UPSC Civil Services Interview or IAS interview is the most critical part of the IAS Exam process. In the last and final stage in the UPSC Exam, your answers to the panel’s UPSC Interview questions can make or break your selection!
The first two rounds, IAS Prelims, and Main examinations are conducted to test candidates' academic and general awareness with regards to a diverse range of topics. However, the UPSC interview questions test the personality and the temperament of the candidate. Consisting of 275 marks, the UPSC interview is generally 15-30 minutes long.
The UPSC Interviews 2020, which were earlier scheduled to be conducted from April 16, 2021, to June 18, 2021, are deferred due to the current situation. The commission has now released the UPSC Interview schedule. The UPSC Interview will now be conducted from 02nd August, 2021. Candidates can download the e-summon letters for interview from the official UPSC website.
Detailing the focal point of the UPSC interview, the notification mentions that “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 caliber 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.”
Hence, there is no fixed pattern followed by the panel of UPSC Interview for asking UPSC Interview questions. The UPSC Interview carries 275 marks but there is no minimum qualifying marks. Mainly the UPSC Interview questions are asked from the Detailed Application Form (DAF) that you’ve to fill before the UPSC Mains Examination. A panel consisting of eminent personalities hosts the interview of UPSC aspirants where a candidate is asked a variety of questions ranging from his personal life, his knowledge/outlook on current happenings, situation-based questions, etc.
To give you an idea about what can be some of the tricky UPSC interview questions, we have compiled a list of probable UPSC interview questions.
Broadly, four types of questions are generally asked in a UPSC interview. These include:
Profile-Related Questions
Current Affairs related questions
Situational Questions
Behavioral Questions
These are general questions from your Detailed Application Form (DAF) and can revolve around the meaning of your name, your qualification, your professional background, why you are interested in Civil Services, etc. The panel can also ask about your hobbies and interests. The general thumb rule to prepare these types of questions is self-reflection! Do not try and put up a false image of yourself as that might backfire. Since these questions are extremely generic, prepare them in advance.
Some UPSC Interview Questions that can be asked from this type are:
Tell us briefly about yourself or Introduce yourself.
Tell us about your hometown. What are the things you like and dislike about it?
What is the meaning of your name (first name/ surname)?
What is the motto of your school?
Why did you choose this stream? Why did you choose this particular course?
Tell us about your family.
Now, as an aspiring civil servant, you must know the whereabouts of what’s happening in the news! And you should have a balanced view about that. It is important to keep your answer balanced. Be as neutral and as diplomatic as possible while answering these questions. Avoid taking sides and be politically correct.
Some UPSC Interview that can be asked from this section are:
What are today’s news headlines?
Questions related to news from the past 2-3 months from your state are asked.
Situation-based questions can get tricky and it is where the panel assesses you the most. Hence, it is important to show your crisis-management skills while at the same time being positive. Prepare a generic line of thought before the interview as it will help you while answering these UPSC interview questions.
Some UPSC Interview Questions that can be asked from this section are:
If you’re posted as a DC in some district and a riot happens, what will you do?
Questions pertaining to the job role of choice of your service is asked.
These questions are asked to assess whether you get nervous easily or maintain your balance in tricky situations.
As a general thumb rule for all these types of UPSC interview questions, it is important to not beat around the bush if you don’t know the answer. Simply say, “I’ll have to pass this question” or “I will read more on this”.
Read more | How to prepare for UPSC Interview
Career Launcher brings to you a devoted personality development program for the preparation of the UPSC interview. Other than mock interviews and personality development sessions, you’ll also get DAF-based discussions and communication workshops to enhance your chances of selection. Get in touch with our counselors to know more about the course offerings.