The interview or personality test is the final stage of the Civil Services selection process carrying a weightage of 275 marks. Candidates’ final ranking would be determined by their performance in the Main Examination (written examination) and the UPSC interview. Candidates will be assigned to various services based on their performance in the examination and their preferences for various services and posts.
The purpose of the interview is for a Board of competent and neutral observers to assess the candidate’s personal suitability for a career in public service. The purpose of the test is to assess a candidate’s mental capacity. In broad words, this is an evaluation of not only his academic abilities but also his social features and interest in current affairs.” Candidates should start their IAS Interview preparation once they are done with the UPSC Mains syllabus or exam without worrying about the result.
The IAS interview questions that Civil Service candidates answer follow a similar pattern. Let’s take a look at some of the key types of questions asked in the IAS interview and how candidates can prepare for them.
IAS interview question on Introduction
- Tell us a little bit about yourself.
- Please tell us about your home town.
- What does your name (first name/surname) mean?
- Please tell us about your family.
Aspirants should prepare 30-40 second clear solutions to open-ended and direct queries about self-introduction in the IAS interview. These questions are simply establishing a baseline; the illustrious UPSC board will use the information you provide to ask follow-up questions.
IAS interview questions on Education
- Which subjects did you study in school/graduate school, and do you believe they are relevant to a career in administration?
- Which subject was your favourite and which was your least favourite?
- What drew you to ‘xyz’ college/school?
- What kinds of projects did you work on in high school, college, or graduate school?
- Do you consider yourself an average student? Why?
The primary educational requirement for the UPSC CSE exam is graduation. The IAS interview questions may be related to your graduating subject or the most recent trends in the field. However, if you don’t know the answer to a certain issue, bluffing your way out is not recommended. It is preferable to be humble and sincere.
IAS Interview questions on Current Affairs
- What are today’s top stories?
- In the recent few months, there have been a few significant topics in the news involving India/your state/your hometown.
Reading newspapers and keeping up with daily news is very vital for the UPSC IAS Interview. The IAS interview questions may connect to current events. Unless the question is rather obvious, try to avoid providing one-dimensional opinions/information. (For example, what does ‘Petrodollars’ mean?)
IAS interview questions on Work profile
- What were your employment duties and responsibilities?
- What motivates you to become an IAS/IPS/IFS officer?
Prepare to answer questions regarding any gaps in your employment history and how your prior expertise will benefit your job as an administrator.
IAS interview questions on Optional Subject
- Why did you decide to choose ‘xyz’ optional?
- Why didn’t you choose your graduating subject as an optional subject?
In addition, depending on your optional subject, you may be asked questions in the IAS interview about topics/theory/current issues.
IAS interview questions on Hobbies
The nature of the questions here varies depending on the hobbies you stated in your Detailed Application Form DAF. For those who have listed sports as a pastime, the Panel has asked questions about notable athletes or the most recent outcomes. During the interview process, a few individuals were also requested to sing.
