Questions on Hobbies in UPSC Interviews - An Overview

A hobby is an important part of your resume. Questions on your hobby can be asked in an interview, not just in UPSC Civil Service Exam interviews. Hence this article throws some light on the importance of Hobby and how the interview panel will try to understand your personality better by asking questions connected to your hobbies.

Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam.

Hobby – An Introduction & its Benefits

Working as a civil servant is probably one of the most challenging jobs in our country. There is a lot of stress the civil servants go through as there are a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders. In this case, it becomes important to find a way to refresh one’s mind. Pursuing one’s hobbies can be one of the best solutions for this.

Psychological benefits are produced by hobbies. Positivity is generated and it boosts creativity, which enhances the ability to focus and concentrate. It also reduces stress and increases happiness and enhances work performance. Concentration creates hormones to retain interest, focus and spark enthusiasm.

When we leave these and start preparing for the UPSC exam, we intentionally block the opportunities to pursue hobbies and ultimately it leaves us. 

What are the Possible Questions Asked by UPSC?

Candidate should be thorough with his/ her DAF. The interview board panel members are well experienced in testing the personality of a candidate. So, you should be honest about your biodata. Thoroughly prepare about the hobby you have mentioned in your examination form. Search for popular terms and the basic understanding of that particular hobby, recent happening in that area etc. Current affairs play an important role here. One can expect question linked with current affairs. This assesses how dynamic the candidate is in his life.

If reading is your hobby then they may ask – Who’s writing you like the most? Do you read a recent novel which might be more popular? Which are your favourite novels and why?   

Even you can expect some technical questions also. For example, if your hobby is photography they may ask you what is the difference between SLR and DSLR is, what is Al Servo? Define Bokeh? What type of photography you do? Are you Paparazzi? Who is Daniel Berehulak? Does a picture destroy or create life?

There are some tricky questions where they want to check your honesty. Apart from the direct question, they may ask you, what would you do when you are bored? What will you do during your free time? What will you do when you are alone?

Interviewers ask these questions to assess your real personality. They check whether you are honest or not and are you capable of taking responsibilities of a civil servant.

Hobby – Importance

Happiness consists more in the small conveniences of pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life. Young people have a great choice of occupations for their financial happiness but not their mental pleasure. Hobbies open a door to opportunities. It moulds a man into a living creature.

Hobbies give you an opportunity to learn new things to enhance your mental efficiency. The more you know, the more you grow. The more you grow you act wisely. Hobbies detract focus from job stress and personal issues. Engaging in enjoyable activities generates self-confidence and motivation, which helps to carry positive performances in aspirant’s personal and professional life. Engaging in amusing activities kindle self-confidence and keep motivated.

Think about what makes you happy. One’s personality plays an important role in choosing hobbies. Some people are creative while others want to be adventurous. Sometimes you may not hit the apt activity for you right out of the gate, but you can have a lot of fun exploring what’s out there. Don’t be afraid to try new things, and soon you will have a hobby that provides you with a lot of fun and an answer to the UPSC interview panel.

Do it Daily

A hobby, a day keeps the doldrums away. If you are starting a new initiative in your life, it takes time. After the Civil service main examination, you will have a lot of time in your hands. The best part is that still you have time and most of us are not using well if you don’t have time, start analysing where you are not using time properly like when you use social media.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”-

– John Quincy Adams

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2021.

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