UPSC interview is the third and final stage of the civil services exam. The interview panel not only checks how you present yourself in front of others but also judge who you really are as a person in real life. Read the article till the end to know all about the UPSC interview.
UPSC Interview Marks
There are not any minimum marks for UPSC Interview But the total mark for the interview is 275. The marks obtained by the candidates are then added with scores secured by the candidates in UPSC Mains and prelims.
Cracking the IAS exam interview is not though but it is tricky.
The highest marks in the UPSC interview was scored by Zainab Sayeed. Her score was 200 out of 275. She secured the AIR 107 in the exam.
Pointers from Toppers
Let us understand from the people who have cleared the interview in the previous exams.
- Anu Kumari, who secured the AIR 2 in 2017 said that there is a thin line between self-boasting and self-confidence. If you are not being yourself the panel will know immediately.
- Dhivya Loganathan, AIR 402 in 2015 says that she wasn’t able to answer every question the panellist asked her. She was asked to draw the map of the United Kingdom but politely replied, “I don’t know the answer”. Dhivya highlights that not to answer questions that you don’t have any idea. Being honest with panellists can take you a long way.
- Shreyans Kumat, AIR 4 in 2018 suggests that filling the UPSC form in detail is very important. Panellist asks many questions from the form. He also advises USPC aspiring candidates to practice for the interview in front of the mirror. Analyzing yourself can provide you with insights that can separate you from others.
Also Read: Get Your Timetable on Track to Crack the CSE 2021
IAS Interview Questions
Remember the Panelist will judge you on the basis of every aspect. They will watch how you will react and how you come with a logical solution on the spot. Practising IAS mock interviews will definitely bring you an advantage.
The questions are roughly based on the following:
- Introducing yourself
Like any other interview, they ask you to tell something about yourself. Where did you grow up? etc
- Your education
Questions like where did you do your schooling/graduation? How is it relevant to the civil services? Why did you choose ‘XYZ’ optional?
- Current affairs
Be up to date with your current affairs. The panellist can ask your opinion on any current affairs and how you can improve it. They can also ask what was today’s headlines?
- Your hobbies
They can ask questions on hobbies that you fill in the form. The questions vary depending upon the hobby. If you have written one of your hobbies like sports. Then they can ask questions about the famous personality in that sport or the latest results. Many candidates were even asked to sing.
IAS Interview Brain Teasers
Apart from this the panellist also loves asking some brain teasers. Here are some frequently asked questions that were asked in the Interviews:
- What if one morning you woke up and found that you were pregnant?
- Twins (Adarsh and Anupam) were born in May but their birthday is in June. How’s this possible?
- If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?
- James Bond was pushed out of an aeroplane without any parachute. He survived. How?
- How can a man go eight days without sleep?
You will have to think out of the box to answer this question.
IAS Syllabus
Syllabus for Paper I: – General Studies
- History of India (ancient, medieval and modern) and Indian national movement),
- Indian and World Geography,
- Economics (mainly focused on micro-economics),
- Indian polity and Governess (Constitution, rights, public policy, political system.etc)
- Indian Economy (Sustainable development, Poverty, Demography,.etc)
- Environment Studies (Ecology, Biodiversity and climate change)
- General Science,
- Current Affairs
Syllabus for Paper-II: – CSAT
- English Comprehension,
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation,
- Quantitative Analysis
IAS Mains Syllabus
- Paper I: – Essay writing (On given topic mainly related to current affairs)
- Paper-II:-General Studies I – History and Geography
- Paper III:-General Studies II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and international relations.
- Paper IV:-General Studies III- Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Security, and disaster management.
- Paper V:-General Studies IV – Ethics, Integrity, and aptitude.
- Paper VI: – Indian Language
- Paper VII: – English Language
- Paper VIII:-Optional Subject Paper I
- Paper IX:-Optional Subject Paper II
Also Read: How to Prepare for Your UPSC Personality Test?
Conclusion
UPSC interview marks are 275. The interview panellists are very experienced people. They will catch on immediately if you are not being yourself. Stay true to them. If they ask a question which you don’t have an answer to, just say that you don’t know the answer. Don’t get tense the day before the interview. Practice giving maximum IAS mock interviews before the actual one. Also, practice in front of the mirror.
