Preparation Strategy for Civil Services Interview

Recently, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared the results of Civil Services Mains Examination 2016. The examination was held from December 3 to 9, 2016. The candidates have qualified for personality test which will tentatively scheduled to commence from March 20, 2017.

The Commission will upload the marks sheets of candidates who have not qualified within 15 days from the date of publication of the final result (after conducting Personality Test) and will remain available on the official website for 60 days.

This time around 2000 candidates were selected over 900 posts. The competition is high. The interview round is the final procedure of UPSC to shortlist the right candidate. This round carries 300 marks and your final selection completely depends upon your performance during the interview.

The questions the panel members ask are nowhere related to your general knowledge; rather they completely focus on your personality and attitude.

Usually, around 5 to 6 panel members are present during an interview headed by the chairperson. The interviews conducted at the UPSC office at Dholpur House in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Each panel member holds a specialized degree and knowledge in his or her particular field; they could be a retired judge, a lawyer, a former officer, etc.

The length of interview is not fixed but the longer the interview lasts, higher is the chances for a good score.
The interview marks are added to the marks obtained in the Mains exam and after that the final merit list is prepared. So the interview marks are not disclosed immediately and can be known only at the declaration of the final results by the UPSC.

The interview is conducted by various boards constituted by the UPSC. The list of board being faced by individual interviewees is given out at the time of declaring the dates of the interviews and it is expected from the candidates to do some research of their board members.

Candidates about double the number of vacancies are selected through the mains exams and called to appear for the personality test. There are 275 marks allocated to the personality test. According to a UPSC report, it is observed that 90 per cent of the candidates who qualify for interview hover around the minimal percentage of 55 per cent prescribed for the test.

Even though you cannot get less than 55 marks in the interview but you must know it's not enough to get into the final merit list. However to be assured of a Class I service, one has to generally obtain about 58 per cent marks. It is observed that only those, securing 60 per cent and above is sure of getting a service of their own choice.

In other words in order to get a good ranking for a better service allotment, one should strive to get at least 200 marks and above in the interview for allotment of the IAS and other Group A services.

These facts and figures clearly reveal that a good score in the personality test can play a determining role in final selection of the candidate through the civil service exams.

Since the interview is so crucial and it is personal and variable, extra preparation is required to tackle this test. Here are some tips that you must go through when you are preparing for your personality test.
Documents to be submitted at the Personality test:

• Following Documents has to be submitted at the time of Personality Test Board for Civil Services Examination.
• SC/ST Certificate Performa, OBC Certificate Performa, Undertaking, Physically Handicapped Certificate Performa, Performa of Hailing from Certificate Questionnaire, Attestation Form, TA Form. The Questionnaire, Attestation Form and TA Form are available at the UPSC official website. If you have applied under SC or ST or OBC, or Physically Handicapped category then fill in and submit the respective certificate. The certificate is separately available for print out at the UPSC site -www.upsc.gov.in.

The candidates are requested to carry the following documents for the interview.

I. Filled Questionnaire: The seven page questionnaire is required for the research and analysis section of UPSC and is used for assessing background information of the candidate appearing for the personality test/ interview. This questioner has be duly filled and submitted at the time of the interview. The questionnaire is divided into several sections.

1.Background of the candidate
2.Employment status
3.Previous Civil Services attempts
4.Competitive exams cleared
5.Reasons for interest in Civil Services
6.Education particulars
7.Background of Parents/Guardian
8.Source of information for Civil Services
9.Coaching attended
10.Optional subject chosen

II. Attestation Form: The attestation form has to be filled with required details including residence, nationality education and has to be signed by a Gazetted officer before being submitted at the time of the interview.

Types of questions asked at the Interview or Personality test:

The candidate appearing for the interview will be given questioners to be filled up and submitted at the time of your interview. The candidates are advised to formulate their answers carefully because questions can be asked from your form that you have filled and submitted to the UPSC before your interview.

You must go through the information you have filled because some questions are surely to be asked from there.

• Relating to your name, any famous personality who has a similar or same name or surname
• Your career choice, why do you want to be a civil servant?
• Choice of services, the order of your choice of services can raise questions too.
• What are your Hobbies, why you pursue such a hobby or questions related to your hobby etc.
• Questions about your academic institution and related to them. If you have studied at the IIM or IIT, you may be asked about the brain drain or fat salaries, if from IGNOU then even about Indira Gandhi and so on.
• Question from your educational qualification. If you are an MBBS or from an economy background, question can be asked how you are going to use your specific knowledge in the civil services. Don't you think you can serve your country better by remaining a doctor and treating poor patients or joining civil services?
• General Studies that forms the four papers of the Mains examination is the prime area from where questions can be asked. It includes Current Affair topics recent days and policy analysis like "Note ban" Surgical strike etc. So make a list of topics and prepare thoroughly to answer them verbally.
• You should be prepared to answer question on your optional subjects, especially if that is not the discipline in which you have graduated. If you have changed your optional subject in the next attempt, you may be ready with the questions why you did that.
• There could be situational questions like, if you were the collector/SP of certain place where terrorist have struck with a Bomb Blast, what would you do in its aftermath? be tested in the Personality test

The Personality Test is aimed at assessing the candidate's personality suitable to be a competent administrator. The candidate is tested for intelligence, attentiveness, balance of judgement and human qualities like honesty, integrity and leadership.

The Kothari Committee constituted by the UPSC has listed the qualities that should be rated in the personality test. They are as follows;

• Clarity of expression
• Grasp of narrative and argument
• Reasoning ability,
• Appreciation of different points of views
• Awareness and concern for socio-economic problems
• Range and depth of interests and personal attributes relevant to interaction with people