Civil Services Interview Transcript

Name Chethan Vikas

Date 2-May-2014, Afternoon Session, 1
st
guy to go in!
Board - Vinay Mittal (member, UPSC) + 1 lady member and 3 male members.

I asked a brisk can I come in sir and entered and wished all of them collectively.
Chairman opened:
1. Is this your photograph?
2. What is your roll number?
3. You have completed Electronics and Communication engineering, but
why have you chosen Public Administration as your optional?!?!
4. What are the latest developments in the field of E&C ?
5. Why there is low research and innovation in the electronics field in
India?
6. As an administrator what can u do to promote R&D in electronics
manufacturing?
7. There are thousands of students graduating in electronics and
communication engineering every year but they dont enter into
research, what may be the reasons for this?
8. Have u heard of ARC ?
9. How many are there totally?
10. Name the chairmen of both the commissions?
11. How many total reports are there in 2
nd
ARC?
12. < This was a very long question which I dont remember exactly, but
finally he asked me a recommendation in civil service reforms chapter
of 2
nd
ARC the question as far as I remember is: In Govt
Departments how to minimize hierarchical tiers and how can we
improve our decision making process ??? >

I tried blabbering something, he immediately interrupted me and said
dont give me your own suggestion, tell me what does 2
nd
ARC
recommend?!
I coldly looked into his eyes and said I DONT KNOW!

13. Tell me Police reforms of 2
nd
ARC?

Passed the baton to member 1 :
This guy was an IIT Bombay professor (he introduced himself to me)
He started off by explaining to me why research in electronics is poor in the
country! He wasnt asking me any question, but was just telling me something
for some 2 continuous mins! He was very cordial, smiling all through while
speaking, had a long beard (approx 5 cms shorter than Osama Bin Laden!)
and was very casually dressed!
1. Tell me the greatest invention in electronics field ever?!?!
2. What is the greatest electronics invention in the past 30 years in
India?
3. 3. Can u remember any Indian electronics scientist of great repute?!?!
(WTF)
4. You have studied electronics and communication, yet u have chosen
public administration optional. Dont u think it would have been a lot
simpler and compatible with your background had u chosen electrical
engineering optional?!?! (This is what I call a 100% amateur question!)
5. One of your hobbies is computer gaming, dont u think its a very
kiddish hobby?!?! ( WTF)
6. Ok, tell me how does computer gaming help u as an administrator?!?!
( WTF)
{Hearing my answer to this question, everyone started laughing and
even I joined the party! :D}
7. What is the difference between an assault rifle and an ordinary rifle?!
8. Dont u think with an ordinary rifle, u cannot assault me?! (WTF)

Lady member takes over [She was an elegant woman, with a neatly ironed
expensive looking red saree, had her reading glasses on, which made her
look even more scholar like. She had a very soft and delicate voice which
was complete in opposition to mine! A lock of her hair was partially covering
her face when she was going through my good-for-nothing summary sheet;
she gently tucked it behind her ears and began with impeccable English
1. So Chethan you are from Karnataka, tell me the 3 major features you
like about your state!?
<Observation these kinda vague questions are asked only by those who
dont know much about Karnataka. Besides, she looked a typical north
Indian woman! >
2. Tell me 3 features you dis-like about Karnataka?
3. Who is your favourite Kannada actor? Tell me more about him!
4. Who is Sir M Visvesvarayya ?
5. I have seen many people in your state having their names as
Manjunath! Why is that so?!
This guy Vinay Mittal was not allowing the good lady to ask more questions,
he was getting impatient and just cut short my answer and asked member 3
to take over!
Member 3.. (A no- nonsense guy)
1. Which branch of public administration can be used to control the
anger of people?!?! (WTF !! ?? )
2. What are administrative laws?
3. What are the discretionary powers an administrator has in our
country?
4. Why an IAS officer in our country has so much of discretionary powers
at his disposal? Dont you think this leads to heavy corruption?
{Cross questioning followed my answer}
5. Dont you think cricket today has become too much commercialized?
How do u curb it?
6. If you assume yourself as the Union Sports Secretary and start drafting
a bill for controlling and regulating each and every affair of cricket in
India what all aspects would u cover?
7. Having studied Sanskrit, what can u tell me about Kalidasa?!?
Chairman ordered member 4 to take over immediately!
1. Who was Nelson Mandela? What are his contributions to humanity?
2. Are u sure Nelson Mandela was a Bharat Ratna? (Are u kidding me
dude??)
3. Who is Malala Yousufzai ?
4. What is the full name of Pakistani Taliban?
5. Do u think Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan can be an enemy to India also?
6. Should we do anything at all to curb the activities of the Pakistani
Taliban? Since it is Pakistans headache shouldnt we leave them
alone?
7. What are the steps we need to follow to tackle the Pakistani Taliban if
we are to intervene like u say?
8. Name 2 famous personalities having your name?!?
9. Have u heard of R K Laxman?
10. Have you heard of a film called Guide?! ( WTF)
<after this question the lady member and this guy started a
conversation among themselves about the movie, before the
chairman interrupted them! I was just looking at both of them like an
owl ! >

Chairman took over, and said hell ask me one last question A
famous film director has his birth anniversary today, who is that?!

{In a true prelims type fluke show where u scribble on 1 circle without
knowing what the other 3 circles are I said Satyajit Ray!}

Chairman - Very good! You interview is over!

Notes - The interview was like peace time on the LoC Sometimes it
was going to an interrogation type, especially with the chairman and
member 3, Chairman was a bit tensed throughout the interview! He
appeared as though he wanted to wrap up my interview after the first
10 mins! He was looking at his watch every now and then; he was
stony faced all through the interview. No change in expression neither
for a good answer nor for a filthy answer! I felt the interview was over
within 20 mins, but may have taken a bit longer in real time. I forgot to
take note of the time when I was entering and exiting. If I tried
answering a question from the bottom of the problem, then he would
interrupt me, he just expected to the point answers. I wasnt given a
free time to answer the question in any which way I wanted to and
most of the answers were short. This interview was neither funny nor
exciting as I hoped it would be. A very meek affair, I must admit.