UPSC Interview Transcript By Harshal Mete Board Rajani Razdan

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Mains results were out. I cleared it and was happy that I got an interview call much on expected lines.

My interview was dated on 18 April in afternoon session. With clean shaved face and all the cosmetics light blue color shirt and purple pant I was ready to face it , an opportunity I was awaiting for 2 years. Standing outside dholpur house was an experience in itself. All type of known human emotions – fear, anxiety , confidence, relaxation, joy , tension ran high in my brains. One last time I wished all my friends and family who came with me and entered the arena.

We were made to sit like all the candidates in the groups. The building was beautiful and green. Ample of noticeable things like name of the plants, quotes from great thinkers and lots of paintings and handicraft work was noticeable there. Our documents were checked. My group had 6 members. One was from IRS (C&E), the other from BITS, one from Kerala and rest 3 of us from Maharashtra. All 6 of us were Engineers. We started discussing and enquiring each other, to ease off tension but at the back mind it was still there. I was to be interviewed 5th in the sequence. We came to know that its Razani Razdan Board. I had heard that she was erratic and it is make or break board. Although there was nothing that could have been changed so I calmed myself and decided to make good with whatever I had. A peon came and told me that my turn has arrived. He directed me towards the hall of Raznia mam. I was made to sit outside in chair. The duration was 5 mins but it felt like 5 dayz. Each second so slow just like Einstein said in his relativity theory. Explosions erupting in my stomach as to what will happen. Bell rang and I got up and it begin.

I entered the hall. There was a round table and Razani mam with 4 other board members. All were male.
I wished them all and took my seat. Mam looked at me and smiled warmly glancing over my summary sheet.
Like all other she asked me my roll no, Date of birth and showed me my photo to confirm. Here is what happened in next twenty minutes.

R: Harshal, What does your name mean?
Me: Mam Harshal is the Sanskrit name where harsh means happiness and Harshal is the one who gives happiness.

R: (smiling broadly) Oh! So are you giving happiness to people around you?
Me: So far (with smile)

R: (Smiling broadly and satisfied) So far so good.
After this moment she cooperated throughout the interview. She dint slept as happened with others.
Supported me when with other members and also participated in discussions.

R: you have geography as an optional. Can you tell me about Bermuda triangle?
Me: Mam it is area off the east coast of USA. It’s known for ships and aircrafts being disappeared mythically. We are now doing scientific investigation.

R: Good can you tell me the countries?
Me: Sorry mam I do not know.

R: You can take a moment.
Me: Sorry mam I am unable to recall.

R: Ok and she directed to Member1.
M1: what is contour?
Me: Sir, Line joining the places of equal height.

M1: Are they circular or elliptical?
Me: Sir they can be both.

M1: Have you seen LEGENDS in the map. Beyond that scale is written what is that?
Me: (Slightly confused) Sir it signifies ratio. Like one unit or cm on map would mean

M1: Do the units always remain like that?
Me: Sir I am unable to think more presently.

M1: No please take your time. Tell me what would scale 1:x signify ?
Me: Sir we have to represent large land area with small size paper. So we scale it accordingly. Scale indicates multiplier.
He looked a bit satisfied. He changed the question.

M1: What is flood plain zone?
He was neither audible nor understandable with accent. Mam understood my difficulty and she repeated his question.
Me: Sir maximum inundation level till which river water might reach.

M1: Are you sure?
Me: Yes sir I read it in geography. It is used in disaster management. (Although I dint recall it clearly).
This was the only member where I jittered. Rest interview was smooth as silk.

M2: Tell me any good innovation which you have come across in agriculture or irrigation or drinking water in rural areas.
Me: Sir since I am an IT Engineer I liked the innovation of e-choupal. It helps farmers to know exact prices of products and prevents the middle man chain. Its implemented by ICT. Now government is building Village knowledge centers on the same.

M2: OK there is some report (I do not recall what he was asking) regarding university panel. Are you aware of it?
Me: Sorry Sir I am not aware of this.

M2: Anyways there it’s proposed that we can promote students from 8 to 10th directly. What do you think of the idea?
Me: Sir this has been there in western countries. But they have strong parameters to measure the child’s aptitude. It’s not the case in India. So we need to evolve such then we can go for it.

R: Harshal, there will be more failures in each increasing class and thus it cannot be sustained.
Me: Yes mam. I smiled and nodded.
(She immediately indicated member 3 to ask)

M3 was notorious. All the previous mates had come out and told that he bothers a lot. He did not accept the opinion of many. I think he was closely associated with Maharashtra as all the questions were bombarded.

M3: Who were the Peshwas?
Me: Sir they were ministers in Maratha court who subsequently acquired power.

M3: How could they do this?
Me: Sir it happened due to breaking of Maratha confederacy.
M3: Why Shivaji was called Mountain rat?
Me: Sir Shivaji Maharaj used the strategy of hit and run. They used guerilla warfare technique as they could not match the fire and artillery of Mughal forces.

M3: Why 18th century is called the age of Marathas.
Me: (Confused I think he misquoted the question because it’s 17th century as in 18th the power was declining).Sorry sir I do not know.

M3: Name some poet of that time?
Me: Sorry sir I do not know.

M3: Do you know Bhusan ?
Me: Yes sir I know kavi bhushan.

M3: Recite some lines of him on shivaji. (Now it was really frustrating as they are considered difficult)
Me: Sorry sir I have not read about him.

M3: He recited the lines very loud.
Me: Yes sir those are the lines.

M3: This is called as Oestempuus (some term he used I can’t recall). Do you know what it is?
Me: Sir Kavi Bhushan always made the poem in rhymes of two lines but I am not sure if this is it.

Passed on to next member. Finally relief!
Next was the best part of my interview.

M4: Do you know about Myanmar.
Me: Yes sir.

M4: What are the political developments there?
Me: Sir recently elections were conducted and Ms. Suu Ki won by great majority. She leads democratic movement and has NLD party. But majority remains with army.

M4: What’s NLD?
Me: Sir National league for democracy.

M4: Do you think it will happen?
Me: Sir its first genuine step towards democracy. In coming times if more reforms come we might see a huge change. Also there is a need for external assistance.

M4: What will be the time required?
Me: Sir in my opinion roughly a decade or so considering the time.

M4: Is it because of internal or external pressure?
Me: Sir partly both ways. There is internal movement and external sanctions by western power led by US.

M4: Yes and there is ethnic strife also.
Me: Yes sir this is also a cause.

M4: Do we need external pressure?
Me: Sir Democracy cannot be sustained by pressure. There is a need to build consensus among the members. Also the army will need to come out and take greater confidence building measures.
Suddenly and unexpected came the call from Razani mam…

R: Thank you. (Again she was smiling and nodded warmly).

Got up and wished all of them.

Now I head towards the door. There was written PUSH where as I was pulling. Totally in pressure I was unable to see it. It took some 3 secs more and I made a bit sound as Oh! (It was very subtle. I do not know whether board heard it.) And finally I came out. My head swinging with thoughts like anything. I walked like lost in my own world. Was it this? Was it this small time I waited for? Am I good bad ruined?

Will I have to give exam again? Thoughts running off like anything. Never would I forget Razni mam.

Conclusion:-
This board is considered to be most erratic and hostile. Of all the 6 people no one lasted more than 20 mins.

The questions were very factual. All 6 of us were either disappointed or partly satisfied. But upon more interacting with seniors and those in service I came to know that this is usual with this board. It makes or break board as popularly said. Even if you can keep her from falling and sleeping on desk it’s a great achievement.

NO LIILY DARLING QUESTIONS ARE THERE IN THIS BORAD. YOU MISS MANY IN LINE INTERVIEW IS OVER LIKE RAPID FIRE AND YOU LAND IN TWO DIGIT NUMBER.