Some interesting questions and events.
UPSC CSE interview is one of those events that have reached a level that is almost of mythological and folklore proportions. By which I mean that talk to anyone and all of them have a version of their own about the thing from how to go about it to what happens in an UPSC CSE interview.
I gave 2 attempts and having faced the board twice, getting a decent score twice and a rank, twice, I think I can tell you a bit more than hearsay.
UPSC CSE interviews are very famous for being unpredictable and can easily surprise you. They are truly based on a syllabus which covers “everything under the sun and beyond.” I had a similar experience, as in, some of the questions asked to me were truly out of this world and beyond my expectations. In both my interviews, I was asked certain questions, though completely understandable and legitimate, I was not expecting. One of them was, the very first question. Having given many mocks, I was, like everyone, used to answering basic questions, from the background, education, family, past experience etc at the beginning and only after that does the board get into the details of the DAF. But, to my absolute surprise, the very first question asked to me, was, in my first interview was, “Tell me Gandhiji’s economic philosophy in one word”. Now, it might seem tough even in a written exam but to have it as your opening question on the day of your actual personality test was just something else. Imagine expecting a question like, “Tell me the meaning of your name” or “Why did you go to IIT if it was IAS you wanted” or “What are your hobbies” and getting this instead.
I was surely in a state of shock for exactly 3–4 seconds, I did regain my senses and took a deep breath and smiled. Having studied Gandhiji and his philosophy in my preparation, I gave the answer and they were satisfied with it. Now, the question is perfectly legitimate and the interviewer had many reasons to ask it, from Political Science being my optional to Reading being my hobby, from Gandhiji having a profound impact on almost every aspect of Indian existence to this being an UPSC CSE interview and Gandhiji’s value being a driving force of all public services and much more. But, it was still a surprise for a first question.
But this made me ready for just anything.
I clearly remember that in my second attempt, one gentleman from the North East, he himself told me later in the interview, asked me around 25 questions on football, it being the sport I have loved and played and also mentioned in the DAF. He asked me questions like, “Who were the finalists in the World Cup held in 1974?”, “Who is credited with inventing Tiki-Taka?” etc This was such an amazing and fulfilling spell as I was prepared for all of this, and not just because of the interview but being a football lover I have over the years read so much about football that these questions were a pleasure for me to answer.
Another instant from the interview which comes to my mind was from my second attempt, but a brief background first. The Chairman of my interview board was Shri B.S. Bassi, IPS (Retd.) and it was a coincidence that the chairman of my first interview board was also him. Now, it happens rarely but it does. He had given me good marks the last time so as soon as I entered the room, I gave a slight sigh of relief, as human nature would have anyone doing it. I still wonder sometimes if he recognised me but that look he gave did say, “oh, I have seen home before.” But, I can’t say it for certain. So, I sat down and after the chairman and a few others have asked their questions, I was asked, “Can you name a few Polymers used in Space?”. Now, Polymer Science is my graduation subject and so this was not a big deal. But, I took a pause to recollect my thoughts, as I didn’t want to just blurt out the first few names that came into my mind. But as I was naming them and their use, Bassi sir intervened, “Come in, that’s not used in space, that’s not good enough for Earth”, apparently referring to one of the polymers I named. Now, when your interview is going smoothly and suddenly you have the chairman intervene, you know it’s not normal, that’s too him saying something which is against what you were saying, more reasons to get worried. But, I was confident and said, “Sir, I am sure that it is used in space exploration vehicles.” He said, “okay, if you are sure then I might be wrong.” I am sure that he was testing if I was confident about what I was speaking and how early do I give up on my answer, a factual one, from my field of study. Anyways, it went well and he gave me good marks in my second interview as well.
Now, there is lesson for all the aspirants here. Mocks are good but then it’s your presence of mind and your calm that makes you sail through the interview.
