How to crack UPSC interview?

The Civil Services Examination comprises three successive stages. They are the preliminary, mains and the Personality Test (Interview). Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination shall be summoned by UPSC for an Interview/Personality Test. The number of candidates to be summoned for the Interview/Personality Test will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled. The Interview/Personality Test will carry 275 marks. There is no minimum qualifying mark in the interview.

Before knowing more about “How to crack UPSC interview?” the candidate must know the intent behind conducting UPSC interview. The Interview/Personality Test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. The UPSC interview assesses the qualities like intellectual abilities, social traits and knowledge of current events. The UPSC panel judges certain qualities given below

• Mental alertness.
• Critical powers of assimilation.
• Clear and logical exposition.
• The balance of judgement.
• Variety and depth of interest.
• The ability for social cohesion and leadership.
• Intellectual and moral integrity.

The UPSC Interview/Personality Test is not conducted to test the general knowledge of the candidate. The candidate attending the interview has already passed the mains where the General Knowledge is tested through their written papers. Therefore the candidates are expected to have shown interest not only in their academics but also in the events happening around them.

Strategy to Crack UPSC Interview

The objective of the Personality Test/Interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service. So the candidate has to adopt a strategy to meet the requirements of UPSC.

Start as early as possible

Polishing one’s personality is a time taking process where one has to inculcate healthy habits. Inculcation of these habits is a part of UPSC preparation. Candidates also have to be prepared to answer the questions that test mental calibre. So, the candidate should start interview preparation as early as possible after mains examination.

Know more about yourself

A candidate must have good knowledge about various aspects of his/her life. He/she must be able to answer questions related to

• Educational background
• Work Experience
• Reasons for choosing civil service
• Optional Subject
• Preference of services
• District and State he/she belongs to

Improve Communication Skills

IAS aspirants can give the UPSC interview in English or any regional language mentioned in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution. So, it is important to develop fluency in the language you choose for the interview. Instead of searching for words in the interview, improve your communication skills by listening to debates on television, speaking to other aspirants in the medium chosen for your interview and attending a number of mock interviews.

Get Straight to the Point

Try to give precise answers and get straight to the point. Take time to answer all the UPSC interview questions give your opinions. You may not be knowing all the answers to the questions. In such a case, it’s better to reply respectfully and politely that you are not aware of the answer.

Give balanced answers

The candidate must have an impartial and balanced view of the events/topics. He/she should not have any social or political biases. The candidate can take a stand on the topic but he/she should have a justification for the same. The answer that you give should have a proper base without any generalisations.

Take Mock Interviews

Take some mock interviews to avoid some common mistakes. Make a note of your weaknesses and strengths and try to avoid them in the interview. Mock interviews improve the consistency of the candidate.

Read Newspapers and Current Affairs

Questions on recent events can be asked in the interview. So, the candidate must continue reading newspapers even after the completion of mains. The candidate should have a general idea about the events of national and international importance.

In most cases, UPSC interview is a friendly exercise. Just try to be yourself and express your genuine opinions. Attend a few mock tests before the interview to find out your strengths and weaknesses. Do not stress yourself and attend the interview with full confidence.

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