IAS Interview Experience 2015

Date: 10th March 2015
Board: David Sir
Profile: B.Tech; Hobby: Reading Indian Intellectual History; Optional: Political science and IR

Contrary to what we imagine, the board came across very cordial. Sir asked me to smile and be relaxed. They make sure that they create a setting where your best-self can come out.

Questions listed below are not necessarily in the order that they were asked. So it may appear as random question-answer session, but it was more of a discussion. So each question flowed out of previous answers. So be very sure about each and everything that you refer to in your answers. That way one can really take control of the interview direction.

And it is just not possible to look rotationally at each member while answering a question. They sit in almost a circular manner. So you look quite stupid swinging your head that way. So look at the person who has asked the question.

One of the panel members was the director of my Alma-mater. So due to conflict of interest issues, CM decided that he won’t ask me any questions, nor would he be a part of my final assessment.

Round 1
Chairman:

• Who is this ****** in the name of your college?
• Is there anything called the intellectual history of society? What is it?
• Name one historian who has done work on it?
• Are Andaman Nicobar Islands of any relevance to us?

Then CM guided the interview by giving turns to other members to ask questions.
Member 1:

• What is a smart city?
• How will make a smart city be inclusive for the poor?
• If you were to give three suggestions to Kejriwal govt. regarding environment protection in Delhi?
• What is SEBI? What does it do?
• What is SENSEX?
• What is the market capitalization of a company?

Member2:

• How is India’s relationship with its neighbors?
• What are our stakes in the Afghanistan peace process?
• What is the Look East policy?

Round 2:
Chairman:

• We were once connected with Afghanistan. But now we are not. Why?

Member 3:

• Name three police reforms that are due?
• How is India’s relationship with Latin America?
• What are the problems that our rural economy is facing?

I might be forgetting many questions. But the bottom line is to be in charge during the interview. Leave hints in your answers about things you want them to talk about.
Good Luck!