9 Step Strategy To Prepare For The UPSC Interview


9 Step Strategy To Prepare For The UPSC Interview


Step1:

Read your DAF (Detailed application form) carefully. Focus on each and every word that you have written on your resume. Google these words and look for any resemblance with current affairs.

Step2:

In UPSC CSE each topic can be correlated with any other topic. So remembering the entire prelims and mains syllabus (Both static and current part) is a highly recommended.

For e.g. Questions asked about education can be related to women and from there to public administration to ethics. Like about the institutions in which you have studied and their history. Any recent major event related to them. Remember few points in favour and against to the present education system in India. Few points on girls education, women empowerment, equal opportunities etc. Hence we will move from individual to societal to state to national to global to universal level.

Step3:

Try to put yourself first as an individual and then build upon different dimensions like social, economic, political, geographical, scientific, literature, hobbies, historical, any particular life event from which you have learnt something about the big picture of life, your role model- who and why ethics and morality that you follow etc. Try to be very specific with respect to the words written in DAF. Lastly be thorough with your graduation subject and optional.

Step4:

Repeat the same for your state. Like if there is any river, port, park, the sanctuary of national importance. Important places of tourism and recent government schemes to promote it, population, sex ratio, different major social, economic, political problems in your state and how you intend to portray a solution for the betterment of the same, any famous cuisine of the state etc. Try to put them under same horizontal and vertical parameters as in prelims and mains syllabus of UPSC.

Submit Your UPSC Interview Experience.

Step5:

Now, use the similar level of analysis for the country. Be aware of all relevant debates going on in the society for and prepare 4-5 crisp points upon them in favour and against. For example, In 2016 major debates are Demonetization, GST, Simultaneous Elections, Universal Basic Income, NPAs, Role of Governor, Budget changes etc.

Step6:

Repeat the same for the world. The common issues recently going on like the Protectionist policy, Brexit, Automation and 4th Industrial Revolution, UN reforms, WTO important issues with respect to India, G20 summit, BRICS summit, Kigali meeting, COP Paris, Olympics, para Olympics etc. One must be thorough with State, India and world map.

Step7:

Now make excel or handwritten sheet with the following common questions:

  • Why do you want to join civil services?
  • Why do you want to become IAS/IFS/IPS/IRS?
  • Why a particular type of preference that is to choose one service over other?
  • What changes would you like to bring if given the opportunity and how would you bring about those changes?
  • Do you think citizens have very little faith in law and administration these days? If so how would you recover the same?
  • If you are a science background student opting for humanity optional then you must have a convincing reason for the same.

Step8:

Write down as many questions as you think can arise by looking at your DAF. The more questions you prepare more will be the probability of having sufficient material to answer their questions. Then take a few mock interviews in any institute or among serious per aspirants for expert opinion.

Step9:

This is the most important step in the whole preparation phase including interviews. Be confident and have faith in yourself. All the best!!!

Books for UPSC Civil Services Interview

UPSC Mock Interviews Tests

Study Material for IAS (UPSC) Pre: General Studies (Paper-1) + CSAT (Paper - 2)

IAS Mains General Studies Study Kit

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