UPSC: How to read Newspapers

HOW TO READ A NEWSPAPER?
Introduction: The current Affairs are an important and interesting part in every one’s life. Starting from Gossiping about Film Industry to latest Political development, every one has some interest in it. Newspapers fulfills the basic requirement of the above needs.Starting from ordinary clerical examination to the to the top most Competitive exams like Civil Services, there are questions on Current Affairs. Normal Current Affairs questions are on PERSONALITIES, PLACES AND NEWS ANALYSIS. One has to follow at least one newspaper to keep abreast of National and International developments. But most of the students don’t know, how to read a newspaper or Read and memorize for their exams. The following write up gives an idea to follow the same for better understanding of Newspapers, which will further improve student’s approach towards newspaper reading.
“ALL THE BEST”
Newspaper reading is an art in itself. It is always advisable to get hooked on to newspaper reading very early in the school days. Before familiarizing yourself with reading a newspaper, it is advisable to get acquainted with the broad contours and some technical terms related to the newspaper.Front page: As the name indicates, is the first, or the front page of the newspaper. The top left hand and the right hand corners on the front page are known as the ‘Ear Panels’. The ‘Ear Panels’ contain advertisements in small boxes. The name of the newspaper, along with the date, place of publication and the ear panels are known as the ‘Masthead’.Lead Story: The lead story of the newspaper is the main, first, or the most prominent story on the front page. It is given in bold letters with big fonts and is the most important story of the day. ‘Banner headline’ - Often in the case of a major natural disaster, or death of a head of State or Government, a ‘banner headline’ is given. Banner headline means a headline spread across the top of the front page.Columns – Every newspaper and every page of a newspaper has eight columns – from left to right. That is, the first column on the left and the eight column on the right.Pages – The number of pages in a newspaper varies from one to another. Leading dailies have between 16-24 pages on weekdays and 32-48 pages on weekends.Supplements – Supplements are also known as magazines. These are separate from the main newspaper. Each day, newspapers have supplements, or magazines. These supplements cover special issues such as fashion, health, cuisine and other material for light reading over the weekend.Layout of the newspaper – This again varies from newspaper to newspaper. But in a standard format, the first page of the newspaper is known as Front page. A front page normally has five-six prominent news stories on issues of national and international importance. Pages second to fourth page are normally reserved for local news stories, though it depends upon each newspaper. If the newspaper is published from Delhi, the local pages would have news reports about Delhi (or any other city) if a newspaper is published from that city. Pages fifth to seventh contain news from various States. Pages eight and nine, are normally the most important pages of the newspaper. These two pages combined form the ‘heart and soul’ of the newspaper and are together known as ‘Centrespread’. These contain, most importantly, editorials (usually two in number), two edit page articles and Letters to the Editor. The page on the left is the ‘Editorial page’ and the one on the right is now known as the ‘Op-ed’ (Opinion-cum-editorial pages) and contains columns written by well-known commentators, analysts, opinion-makers and experts on a particular issue. The editorial page conveys the broad policy of the newspaper management – i.e whether the newspaper is pro-government, anti-government or neutral in the coverage of the news and views that it carries.Pages 10 and 11 are often reserved for international news. The next three-four pages are for news related to Business, stock market and share prices. After these, three-four pages are dedicated to coverage of various national and international sporting events. The last page is often kept for important national and international human-interest stories, that is, stories that would interest any reader. HOW TO READ A NEWSPAPER: Readers and reading are of two broad types: skimming (scanning) and reading. There are different styles of reading for different situations. The technique of reading depends on the purpose of reading. So first of all, you should have the purpose of reading very clear in your mind. For example, one might be reading for enjoyment, information, or to finish a task. If you are researching or reviewing, you might skim through a document. Reading speed depends on the purpose of reading. Skimming is usually done four-five times faster than normal reading. Many people consider skimming and scanning to be search techniques, rather than reading strategies. Skimming is usually resorted for quick identification of the main contents of any given material. Some people read the first and last paragraphs using headlines, sub-headings, summaries, searching for keywords. But while scanning, it is advisable to read the first sentence, for it gives a fair and a broad idea of the contents of that paragraph. Newspaper reading can be easily compared to long-distance running. You should start jogging in the beginning, let the muscles warm up and accelerate a little bit at the halfway mark and sprint only at the last lap of the race. It is thus, strongly advised that if you are a beginner at serious reading of a newspaper, do not skim, or scan to start with. Skimming requires trained movement of eyes from one word, sentence, or paragraph to another. This will come with sustained practice and one must increase the speed of reading gradually. Reading requires careful attention to every word and detail. However, anyone can increase the speed of reading while maintaining equal, or even higher comprehension. If you subscribe to a particular newspaper, slow reading in the beginning is a must to train the eyes for the type and size of the font. There are three factors which can help in enhancing reading speed: (1) willingness to improve, (2) keenness to try out new techniques and (3) motivation levels to practice reading regularly. With practice – and gradually, try to develop a wider and broader eye-span. This will help in reading more words and later on, even sentences, at one glance. Try to increase the eye-span from one sentence to two, then to three, four and then the whole paragraph. For, even physiologically, the movement of the eye is amongst the fastest movements of our body. Hence, it is of utmost importance to control eye movement while reading, for eyes have a peculiar habit of not being fixed at one place and the gaze just keeps shifting to see and visualize more and more.One major difficulty in reading, or even scanning, is that the eyesight, if not trained, has the habit of jumping and skipping words that are difficult to read, or not familiar to the eye. This leads to problems in reading and retention. Often one may misread, or misunderstand a word while reading fast. Thus it is all the more important to read slowly and at a comfortable pace and increase the speed only when the eyesight is properly trained. Certain write-ups like editorials, main stories of the day have to be read carefully. Skimming can be practiced in cases where one is reading for leisure on a weekend, or vacation and perfect it before applying to daily reading. One can of course, formulate own reading techniques for speed-reading with practice.Therefore, start reading by applying these techniques, for being a prospective mass communicator, you will be required to read/scan tonnes of material. However, one major must for reading is that you must not take it as a burden and have to enjoy the entire process. For, as they say – “Bon Chance” (Wish you all the best). CIVIL SERVICES PREPARATION: Civil Services preparation point of view is important in this place, when an aspirant reads a newspaper. If one goes through the previous years questions of Current Affairs, it will give broad idea about the pattern. Normally asked questions are about Personalities, Places, News of National and International importance. Bilateral issues relating to India and other Nations, Visit of Head of the States of other Countries, Visit of Indian President and Prime Minister to other Countries, Important agreements etc. One should concentrate on above items and avoid every day politics, gossip news, crime reports, unimportant corporate news, local issues etc. One should concentrate on the first page for Latest development, Edit page for Editorial and analysis, ‘Op-ed’ (Opinion-cum-editorial pages) for the views of commentators, analysts, opinion-makers on a particular issue.

UPSC interview of Mr. Gugan

In my post last I had discussed about the 13th of April, the day that was fixed for my interview. First, I was thinking if I should sit here in front of the computer and type the entire details about it. Then for the sake of record I decided to do that. Here’s the transcript. (please leave your comments)

I was put under Dr. Bhure Lal’s panel. And I was the third person to go in the group of 5 candidates. I was waiting for my turn outside when the second candidate was being interviewed. He was out and said the panel members were very cordial. He wished me best of luck and left. I asked the attendant for some water before I was to go in. As luck would have it, there was no water there and he had to go to fill the bottle. Meanwhile the door was opened for me by another attendant there. I did not wait for the water and delay the process that was to begin. So I entered the room with mouth almost run dry.
There was a lady member among the 5 panel members,including the chairman.
First I wished the lady member and then others.
I was asked to take the seat by the chairman.

Chairman (CM): hello! Guganesan. How are you??
Me: I am very fine, sir.
CM: (he looks at the form again) G ganesan (and just moved his body forward)
(I sensed here that he was in a good mood)
Me: ( I just smile at him) yes sir, Guganesan.
CM: So, you are a chartered Accountant.
Me: yes sir!!
CM :why do you want to come to civil service after CA?
Me: sir, I had decided to join civil service even before doing CA. In fact after clearing my CA I came for civil services preparation immediately.
CM: What is money laundering?
I explain that to him
CM: What is the link between terrorism and money laundering?
I tell him about how terrorism is funded ,about drug deal and all that.
CM : what are the three stages involved in money laundering???
I started explaining. There he stopped me and asked “ do u know the stages or not”
Me: No sir. This is all I know
Then he explained me the stages with its specific names (this was moreover close to what I said, except for the jargons he used)
CM: What are the duties of CA under prevention of money laundering Act?
Me: sir, I’m not aware of any provisions under the Act.
CM: oh, I though they’ll teach u all that in CA.
CM: how much is our Forex reserve?
Me: sir, its 199 billion dollars.
CM: ok, that’s fairly 200 billion dollars. Do you think we are secured?
Me: yes sir. It is said we have so much of reserve that it can fund 13 months of our imports.
CM : I don’t feel secured.
Me: (after giving serious thought) May I ask you why,sir.
(Both the chairman and the lady member bursted in to laughter )
CM: Yes. You have every right to ask me.
( He explained me the reason to which I almost agreed)
CM: How do you manipulate stock market?
I explained him about insider trading, one of the manipulative practices.
CM: why there’s so much of volatility in the stock market now?
I gave two reasons and explained them.1. hike in interest rate. 2. Appreciation of Japanese yen.
Then the chairman showed sign for the lady member to ask questions.

Member 2 (M2): Guganesan, explain over invoicing and under invoicing in foreign trade.
I explained her about that transfer pricing practices which related companies follow.
M2: ok. That relates to transfer pricing . Tell me in general. Suppose I’m an exporter in Tiruppur and you’re my client. I’m billing you at a price less that what it actually is.
I explained how it affects India and said the balance proceeds can be siphoned off to someother countries ( I guess she was looking for that word ‘siphon off’. After I said that she seemed more convinced)
M2: do you think India should accept foreign aid? I want your opinion on that.
Me: Yes Ma’am. I feel India should accept foreign aid. Although India is a developing country and sitting on huge forex reserve it needs so much of fund to finance our infrastructure needs.
M2: Ok. What is the legislation that regulates foreign aid.
Me: (think for a while) Ma’am ,its foreign contribution regulations Act.
M2: that’s. right. But do you think we need such kind of legislation. You know, NGO’s accept lots of foreign aid . do you think it needs to be regulated?
Me:Ma’am I’m not aware of the detailed provisions under the Act. But I know that NGO’s are under an obligation to file some kind of return with RBI after the receipt of the aid. I feel we should have these kind of regulations. B’coz some accountability is ensured on that part of NGO’s . It ensures that money is spent for the said purpose.
M2: But that’s between NGO and the foreign agency why should govt get involved.
Me: yes ma’am. Its true that its only between NGO and foreign agency .but NGO’s involve in social sector projects. So I think that it concern the government. So there is need for regulation.
M2: Ok.what are the preferences u’ve given?
Me: Ma’am I’ve given IAS as my first preference and IFS -2nd, 3rd-IPS and 4Th IRS.
M2: (she just smiled and nodded her head )ok, thank you. (she showed her hand to the third member) I just thanked her and looked in to the eyes of the third member.

M3: who are mafia?
I just gave an vague explanation.
M3: can we call phoolan Devi mafia?
Me: No sir. Mafia operate as network. They are widespread. Whereas Phoolan Devi just had a set of people.
M3: tell me who are the constituents of this Mafia.
Me; (I think for a while. Couldn’t really make out where the discussion is heading) sir, mafia would have set of musclemen.
M3: ok. They’re field staff. But what it takes to organize a crime?
Me: they need a proper plan before anytning is to be committed. And they collude with people on the other side.
M3: who are this people on the other side?
Me: sir, it’s the officials of the government.
M3: do you know chartered accountants play a major part in legalizing their money?
(here I realized why he started this discussion. So much of grudges against CAs, I thought)
Me: sir, there would be very few chartered accountants who are involved in such activities.
M3:Very few? (he looks at the papers in front of him) u’ve given reading as your hobby. What kind of books you read?
I answer that .(both fiction and non fiction)
M3: Have you read this book called “ Sacred game” by Vikram Chandra.?
Me: No sir, I haven’t read that.
M3: Read that book. It talks about how chartered accountants involve in legalizing the mafia’s money. They’re even called counselors.
Me: ok sir I’ll read that.
M3: what is the legislation that exclusively covers organized crime?
Me: no sir, I’m not aware of any specific legislation.
M3: ok. Blogging is your other hobby. On what kind of issues you write.
Me: sir, I have not restricted myself to any field. I write on anything that is interesting . It could be something interesting that happened in my life.
M4:like?
Me: once I wrote about the rag picker boy in my street. (I explained what I wrote in that post. The lady member seemed to be interested too although I dint make any eye contact with her)
M3: So you are interested in human behaviour?
Me: yes sir, u can say that.
M3:ok, now looking at the psyche of Indian people. Why there’s so much of adulteration in our country. Its not found much in other countries. Why only this subcontinent?u know, law allows some qty of stone in rice. There’s adulteration in drugs. Why is it so.
Me: sir, its because of the erosion of values among people in our country. India is a country where so many movies made every year. I think people pick such things from these movies.
M3: but adulteration has been there even before the movies came.
Me: yes sir. That’s true. But after movies these things increased in numbers.
M3: but where do we learn all this. Does historical books and religious books teach us?
Me: no sir. Our religious books and historical book don’t teach us these practices. I think its people’s desire to make easy money. They come out with new ideas and get involved in such things. I think its all about money, sir,
M3: suppose there’s a shop keeper who mixes stones in rice. One day his son falls sick. He buys medicine which is adulterated and his son dies. Do you think he’ll change.
Me: sir, it depends on the person. If he’s really learnt a lesson from this incidence I think he’d change.
M3: I don’t think he’ll change.
(he thanked me and put me onto the 4th member)

M4: so you are from kancheepuram. What’s the name of the famous temple in your town.
Me: sir, its kamakshi amman temple.
M4: what is the name of the legendary who laid the statue there?
Me: I’m sorry sir. I’m not sure of the name.
M4: its adi shankara. How far is that temple from your house.
Me: sir, its 2-3 kms from my house.
M4: oh, so close and still u haven’t bothered to find out that. What is the relationship between culture and reading?
Me: sir , If one person had been unaware of his culture, he can know them by reading any books. That way one can come to know about one’s culture and get them imbibed in his life.
M4: what is culture?
Me: sir, culture is one’s way of life. One’s way of dressing, food habits. It covers these many things.
M4: why do we have so many myths in our life?
I explain him something.
M4:no,,no. u have not really understood what is myth. U know we celebrate diwali.someone killed someone.
Me: (having got the flash in mind)yes sir. We have these kind of festival in life. Although they are based on myths they bring our families together. We celebrate and stay happy. It even disciplines our lives.
M4: “churning milk out of sea” what do you interpret on this.
Me: (almost puzzled) its like getting the best out of something which is in abundance.
M4: how education has churned u?
ME: (having no clue how to address) sir, eduction has helped to meet people from different background. I have learnt to interact with them. And also I;ve been able to understand the values in their life and tried to take it if they are good.
M4: why filmstars are raised to the level of god in tamilnadu?
(M3 interrupts and says even temples have been built)
I explain something .
M4: that’s there’s everywhere. There’s one particular reason. What is it?
Me:no sir. I can’t think of any particular reason.
M4: ok, think on ur way back u;ll get it.
(he thanked me and passed onto the 5th person)

M5:I’ll just ask you few questions. (I was happy to hear tht)
How do you classify land?
Me: sir, agricultural land and non-agricultural land.
M5:ok. That’s one way of saying. U know , u can classify it as mainland and hinterland. (I uttered the word ‘hinterland “along with him, as he was very slowly talking)
And we have islands. Tell me the name of an island in Arabian sea.
Me: sir. Its lakshadweep.
M5: what is the total surface area?
Me:no sir, I’m not aware of that.
M5:ok, I thought since u were staying close to that place u might know that. Ok. Why British came to India, first?
Me: Sir, they came for trade.
M5: but there’s one incidence that prompted them to rule India. What is it?
(Here this member was very vague in framing this question. Then the M3 explained it in a better way for me.)
Me(after serioulsly thinking) no sir, I have never come across any such incidence.
M5: now I’ll give u a topic. I want you to deliberate on this and speak for and against. “All people who come for civil service preparation should not do that”
(I know it sounds confusing)
I spoke about why people want to come to civil service. Reasons like public service, improving the functions of govt. For against the topic I said there;’s so much o f corruption and abuse of power.Said “ civil service is even considered first resort of scoundrel “
(only after coming home I realized that what I spoke under :For” was actually “against” and vice versa. )
M5: do you really think people come for service?
Me: yes sir. There are many people who come for preparation with the public services in mind. In fact, I’m one such person myself.
(then M5 looked at the chairman. )
CM: guganesan, you interview is over . you can leave.

I thanked everyone and left the room. Wow. What a relief when I came out. Now I have to wait for the results. That could be anytime during the second week of May.

UPSC interview of Mr. Vikas Singh

My interview was scheduled in the fore noon session of 3rd of April 2007. I was interviewed by the board of Prof. D.P Agrawal, an ex dean of IIT, Delhi. The other members were M1, M2, M3 and M4.

The conversation started with Prof. D.P. Agrawal

DPA (Work related)

Vikas tell me about your present company?

How many years weather data you take?

Where did you do your pilot projects for weather insurance?

Is it for rain fed areas or irrigated areas?

So you collect weather data from the field?

Does Hardoi have a weather statation?

Do you think the farmers will understand your questionnaire?

What questions do you ask?

How many questions are there in the questionnaire?

Tell me the important questions?

So, on a 10 point scale how do you rate plant growth?

What discussion do you have with the district officials?

What is a crop cutting experiment?

M1 (IRMA)

What is PRM?
Why rural management? I never heard of Urban Management

Why so many IIMs and so few Rural management? Should the government not open many rural management institutes?

Is the government doing enough for rural sector?

What is the concept of PURA?

Did you ever live in rural areas?

What did you do in Kutch?

DPA:What subjects you had at IRMA? How were they different from normal B-schools?

Did you study about health sector?

What is the health structure in India?

Do you know of any health schemes?

Do you know of any education schemes?

What earlier schemes have been merged in Sarva Siksha Abhiyan?

M2 (Literature)

Who has got the Nobel Prize in literature from India? What was his contribution?

Have you heard of Osama bin Laden? why is he so antagonistic to America?

How are you creative in your writing?

What knowledge do you have about painting styles?

DPA: Don’t you know of any painting styles? Name famous Indian painters

What was Raja Ravi Verma’s painting style?

What is SUPW? Isn’t it compulsory in schools? How is it extra curricular activity?

M3 (Administration)

What is the reason of backwardness of Jharkhand despite rich resource endowment?

But what about corruption? What is the definition of corruption?

What is the effect of corruption?

Who is a public servant? Is he a servant of the people?

If a person from public comes and directs you to allocate resources what will be your response?

Suppose he is an MLA/MP?

What if a cabinet minister of a different ministry asks you to transfer people of your department?

What if your senior officer orders you to do something which your conscience does not allow?

Why do you want to join IAS?

You can have diverse experience elsewhere also, why specifically IAS?

What posts will you get as an IAS officer?

What role will you have as an SDM?

M4
Which two nations are the most recent members to join Eurpean Union?

What problems did you come across in your study in Kutch?

How are these problems being overcome?

Do you think blogs will replace mainstream media?

What do you blog about?

DPA

Tell us one personal experience of yours which can motivate the youth to come forward for rural development?

Why did you criticize the relief and rehabilitation work of Kutch as a reflex action?

What disaster has been predicted by India’s disaster management cell?

If you can not predict a disaster, won't relief always be a reflex action?

Which agency re-built the houses in kutch? I think it was a successful example of Rehabilitation, wasn't it?
What will you do if you don’t get into administrative services?

Will you be able to contribute to rural development if you are placed in some department other than the rural development department?

DPA:Vikas, Your interview is over.

UPSC interview of Mr. Vivek Kumar

Lets put the promised review on the backburner for a while.

The latest UPSC Mains results are out and the interview process starts in a few days. My days of UPSC glory are finally over. New winners will emerge in a few days and the flood of marriage proposals (which my family had to tide over) will dry up. So, time to go back to my own interview one last time (first time on the blog though).

My interview was taken by the panel of Ms. Arundhati Ghose. Yes, the same Arundhati Ghose of the “Not Now, Not Ever” fame. On August 8, 1996, she made this statement and became a hero of the nation. I remember reading about her then and wondering about diplomats for the first time. Needless to say, ever since I found out that she is a member of the UPSC, I was praying to clear the mains and be interviewed by her panel. The intensity of my prayers increased once I actually cleared the mains. All this despite the fact that she had the most fearsome reputation for stress interviews and at times, of virtually throwing out the candidates if they did not meet her standards. She doesn’t waste time, I was told. Here is one such horror story that was narrated to me:

The candidate had put “gardening” as one of his hobbies. The first question was to name the botanical names of 5 plans in his garden. He couldn’t. Ms. Ghose took him out of the room to the potted plants outside and told him their botanical names. Then, she told him that the interview was over.

I don’t know if this was true or not. But I know of other people (first hand accounts) who actually trembled in front of her. One candidate was so nervous that he picked up papers from the table (which did not belong to him, but to Ms. Ghose) while leaving when the interview got over. There are lots and lots of such stories.

While my sympathies were with these victims, in my heart I knew that these people really did not deserve good marks. If you can’t stand pressure in an interview, how will you take it when you are posted as a senior police officer or a district magistrate or an ambassador later in your life? Anyway, I wanted her panel. No matter what the marks. If the circumstances were any different, I could even have asked for her autograph!!!

Anyway, the day of my interview arrived. I was at the UPSC waiting hall and was informed that the table at which I was designated to wait belonged to some other panel in the morning session. My heart sank. There were 3 other people with me for the same panel. I was going to be the third candidate to be interviewed. Later, only 2 of us cleared. One lady was already in some other service and she continued with it. One person probably went back to prepare for next attempt (he was the first to be interviewed).

The interviews were to start at 2:00 PM. At 1:55 PM, a peon came to our table and said, “madam ka panel hai” (You are with The Madam’s panel). There was no mistaking who The Madam was. You can’t imagine the number of heartbeats my heart skipped. Wow! All the other people waiting at other tables heaved a collective sigh of relief. Apparantly, nobody wanted this panel. Except me.

First man went in at 2:00 sharp and came out sweating at 2:30. He made a mess of it. Ms. Ghose was very unhappy with him. The reputation was coming true. The lady candidate was next in. She went in at 2:35 and came out at 3:05. She spent half her interview trying to justify some triviality in her form. I was next at 3:10 PM.

There were 5 people on the panel. Lets call the members M1, M2, M3 and M4. Sitting right in the middle was Ms. Arundhati Ghose (AG), smoking a cigarette (Marlborough Lights, my guess). I wished her first (being the chairperson, as well as the only lady member there) according to protocol and then the other members collectively. I waited to be asked to be seated and took my seat when she asked me to.

She put out the cigarette and scanned my resume form (standardised UPSC format).

AG: Mr. Kumar, you passed out of IIT recently.. oh no, in 2002. This is April 2004. What have you been doing all this time?

VK: Ma’am, till November 2003, I had been preparing and appearing for the successive stages of the civil services examination. After that, I joined a telecom software startup started by some of my friends from IIT Bombay here in Delhi. I am there in an..

AG: Wait. Why are you speaking so quickly? Are you nervous? Just relax and take it easy. Speak slowly.

VK: Yes ma’am, I am nervous. This is my first, and hopefully the last, interview (smiles, trembles inwardly but doesn’t show it).

AG: Good, so proceed. What did you do at this startup?

VK: Ma’am, I am there in an informal capacity and do not draw any salary except the expenses and I help them out in any way possible. But by and large I deal with initiating contact with foreign telecom companies who might be interested in buying our software. I find out the companies, look for a key person, initiate contact, see if they would be willing to buy something. Once I get something positive, I hand it over to my Boss.

AG: So, you actually talk to these companies.. the foreigners?

VK: Yes.

AG: Have you succeeded somewhere? Which country?

VK: Ma’am I initiated the first deal that we made, in Brunei.

AG: Okay. You have given IFS as your first preference, despite your father being in the Police. Why?

VK: There are 2 reasons ma’am. Firstly, I have always wanted to represent India. To have that India tag on me. There is this feeling of pride I can’t explain. And secondly, I see more and more challenges ahead for the IFS in an increasingly globalised world. It seems exciting and I want to be where the action is.

AG: What is the biggest issue in the US presidential elections?

VK: Lots of them actually. Afghanistan, Outsourcing…

AG: No, the biggest issue.

VK: The Iraq War?

AG: Yes. Now, can you update me on the Indo-US relations?

(VK launches into an answer explaining things and bringing the Indo-Pak-US triangle into focus).

AG: You were talking about pride. But this is the government, you would have to do as your boss tell you to. Right?

VK: Yes, ma’am.

AG: Now, suppose you are in an Indian Embassy in some capacity below the rank of Ambassador. You get a direct order from Delhi, which you think is contary to our National Interests. Would you still carry it out?

VK: As you said ma’am, I probably would have to.

AG: (adopts a very nice tone) No! You must never do that. You should try and talk to the Ambassador and get him on your side. Once that is done, you can negotiate with New Delhi.

VK: But ma’am I was assuming that all this had been tried before. The order can not come out of the blue. The matter must have been under consideration for some time and I would have discussed it with the Ambassador already.

AG: Even then, you must not give up. The only guiding principle for you would be India’s National Interest. Nothing else. If you think something is wrong, refuse to carry out the order. The national interest must never be compromised.

VK: Yes ma’am. I’ll try my best to do that.

AG: Okay, you mentiom science fiction as your hobby. Name a few writers.

(VK names a few)

AG: All this fiction is fine, but has any of it ever come to reality?

(VK says yes and names a few things)

AG: Do you stay updated with science facts as well?

VK: Yes.

AG: Tell me about the Mars Mission.

(VK proceeds to talk about it. Can not name the vehicle. Discussion ensues around the table on the name and ends when Ms. Ghose brings it to an end)

AG: Okay, enough. Now the others can ask questions.

M1: You say listening to music in one of your hobbies. What kind of music?

VK: All kinds, Sir. Depends on my mood. I listen to pretty much everything.

M1: Even classical?

VK: Yes.

M1: Name some kinds of music.

(VK names 12-13 genres or so and is interrupted mid-sentence)

M1: The criminalization of politics is such a big problem. Why do criminals win elections?

VK: Because the elections are never fought on those lines. No matter what the national media says, down in the constituency, the issues are extremely local and mostly based on caste equations and local politics. So, unless there is a big wave, everything national is actually very local. Criminal backgrounds do not decide voters’ choices. Except perhaps the urban few, who do not vote anyway.

M1: So, what is the solution?

VK: Perhaps to stop them from contesting. Stricter legislation to prevent them from contesting and a more transparent information system. At the same time, efforts need to be continued to educate the people about the importance of these reforms.

M2: Mr. Kumar, what is this BPO thing? How does it work?

VK: Business Process Outsourcing Sir. (explains the BPO phenomena)

M2: Do you thing it will last?

VK: For the short-term, yes. But other developing countries will start catching up. Besides, there is the issue of growth of the BPO company and the professional growth of people working there.

M2: Meaning?

VK: An individual whose only skill is to answer calls would probably find it hard to find another job 5-6 years down the line. Not all of them can become managers. Besides, there are pressures of the lifestyle.

M2: You mean the health hazards of people in call centres. Elaborate.

VK: Only yesterday, there was a report in newspapers about a study that found the incidence of stress related disorders, drinking and (pauses, looks at Ms. Ghose, who had lit a cigarette a few minutes ago, and smiles)… smoking.

AG: (burtsts out laughing).. what did you say?

VK: Smoking ma’am. People working in call centres have been found to be more prone to smoking and they obviously expose themselves to the related health hazards.

(AG laughs some more and puts the cigarette out in an ash-tray which resembles an agricultural field growing cigarettes)

M3: You are a chemical engineer from IIT Bombay. Why did you opt for Philosophy and Public Administration?

VK: Philosophy because I have always been interested in the subject matter. My father named me after Swami Vivekanand and I have been reading material on Indian Philosophy ever since I started reading. Public Administration because I thought that if I have to do administration in life, I might as well learn something about it. Plus, the guidance was easily available.

M3: If a foreigner, during your posting abroad, asks you about the sociological impact of schools of Indian philosphy on life in India, what would you say?

VK: I’m sorry Sir, but my study has been restricted to the content of these philosphies. I have’t studied their impact.

M3: But you are interested in the subject. Would you continue reading more on the subject?

VK: Of course Sir. I find the subject fascinating.

M4: Mr. Kumar, a little while ago, while discussing Indo-Pak relations, you mentioned that India need not comment on every little thing that happens in the world. I say, we have no need to even talk to Pakistan. Do we have something in common with them. I say nothing. Nothing at all. Do you think there is anything we have in common with them?

VK: At least 2 things Sir. Firstly, the common history we share. We were practically one country barely 50 years ago. And… (interrupted by M4)

M4: No. We have no need to talk to them.. (repeats the same question again after a long monologue)

(VK starts answering again, and is interrupted again, M4 starts the same monologue)

AG: (sounds very angry and upset with M4) Enough M4! This is his interview. Why don’t you shut up and let him speak? Vivek, you answer the same question to me and ignore him completely.

VK: As I was saying ma’am, firstly there is the shared history and heritage. And secondly, both countries have claims on Kashmir. And no matter what we say, it keeps coming up again and again everywhere. It is an issue that we do share, though uncomfortably.

AG: You have held several positions at IITB.. Election Officer, Placement Representative etc. You have also won a few awards from your hostel for “organisation”. What is all this?

(VK explains the positions held at IITB and the awards from Hostel-3).

AG: Any last questions (looks around at all members)?

M4: May I ask one last question?

AG: Sure. Go ahead.

M4: You played hockey for your hostel for a while. What is the future of India hockey.

VK: Looks reasonably bright to me, Sir. At least the prospects are good. Youngsters are coming up, sponsors are also pitching in. Coaching seems to have improved.

M4: Do you think Dhanraj Pillay is good enough for the Indian team. Should he play?

VK: Well Sir, he is the most experienced and he is absolutely fit. He is the best player we have…

M4: No no.. just say Yes or No. Should he be in the team?

VK: Yes.

AG: Okay. The interview is over. You may leave Mr. Kumar. Thank you.

(VK thanks her and all the members and walks out without turning back)

I went straight to the waiting room and sipped some cold water. Phew! Time? 4:05 PM. I had lasted over 50 minutes!!! Incredible!

The conversation is more or less exact. But of course, some approximations have been made. I have also forgotten a few points. The highlight of the interview for me was the fact that she actually asked a member to shut up and let me speak. And the fact that she could understand the joke I tried about smoking being bad for health.

It was such a relief to know that it was over. I was swamped in the waiting hall by other people and the next candidate.

I came out of the UPSC campus and walked to Rajasthan House where my uncle was staying.

I analysed my performance to be worth atleast 200 marks (out of 300). This was one hell of a satisfying interview. I didn’t sweat. My voice didn’t shake. I made Ms. Ghose laugh several times. She asked a member to shut up for me. And… she was explaining things to me as if I was already in the IFS. Surely, that couldn’t be a bad sign.

As it happened, I got 225 in the interview :)

She has retired now. I am in the service. A lot of my prayers were answered around that time. Thank God. Thanks Ms. Ghose

UPSC interview: Bhurelal,Paul roy and D P Agarwal board

Interview with Dr. Bhurelals Board
Interview date: 2nd April '07
Optionals. Geog & Psycho
Dr. Bhurelal
Q1. In a pre-war situation how will u defeat the opponent without using arms and ammunitions(related to computer engg.)
supp Q: Name of the 17 yr boy who hacked pentagon?
Q2. What is the economy of ur place(U.T. of D&N H )
supp Q: What all crops?
supp Q: What is accessibility to this place?
Q3. How will knowledge of psychology help u in administration?
Member 1
Q4: What are deccan traps?
supp Q: how many flows of lava?
supp Q: how will u find water in deccan trap region?
supp Q: Imp mineral industry of pune?
Q5. How will remote sensing help u in administration?
Q6. What r flash floods? how r they caused? where does the water go?
Member 2
Q7. What is money laundering?
supp Q: what r the sources of black money?
Member 3
Q8. Name the tribal communities and tell about their culture?
supp Q: how r these tribes diff from mainstream?
supp Q: what is EDP programme for tribals?
Q9. Rajsing Dungarpur made a statement that no indian is fit to coach the indian team... ur views?
supp Q: whats wrong with Indian cricket?
supp Q: whats wrong with indian sports?
Member 4
Q10. How will u handle a potential communal situation as an IPS in ur district?
supp Q: what if ur seniors orders are contrary to what u think is right?



Mr. paul roy's board: The board members were very very cordial and accomodating..i was most pleasantly surprised...
the chairperson began by asking me which is the *last book i read? and *two latest economic developments...which brought sensex's fall in to pic and he asked me *what i thought brought about the sudden fall? he further asked me to explain the *repo rate and *the reasons for the inflationary trends
the next board member asked me if i followed any sports? then asked me to *explain the foreign ploicy of india and *what makes india a candidate for permanent seat for UN security council?
*and if we should consider permanent membership without veto?

the next board person asked me * what problems does a common man face while dealing with govt. servants and sarkari babus...* whther it was justifies to grease the palm to get a work done?
he asked me *if i knew who moily was? and what were the recommendations of *the administrative reform committee, and *police reform committee...

the next board member asked me to name *some german literary figures and if i have read faust of goethe? and asked me why i want to switch over to civil services from teaching?

the last board member asked me *if india is justified in spending so much money on having a nuclear programme when millions go foodless and *whats the rationale behind having a space programme...*and how can we call india developed when so many people are below the poverty line??

in the end the chairperson showed me a painting with mother teresa's silhouette drawn and asked me to identify the figure...and asked me if i could guess who the painter was?

Mr. DP Agrawal's Board
In my Board, there were all 5 male members and the questions were:
1. Do you think if one is coming for an IAS interview the person shd be wearing a tie (as I wasn't wearing)
2. My prior work experience and the work profile
3. What is governance and e-governance
4. Give any practical example of e-gov
5. use of e-gov
5. what is e-business
6. urban problems
7. how you will solve the problems of traffic and civil amenities
8. Views on the company mergers and effects on Indian economy...
9. problem of global warming, causes and consequences
10. ozone delpetion
11. Alternative sources of energy
12. diff beween IT and Computer science
13. Can you recite any peom and explain the meaning ( poetry is not my hobby)
14. Can you explain the meaning of Jana-gana-mana
15. what all places you have visited
16. Diff between 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine
17 Favourite singers

I found Mr. Agrawal bit rude and unsatisfied sometime but I am not sure whether it was with me or he reacts the same way with others .. Please let me know the experience of others who were interviewed by the same board...

IAS interviews from Subir Datta and Parveen Talha board

subir dutta's board. here were the ques...
what do you like to read?(i had reading as a hobby)
what is the last book u read?
why have you chosen psycho and socio?
how do you rate your interview skills?
why have you chosen IFS as your second preference?
which foreign lang would you like to learn?
what should be done in iraq?
what is the difference between shias and sunnis?
what is sociology?
what is anthropology?
how does one study sociology?
what is the problem in sri lanka?
do u think india has been consistent in its policy towards sri lanka?
what is co-ordinated patrolling?
what steps have been taken to curb inflation?
what is transparency international?
what is non-practising allowance for doctors?
why do doctors only get it?
what are the problems facing the rural health sector?
how will you rectify them?
what should be done against govt doctors found indulging in pvt practice?
what was green revolution?
which came first: HYV of rice/wheat?
how will you eliminate malaria?
name the country that has made significant strides in this respect.
what has been done in the insurance sector?
what is the criminal justice system?what are its problems?
how can they be rectified?
how can tax compliance be increased?
do you think the EC is acting as a parallel power centre in UP?
........

parveen talha's board
questions i was asked....
1>do u support the killing of street dogs and why?
2>whats ur academic background?why do u want 2 join the civil services?dont u think u'll waste ur knowledge?
3>which part of tea is plucked?what do u know about tea processing?
4>from ur studies in school level only can u tell the results of world war 2?
5>wats "struggle for existence" how do u justify your statement that animalsshould be protected not killed as we are the most superior and the inferior animals thus have failed in the struggle.
6>wats ur mental state after india's early exit frm the world cup?
7>dont u think harbhajan singh should retire?
8>when did india win the last gold in football in asian games?
9>wats d capital of canada?
10>wats ur daily routine?why do u sleep so much?
11>which tv programmes u like and why?
12>what is a "song"?
13>whats is the function of EU?
14>why do u eat fish or chicken when u r yourself against killing of animals?
15>why did u go 4 veterinary sciences in your academics?
16>after completion of education what did u do in the last 3 years?
17>wat should b our reaction to the indian cricket team......