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[Official ] Interview Preparation 2021 - Ask Questions, Debates and Doubts, Hobbies, Home State

LIVE Session onStrategic Mistakes and Handling Tricky Questions

LIVE Session for filling up DAF 2 | CSE 2020



Hello All,

So the last time I create a TG for Interview prep we saw some good discussions. However, the group has little archival value, by which I means discussions that happen are not archived on the Internet forever - which is something we need for Civils prep - or at least for the community.

This thread is created by ME circa 2021 to be "The Interview Group"

I am also working on a guide for Interview Preparation - which is kinda here


And a very interesting hobby discussion thread here


http://discuss.forumias.com/discussion/23379/hobbies-discussion-for-upsc-interview

591 comments

And this one

https://forumias.com/portal/ias-interview-preparation/

DM,
70.2k views
From where to read about home state?
69.1k views
From where to read about home state?

Wikipedia is the best place to begin. Check out KBC nano state series. 

ssver2,DM
70k views
Ty so much neyawn tau sir g 🙏❤️

69k views
@neyawn sir   Please share some Gyan to answer this famous question “ You were spending long time in upsc journey (4-5 years). Aren’t you wasting productive time of youth?”
69.3k views
@neyawn sir   Please share some Gyan to answer this famous question “ You were spending long time in upsc journey (4-5 years). Aren’t you wasting productive time of youth?”

I would reply on these line-Yes i have spent good amount of time in the preparation. It is only because of the energy and passion of the youth , that i was able to stand up after every failure and rectify my mistakes. If this doesnt work out, the preparation has made me capable enough to bounce back from another failure. 

Manhunt,
68.8k views

This was my first mains, please enlighten. I am confused as to what to write in hobby in DAF-2, if I get interview call-

1) I watch Movies/Web Series- but someone suggested that it is a passive hobby which is discouraged and that board might ask questions related to older movies while I mostly watch contemporary ones.

2) Should I write a new activity as a hobby- I don't actually do it but have some idea due to some projects and I can further prepare for it- like being from engineering optional, how about writing Electric vehicle enthusiast as the hobby- I can prepare technicalities and policies related to EV, why EVs still not a success in India, etc?! 

3) I like playing badminton but don't regularly watch it. 

Although I do play cricket a lot but I am apprehensive about writing it bcoz first, it is a national hobby :p and second, everyone is a cricket expert in himself/herself so they can ask tough ques there. 

Please enlighten. Thank you.

ssver2,HarveySpectreand1 otherslike this
69.1k views

This was my first mains, please enlighten. I am confused as to what to write in hobby in DAF-2, if I get interview call-

1) I watch Movies/Web Series- but someone suggested that it is a passive hobby which is discouraged and that board might ask questions related to older movies while I mostly watch contemporary ones.

2) Should I write a new activity as a hobby- I don't actually do it but have some idea due to some projects and I can further prepare for it- like being from engineering optional, how about writing Electric vehicle enthusiast as the hobby- I can prepare technicalities and policies related to EV, why EVs still not a success in India, etc?! 

3) I like playing badminton but don't regularly watch it. 

Although I do play cricket a lot but I am apprehensive about writing it bcoz first, it is a national hobby :p and second, everyone is a cricket expert in himself/herself so they can ask tough ques there. 

Please enlighten. Thank you.

I saw in transcript, someone wrote "watching american satirical shows", and something about FRIENDS.
I too prefer sitcoms, and rarely watch serious stuff. same for movies (feel-good), music (indie/alt), fiction (coming-of-age/young adult (though budhapa aane ko hai)). so what to do: simply write watching tv shows, movies & reading novels (or add some qualifiers - or that'd be overdoing?) 

Similarly, sometimes I play Badminton & (gully/terrace) cricket. but have only heard of Saina Nehwal & Prakash Padukone. and zilch knowledge of the game. stopped following cricket after 2012. I like to run too. again, Bolt/PT Usha/PSTomar/Milkha/Budhia only folks I know. so I guess, no point.



I have also duped everyone till now in believing that I love books, philosophy & a bit of science. it all started with my teenage fascination with amreeki neo-atheism. so I went to wikipedia/wiki quote/goodreads/youtube etc. (pop) science/religion/philosophy/wars of disciplines(alan sokal, anyone?)/SJW-LGBT-PC-woke culture/alt-med & all that crap. baad mein nihilism aaya, toh thoda french existentialism ka tadka. and then balancing with Indian philosophy. law student ->so pol philo.

but, I've hardly read 50 books (in entirety), only two real philosophy books (and understood a fraction of it). b/c "books have boring parts" & REAL science & philosophy (not mere romanticism) & need patience. so superficial se bhi superficial maamla hai. but yehi meri real hobby hai: to waste time on internet and to pretend to know "stuff", but cant write that too :/

New activity: so I started translating a chapter of a classic (to Hindi) & made a podcast on it. I am loving this. yeh likh dun? but I use google translate/shabdkosh for most basic words!

Khaali hi chhod diya jaye kya? (mazak) btw aasar hain nahi call aane ke. mungeri lal ke sapne :D

Caesar,KatnissEverdeenand3 otherslike this
68.5k views

This was my first mains, please enlighten. I am confused as to what to write in hobby in DAF-2, if I get interview call-

1) I watch Movies/Web Series- but someone suggested that it is a passive hobby which is discouraged and that board might ask questions related to older movies while I mostly watch contemporary ones.

2) Should I write a new activity as a hobby- I don't actually do it but have some idea due to some projects and I can further prepare for it- like being from engineering optional, how about writing Electric vehicle enthusiast as the hobby- I can prepare technicalities and policies related to EV, why EVs still not a success in India, etc?! 

3) I like playing badminton but don't regularly watch it. 

Although I do play cricket a lot but I am apprehensive about writing it bcoz first, it is a national hobby :p and second, everyone is a cricket expert in himself/herself so they can ask tough ques there. 

Please enlighten. Thank you.

what I've heard so far from coaching folks

1. it's okay to write such hobbies


2. don't do that. already a lot on the plate


personal "opinion" (zero empirical backing)


1. old v contemporary wont be an issue


3. national hobby/everyone's an expert shouldn't hold you back. also everyone (PM/EcoSurvey) is talking of that test series. don't miss this low hanging fruit.

ButterChicken,
68.2k views
@ssver2 Spotify audio books?? That wonderful life is short recording?! 


68.2k views
@ssver2 Spotify audio books?? That wonderful life is short recording?! 


Yes. But I removed that one (& couple more chapters, I wasted my hours on). Changed the name to "Anuvad", so only Hindi translations now. b/c audible & librivox already have British (accent) dudes' narration of English translation :p

68.2k views
@ssver2 Bhai same case read some books here and there(Harrari's, Sen's etc.) but not enough to write reading non-fiction as a hobby- probably in the same boat as you of pretending to know stuff :p 

I think@Neyawn sir,@AzadHindFauz and some seniors who already have experience of giving interviews may guide us better. 
ssver2,
68.8k views
@ssver2 Bhai same case read some books here and there(Harrari's, Sen's etc.) but not enough to write reading non-fiction as a hobby- probably in the same boat as you of pretending to know stuff :p 

I think@Neyawn sir,@AzadHindFauz and some seniors who already have experience of giving interviews may guide us better. 

:') 

kahani yeh hai ki, idk if reading non-fiction IS my hobby or not, but I desperately want it to be so. 

walterwhit3,
68.1k views
@ssver2 Bhai same case read some books here and there(Harrari's, Sen's etc.) but not enough to write reading non-fiction as a hobby- probably in the same boat as you of pretending to know stuff :p 

I think@Neyawn sir,@AzadHindFauz and some seniors who already have experience of giving interviews may guide us better. 

I haven't given interview yet. I might be in the same boat as you. Can we work together?

Let's brainstorm what all areas could be asked. One topic at a time- graduation subject, work experience, hobbies, home state etc. Before we do that, let's go through the threads@Neyawn sir has shared + the interview transcripts. Then, we can plan accordingly. Preferably 2-3 days for a topic.

ssver2,
68.2k views

Anyone with yoga as hobby ? 


I've been doing it for a year now. And reading a book. Willing to team up with someone with same hobby. 

68.7k views
@ssver2 anuvad still counts right. How does language matter? I get it you are using translator but still..

PS - When do we get to hear it?! 


ssver2,
68k views

Since everyone here seems to be focusing on non-fiction books, just want to know if reading fiction books as a hobby has some issues? I do read non-fiction but those numbers are really less! 


ssver2,JhansiKiRanii
67.9k views

This was my first mains, please enlighten. I am confused as to what to write in hobby in DAF-2, if I get interview call-

1) I watch Movies/Web Series- but someone suggested that it is a passive hobby which is discouraged and that board might ask questions related to older movies while I mostly watch contemporary ones.

2) Should I write a new activity as a hobby- I don't actually do it but have some idea due to some projects and I can further prepare for it- like being from engineering optional, how about writing Electric vehicle enthusiast as the hobby- I can prepare technicalities and policies related to EV, why EVs still not a success in India, etc?! 

3) I like playing badminton but don't regularly watch it. 

Although I do play cricket a lot but I am apprehensive about writing it bcoz first, it is a national hobby :p and second, everyone is a cricket expert in himself/herself so they can ask tough ques there. 

Please enlighten. Thank you.

The Board may have movie enthusiasts who do ask questions on older movies sometimes. Plus I have also met candidates who have spent their whole 4 years of engineering in watching like 2 movies / day and have watched IMDB's Top 100 / 500 list + Korean / what not.


I used to think this is a generational prpblem, until I became aware of some Board members being deep into movies. So yes, that risk stays especially if you are just a casual movie watcher.

As far as electric vehicles are concerned, it is a fairly prep arable topic. You also have the time to do due diligence.

#3 Badminton, people who put that hobby do watch famous moments. I am also aware of an IIT Delhi female candidate who secured a under 40 rank being very well prepared with this topic - including questions like Why is China doing so well in Sports ( and was actually asked this question ) , so make your database well.

Also, do not forget to know the basics - which is what are the dimensions of a badminton court.

For cricket, there is nothing bad about it, do watch top 100 cricket moments videos on Youtube, you anyway are not doing much studies :P

Its better than eating Butterchicken :)

ssver2,GaryVeeand4 otherslike this
68.8k views
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