What if I fail in UPSC Interview?

The UPSC Interview is the last stage/hurdle in the three stages process of the Civil Services Examination. The UPSC Exam is held for the recruitment of the country’s prestigious positions/services such as Indian Administrative Service(IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and various other posts and services.

This article will talk about the selection process, the expectations of the UPSC board during the Personality test, and the options after failing in UPSC.

What is the selection procedure?

Any candidate has to clear all the three stages (Prelims, Mains, Interview) to get into the final Merit list. The marks obtained in the Mains and Interview are added and there is a fixed cut-off. If the candidate’s total marks (Mains + Interview) is above the cut-off mark fixed by UPSC, then he/she gets the chance to get into the final merit list. If the total marks do not cross the cut-off marks, then the candidate is considered failed in UPSC Interview.

Furthermore, the candidates can know the Essential Tips To Crack The IAS Interview, from the linked article.

The candidates can read more about the stages and prepare for them from the given links below:

  1. UPSC Prelims
  2. UPSC Mains
  3. IAS Interview

What is expected from a candidate in the UPSC Interview?

  • The candidate will be interviewed by a Board, who will have before them a record of the candidate’s career.
  • The interview process will take approximately between 20-30 minutes.
  • The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
  • The objective 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 calibre of a candidate.
  • In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only intellectual qualities, but also social traits and interests in current affairs.
What are the qualities to be judged in the UPSC Interview?

Some qualities to be judged are:

  • Mental alertness,
  • Critical powers of assimilation,
  • Clear and logical exposition,
  • Balance of judgement,
  • Variety and depth of interest,
  • The ability for social cohesion and leadership,
  • Intellectual and moral integrity.
  • Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country, as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should arouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.

To read more about the Viewpoint from the UPSC Interview Board Member, check the linked article.

Myths about UPSC Interview

  • The technique of the Interview/Personality Test is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
  • The Interview/Personality Test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized or general knowledge of the candidates, which has been already tested through their written papers.

Options after Failing in UPSC

Every year, lakhs of people aspire to join the services of UPSC, but only a few thousand candidates’ dreams come into reality. It is very disheartening if a candidate has failed in UPSC Interview. However, it is equally depressing if a candidate has failed in UPSC Prelims.

Even if a candidate fails in any one of the stages of the Civil Services Exam, the candidate has to start from scratch again.

The failed UPSC aspirants often feel discouraged and have self-doubts. It is very difficult to accept the failure if the candidate has cleared the first two stages and failed in UPSC Interview.

Read about Why IAS Aspirants Fail In Their USPC Civil Services Exam, from the linked article.

The failed UPSC Aspirants can take a break after the results to gain back the confidence and motivation to start again. The candidate can rethink their strategies and work on them to clear the exam the next time.

Also, learn from the toppers, the Tips to Crack the UPSC Exams, from the linked article.

Arvind Saxena’s Recommendations

  • Arvind Saxena, UPSC Chairman, has proposed to the Central government to recruit people from the list of candidates who make it to the interview stage but failed in UPSC Interview.
  • If these recommendations were accepted by the government, it will be a big relief for the failed UPSC aspirants.

Other UPSC Related Links:

IAS Salary UPSC Monthly Current Affairs Magazine
IAS Toppers UPSC Calendar 2023
IAS Questions & Answers for UPSC 2023 10 Must-Read Books for IAS Aspirants
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers IAS 2023 (Pre & Mains) Tablet Course
UPSC Exam Pattern UPSC Eligibility Criteria

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