The Interview

My interview was in the board of Sh. P K Mishra (PKM).He is ex-chief secretary UP Govt.

Board Chairman:- Mr. P K Mishra

4 other members including a lady(L1).


PKM- He was overall a good interviewer and was laughing in between. Not the very serious types. He encouraged me in between.

M2- A fat person , I Think from Uttar Pradesh only and from purvanchal only because of his tone and he was the most tough guy in the Board.

M3- He was a diligent person and he kept quiet most of the time.

M1- He looked like an academician as most of his questions were bookish or may be that's what I thought.

L1- She was a lady with the cunning smile. She asked simple questions with difficult cross questioning.


When I came to know that it was Mr. Mishra's board I was pretty sure that my interview will be mostly about Uttar Pradesh.

PKM- So. Mr. Ansari you are from Ballia.
Me- Yes, Sir!

PKM- Tell me what is the contribution of Ballia in freedom struggle?
Me- Sir, During freedom struggle first independent government was formed in Ballia District under the Leadership of Mr. Chittu Pandey and he acted as the District Magistrate of Ballia. Also , Mr. Mangal Pandey who was a part of 1857 struggle was from Ballia.

PKM- Ok. Ok. But what was the specific incidence that took place in Ballia in 1942?
Me- Sir , It was the time of 1942 Revolution and ...

PKM- (he said that a flag was hoisted in the collectorate )

PKM- So you read novels?which one's English or Hindi?
Me- Sir, I read both English and Hindi Novels.

PKM- Tell me the name of one of the hindi writer who is known as Ghumakkad?
Me- Sir, Mr. Rahul sankrityayan. He travelled many places like afghanistan and wrote travellogues.

M2- Don't hurry . He never travelled to Afghanistan.
PKM- You have not heard that he visited Tibet?

Me-Yes Sir, He visited Tibbet also.

PKM- If you are an administrator in a district and get the news of a train accident where some people have died and some are injured. What will you do to tackle the situation.

Me- Sir, I will first co-ordinate with the Thanedar of the area concerned if such incident has really happened. I will immediately send ambulances and medical help through the CMO.

PKM- You will not visit the place of accident? You will not take help of the NGOs etc?
Me- Yes , Sir I will do that.

M1- So you have read Physics. What is the role of Physics in Mob Management?
Me- I don't know Sir.

M1- What is non-liner dynamics? have you read it?
Me- No, Sir.

M1- Ok. then tell me some favourite question that you thought would be asked?
Me- Sir , Not as favourite question but I was preparing for question related to my backgroung with respect to my work with RRB and questions on rural development.

M1- what is RRB.
Me- Sir, It is Regional Rural Bank. RRB's were established to provide banking facility in rural areas.

M1- Have you heard about same banking in Bangladesh?
Me- Yes Sir. Mr. Mohammed Yunus established Grameen Bank in Bangladesh to provide micro credit specially to women and poor people in Bangladesh. He got a noble proze for it.

M1- But he was recently terminated from his position?What was the issue involved ?
Me- Sir, I an not able to recall the exact reason.

M1- Have you heard about NABARD?
Me- Yes Sir, It provides refinance facility to the RRB's.

L1- How will you achieve peace and prosperity in rural areas?
Me- By addressing the needs of the people in rural areas.

L1- What are the problems in rural areas and how will you solve them?
Me- Madam, Some of the problems are Infrastructure problems, roads , electricity.

L1- Ok. and how will you solve them?
Me- Madam, through proper implementation of various schemes such as Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Rural Electrification Scheme etc.

M1- Ok. what is the budgeted amount of Bharat Nirman yojana?
Me- Sir, I don't know the exact figures.

M2- Tel me the name of a famous Politician from Ballia?
Me- Sir. Mr Jaiprakash Narain.

M2- You don't know Mr. Chandrashekhar ?
Me- Yes, Sir.He was the Ex-Prime Minister of India and He was from Ballia.

M2- Then why didn't you tell his name earlier. Ok. Tell me the connection of Mr. Morar Ji Desai with Ballia?
Me- Sir , I Don't know the answer.

M2- You know very less about your own place. Which Mela is famous in Ballia?
Me- Sir, Dadari Mela. It got its name from dardar Muni.

M2- What is the use of this mela?
Me- Sir, The mela is organized in two parts 1. Cattle Fair 2. Meena Bazaar
In cattle fair people get the opportunity to trade their cattles. It acts as a place for buyer and seller meeting.

M2- What are the points or reasons for choosing a particular place?
Me- Sir , Dadari mela is organized during Magh Purnima when devotees come to take bath in Ganga River. So some of the fair's have spiritual nature attached to it.

M3- What are the schemes which are doing good in you area and which are the one's which are not working ?

Me- Sir, Schemes like MNREGS and NRHM are doing good in our region.

M3- what are the good things?
Me- Sir , Because of MNREGS the migration of labours from Eastern Uttar Pradesh has declined as people are now able to get employment opportunity in their home towns and physical assets like Ponds , Roads has been created with the help of it.
Also through NRHM , malnourished children in the rural areas have benefited through Anganwadi etc.

M3- Which are the schemes which are not doing so well and how they can be revived?
Me- Sir , some of the schemes for example special component scheme are not doing well and through finance given for more economic viable areas which are productive in nature such as handicrafts etc. it may be improved.

PKM- You know Bundelkhand Region. Name the districts in this region?
Me- Sir , some of the districts are Jhansi, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakut and Hamirpur.

PKM- Ok five names. two more?
Me- Sir, I think Jalaun and Lalitpur.

PKM. Ok Good. What are the main problems in Bundelkhand Region?

Me- Sir, There is water problem in the Bundelkhand region and some crime related law and order problem.

PKM- No no. what about malnourishment of children and low HDI?
Me- Yes, Sir. These are also the main problem areas.

PKM- How will you address say water problem?
Me- Sir , Through Rain water harvesting, construction of more ponds, and Check Dams.

PKM- You have heard about watershed management?
Me- Yes, Sir.

PKM- where is a new centre for that has been established in Bundelkhand?
Me- Sir, I don't know.

PKM- But where you think it should be ?

Me- Sir, I Think in Jhansi.

PKM. Yes, You are right . Thank you . Mr. Ansari . Your interview is over now.

Me- Thank You Sir. Thank you Madam.


( And it was over. I was tense in between and when I came out , I thought that I could have done better than this.I wished good luck the next candidate who was waiting there and came out of the building hoping that my name will get into the list.Fingers crossed.)

UPSC Civil Services 2013

The UPSC Notification for Civil Services Exam has been released !!!

The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Paper-I
Section 1 Essay = 250 Marks


Paper-II
General Studies–I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)= 250 Marks

Paper-III
General Studies –II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)= 250 Marks

Paper-IV
General Studies –III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)= 250 Marks

Paper-V
General Studies –IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) = 250 Marks

Paper-VI - Optional Subject – Paper 1 = 250 Marks
Paper-VII - Optional Subject – Paper 2 =250 Marks
Sub Total (Written test) =1750 Marks
Personality Test =275 Marks
Grand Total= 2025 Marks

Civil Services Exam 2012 – Issues for Interview by S. Nagarajan IAS

What the UPSC says:-

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his/her 

career. He/she will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the 

interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by 

a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental 

calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really  an assessment of not only his intellectual 

qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. 

Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear 

and logical exposition, balance of judgement,  variety and depth of interest, ability for social 

cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

2. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural,
though directed and purposive conversation which is  intended to reveal the mental qualities
of the candidate.
3. The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general
knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers.
Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects
of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and
outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new
discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

Overall Approach:-

  Dress Code
  Interview Etiquette
  Body Language
  Answers – timing and structure
  Arguments
  Issues related to Biodata
  Issues related to Tamil Nadu
  Issues Related to India
  International Issues
  Current Affairs

Issues Related to Bio-data:-

  Questions from your  Bio-data are asked by the Interview Board to  make you feel
comfortable.
  If any particular item ‘stands out’ in your Bio-data, Interview Board asks out of
curiosity on why you have done that, what is the speciality, etc.
  However, if poorly prepared, Bio-data questions can make you feel uncomfortable or
difficult.
  Common Mistake –
o  to prepare only for the simple, obvious questions like :
why/when/where/how/how, etc. for each item in the Bio-data.
o  But, more questions will flow out of the answers given by you.
nagarajan.ias@gmail.com  Page 2
o  Or, the members of the board will relate to a similar situation elsewhere and
ask about that.
  e.g.:  Student of Annamalai University  -  not only about history/etc. of Annamalai
University, but also whole range of issues to Private Universities, Deemed Universities,
recent controversies about foreign universities.  This can also lead to the area of
Constitution and freedom of speech via the IIPM website controversy route.  This can
in turn lead to China  and much more. (The short point here is  –  be ACTIVE while
preparing your biodata. It is like a seed that can take the shape of a huge tree with
countless branches.)
  Make a ‘Tree Diagram’ of the Issues -  Answers –  Issues out of each  item in your Bio-data. Make it till the third level.
  Hobbies: Generally we would have filled up some hobby we might not be very familiar
with. In such cases, narrow down the area of interest and steer the board to your area
of interest.
  eg: Watching films – is a vast area.
You should be ready with what kind of films you watch, which ones you like, which are
the latest ones, etc.  (Needless to say this will end up in freedom of speech and civil
rights. Got the route?)

Common Issues:-

  Why Civil Services?
  If IPS/IFS 1st choice, any particular reason?
  Why this order of preference? (top few only)
  Role of Civil Services – any future for Civil Services?
  Why did you choose this optional?
  How will your degree / optional be useful / relevant?
  What were you doing till now? (if not working etc)
  Why are you leaving your present job? ( if working – particularly in Govt Service)
  Will you work if you posted in  a naxal-affected area?  What difference can you
make?

Situation/theme based questions:-

  Ends vs Means is the crux of the issue
  Means are as important as the ends
  Rule of Law and spirit of the law matter
  When can rules be broken?  –  in public interest, in public view, when you ae ready
to face the consequences – upholding the spirit of the law
  When can orders be disobeyed? – when illegal and against public interest
  Constitutional imperatives to be borne in mind, over-riding the common and casual
value judgements e.g. fake encounters;
  Assume you are the Delhi Police Commissioner. What will be your response/how
will you handle if the barbaric rape-murder were to happen during your tenure?
  Assume you are the Foreign Secretary. How will you handle the Maldives crisis?
  If you posted as the DC of Mandya district and the Cavery problem erupts. How
will you leave aside your bias  and maintain peace?  How will you instill confidence
among the public?

Scenarios:-

  Use of force against – Maoists, Protestors, Street vendors.
  Extra judicial killings.

PMs 15 point programme for minorities

It basically covers four parts:-

(A) Enhancing opportunities for education
(B) Equitable share in Economic Activities and Employment
(C) Improving the condition of living of Minorities
(D) Prevention and Control of Communal Riots

Under Part (A) following points are covered-

1. Equitable availability of ICDS Services
2. Improving access to school education
3. Greater Resources for teaching Urdu
4. Modernising Madarsa Education
5. Scholarships for Minority Students
6. Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF)

Under Part (B) following points are covered-

7.  Self employment and wage employment for the poor

8.  Up-gradation of Skills through technical training

9.  Enhanced credit support for economic activities

10. Recruitment to state and central services 

Under Part (C) following points are covered-

11. Equitable share in rural housing scheme

12. Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority communities

Under Part (D) following points are covered-

13. Prevention of communal riots

14. Prosecution for communal offences

15. Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots