Interview - transcript and experience by Neha Banerjee ( AIR 20, UPSC CSE 2019)

This post is to share my experience about the interview process. Our mains result was declared on 14th January 2020 and till then I had not taken any extra preparation ( since the Mains result) for interview apart from reading and analysing the newspaper( The Indian Express) , listening to rstv debates and reading some non fiction books. I was also going through a difficult phase of my career wherein I had decided to resign from my then job and look for another back up option. In the meantime we had to fill the DAF part 2 ( hobbies , achievements , service and cadre preference etc). All these are very important steps and one cannot afford to make mistakes here. So I went through some youtube videos of Dr. Vikas Divyakirti , Anul Swarup and several others to listen to their opinions on the interview process and daf filling. After finalising on the DAF, I started my interview preparation with analysing the daf and making questions from it. ( Like those based on my city, state, education background, hobbies etc). Incidentally , I came to know around 23rd Jan that my interview is scheduled on the 19th Feb . My last day at office was on 31st January. So I could manage only around 20 proper days for the exclusive preparation.  Actually, there's not much to prepare other than knowing you and your DAF well, brushing up on your current affairs and most importantly your communication skills. I gave 3 mock interviews ( Drishti, Chanakya and Unacademy) on 1st and 3rd Feb 2020. As part of the mock at Unacademy, I got a handout of 300 probable questions by Mrunal Sir and some probable questions on my DAF prepared by MK Yadav Sir. Just to clear some confusions from new aspirants,  mock interviews are mostly free of cost , however your video and details are uploaded once you clear the exam. 

Anyway coming to the real interview day. Woke up at 4am ( extra effort required by women candidates for tying up the saree ) , reached the venerated corridors of UPSC Bhawan around 7.30 am, was allowed to enter the premises at 9 am and after the checking process etc , we were alloted seats in the circular waiting hall and were called for the interview one by one. Just to mention that the staff and the rest of the candidates have such a supportive and positive aura that you forget being a part of a competitive exam and results and all. I am very thankful to them. 

Time : around 12.25 pm to 1 pm ( 35 minutes). 4th person to enter.

Greeted the panel and was given a warm permission to sit ( though the chair slipped back, i managed not to fall :P) 

Chairperson( looking into my DAF) :- I see that you have done graduation from IIT Kgp in 2018. And you also participated in NSS ( written in my daf). Explain your role there 

Me :- Told about village visits, teaching activities and my role as a group leader. Also mentioned about a science experiment we did with kids of the village school.

CP :- Which science project ?

Me:- Exhibitied electromagnetic properties of an iron nail wrapped with copper wire. 

CP :- What other science projects ?

Me:- Sir, this was the only one. Other than this we were mainly given teaching roles. One of the students asked me how does lightning occur ? This was a very encouraging questions to me. 

CP:- So why do you want to leave engineering ?

Me:- Sir, studying engineering has been a great opportunity for me . But I feel that engineering will absorb more of my aptitude whereas the civil services will test both my attitude and aptitude. I will put my full heart and soul in whatever capacity I can. Moreover this job will bring out the best in me and the energy which I can sustain for a long time in my career.

M1 :- Do you think civil servants should be given freedom of speech ?

Me :- Mentioned about the tenets of Conduct Rules and the importance of neutrality and anonymity in the services. However, Article 19 is a fundamental right and cannot be snatched away arbitrarily but it is not absolute anyhow. So as long as service conduct is not destabilised , freedom of speech exists. ( Tripura high court ruling was in news). However these are sensitive issues which must be finetuned in the training period as well

M1:- Why did India leave RCEP ?

Me :- Told about protests from dairy industry , role of Australia,NZ . India 's inability to get a proper item wise negotiating deal. Niti Ayog report which expressed apprehensions about FTAs and the more than 50 bn dollar trade deficit with China, dumping etc ( Note the question..he did not ask pros , cons of leaving RCEP...so we should answer what is asked !) 

M1:- Has the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao been successful?

Me:- Sir going by the stats, Haryana has seen improvement in sex ratio and falling gender gap in Gross enrolment ratio.  Moreover the inter ministerial convergence that this scheme brings forth is also appreciable. 

M1 :- And what about other states ?

Me:- Though I am not aware of the exact stats, but BBBP has set forth a behavioural change . Ex. selfie with daughter campaign and as an off shoot many state governments have also started their own public policies like cash transfer, cycle transfer schemes etc to encourage girl education.

M1:- Do you think AI is too disruptive or it can be harnessed constructively ? 

Me:- Sir like other phases of civilisation , this time AI is the centrestage for the so called Industrial Revolution 4.0. We have seen disruptions and apprehensions even when the Gutenberg press was discovered. Moreover , we have enough lessons to be learnt from the past century also ( nuclear proliferation etc). So probably we know the importance of regulation ( stressed upon this word) of a technology like AI. We have seen its immense potential in education ( personalized learning), remote healthcare and moreover the bourgeoning  startup ecosystem. So we need to be open minded yet ensure that the fruits of this technology is equitably distributed among the social ladder.

M2 :- So you mentioned about dumping . Explain anti dumping duty , counterveiling duty ?

Me:- Gave the answer ( whatever I could retain from Mrunal Sir 's economy lectures) . Explained about predatory dumping ( when market price in importing country is less than cost price ofthe  product). 

M2:- But how do you know what is the original cost price or market price in exporting country?

Me :- I am not exactly sure but we have the office of DGFT ( Director general of foreign trade ) and there must be some WTO mechanism also. 

M2:- Okay , how useful is the Model code of conduct ? 

Me :- I think it is an important instrument to maintain election discipline. Gave example of a related news from 2019 general elections where MCC was applied. But this is not law..that is a boon in a sense ..I mean free from the delays and rigors of legal procedure. 

M2:- Since you are an Electrical Engineer, let me ask some technical questions. What is super critical technology ?

Me :- It is a technique used in power plants to decrease the per unit fuel cost for power production. Recently NTPC used it. Its mostly concerned with thermodynamics.

M2:- Exact temperature and pressure range ?

Me:- Sorry Sir not aware.

M2:- Use and problems of HVDC transmission in India

Me:- Yes sir it is useful for long distance transmission like connecting the North East Grid with that in Dadri. But there is a problem of circuit breaker technology as no AC zero . Wanted to draw a graph here ( but he said not required)

M2:- What is the exact plf of solar and thermal power plant in India ?

Me :- Sir , around 54 percent for thermal. Mainly accorded to poor capacity in transmission, need more digitisation in demand forecasting etc.

CP :- no what is the exact number ?

Me :- Sorry sir not aware.

M2 :- So improvements in plf of solar plant . How will you do it ?

Me :- enhancement in material science technology , CSP technology and optimal capacity utilisation through variable grid connections etc.

M3:- Neha ...I am very interested to know about a hobby you mentioned .travelling under budget constraints ..are you that backpacker who sets out on trips ? 

Me ( smiling ) :- No mam. Not exactly that kind. I started with this hobby since my college times due to financial contraints. But then , even after I started earning this kind of stayed with me. Like if we book trains at night , then we save on hotel fares for a day. Then usually the museum charges in any spot are high. So i skip them sometimes and watch youtube videos sitting inside the premises for knowledge and experience of the place ( did this in Udaipur palace). 

( this was the only instance when I could notice a smile on the Chairperson's face ) 

M3:- okay. If you are posted in a district, what would you do for the adololescent women ..esp those of child bearing age ?

Me:- Started with child marriage ex. in my state of West Bengal ...

M3:- No ..that is more of a social issue . I meant the health issues 

Me :- Yes Mam. Almost 52 percent women are diagnosed with anaemia. So IFA tablets distribution , tweaking the mid day meal diet to include more protein based diet to counter micro nutrient deficiency. This is because the impact of women's reproductive health are intergenerational. Mentioned about the burden of stunting, wasting etc. I would also focus on the menstrual health of adolescent girls. Mentioned a  scheme on biodegradable sanitary pads.

M3 :- And for pregnant women tell me some initiatives 

Me :- PM matritya sahyog yojana ( explained the scheme) , there is ante natal care on the 9th of every month ..iPledge etc

M3 :- What is your opinion on private engineering colleges ?

Me :- As our economy gets more diversified, there will be requirement of specific skills in diverse sectors. So , private engineering colleges have a positive role here and they need autonomy here. But there are issues of unscrupulous fees, fake promise of placements etc. So we need to regulate the mushrooming of such colleges ( mentioned about an aicte circular).

M3:- Tell me 2 things which are there are in govt. college but not in private 

Me :- one is the fees issue. Higher education in govt. is usually subsidized and more accessible , whereas as in private there are cases of exorbitant fees and capitation etc. Second is the social mobility...govt colleges have strict reservation policies than private....so the student and faculty base are more socially inclusive.

M4 :- So you are a science scholar. That means you know what is scientific spirit. Tell me which one is superior ..science or religion ?

Me:- I believe that science and religion need not  be seen as polar opposites and can co exist. Even science also has some of its origins in religion. 

M4:- How exactly ?? 

Me:- Ancient Hindu kannad philosophy on atomistic theory, architectural marvels during Islamic rule. I think Max Weber also pointed out that how Protestant ethic has correlation with the scientific revolution in Europe. On an abstract level the concept of zero was known to Indians through Budhhist philosophy of Sunyavad. ( My answers seemed unsatisfactory to myself ..and I lost bit of a confidence here ) 

M4:- But still science is about logic and religion about faith..which is supreme ?

Me :- Mam, science and religion answer different questions of life. Their evolution is deeply civilizational and a watertight compartmentalization is not possible.

CP :- Then what happened to Copernicus ?

Me :- He was punished for going against the church during  Renaissance. But the premise of this debate on heliocentrism came from religion. I mean Sir , the evolution of science is argumentative and dialoguic , not in a silo. 

M4 :- Have you heard of the Bohra community ?

Me :- ( my mind was a bit tired after the previous debate) ..Sorry Mam..not able to recall. I would look it up surely

M4:- Yes you should. Okay what is geriatrics?

Me :- It refers to the care and healthcare needs of elderly population. We keep talking of demographic dividend but geriatric is a way to achieve longevity dividend. 

M4 :- So are we doing good on demographic dividend ?

Me:- That needs to be assessed in a sector wise manner ..education, health, skills etc. Mam I know about the Bohra community..can I tell now ? ( She nodded). They are a Muslim trading community in the Western parts of India.

M4 :-  Do you have hopes for  the UN system ?

Me :- The UN still follows a 1945 world order. Mentioned about p5 veto politics and some other reforms,  India 's aspiration to be one of them etc

M4 :- Which UN  organisation has been the best according to you ?

Me :-  ( It was a time when the covid issue and the issue of WHO was not that prominent). I think it would be the WHO. Its an example of multilateralism for solving one of the most relevant human problem of public health. Despite power politics etc it's role in One health initiative, Universal health coverage , ebola virus and tobacco elimination ( FCTC protocol) and association with programs in India like that on TB, malaria etc are praiseworthy. 

CP :- Okay Neha your interview is over. ( I was unable to believe that for sometime. Finally got up , thanked the panel and left. Indeed one of the most precious 35 minutes of my life  🙂) 

Disclaimer:- This transcript is fully based on my memory and I may have missed some questions. Moreover the answers given by me have been written in a short/ summary form here.( not possible to recall every word I said)