Decoding the Dynamics of Civil Services Interview

Spotlight

S B Singh

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is currently conducting the Personality Test (Interview) for candidates who have successfully cleared the UPSC Civil Services (Mains) Examination 2023. The interview phase marks a critical juncture in the entire examination process and understanding its nuances is imperative for aspirants who are preparing for the Civil Services Examination. This article aims to provide guidance and essential information for aspirants, shedding light on the nature of the Civil Services interview, UPSC's expectations and tips to navigate through this crucial phase of the examination. The interview, which is the concluding phase of the three-stage Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC, is undoubtedly the most exciting and deciding phase of a candidate's preparation because next to it lies a promising career in the upper echelons of the country's bureaucracy. It puts an end to a long, gruelling preparation for the exam which entails a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, optimism and pessimism. The interview phase of the Civil Services Examination differs significantly from the Prelims and Mains stages. While the written part of the exam assesses your knowledge, the interview portion evaluates your personality. For many candidates not familiar with Civil Services interview preparation, it presents uncharted territory, causing nervousness. However, in an interview most topics can be easily anticipated and well-prepared.

Nature of Interview

The Civil Services interview distinguishes itself by its generalist approach compared to other interviews, which primarily focus on domain expertise. For instance, if a candidate is a doctor applying for a doctor's job, the interview would typically assess medical knowledge. However, in the context of the Civil Services interview, candidates, regardless of their background, face questions spanning diverse areas such as the economy, governance, polity, current national as well as international affairs, environment and social issues. This reflects the generalist nature of Civil Services and the need to assess the candidate's all-round personality. This transforms the Civil Services interview into an exhilarating session where a seasoned team of senior experts scrutinises you. They engage with you for approximately half an hour, posing 15-20 diverse questions across multiple areas and subjects, seeking your opinion, information and judgment value.

UPSC's Guide to Civil Services Interview

It is highly informative to peruse the instructions provided by UPSC regarding the nature of Civil Services interviews. In its notification, UPSC elucidates the interview's characteristics with the following statement.

Qualities Tested During the Interview: According to the UPSC notification, "The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of the candidate's career. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the Interview/ Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The Interview/ Personality Test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a candidate. In broad terms, this is an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are: mental alertness, critical power of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity."

Technique of the Interview: The UPSC notes, "The technique is not that of a cross-examination but a natural, though directed and purposive, conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate." The notification further adds, "Interview test is not intended to be a test either of specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has already been tested in their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subject of academic studies but also in the events which are happening within and outside their own state or country, as well as the modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth." Hence, the purpose and technique of the Civil Services interview become evident after comprehending the afore-mentioned guidelines issued by UPSC. To restate UPSC's perspective on the interview, one can describe it as an assessment of specific personality traits crucial for a candidate's career in the Civil Services. These traits encompass both intellectual and social aspects. Additionally, the interview also evaluates qualities such as mental alertness, social cohesion, power of assimilation and the variety and depth of interests.

Composition of the Interview Board: Typically, seven separate boards are formed, each chaired by a member of the UPSC who is generally a retired IAS, IPS and other Central Services Officer. Additionally, each board comprises four other members recognised as domain experts, invited by UPSC from external sources and not serving on interviews permanently. These external members undergo rotation periodically. Among these four, two members belong to Civil Services (retired IAS, IPS, IFS etc.), while the remaining two are specialists in fields such as academics, journalism, social work or science. It is important to note that there is no professional psychologist present on the interview board. The composition of the interview board ensures the presentation of a variety of questions to the candidates, assessing all facets of their personality.

Inside the Interview Room: What occurs inside the interview room is a systematic process. As the candidate is ushered in, they are permitted to take a seat and settle themselves in the next few minutes. It's crucial to remember that UPSC makes all efforts to ensure your comfort, aiming to bring out the best in you. There is no attempt to induce fear or nervousness. Once settled, the Chairman initiates the interview by asking some general questions, usually derived from Biodata or the Detailed Application Form (DAF) submitted by the candidate to UPSC. After five to seven minutes, the Chairman hands the process over to another member, who engages the candidate for an additional five to six minutes, asking 3-4 questions. This sequence continues, with each member posing questions from different areas for the next 25-30 minutes. Finally, the chairman usually concludes the interview by asking some final questions, or may instruct the candidate to leave without asking any further questions. The entire session, on an average, lasts for 30-35 minutes, encompassing around 15-20 different questions asked by all the members of the Board. Once outside the interview room, your performance is quickly assessed through discussion among the members, analysing your strengths and weaknesses to allocate marks accordingly. It is the privilege of the Chairman to suggest marks, generally agreed to by other members. Sometimes, some members may suggest slightly lower or higher marks, which is taken into account by the Chairman. Thus, marking by the UPSC board is a fair process, done after due deliberation. The chairman possesses expertise in marking patterns due to extensive experience marking hundreds of candidates. Additionally, there is an interaction on marking trends among UPSC boards to ensure consistent standards. While total objectivity in marking may be challenging due to inherent subjectivity, it is emphasised that any subjectivity will not be due to biases against you. You will not receive lower or higher marks based on your caste, region, religion, language, rural background, gender or age. UPSC evaluates you solely on the basis of your performance in the interview and no other criteria is applied.

How to Prepare for the Interview

In an ideal scenario, interview preparation should be an integral and ongoing process that involves continuous personality grooming and development. Constructing a personality within a few weeks of preparation is not a feasible goal. Instead, your personality evolves as your life progresses, encompassing both positive and negative attributes, developed during your upbringing. This refinement process is crucial in the final moments leading up to the interview. It is neither desirable nor possible to adopt a completely new personality for the interview. It is essential to consistently embody your true, original and natural personality. It is utmost crucial to remember that anything artificially acquired is likely to be exposed before the UPSC board.

There is a clear pathway to enhance your interview preparation and the primary components of this preparation include:

·         Thoroughly Prepare Detailed Application Form (DAF): Consider your DAF as akin to your horoscope, offering the board significant insights into your life's journey, encompassing educational and professional achievements. Commencing with your date of birth, it reveals details such as your birthplace, city, state, parental background, educational institutions attended, degrees acquired, past and present jobs and your current status. Crucially, it incorporates your hobbies and extracurricular activities, unveiling another facet of your personality. Consequently, your interview will predominantly revolve around the details provided in your DAF. Members closely examine it, providing them an opportunity to engage you with questions related to your profile. Particularly, they may inquire about the challenges faced in your state or district, expecting solutions from you. Regarding education, they anticipate responses on your specialisation subjects and the optional paper chosen for the main examination. If you have held any job through Civil Services, your knowledge of tasks performed and the rationale for leaving your current job to pursue Civil Services will be scrutinised. Hobbies mentioned will capture the board's attention, leading to queries seeking further details. Even your preference for services and cadre will attract questions, as members are curious about why you favour a particular service or cadre.

·         Stay Updated on Current Affairs: Following your DAF, a significant portion of questions will center around current economic, political and international issues. It is recommended to closely monitor these matters, formulate potential questions on these topics and establish your stance.

·         Navigate Controversial Questions Adeptly: While steering clear of issues with political or religious overtones, some controversial questions may still be posed to gauge your opinion. The safest approach is to avoid adopting an extreme stance or expressing personal likes or dislikes on the matter. Instead, present both the pros and cons of the issue and provide an open-ended response. In reality, on any controversial matter, there is rarely a singular perspective.

Tips to Remember

·         Honesty is the Best Policy: Be honest about what you say. If you fabricate an answer to impress the board, you will most probably be exposed.

·         Learn to Differ with the Board: It is not necessary that you must always agree with what the member has put before you. You can differ if you have a logic and argument to make your answer look plausible.

·         Be Brief in Your Answers: Confine your answer for each question to 2-3 minutes. Longer answers can make them appear boring and superfluous.

·         Say 'NO' If You Do Not Know: If you are not sure about an answer, you can make an intelligent guess. But if you do not know anything about it, politely say you do not know. Saying 'NO' is better than attempting it wildly.

·         Project an Energetic, Keen Personality: Do not look passive, rather look active. Always engage the board with crisp and interesting conversation.

·         Avoid Suggestions Overload: It is natural to receive diverse inputs from sources like mock boards, seniors and past successful candidates. However, it's essential not to overwhelm yourself by incorporating all these inputs since your circumstances are unique. Instead, consider your case individually and tailor your preparation according to your own agenda, steering away from adhering to a one-size-fits-all approach set by the general market.

(Author is a Civil Services mentor. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@gmail.com)

Views expressed are personal.