Some tips about preparing for interviews for selection to the Central, State Civil Services

My advice is that, every day, you must read one newspaper of your choice from cover to cover. Whatever word, expression or context you fail to understand, you must make sure that you consult a source or person to remove doubts if any. That way you will be able to remain au fait with the happenings around you in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres.

In my experience I have found that most questions arise from the information furnished in one's application form. It is therefore necessary for you to be fully conversant with the background of your native village or town, district, state and the country in general.

Most of the questions will centre around the subjects you studied in college, the subject you chose for the written examination and the hobbies you have mentioned in the application form. You need, therefore, to be prepared to be questioned in some fair detail on these matters.

You will naturally be expected to be reasonably familiar with important developments in the recent history of our country and the world, apart from issues of current importance. It will also be expected that you possess a sound knowledge of the events that led to India's independence and the role played by great freedom fighters.

One should also be aware of the achievements and accomplishments of note by great Indians in the fields of literature, art, science, sports and games et cetera.

The looming threats of food and nutritional security challenging the world, and the scary prospect of an impending worldwide financial breakdown-in case the meltdown that occurred sometime ago repeats itself, need also to be studied and understood.

In particular, the role India played in stabilising its economy and therefore contributing to international stability is noteworthy. Similarly, given its large population and the area, the fact that India has been able to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency in food and reasonable levels of nutrition is also a fact that is not only a matter for satisfaction for the country, but also a source of hope and inspiration for the rest of the world.

A sound knowledge of the manner in which the Constitution of India came to be, and its salient features, such as the doctrine of separation of powers and the chapter on fundamental rights, is also necessary to make the preparation complete.

Progress of steps taken by our polity in regard to the creation of, and the support given, to institutions such as the election commission and the information commission should be studied and understood.

Recent developments relating to some landmark verdicts delivered by the Supreme Court such as in the case of the rights of the children of live-in parents and transgender persons should be noted and understood.

One should also be up-to-date with the status of the foreign policy of the country especially in relation to the countries in the neighbourhood of India. The deliberations and the conclusions arrived at in important international fora, such as the United Nations and regional consultative mechanisms such as SAARC, should be closely followed.

Finally the people interviewing you should, in the end, be satisfied that you are the sort of person who can be safely entrusted with public responsibilities, and can be expected to discharge your duties fairly and impartially- with the interest of the public at heart.

Your responses should leave them convinced that you realise that it is the backward areas of the country, the vulnerable sections of the people and the neglected sectors of the economy whose needs will inform the manner in which you respond to the issues that are placed before you for consideration.

In the end, my advice to all of you is not to spoil your chances by over-preparation and resultant tension. I have always believed that while preparing for an event one should feel that failure will mean the end of the world. Once action begins, however, one must adopt a "devil may care" attitude and perform without keeping the result in mind.