The candidates who score the minimum qualifying marks in the UPSC CSE mains examination will be summoned by the UPSC for Personality Test/Interview. The number of candidates to be called for the Interview will be about two times the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview is conducted for 275 marks. It has no minimum qualifying marks. Therefore the marks obtained by the candidates in the mains examination and the interview will determine the final selection of the candidate.
To score well in the UPSC interview, the candidate must know the intent behind the interview conducted by the UPSC. The main intention of the UPSC Interview is to assess the candidates’ suitability and mental calibre for a career in public service It is an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs.
Candidates should keep in mind that the UPSC interview is not a cross-examination. It is a directed and purposive conversation that is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate. To score well in the interview, the candidate must possess or adopt the following qualities.
- 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.
Mental Alertness
The candidate has to carefully listen and understand the questions asked in the UPSC interview. He/she can ask the panel members to repeat the question politely. Asking the interviewers to repeat the questions repeatedly signifies a lack of mental alertness.
Critical powers of assimilation
It implies the quality of putting together facts not the way they come to you but after examining them critically.
Clear and logical exposition
The candidate must be able to describe something with clarity and logic. The candidate should try to avoid vague answers. The answer that you give should have a proper base without any generalisations.
The balance of judgement
The candidate must judge impartially and have a balanced view of the events/topics. He/she should avoid being biased and should possess the ability to judge issues by balancing their various facets.
Variety and depth of interest
The Civils servants selected through UPSC CSE are generalists. Therefore, they should have a genuine interest in various issues that have bearing on the public.
The ability for social cohesion and leadership
The candidate’s answers should reflect that he/she has the ability to lead human resources and understand the need and importance of social cohesion while fulfilling his/her duties. It is an important quality to show results in public services.
Intellectual and moral integrity
Moral integrity is doing the right thing under various circumstances and intellectual integrity is the importance of being true to one’s own rational thinking and maintaining the same standards in attitude towards others. Candidates’ answers should also reflect these two important qualities.
The UPSC interview panel will judge all the above-mentioned qualities. A proper understanding of what he/she is going to be tested for in the interview will help in scoring well in the UPSC interview.
To know more about “what kind of questions are asked in the interview?”, the candidates can read the linked article.
Also Read:
Comments