and Economics

Date - 12th April, Afternoon ( Last one - of whole lot of 23)

Board - TC Ananth

Optional - Economics

College - NIT Jamshedpur (EEE)

Profession - worked in Business Consulting firm (17 months)

Hobbies - Watching Mahabharat, Listening to old songs

Experience in interview - Overall good, questions mostly on my DAF (hobbies mostly) and Economics

Utility of mocks - It depends on person to person, I enjoyed taking mocks and took 6. It boosted confidence overall.

Chairperson

1. What did your firm do ?

2. What was your job profile and work ? and few counter questions for more clarity

3. Favorite singer from old songs ?

4. Do you think in today's songs, music dominates ?

5. Which Mahabharata do you like to watch ? - I said BR's Chopra and then counter question why  ?

Member 1 (most smiling person evert met )

1. Have you heard about Kundan Lal Saigal ?

2. In old movies, actor used to sing a lot with big piano. Why is this missing now ?

3. Comparative analysis on Cricket and movies ?

4. From Electrical and Electronics to Economics is a bold choice, why did you make it ?

5. Pandemic hit us hard , what do you think we could have done better ? - i pointed Migrant suffering and how ONOR could have been upscaled quickly

6. But that is marginal change ? - I pointed how our barbell strategy helped economy to achieve pre pandemic level quickly, so overall steps were taken by govt were good enough.

Member 2

1. Broad learnings from Mahabharata ?

2. Some factual ques -as which international author has written on Mahabharata ? - replied negatively

3. How does RBI target inflation ?

4. Problem of excess liquidity ?

5. How RBI sucks excess liquidity ?

6. Does RBI manage currency also ?

7. Give me one component for boosting Indian economy ? - I said Consumption

Member 3

1. Pension is gone now, why do you want to join govt services ?

2. Asked me about NPS (New Pension Scheme) and OPS in a very fudgy articulation, to which chairperson intervened and clearly articulated . - Honestly, the only question on which I had little knowledge, and thus couldn't satisfy the person.

Member 4 - a lady member

1. What happened earlier - Ramayana or Mahabharata ? and she tried to confuse me deliberately however I repeated the response

2. Timeline  of rise of Buddhism and Jainism ?

3. Which common family connects Islam and Christianity ?

4. What was Bhakti movement ? and asked me to elaborate on it

5. What is the difference between Public and Merit goods ?

6. Should we give electricity free in Chattisgarh or New Delhi ? -  I said, user fee should be levied and pointed out the issue of high tariff differential between consumers and industries

7. She countered by asking why do we give it free in New Delhi ? - I said that we target vulnerable sections and the free limit is upto 200 units only and hardly any welloff family can sustain within it

8. She came with a last blow - Electricity is in which list ? - I wasn't totally sure and didn't want to guess .

Interview gets over

So questions on DAF (Hobbies) and Economics

Date and session of interview- 12th April, Forenoon Session

Board- TCA Anant

Optional- Geography

College- NIT Warangal, ECE

Profession (if any)- Ex Software, Currently in SEBI

Hobbies-  Playing and Watching Cricket

Your experience in interview- it was very cordial, mostly analytical based questions were asked.

 *Chairman*

Read my DAF briefly and asked me to remove the mask.

1. Tell me what u do at SEBI

2. What are the tools or process you use in enforcement

3. What kind of violations sebi will normally penalise

4. Difference between diagorcement order and penalty

5. Famous insider case in USA? Tell the person's name

6. Will the act of Rajaratnam amount to insider

7. Who will be consider as insider

 *Member1*

1. Paytm share price fell from 2000 to 500,Why it fell in short span of time and What SEBI should have done in this?

2. Should SEBI has a say/role in valuation of a company.

3. Electronics communication technology in geographical advancement

4. Tell me three important technologies on which mobile was deleveloped

5. What is cell in cellular technology

 *Member2*

1. You could have become stock broker and earn lot of money, why you want to come to civil services

2. Relevance of bureaucrats in the light of article of Duvvuri Subbarao about IAS.

3. What is your opinion on that article

4. What would have been India future if IAS, so called steel frame was not there since independence

5. Why technology still not able to solve various problems.

6. What should be done to increase morality in civil servants so that corruption will be curbed

7. Which company in Andhra dumped investors shares?

8. Stock market going up? Where as economy is not moving up, what do think, that is hampering the growth.

 *Member3*

1. Why you want to be IAS? Is it so that you can become chairman of SEBI

2. SEBI is giving more salary than civils, are you comfortable with that.

3. in the light of technology isn't India moving towards Unitary system from Federal democracy.

4. What is the relevance of having offices(SEBI/ RBI/ federal govts) in various locations when all the services will be provided through internet or use of technology.

 *Member4*

1. Isn't it the regular intervention by sebi in the market hampering the growth of corporates

2. As your subject is geography, what is chicken neck and significance of it to india.

Then chairman said your interview is over.

Interview: Vyas sir panel

Date : 13th April , 2022 forenoon session (4th to go)

Background- civil engineer , sociology optional

Chandigarh

Hobbies - no questions asked

1st attempt , no work experience

Chairman -

1 related to SCO and why was in news

2 why not go with civil engineering only

3 when decided you want to go for civil services exam?

4civil infra projects in news

5highway vs State Highway vs expressway difference

6 nomenclature change of highways

7 infiltration issue pb

8 one border one force meaning and why needed

Other member ques

1 stubble burning in pb reasons , solns( some counter ques)

2swachch Bharat related

3why since 70 yrs India still facing basic development issues

4 civil engineering new innovation-- roads , construction field

5 talked about plastic roads so asked to explain the process

6 generalist vs specialist question

7 u want to do specialisation in which fields

8 Chandigarh issue

9 soln of chd prblm

10 crr and slr meaning

11 meaning of fintech companies

No ques on hobbies , optional, achievement, sports , apart from sco no ques on IR

Belonged to  Chd -- but all questions related to Punjab

(They were saying so you are from pb tell us this)

Vyas sir - asked to keep face shield and gloves on,  mask down

13 April

Optional - Law

Graduation - BA, LLB

BB Vyas Sir Board

Home State - Haryana

Forenoon session, Last to go

Chairman- 1. How was Sangrur named as Sangrur? (Birth Place)

2. What is counter terrorism? Where can India and UK/EU collaborate on the same?

3. Why do we need competition law?

4. Is there a discrepancy between right to access to information and Copyright law?

5. Legislature has wide power to amend constitution but not unlimited. Explain.

M1

1. Why law as a subject is excluded from National education policy as far as regulation is concerned?

Counter questions on that

2. Is the bar council a hindrance to judicial reforms?

3. NCLT acts as a way to sustain financial frauds. Do you agree?

4. Poor people have to access a lawyer to go to courts. How will they access a lawyer? Such a costly mechanism.

M2

1. Why do we have such long procedure to approach justice in country? District, high court, supreme court's? Taarik pe Taarik, why is that so?

 2. Suggest ways to reform judicial process of this country.

3. Supreme Court of Pakistan's recent decision. Your view?

4. Cyber frauds, cybercrimes in country- which law deals with it?

M3 (lady member)

1. Organic agriculture in Sri Lanka and what should india learn ?

2. What should India's monetary and fiscal policy be?

3. As a lawyer, how do you think you will handle science and tech? Shouldn't there be a specialist?

4. What are new emerging technologies?

5. What is metaverse?

6. What is the budget layout for capital expenditure?

7. What is capital expenditure? Explain.

8. Which is one aspect that budget hasn't covered and you want it to be covered?

9. How has blockchain technology technology changed governance?

10. One aspect where aadhar has helped government?

M4

1. When I enter your college, there is a prominent thing that one can notice, what is it? ( Answer- Preamble being inscribed at entry)

2. Is preamble part of constitution?

3. Problems in all india judicial services?

4. What is National Financial Reporting Authority?

Interview over

Date- 11/04/2022 afternoon session

Optional-PSIR

State-UP

Hobbies- solving sudoku, diary writing and watching web series

Background- M.Sc. (Chemistry)- IIT Delhi

Panel- Sathyavati Mam

Work Experience- working in NTPC since 2016

Chairman- Mam initially read about my educational details, hobby and work experience.

1) You are earning X/month and if you join civil service you will hardly get 80k/month are you aware of it?

2) Will you still leave and join civil service?

3) You have written sudoku as your hobby, how often you solve this sudoku do you do on daily basis?  Do You solve it in newspaper? What are different levels in it? How much time you take to solve difficult sudoku?

4) You have mentioned about meritorious award. Why you were awarded this meritorious award?

5) What is your job profile in NTPC?

6) what are the areas in which NTPC is venturing now?

(I also mentioned about NTPC school of business)

7) How can an industry give PG Diploma? Is it affiliated with some university or is it deemed university?

8) what do you think is it right for an industry like NTPC to venture into providing diploma also apart from its competency area?

9) You mentioned about NTPC moving towards solar plant. What are the challenges in establishing solar plant in India?

M-1

10) So you treat water in NTPC. How you treat water?

11) He spoke some 4-5 lines on coal and ash content. Then asked what is NTPC doing to tackle and ensure ash content? What it is doing to deal with coal crisis?

12) So nowadays there is talk about privatisation of Discoms which are running on huge loss. What is your opinion regarding this?

13) Have you heard about xyz fund? (I never heard of that name, so I said sorry sir I am unaware of it.. then he explained a bit about the fund and again asked can you now tell where these funds are utilised? Since I was unaware, I said sorry sir, I am unaware of this fund)

14) What do you mean by coordination?How do you co-ordinate with your subordinates?

M-2

15) What is crime?

16) have you heard about IPC? What is it? Define it.

 17) what is section 420?

18) Do you drive car? (I said No) then do you ride scooter? (I said Yes)..

What is the function of gear in scooter? How does it work?

 19) So you have studied chemistry through out your life. And then you took PSIR and easily cleared mains several times. What does this prove?

(On my reply, he asked why those people with PSIR background who has studied the same subject for 4-5 years  are not able to clear and you have been able to do?)

20) In recent olympics how many medals did India won? Can u name few winners?

M3)

21) So you watch webseries, what do you like in webseries? Which is the latest you have watched?

22) what is the reason behind Russia-ukraine conflict?

23) Do your plant use RO mechanism also?? (I said No sir).... So you use only ion-exchange method? How this ion-exchange method works?

 24) You told in one of the answer that there is lack of  of Li reserves and storage issue but nowadays grid connected solar plant are also there. Then what is the problem???

25) You told that NTPC is venturing into solar also. Why? And why it is moving from thermal to renewable?

Is it that NTPC is itself setting target or it is due to pressure from govt to all the PSUs to generate some minimum quantity of electricity through renewables???

26) what is the current order book of solar plant in NTPC?

27) Have you heard about blood diamond? To which area of the world it relates?

Member-4

 28) Who was founder of BHU?

29) He briefly spoke 4-5 lines about UN and how it failed to stop conflicts? What is the reason behind failure of UN to stop conflicts?

30) Do you think that "Might is Right" statement is valid? (I told sir if we see global scenario and IR then this statements stand valid. Then he jokingly also gave example how Might is right statement is valid in domestic politics also by citing examples of bahubali in UP)....

Date: 12/04/2022 Forenoon. (6th / last to go)

Board: Satyavathy Ma’am

Optional: PSIR (not asked)

DAF: MP, B.Tech. IIST Avionics, Work Ex: ISRO, Hobbies: Writing film critiques (+ two hobbies not asked).

Utility of Mocks: Gave 2 mocks with ex-bureaucrats on the panel. Felt helpful in expressing views before such people.

Round table - Hexagonal sitting (Chair + 4 male members + Candidate opposite to chair). Asked to remove the face shield and keep it on your lap. I didn’t hear the last part and kept it on the table. Asked to keep ‘on your lap’. Sorry, Ma’am. Had to keep masks and gloves on, even members were wearing masks. (Note: Multiple questions in a point are follow-ups based on my answers to each part.)

Ch:

1. You studied at IIST. Any bond? How many years? How many years have you worked? Have you resigned?

2. Which projects have you worked on? (I started saying 1,2,3… stopped). Where was it launched from? Where were others launched from? What is the geostationary/geosynchronous launch capability we are having? What is the payload weight?

3. What’s your view on space privatization? Should India be doing that? Why no Elon Musk and Bezos in India?

4. Why was Sriharikota chosen as the launchpad? Another reason? 3rd reason? 4th reason? What about the magnetic equator?

Indicated to another member to take up. Member busy in himself. Looked up after others alerted that chair was pointing at him.

M1:

1. So you are from *district* and there is a famous falls there. What is the height of that falls? What’s special about that region? Types of rocks in the region?

2. What lessons of leadership have you learnt from Lord Ramchandra from the epic Ramcharitmanas? (The closest connection for this question was the previous candidate’s name was Ramchandra.)

3. Have you heard about World Heritage sites? Name sites from MP? Is Sanchi related to Rashtrapati Bhawan?

4. How will you apply the lessons you learned in your degree in Avionics to Civil services, say IPS? Any use?

5. When are we launching the Human Space mission? Will we be able to launch?

6. What is the work culture at ISRO for a young Engineer like you? Whether you are encouraged to do new things or have to follow what comes from the top?

M2:

1. So your hobby is writing film critiques? Last critique you wrote, what did you write and which famous magazine or newspaper it was published in?

2. You were in South India. Which is the last south Indian movie you have watched? (Started telling what the film was about..) No, we don’t want to listen to the whole story.. (All members started laughing)

3. Have you noticed any cultural differences between North Indian films and South Indian films? (Member was probably from South India and gave a long monologue about how people from South India are much more enthusiastic about watching films and many great South Indian film stars have become national leaders.)

M3:

1. The defence and Space sector has a lot of overlap. For a long time, our space sector has suffered due to this technology being dual-use technology. What is the situation now? Any changes?

2. How can space assets be used for defence purposes? (Indicated to the Chair that he is done.)

M4:

1. So with your knowledge of Avionics, tell me in extremely layman's terms how an aircraft flies? (I started with... Sir, Bernoulli's principle..) I don’t know any Bernoulli's principle. Very simple. (I started talking about thrust, and M4 again made an unhappy face as if not to use words like thrust also. I said how air moves below and above the wing creating lift. Unconvinced. I was using my hands to show how it works and other members were looking with amusement.)

2. Civilian honours? Highest? Next? Next? Next? Name some people with honours... Keep naming... Named almost 7-8... M4 kept listening. I started naming slowly. Almost 10-11. Okay, next question. 

3. Haven’t mentioned any sports? Which sports do you play? (Have mentioned NCC.. no questions from that.)

With your knowledge of Avionics, tell how does flame burn? (Vague question. No relation with my subject. Said I don’t know the principle associated, to move to the next ques. M4 continued.) Forget the principle. Tell me how it burns? How does fuel reach the flame? Exact contact or distance?

4. What is the biggest challenge our human space mission is facing? (Passed back to Ch.)

Ch:

(Continuing from my last answer) What is the level of redundancies NASA is using?

Thank you.

Review: Interviews are very subjective. Most of my interview was profile-based and questions may not be relevant to other candidates. Few general questions were asked but not about current affairs. The chair was encouraging and nodded a few times. Members were mostly blank-faced. Overall cordial board. All the best everyone.

Date 13/04/2022, forenoon

Board- Sh RN Chaubey Sir  (same as last year, I was like history repeats itself...)

Optional -PSIR

Education -BSc,  M.A.

Profession- IPS (earlier IRS and AC in CISF)

Hobbies : Jogging and Amateur sports

My Experience:

The board was extremely cordial. 

Disclaimer - it was heavily DAF based. Almost evrything.

Chairman Sir- 1. asked to introduce

2. Meanwhile,  why you shifted from science to humanities (Stephen's to Tiss)

3. What are different styles of leadership (I was President of my college)

4. Which style is more suitable to Army?

5 To Police?

M1: 1. In india police is colonial, we have direct entry of officers whereas in developed countries lower ranks rise up to become officers. Which one is better?

2. Which one should be adopted in india?

3. Should we pursue big infra rail projects like Bullet train and Silver line project ?

(He asked have you heard about Silver line project,  I said yes. He didn't ask further)

M2

1. Dialogue works better or command?

2. Did dialogue worked in case of farm protest

3. Between representative democracy and dialogue Which one should get priority?

4. Both are complimentry or supplementary ?

5. Which FRs are available to foreigners?

6. What does equal protection of laws mean?

7. Who gave this statement " law is the command of the sovereign?"

8. What are three features of this theory?

M4 (IR expert😁)

1. What is "Indo pacific"?

2. What is Quad?

3. How is Quad different from IORA?

4. In IORA is trade a priority or security?

M4 (lady member)

1. What steps will you take for health of adolescent girls?

2. You have been to Sadhbhavna mission in j&k. Should military be involved in civil administration?

3. Does similar programme exist in North Eastern states?

4.  What does competition commission of India do?

5. Can you give 2 examples of its work?

Chairman- if you want to say or ask something.  Your interview is over.

I thanked all the members and came out happy.

Btech electrical engineering

Optional sociology

Hobby blog writing

Work experience working in a power sector PSU

Chairman BB Vyas sir

Has unbundling of power sector been successful?

Tell me about DART technology

Tell me about GSSL technology

Tell me some new technologies and their effectiness in agriculture

Is resource utilisation related to sustainable development

M1

Is our district administrative mechanism good? What are the issues and how can they be resolved?

Tell me some developmental initiatives of up govt

How would you invite industry in your district

M2

Why not IPS?

What is the public image of IPS

What role has movies played in image of police

What blogs do you write?

Tell me 2 points from your latest blog

What is India's role in Afghanistan

M3

What is grid balancing

What role does hydro power play in grid balancing

How many power exchanges are in India. Have you ever visited them?

What is the issue in India software industry

Can you tell me about the software value addition policy of govt announced in 2019

Does India have design capabilities?

M4

Has indian foreign policy for the neighborhood been successful?

Is India's relationship with Pakistan good?

Is India's relationship with China good?

What are the 3 main grassroots level challenges in India

How will you solve health related issues

Should there be a SLP mechanism for public sector

Date and session of interview- 12 April afternoon, 1st one to go

Board- R N Choubey sir

Optional- Geography

College- B.tech ECE

Home state - UP

Home District - Prayagraj

Profession (if any)- Commercial Tax Officer UP government

Hobbies- Teaching underprivileged children, listening to retro Bollywood music

Your experience in interview- very cordial, no unnecessary grilling and very nice atmosphere

Utility of mocks (if any)- Took only one mock. Got to know shortcomings about my body posture and expression.

Chairman :

Explained about the process and told that it is not a police enquiry. Asked me to frankly tell if I don't know the answer to any question. He also said that the board wanted to have a purposeful conversation with me.

- introduce yourself in short by telling your background and academic details.

- You work in Tax department. Tell me if GST Act is unconstitutional as it takes away the power of states to levy and collect taxes?

- then gave a long monologue about some study which stated that income tax be replaced by taxes on banking transaction and asked my views on it

M1 :

(Seemed to have studied taxation a lot)

- told some quote regarding taxation and asked if I knew who said it to which I told that I didn't

- at least you would have heard this quote? ( Again I told that I have not heard it ever)

- changed the question and again quoted something to which I again told that I've not heard but allowed me to explain its meaning

- why are educational institutions not taxed in GST?

- some counter questions on this

- Again quoted some lines which were something like : "the only legitimate child is one which is born out of a legal wedlock and is the only legitimate heir". What do you think about it?

M2 :

- Quoted something and asked to explain (can't remember now)

- What do you think of skill India?

- Why we need skilling?

- Do you think private sector needs to be included in this?

- Will private sector involvement bring better results?

- we are skilling people in India for world also. Is that a good strategy? Should we keep skilling them for foreign needs?

M3 :

- You have Geography optional, that's interesting. Tell me if India and China can ever become friends?

- If territorial issues are solved then do you see them becoming friends?

- but what about Sphere of influence? Won't that become an issue even if other issues are ironed out?

- do you think Indo-China border issues will be resolved in next 100 years?

M4 (lady member)

- what do you mean by  underprivileged children?

- do you know about a Nobel laureate who works for underprivileged children ( about Kailash Satyarthi ji)

- what kind of children does hi work for?

- what is the name of his organisation?

- how did you make sure that children didn't drop out of school(DAF based)

- What are the issues with Land Acquisition in India?

- What are the features of Land Acquisition Act (LARR)?

- How is the amended LARR better than previous Act?

Chairman :

We enjoyed talking to you. Anything which you want to tell us?

I said sir I have mentioned about Bollywood retro music in my DAF.

He said that he doesn't want to ask anything but if I want to tell I can go ahead. I told that when I'm not in good mood I listen to songs of 60s and 70s and feel better.

He said that he was pleased to know that and other members also smiled on this

Board: RN Chaubey sir

Background: MBBS, MS

Optional: Medical Science

Work experience: AIIMS; Govt District Hospital

Overall: The board went out of its way to make it pleasant and relaxed. Hardly any interruptions but there were follow ups/cross questions. Largely stuck to the DAF keywords with a bit of polity and current affairs.

Mocks helped but didn't reflect the tone and tenor of the actual interview.

Chairman: We are friendly and are here to make you comfortable. Stay calm; you can remove the face mask if you have no Covid symptoms and even the gloves if you wish to.

1. Tell us in a minute about yourself, educational background and work experience.

2. You said you were working in the district hospital until before prelims – did you quit the job or you took a break?

3. I’m giving you three choices – judicial reforms, police reforms and electoral reforms. Pick any one. Tell about the problems that exist currently and what in your view must be done to address them.

He asked cross questions on the points I said.

4. What are electoral bonds? What is your view about them? Have they helped our electoral process?

M1:

1. What is your view about Big Pharma? Is it clean/corrupt?

2. What can be done to address the problems you cited? If you were the Health Secretary, what would be your priorities

3. A lot of Indian medical students have returned from Ukraine. Do you think they should be rehabilitated? How about completion of their education?

M2:

1. Why choose civil services when you’re already a doctor?

2. You have worked for Covid. How do you rate India’s performance in managing Covid? Give me both the good things and the other side. What can be done about the problems? How to be ready for the next pandemic?

3. India’s pharma industry is not where it should be. What do you think are the reasons?

M3:

1. What is Uniform Civil Code? What is your opinion about it?

2. Should we implement it or not?

3. There is a Special Marriage Act since so many years. Still it is not being used. So how will the society become ready for the reform/change to come from within, like you suggest?

4. Suppose marriage and inheritance laws are separated from each other and legislations are enacted under UCC for the same. What do you think about that?

5. Why not have a Common Civil Code when a Common Civil code can solve the problems?

6. Have you heard the term constitutional morality? What is your understanding of it?

M4:

1. I see that you have won a lot of quiz competitions. You also mentioned APIs in your answer to the earlier panelist. Name any major company or big manufacturer of APIs in India.

2. Mini speech on India’s success and failures on nutrition. What are the government schemes that you know which tackle malnutrition?

3. What about food fortification?

4. Questions on fortified rice. Can edible oils be used for fortification? Will that be useful?

5. You have mentioned reading popular science as one of your hobbies. What is popular science, is it science fiction or science magazine or science news articles?

6. What are the books you have read on it?

Chairman: Doctor, we have asked you all that we wanted to ask. Is there anything you want to tell us or want us to know?

Thank you. Your interview is over.

Date- 11/04/2022 afternoon session

Optional-PSIR

State-UP

Hobbies- solving sudoku, diary writing and watching web series

Background- M.Sc. (Chemistry)- IIT Delhi

Panel- Sathyavati Mam

Work Experience- working in NTPC since 2016

Chairman- Mam initially read about my educational details, hobby and work experience.

1) You are earning X/month and if you join civil service you will hardly get 80k/month are you aware of it?

2) Will you still leave and join civil service?

3) You have written sudoku as your hobby, how often you solve this sudoku do you do on daily basis?  Do You solve it in newspaper? What are different levels in it? How much time you take to solve difficult sudoku?

4) You have mentioned about meritorious award. Why you were awarded this meritorious award?

5) What is your job profile in NTPC?

6) what are the areas in which NTPC is venturing now?

(I also mentioned about NTPC school of business)

7) How can an industry give PG Diploma? Is it affiliated with some university or is it deemed university?

8) what do you think is it right for an industry like NTPC to venture into providing diploma also apart from its competency area?

9) You mentioned about NTPC moving towards solar plant. What are the challenges in establishing solar plant in India?

M-1

10) So you treat water in NTPC. How you treat water?

11) He spoke some 4-5 lines on coal and ash content. Then asked what is NTPC doing to tackle and ensure ash content? What it is doing to deal with coal crisis?

12) So nowadays there is talk about privatisation of Discoms which are running on huge loss. What is your opinion regarding this?

13) Have you heard about xyz fund? (I never heard of that name, so I said sorry sir I am unaware of it.. then he explained a bit about the fund and again asked can you now tell where these funds are utilised? Since I was unaware, I said sorry sir, I am unaware of this fund)

M-2

14) What is crime?

15) have you heard about IPC? What is it? Define it.

 16) what is section 420?

17) Do you drive car? (I said No) then do you ride scooter? (I said Yes)..

What is the function of gear in scooter? How does it work?

 18) So you have studied chemistry through out your life. And then you took PSIR and easily cleared mains several times. What does this prove?

(On my reply, he asked why those people with PSIR background who has studied the same subject for 4-5 years  are not able to clear and you have been able to do?)

19) In recent olympics how many medals did India won? Can u name few winners?

M3)

20) So you watch webseries, what do you like in webseries? Which is the latest you have watched?

21) what is the reason behind Russia-ukraine conflict?

22) Do your plant use RO mechanism also?? (I said No sir).... So you use only ion-exchange method? How this ion-exchange method works?

 23) You told in one of the answer that there is lack of  of Li reserves and storage issue but nowadays grid connected solar plant are also there. Then what is the problem???

24) You told that NTPC is venturing into solar also. Why? And why it is moving from thermal to renewable?

Is it that NTPC is itself setting target or it is due to pressure from govt to all the PSUs to generate some minimum quantity of electricity through renewables???

25) what is the current order book of solar plant in NTPC?

26) Have you heard about blood diamond? To which area of the world it relates?

Member-4

 27) Who was founder of BHU?

28) He briefly spoke 4-5 lines about UN and how it failed to stop conflicts? What is the reason behind failure of UN to stop conflicts?

29) Do you think that "Might is Right" statement is valid? (I told sir if we see global scenario and IR then this statements stand valid. Then he jokingly also gave example how Might is right statement is valid in domestic politics also by citing examples of bahubali in UP)..

30) Then again he told few lines about how natural resources are exploited and if we see most of the conflicts in the  world  they are  due to exploitation of the natural resources.. Is it right? And how can we solve it?

Kaptaan Jack Sparrow 4.0

Board: Satyavathi Ma'am

Interview duration: 30 mins

Optional: Physics

Hobbies: Hindi Poetry and Teaching

Chairperson:

What is Quantum Tunnelling?

Why does it occur?

Where do we use it?

Upto what limit can we downsize electronics devices?

You are already in a well paying job, why do you want to join a job which is not so rewarding financially?

M1:

Questions from my home town and work profile

Qualities of a good teacher?

On a cold evening, metals are comparably more colder than wood, why so?

Why does a symmetric top keep spinning?

(Conservation of angular momentum, he looked less satisfied wanted more)

Why were you awarded Hostel - Freshman of the year award (IITB)? What was contribution? Did you direct the play?

Why did you leave research?

M2:

Have you read Kavi Jaishankar Prasad's Poem (said no)

What is .... (i said peotry came naturally to me, i am not aware of such details and technicalities)

He had to turn the page of his diary (probably i pissed him off, he wanted to ask more on poetry)

Changed tone, asked me what has been impact of demonetisation on Economy? ( i talked about digital economy etc)

Was it successful?

Do you think that it was a planned experiment and part of government's strategy to promote digital payments, may be they factored CBDC and bitcoin before hand?

What is hybrid warfare?

(Couldn't explain neatly, thoda hugga kiya hoon is ke answer mein)

What is a cyclotron?

Where is it used?

What is Kirchoff's law?

Can we use Kirchoff's law in Spirituality? (Every member including Chairperson stunned and laughed on this ques, my answer was yes and laughter intensified, my explanation, i think satisfied my yes, atleast i hope it did😢)

M3:

Many a times coaching institute's claim results which they don't produce (giving money and kind *presents* to students? Do you think it is wrong?

I said it is wrong but has become a marketing strategy. He said it is not marketing but a fraud. This coachings must be tried under relevant law. (I kept mum)

Long Monologue on how drama, media, cinema etc was used for promoting one culture and themes according to political parties. Alot more on the same subject. I hardly understood what the respected member was saying. I asked again. He asked me in one line if i was under some influence when i was making drama at IITB?

M4:

What is UPI? Examples of some apps built on UPI?

Who developed UPI?

Challenges it is facing?

Impact on payment industry?

What do you understand by expenditure reform?

What steps government has taken?

What is sunset clause?

Has government taken any reforms in procurement?

Do you know gem? I was like 🤨

He said if i have heard about GeM? (Gave me hint) i explained.

He asked me what is it's impact?

Chairperson said interview is over. (I felt garam kar k thanda chd diya)

Overall board was cordial. I was unable to hear what two of 4 members were saying, couldn't grasp the demand of questions they asked. I asked them to repeat twice or thrice i think.

Ma'am was helpful and smiling in between.

30% DAF + 40% Physics and 30% Contemporary issues.

Best wishes for those who have interviews in coming days.😊🙏

(I wanted to recite one of my poem but didn't get any opportunity, instead they were asking me questions from types and forms of poetry as if it's not my hobby but subject of my Academic interests or my optional is literature)

P.S. i have withheld some questions which were based on personal profile like job, hometown etc. to maintain anonymity.

Utility of mocks: use them to cover DAF and get a fair set of questions, apart from this mocks have no utility, if you are confident and know how to calm your nerves, keep your answers short, give 2-3 mocks. I gave one at Rau (completely factual) and one at Samkalp (good informal discussion). Also, took O20 session with Khan Sir (KSG) and it is recommended.

12th April, Forenoon

Satyavathi Mam

Commerce & Accountancy

CA

Work-ex: Punjab PCS, Oyo, PwC

Asked to remove the face shield and to lower the mask for verification, and then mask remained on throughout the interview.

Chairperson read aloud my academic details, work-ex, hobbies etc.

Chairperson

So aren't you practising CA now?

Oh so you are in state services, which service?

Why did you receive this certificate of appreciation?  (Awards: Certificate of Appreciation for my election work)

Since now you have ground experience of elections, tell me 3 major challenges in our elections? Some follow-up questions on each challenge

Monologue on low voter participation. How to increase voter participation?

Isn't it true that every person needs some incentive to perform their duty? Follow-ups on my answer

Member 1:

We spend 2-3% of GDP on defence. Is it justified?

Since you have been through process if both state public service commission and upsc. What's the difference between the two?

Who were the members of state psc?

Tell me top 5 ranks of army (Knew only 2)

Benefits of evm over ballot paper

What is VVPAT?

Why only Rs 1,2,5,10 denominated notes or coins. Why not 3 or 4 also?

Do you invest in stock market?

Intraday or Long term?

Is investment in stock market good?

Then why govt servants are not allowed to invest in stock market?

Member 2:

Difference between FIRR and EROR (Didn't know)

What is NPV

Since you have worked in PwC. Why was PwC involved in an issue that impacted its goodwill and what lessons can we draw from it?

Why did Oyo's business model face challenges?

Who wrote Vande Matram and what is the controversy surrounding it. (Didn't know)

Distance between my hometown and home district?

Member 3:

Don't remember

Impact of social media on students

Why students spend less time in sports?

What is self radicalization? (Didn't know)

What is Forensic Accounting? (Didn't know this but mentioned that I hv read about Forensic audit)

What are shell companies?

What is Round Tripping?

Why did you study so many subjects in Class 10? 🤔

What did you study in environment?

Member 4:

What is Performance Audit?

What is IndAS?

Applicability of IndAS

Three functions of ICAI

Supreme Audit Institutions (Didn't know)

What is NFRA and trigger point for setting it up

Recent amendments in ICAI act and concerns around it.

What is audit plan and its advantages?

No question on hobbies or state.

Cordial board, pleasant experience and some light moments as well. Towards the last leg, members had started looking at the clock, interview lasted for ~35 mins.

Utility of mocks - Very helpful. 3-4 questions repeated. Helped in voice modulation, keeping answers crisp and in indentifying weak areas. One to one with Khan sir at the end was a booster.

11/04/22 forenoon session last to go

BB vyas board

education - computer engineering

optional - history

hobbies - tabla, chess, blockchain technology

duration - 30 35 mins

chairperson

read the daf, asked why history after  computer engineering then himself answered it is not present as a subject (that was my answer in cse 2019 interview which was taken by vyas sir so don't know whether it was a general remark or he recognised me)

1. Tell me 3 peasant and 3 tribal movements in modern indian history and what were their impacts?

2. what is aukus and its impact on indo-pacific?

3. has ias failed the nation and discussion around it

member 1(lady)

1. does police have a negative perception?

2. are women able to approach police easily? why not?

3. what has government done about it? what will you do about it?

4. do you use social media? how do they earn even if they don't charge you anything?

5. any other source of income apart from advertisement?(wanted to hear use of data)

6. what can be done for data privacy?

7. is internet safe?

8. have you ever faced any ethical dilemma?

9. tell me one application of blockchain in administration that you would like to implement

member 2

1. what are jpc recommendations on data privacy bill?

2. what is data mirroring and localisation? what does jpc recommend?

3. asked some term about cloud computing (said don't know)

4. what is end to end encryption?

5. where is the data stored?

6. who can intercept the data at state and central level?

7. what legislations are for the same?

8. what one application will you want to create as a collector being a computer engineer which has not yet been implemented?

member 3

1. how to make internet safe?

2. provisions of mcoca on interception of messages

3. why is mcoca considered a gamechanger?

4. what is organised crime

5. what is ethical hacking? who regulates it?

6. how to access end to end encrypted data?

member 4

1. what is climate change?

2. what are its impacts on a coastal city like mumbai?

3. what can be done to avoid those impacts?

4. what are parameters of pollution?

5. what is aqi?

chairperson

thankyou. your interview is over.

overall board was cordial. questions were starting by asking facts or definition and then going into discussion over those concepts. many rapid fire type questions were also asked.

mainly revolved around DAF. Some contemporary issues were asked not much of current affairs.

utility of mocks: few questions were asked already in mocks so helped in better structuring of those answers. It also helped into getting in the zone of interview.

Date and session of interview- 6 apr, 9AM session

Board- TCA ANANTH sir

Optional-Anthropology

College- HBTU, Kanpur (Edible Oil Technology)

Profession (if any)- 1 year edible oil industry, data analytics freelance

Hobbies- singing, watching football and tennis, meditation

Your experience in interview-

Last in the board and shift to be interviewed

Time 27-28 min

Entry: Cordial exchange of greetings, told to remove shield and mask

Given wheel wali chair so it was not a good start as the chair moved as I was sitting

Chairman: Reading my DAF, no introduction asked

Directly jumping to my graduation

Q1- What exactly was your engineering branch?

Q2- What does an edible oil engineer do?

Q3- Which oil is a good oil?

Q4- what are types of refining?

Q5- Is kacchi ghani a physically refined oil or just marketing?

Q6- What is famous about Varanasi (hometown)? Name some of them.

Q7- Is Olive oil the best edible oil?

M1: Mam was extremely cordial and always maintained eye -contact

Q1- Has Varanasi finally arrived in terms of development?

Q2- Completely motorizing the streets of varanasi, is it a good idea?

Q3- what are two pressing issues in Varanasi?

Q4- What is a GI tag?

Q5- Are patents and GI tag the same

Q6- what is a patent?

Q7- Name any other GI tag product from varanasi?

Q8- Is it given only for processed goods or agri products also included?

Q9- GI tags from UP? Is Bhadohi Carpet given GI tag?

Q10- Name some agri related GI tags from outside UP? (kadaknath chicken was my answer)

M3- you bave been good at studies, so why edible oil in engineering?

Q2- You have worked in nellore, name one port in the city

Q3- Why do we eat palm oil a lot?

Q4- why coconut oil n kerala and mustard oil in north?

Q5- Is migration good? : I used a harsh word double edged sword in place of pros and cons ( Gave the push -pull factors )

Q6- Will you as migrant in Kerala cadre be called an asset?

Q7- which oils should we eat ( repetition, here I feel they were curious and interview went little bit about their interests and not mine)

M3: Reading my expressions all through the interview

Q1- spoke so slowly : What are the reasons of smog in Delhi?

Q2 - how to fight stubble burning?

Q3- Use of fly ash? Who is the biggest buyer of fly ash?

Q4- what are its uses? Why not used in road making extensively?

Q5- How is mustard oil refined

Q6- Why chemical refining is avoided in this process?

M4- Maam was again cordial, added a Ji to my name :P

Q1- Who are the vulnerable sections in society

Q2- what is government doing for disabled section

Q3- What is govt. Doing for ST women?

Q4- how an we improve our governance system?

Q5- Can we have better women- centric policies

 M4: have you learnt music professionally?

My honest answer: It was optional subject along with Drawing. As soon as I got the opportunity out of drawing, I took it but eventually performed in school and college

Q- who is your fav singer and why?

Chairman: your interview is over. You may get up.

It was not on my strengths of opinion based questions but my weakness on graduation questions.

My English was very normal and I was feeling thirsty in the interview room due to that shield and mask thing.

Utility of mocks (if any)- Had given 1 mock...not much as they were focussed on CA but it was not asked in my interview

Now only result will tell as they make everyone comfortable in the interview room

This was my experience in my 1st interview  in 3 attempts

Date - 13/04/22 (afternoon session)

Board - Mrs. M Sathyavathi

Optional - Commerce and accountancy

DAF - football, equestrianism, apiculture, endurance running, meditation, NCC

# whole interview on DAF and Optional, not a single question outside.

The chairman read my whole prizes, sports, position of leadership and hobbies section aloud.

Chairman :

 1. What does  piloting mean in NCC. (DAF)

 2. What did do as an intern with Tribal area development commissioner, Rajasthan. (DAF)

 3. What were your suggestions to the commissioner.

 4. Were your suggestions accepted and appreciated.

#1 member

 1. Explain to me what is heartfullness meditation (DAF)

 2. How does GST help Exporters.

 3. What is E-way bill and how is different from previous regime.

 4. What are the different taxes applicable on purchase of a vehicle.

#2 member

 1. What are the qualities of a leader.

 2. What is the difference between Internal rate of return and Economic rate of return. (Optional)

 3. What is Entrepreneurship. (DAF)

 4. What are the three golden rules of Accounting.

#3 member

 1. What is equestrianism.

 2. What are the breeds that you have ridden.

 3. How do you measure the height of the horse.

 4. What was the height of your horse.

 5. What are the different movements of horse riding and which is the most comfortable one.

 6. Have you done tent pegging.

 7. Why do these ashram gurus (godmen) even after renouncing the worldly desires live such lavish life, is it not immoral and if it why do you follow such movements.

#4 member

 1. How has the mechanism to check the conduct of CAs changed over time after various scams like Satyam and IL&FS.

 2. What are the different types of Audit.

 3. What is professional scepticism.

 4. What is disclosed in annual financial statements.

 5. What is notes to accounts.

 6. What is principle of conservatism in case of incomes.

 7. What is the difference between profit and loss statement v/s income and expenses statement.

#After this the last member said very good interview

# the chairman said “thank you, your interview is over” then exclaimed “oh! It has been 22 minutes only”

The i thanked and left the room.

Vajirao and reddy was closest to the real interview, but mocks do prepare one for adverse situation and hence must be done sufficiently.