IAS Interview Questions are quite highly searched by Civil Services aspirants before appearing for the extremely competitive and challenging Interview-cum-Personality Test round. As the third stage in the selection process of the sought-after Civil Services recruitment procedure, the Interview round evaluates the overall personality, skills and suitability of an aspirant for challenging roles as a Civil Servant. The Union Public Service Commission first announced the UPSC IAS 2022 Interview Date as 21st December 2022. Later, the Phase-I IAS Interview was conducted between 30th January to 10th March 2022 for 1026 candidates. Next, the UPSC IAS Interview for Phase-II is scheduled between 13th March to 21st April 2023 for 918 candidates and Phase-III between 24th April to 18th May 2023 for 582 candidates who got shortlisted after Mains result. 

• A total of 2529 candidates qualified for the IAS Interview round after the release of UPSC IAS 2022 Mains Result on 6th December 2022. 
• Aspirants preparing for the upcoming UPSC IAS Interview 2023 must go through this article to check the top 30 IAS Interview questions recommended by toppers. 
• Candidates can also download IAS interview questions with answers PDF for free on frequently asked topics such as Current Affairs, India-China Conflict, Acts & Amendments, and other personal & educational-level domains.
• After going through these UPSC interview questions, candidates will be able to analyse the difficulty level, and type of questions asked with relevant answers for scoring most out of the 275 marks allotted for the UPSC Interview round.

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IAS Interview Questions with Answers PDF

Candidates can now download IAS interview questions with answers in PDF for free. With the given PDF of important and frequently asked UPSC interview questions with answers, you can structure your preparation for the upcoming Interview stage. Our experts have compiled important interview questions based on the skills they are used to evaluate and suggestions on how to answer these questions. 

Check out UPSC Topper 2023 List here!

IAS Interview Questions - Overview

The UPSC Interview or Personality Test is the third and final stage in the selection process of IAS recruitment. This round is conducted for 275 marks and tests not just candidates’ knowledge but also their personality, presence, and decision-making skills. The best part of it is that there is no predetermined syllabus and each candidate is asked different types of IAS interview questions. Most of such UPSC Interview questions are asked from the DAF (Detailed Application Form) filled by aspirants after Prelims along with contemporary questions related to GK & Current Affairs. All candidates must check the e-Summon or call letters from the official website before appearing for the IAS Personality Test. So, let’s check out the detailed overview before diving into the best IAS Interview questions and answers by toppers. 

Check the UPSC Exam Pattern to understand the Interview Round thoroughly.

Category Wise IAS Interview Questions

As mentioned earlier, there is no such fixed pattern or syllabus from where UPSC Interview questions are asked. Basically, interviewees need to wrap their heads around the latest Current Affairs as the interview is taken by Senior IAS officers along with a director who ensures asking questions that test candidates’ public civil servant qualities not found in textbooks. 

Generally, the types of UPSC Interview questions that are asked are as follows -

• Questions regarding the candidate’s personal & educational background.
• Questions based on Current Affairs (regional, national and international).
• Questions modelled on situational analysis.
• Questions related to work profile & hobbies.

Now let’s understand each of these IAS interview questions in the table below.

Check out the Important Duties of an IAS Officer here.

25 IAS Interview Tricky Questions with Answers by Toppers

Now that you have a thorough understanding of the types of questions and qualities tested by UPSC Interview questions, let’s go through the 25 IAS Interview questions of toppers with answers for your easy preparation.

Note: All the answers provided to these IAS interview questions are general and standard and you must create your own answers and make improvisations before the panellists.

How would you lift a camel with one hand?

Ans: It’s one of the funny IAS interview questions and has no straightforward answer to it. You can say, “A camel with one hand doesn’t exist, so it cannot be lifted.”

Are there any differences between vision, mission, aims, and objectives?

Ans: This IAS interview question was asked to Gaurav Agarwal (UPSC CSE Rank 1, 2013). What he answered can be summed up as “Vision is at the top overarching destination. For eg., the government can be visionary about making governance reach to the poorest man. But the mission is the strategy adapted to reach that vision like a poverty elimination mission. Next, aims & objectives can be both short and long-term goals or outcomes of that same mission.”

What are your thoughts on women's reservation in Parliament & should they focus more on domestic issues & family?

Ans: Such IAS interview questions are asked to test aspirants’ gender progressiveness with the stillness of thought. You can answer like, “Women make up for good work-life balance as working women are also caring housemakers. Next, the population of women in the parliament seats is marginal, so the reservation can solve that issue but also capable & strong woman administration must come onboard to balance the gender indices”.

Why are we spending so much on ISRO missions while we have burning poverty in the country?

Ans: This IAS interview question tests your social cohesion & visionary skills. You can answer it as, “ISRO missions are helping people deal with disaster management, groundwater level monitoring, and crop productivity forecasting which indirectly is helping a farmer or poor man.”

Which state of India has the tallest girls?

Ans: This is one of the facts and research-based IAS Interview questions. Jammu & Kashmir is the answer.

What is special about your date of birth?

Ans: It’s one of the personal IAS interview questions asked to test candidates’ self-knowledge. You can answer this by stating any important national or international event that took place. For instance, if you were born on 9th March, you can answer, “Nobel Laureate, Walter Kohn was born in 1923, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 9 with dog Chernushka in 1961, India won the Wills World Cup Quarter Final match against Pakistan in 1996, etc.”

Name three consecutive days without using words “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday”

Ans: Such types of IAS interview questions check candidates’ critical thinking and presence of mind. The answer is, “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.”

You’re driving in a one seater on a rainy night and as you pass by the bus stop, you see - a) an old lady in a dying state, b) an old friend who saved your life, c) your dream-perfect partner. Which one would you offer the lift?

Ans: It is one of those IAS interview questions that test aspirants’ analytical as well as empathetic skills. You can answer like, “I’d ask my old friend to take the old lady to the hospital and wait for the bus with the dream-perfect partner.”

Should civil servants take part in politics?

Ans: These IAS interview questions test leadership skills and can be answered like, “Civil servants deal with the needs, woes and demands of the common public, so indirectly it’s part and parcel of politics.”

Have you gone through any of the Vedas? Are they relevant today?

Ans: These are opinion-based IAS interview questions that can be answered like, “Yes, learning from Vedas like ‘prevention is better than cure’ or ‘anger is the death of a good man’ are still prevalent in civil services jobs.”

Being an Engineer, why did you choose International Relations as your optional?

Ans: It’s one of the education-based IAS interview questions that can be dealt with, “The IR topics overlap with the UPSC Prelims Syllabus as well as Mains which helped me in simultaneous preparation as well as helped me gain knowledge of several national & international political events required for my job awareness.”

Where are there no Indian universities in the top 10 world rankings?

Ans: It’s one of those fact-based IAS Interview questions that don’t have any correct answer. You need to assess it objectively by highlighting as “The Indian education system is lacking in terms of infrastructure and resources as compared to foreign universities, also the population is another factor.”

Say, I don’t have any knowledge about your country. Help me know it in your own words.

Ans: It’s one of those critical IAS interview questions that will require a broad knowledge of India and its states along with the surrounding landscape and factors. You need to answer in a way to highlight both pros and cons like, “My country is the largest world democracy with a diverse population of religions, nature and culture. We believe in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” i.e., the whole world is family. We also are home to several flora & fauna but faces issues like unemployment, poverty, female infanticide, and undevelopment.”

If a ship sinks on the border of India & USA, how would you bury the survivors?

Ans: It’s one of those situation-based tricky IAS Interview questions that can be answered like, “The survivors need to be rescued, not buried.”

Why do you want to join Civil Services if you can do well by social work?

Ans: It’s one of the rational IAS interview questions that must not be answered with power, prestige and salary quotients. Rather use a diplomatic tone to answer like, “My purpose is to serve the nation with crucial policy regulations, handling developmental activities of both central & states to bring a larger change among the common mass.”

If you like inventing, what would you invent today?

Ans: This type of IAS interview question is based on situational analysis that can be answered like, “I’d invent the machine that can calculate the pressure of the other interviewees sitting outside as they seem very tense.”

Many people do well in exams, but not in life. Why?

Ans: This is a sort of leadership question that can be answered like,”If one doesn’t want to implement the learnings in their own life, the results will be slow and almost diminishing.”

Should we repeal AFSPA? Tell us your thoughts.

Ans: It is one of the knowledge & fact-based IAS interview questions that also deals with moral sensitivity. You can answer like, “First, we have to assess the background & future contours of AFSPA. As civil unrest & terrorism is rising every day, the need for keeping a counter-insurgency institution like AFSPA is required but not at the expense of violating human rights. “

Can you say in which state is the Indian Ocean?

Ans: It’s one of the trick & provocative IAS interview questions whose answer is Liquid. 

What will you do if I elope with your sister?

Ans: It’s one of those IAS interview questions asked to test candidates’ temperament and social sensitivity in challenging situations. You can answer like, “First I’d want to know the reason for it. If it's justified and my sister doesn’t have any problem with it, I will accept you as you’re a well qualified and good person to keep my sister happy.”

Ram & Rahim are twins and born in May, but their birthdays are in February. How?

Ans: Candidates’ critical thinking & attention to detail are tested by these IAS interview questions that can be answered like, “May is the name of the town or any place or any hospital.”

How will you teach a class that doesn’t want to be taught?

Ans: Again, these kinds of UPSC Interview questions are tested to check candidates’ dynamic and flexible nature. Answer it like, I will first talk about their likes and try to attract their attention. Next, I will put myself in their shoes and try to approach each problem and then provide solutions to it.”

Tell us your favourite book and what you learned from it that can be implemented in your job.

Ans: Such IAS interview questions have answers that vary from one candidate to another and you can answer by naming a book that you have gone back to multiple times to learn skills for implementing after your job selection. Answer it like, “I loved The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde as it helped me understand that if we don’t control the narcissist in us, it can make a good situation worse.”

Is it possible for a man to stay awake for 8 days?

Ans: These IAS interview questions don’t test any biological process and instead asked to trick candidates. The answer can be, “He sleeps at night time”.

How to write 32 by using only 3?

Ans: These IAS interview questions are not strictly mathematical but also use maths with the presence of mind. It can be answered like, “33 - 3/3 = 33 -1 i.e., 32”.

Qualities Tested with IAS Interview Questions

As you know, the UPSC Civil Services Interview round is the final test of candidates’ abilities & prowess that will decide their future as an All-India Civil Servant. Thus, all candidates must ensure to enrich certain qualities in them that will be tested by the panel with UPSC interview questions. Some of the personality traits checked in this round are as follows -

Diversity & Depth of Interest

The first quality tested by the board with IAS interview questions is the candidate's fascination with the depth & diversity of topics and interests.

• UPSC favours candidates with knowledge outside of textbooks or strict academia.
• Aspirants with multi-faceted knowledge and a wide range of interests stand higher.
• Questions on their extracurricular activities and hobbies are asked.
• Questions are also asked on several non-academic subject areas like ‘What is your town famous for?’ or ‘What have you learned from your XYZ hobby?’.
• In asking these IAS interview questions, candidates’ depth of knowledge & interests are better understood by the UPSC interview panel.

Mental Alertness & Acuity

The panel also asks several mentally sharp and even provocative UPSC interview questions to test candidates’ mental acuity quotient.

• Mental acuity is utmost to work in a high-pressure public civil servant job profile in the world’s largest democracy.
• Even difficult or sharp questions can be asked to test candidates’ presence. For example, “After a plane crash, where would you bury the survivors?” The answer is “Survivors aren’t buried”.
• Candidates’ on-point approach and answers relating to the main issue are tested by the panel.

Rational Defence & Logical Explanation

Even certain IAS Interview questions are asked to test aspirants’ objective and rational stances on certain issues up for discussion.

• Along with sound justifications, a public civil servant also requires logical problem-solving skills.
• Copying and re-iterating a third person’s viewpoint will create a bad impression on the panel.
• For instance, if you are asked “Why do you want to join UPSC Civil Services?” and if you answer “I want to eradicate poverty” or “I want to remove corruption and make India the best of the best”, it won’t be even 1% rational.
• Therefore, answer each question with proper assessment & logical reasoning or simply resort to not answering with an “I don’t know but will get back to it” logically.

Impartiality & Balance of Judgement

Most UPSC interview questions are also asked to test candidates’ impartiality in making the decisions required for the job.

• Avoid taking fixed positions while underlining any particular issue.
• You must find an ideal common ground in case of confusing questions. For instance, what would you support: traditional patriarchy or radical feminism?
• Judgemental balance is utmost in public service positions that are rightly tested by the panel.

Critical Assimilation & Integration Skills

Some IAS interview questions are also asked to test candidates’ critical integration skills so that they will be able to acknowledge and take decisions from multiple perspectives.

• Candidates can be asked questions involving those recent events. Thus, it’s essential to articulate all positions equally.
• One such question can be “Being an engineer, why have you opted for an Arts optional?” To answer this, you can say, “My ambition is to reach diverse fields and make multiple case studies possible, so I didn’t want to restrict myself to Engineering only.”
• This helps the panel to understand candidates’ multi-faceted points of view.

Social Cohesion & Leadership

Honesty, communication, delegation, confidence & commitment are the five main elements that encompass leadership skills in a candidate.

• Aspirants will be asked certain IAS interview questions that showcase their ability to mediate disputes between opposing parties.
• As a public civil servant, it is his/her duty to serve as a neutral observer and showcase objective qualities in the socio-political landscape of India. 
• One such question can be, “How would you convince a bureaucrat about a certain problem that he/she has no interest in?”

Scholarly & Moral Integrity

Candidates’ intellectual and moral views are also tested through certain UPSC interview questions.

• Questions related to ethics and integrity as well as a morally upright persona are asked.
• As a public servant, it’s essential to uphold the support of common people by catching an ideal ground.
• One such question can be, “What would you do if you were a Collector/Magistrate of a particular district and there was a riot in our area or what would be your steps to improve health, sanitation or education in your area of dominance?”
• Questions are also asked on morally challenging scenarios that public civil servants would often encounter in their area of work.

Also, check UPSC IAS Interview Preparation Strategy & Tips by experts here!

IAS Interview Questions Preparation Tips

Preparing for UPSC IAS Interview is essential as it constitutes a total of 275 marks that will be added to a total of 2075 marks for determining the final UPSC Cut Off marks. Know how to prepare for the UPSC Interview Questions below. 

• Do not wait to prepare for the Interview till Mains results are out. Start preparing for all IAS Interview questions once the Mains stage is conducted for getting more time. 
• The vast majority of questions in your UPSC interview will be based on information provided in your Detailed Application Form (DFA). As a result, you can use the DAF to assist you in responding to the majority of the UPSC interview questions
• Read about your background, interests, previous employment, service preferences, hometown, state, etc from DFA as certain types of IAS interview questions are asked. 
• Use powerful body language and pay attention to your posture, behaviour, and looks while answering UPSC Interview questions 
• Keep proper temperament during the interview and pay attention to what panellists are replying after you answer to each IAS interview questions asked. 
• Write down everything about the Yojanas, Economic Surveys, and Indian yearbooks as such IAS interview questions can also be asked. 
• Stay up-to-day with GK & Current Affairs on national and international news, politics and other sources.
• Always stay updated with facts related to your hometown and current city of residence as certain IAS interview questions are probable. 
• Avoid overconfidence & subjective one-dimensional arguments while answering IAS Interview questions. 

Know How to Prepare For UPSC Without Coaching in detail here!

We hope that this article provided you with the Top UPSC IAS Interview Questions and Answers for your best preparation. Try to follow those questions and expert tips to crack the UPSC Interview with flying colours. Also, download the Testbook App to access advanced questions and exam resources for UPSC and other competitive exams in a few clicks.