Some Tips for UPSC Civil Services Interview

UPSC Civil Services Examination Interview

Importance and Some Basics

In recent days, many young Civil Services aspirants who have qualified for the UPSC Interview have been asking me for some tips and suitable guidance which can enable one to score good marks in the Interview. I am thus sharing some tips based on my personal experiences for the benefit of everyone rather than replying to every single query separately.  Having done quite well at most of the UPSC Interviews that I had faced including those for Civil Services, Indian Forest Service and Engineering Services Examination, all held in 2002, I have often been able to guide some aspirants about the expectations of the Interview Board. To guide my younger brother, I had once in 2012 compiled a summary of the important points that one should take care of during the process and am sharing some from the same :- 

Thats me Checking the results of the Civil Services Exam at UPSC in May, 2003

-       The Moment of UPSC Interview Call : All candidates selected for the Civil Services Interview must realise that this moment is the result of a lot of systematic hard work and perseverance. You have got the Interview Call because you deserved it and because you have severely fought for it. But you must always remember that the moment is transitory in nature as the fight for being selected by the UPSC for the most coveted services is still continuing. These very last moments are really crucial for the results that would become a reality in the near future. 

Interview Call Letter from UPSC

-        My CSE Interview : To stress upon the importance of these moments before the interview, I must mention in brief my personal experiences. In March 2003, as the results of the Civil Services Examination (2002) were declared my joy had no bounds as I had been selected and soon received my interview call letter from the UPSC. I then had an innate air of self-confidence as I was quite sure of having done exceedingly well in the Main examination and was further mentally secure since I had by then also been selected for the IFS. But leaving nothing to chance I prepared very hard for the interview and landed at the UPSC gate in the first week of April, 2003. I was the last candidate to be called for the Interview which was scheduled in the second half. As I entered the Interview room at around 4.30 p.m., many thoughts suddenly started erupting in my mind momentarily as I took my chair. I felt that the most crucial moment for which I had prepared for years and recent months was before me. This made me nervous and I was badly stammering as the interview started. After just one or two questions the chairperson of the Board could realise my nervousness and offered me to have a glass of water which was kept on the table in front of my seat. Taking a short break as I drank water, I totally stabilised and answered most successive questions quite well as per my best convictions and knowledge. Even though I had done very well in the later parts of the interview, I was not sure about the marks I would be scoring since I had become nervous in the initial part. When I saw my result for the first time on the UPSC Notice board, my All India rank was 60. As I was then expecting an even better rank than 60, I felt that I might have got lower marks in the interview as I was quite confident of having scored high in the main examination. But later when I found out my marks, I was indeed in for a major surprise as I had excellently scored 225/300 in the Interview.  Surprisingly, my marks were below expectations in Mathematics which was my optional subject along with Mechanical Engineering. Looking at the mark-sheet, I realised the importance of the marks of the Interview in my attaining the 60^th rank and I thus mentally thanked the interview board for having virtually selected me over many others who may have had similar marks in the Main examination.  

-        Importance of the Interview : I narrated my experience here only to tell you about how important the interview is. It is here that the difference of marks may vary from 60 to 240 or even more between candidates who have scored similarly in the written examination. Had I scored anything less than 225 in the interview,  I would not have attained the 60^th All India rank in the #CSE, 2002, which made me eligible for the the Bihar (Home) Cadre of the IPS, by virtue of being the topper in the IPS batch from Bihar. Had my score been less than 200, then I may not have even got into the IPS. You can thus see how every mark you score in the Interview can become important. What I am today, I owe in a great way to my performance in the interview.

Basic Tips for the UPSC Interview

I had followed some basics which helped me to score well in all the UPSC interviews I had ever appeared for. I got the 4^th rank in the IFS examination because then UPSC Chairman had given me very good marks (210/300) in the IFS interview. Notably, I was the only engineer to get such good marks in that particular examination where another colleague from IITK could get only 25/300, while most other engineers got less than 100 and were thus rejected. I also did well at the Engineering Services Examination where my rank was 18^th and I had scored 140/200 in the Interview.

Some basic philosophies that can help you score high are :-

-        Be optimistic at all times : It helps a lot. The answers that you give on issues of concern would be appreciated more if you have an air of optimism in it. The recruiters don’t want to get people with negative mindsets. They want people who can deal with the various challenges that our democratic systems are facing with a positive and sincere mindset. For example you may feel and express that something which is going on is not good for the country. But at the same time you must also express that one should be optimistic as democracy has a lot of innate strength and will reach solutions gradually. The weaknesses seen today could be only a transitory phase, and the future may be very bright. Democracy may be slow and painful at times to resolve our aspirations, but that it will ultimately succeed is definite. One can quote some examples like the turnaround of development indices in Bihar after 2005. Due to sustained efforts at good governance, things in Bihar started moving positively even as the popular views on Bihar’s development had not been very optimistic just a decade back.

-        Know your Resume Well. You must know every aspect of what you have written on the Application form. As the summary of what you had filled is available with every member of the board, they may start with questions from your personal data and then gradually test your views on national and other issues as the discussions evolve. You must be seen to be interested in the activities that you pursue and have a good knowledge about them. If you are having some useful hobbies or are making some contribution in the form of collecting photos / reports or documenting / writing, that may be appreciated by the board. Basically you should give the impression of a down-to-earth but well-read person with good and positive interests, so as to suggest that your selection into the civil services would serve as a boon.

Details I had then entered into the Application Form which I was queried upon

-        Know your Home State well. You must be very familiar with the developmental aspects of your home state. Always try to have some quotable points with good examples. Start seeing recent developments in a positive light. Bihar for instance has a lot of good examples of governance.  A candidate from Bihar can learn about the Right to Service Act and its implementation in Bihar. One can also learn about how RTI is empowering the democracy and making it more transparent or how the recent policy on prohibition is impacting public life and economy. You must be able to appreciate the infrastructural constraints of the state etc. You may go through some articles/books but while reading always remember to cull out the points you can quote in the interview in a positive way.

-        Be Balanced in views : Try to be balanced with a scientific mind-set. Do not have very strong counter views on issues of concern. For instance, you may personally feel that secularism is not being practised properly in the manner as envisaged in the Constitution of India, and that people are being appeased in its name, but your views when presented before the interviewer should not be seen as politically aligned in any way. You must learn the best way to positively express your views without the listener taking any offence as all your views should be very transparent, logical and totally free from any political bias. You views should be more based on academic interests and passions. They should be fully in consonance with the feelings and aspirations of the makers of the Constitution. If you really have some very strong views you can discuss with friends and try to develop more balanced and logical views. Discussion on important issues helps to develop newer insights.

-        Give some mock interviews : You can practise giving some mock interviews but always with a caution in mind and you mustn’t get negatively influenced by opinions of the listeners. Remember that your personality can’t be changed in matter of few days based on suggestions or opinions. So even if some mock does not go very well, just don’t worry as the final moment of performance is the UPSC interview and that is what would matter.

-        Be Yourself : You don’t have to pretend anything. Always remember that you have been called for the interview because you deserved the call. So you must be confident. You are not being tested for your literary or oratorical skills. You must be able to present your views/thoughts in a clear manner with proper reasoning and logic. Good communication skills always help, but they are not everything you need to score well here. You cannot act street smart and get good marks. Remember that this is a serious test and that you are being selected from amongst millions to serve the people in the democratic system. Your sincerity, good knowledge, appreciation of ground issues and optimism will be of value. I had become very nervous on entering the UPSC room as the stakes were so high for me at that time. I was nervous and slightly stammering when the interview started. The board chairperson sensed my nervousness and offered me to have a glass of water kept in front of my seat to make me comfortable. It indeed worked, and thereafter I answered all the questions very sincerely and confidently. I could make my mark at the succeeding questions that I answered.

-        Don’t Pretend to know things that you don’t : Be truthful. Remember that you are not expected to know everything under the Sun. But for the things that you know, you must have a deeper understanding, which must be properly conveyed.

-        Don’t interrupt the board members when they speak.

-        If you are interrupted while speaking, then you must immediately stop and listen to what the particular board member wants to convey. Maybe you did not get the question right. Don’t be seen to be getting adamant or overconfident. You should be seen to be receptive and open to questioning and new ideas.

-        Be polite as good manners certainly help in creating an overall impression about the general bearing and personality.

-        Be well groomed : For males,  one should get a haircut some days prior to interview and shave well but not overshave which can at times create shabby cuts. Don’t get engrossed in the dress that you wear. Be comfortable in your dress. Remember that once basic dressing is fine and smart enough to be presentable, nothing more is actually required, since the board members are more interested in knowing about your thoughts and understanding rather than your appearance.

-        Lastly have faith in your destiny. You can pray to the form of the Almighty you believe in. Faith and prayer do help in retaining confidence as the interview proceeds.

Best Wishes for the Interview !

PS – Will share more in subsequent blogs about how to do well in the Interviews based upon queries from readers and feedback.

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First Interaction with the press at NTPC, Rihand