IAS is the Indian Administrative Service and it’s one of the most reputed jobs across the country. IAS Salary is known to be one of the most decent salaries offered by the Government of India. However, the IAS Officer Facilities entirely depend upon the post held by the officers. One can achieve this post by securing fine merit in one of the toughest examinations i.e UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). Moreover, it is also responsible to conduct all the civil services exams in the country. IAS officers are offered posts by the Central Government and in specific states. IAS Salary is directly proportional to the posts held by the officers.

Candidates can start preparing for their examination after their XII. By following certain steps mentioned below, one can get started with their journey of becoming an IAS officer. For the UPSC exam, candidates must hold a graduation degree from a recognised university.

In order to get rewarded with the IAS posts, candidates are supposed to clear all three rounds. In the article below, detailed information about the UPSC IAS Interview Guidelines is stated.

Download UPSC IAS Interview Preparation Strategy Tips in PDF here!

UPSC IAS Interview Overview

The personality test that is part of the UPSC examination process is certainly the most fascinating aspect of the entire process. There isn’t a predetermined “syllabus” for it. Each candidate is asked a different set of questions. The applicant interviews vary from one another. Actually, it’s a test to see if a candidate has a personality that fits the civil service.

This makes the personality test challenging to study for and pass. This is accurate because personality formation takes a lifetime. It won’t change right away.

However, it is beneficial if applicants are aware of the essential qualities the UPSC interview panel is seeking. This will help the candidates determine where to concentrate their preparation efforts. It serves as a benchmark for the traits IAS hopefuls should work to develop.

This 30-minute process might alter your life and turn your ambition of working for the government become a reality. Based on the outcomes of both the main exam and the personality test, the final merit list is created. A successful interview performance can significantly increase a candidate’s rank and chances of receiving better treatment.

Read the article on How To Become an IAS Officer After 12th?

UPSC IAS Interview Preparation Strategy Tips

Preparing for the IAS Interview is the initial yet requisite step and one needs to invest a decent amount of time in order to score well in this section and to proceed further. Here are a few recommendations that you can adapt to:

In your UPSC interview, the vast majority of the questions will be based on data from your Detailed Application Form (DFA). 

Therefore, you can use the DAF to help you respond to most of the questions asked during the UPSC interview.

Carefully go through the Detailed Application Form (DAF)

• By carefully reading your DAF a few times, you’ll be prepared to respond to questions about your background, interests, previous employment, preferences for services, etc.

Use powerful body language

• Throughout the interview, pay great attention to your behaviour, posture, and look because these factors will affect how other people perceive you.
• Keep your cool during the interview, look the panellists in the eye, and pay close attention to what they are saying.
• Consider how you can greet people politely, demonstrate that you are paying attention, and control your body.

Regularly read newspapers and stay up to date on current affairs

• Keep up with the latest recent news, politics, and other topics.
• Write down whatever you can remember about the Yojanas, economic surveys, and Indian yearbook.
• The panel may quiz you on current events, so stay up to date.
• Review the most recent current events (from the previous two to three months), as questions on these will be the majority of the UPSC IAS Interview.
• As a result, go over the most recent current happenings.

Avoid overconfidence

• Overconfidence undermines knowledge and creates arrogance.
• Never take your luck for granted since you never know when it can turn around.
• Even though the UPSC interview is difficult, you can pass if you are confident and have the appropriate attitude.
• Pay close attention to the interview panel’s questions as they are being asked.

Always brush up the facts related to your home town and current city of residence

• Without an acquaintance with the geography and other facts of your country, especially those relevant to the state and city in which you currently dwell, the preparation for the IAS interview cannot be considered complete.
• Since administration is the focus of UPSC, this is the case.

Don’t waste time before starting the preparation

• The time of students is precious.
• You should start studying for the interview as soon as the UPSC Mains exam is over.
• Waiting for the critical exam results won’t help.
• Start out early and with a bang.
• Work on enhancing your personality and communication skills right now.
• It’s a good idea to practise in front of a mirror to get over hesitancy and anxiety.

UPSC IAS Interview does have a few similar questions every year. The candidates must be aware of them and shall practice them regularly. Moreover, they must have a thorough knowledge of your graduation subjects.

Also read: Ethics Book For UPSC here!

UPSC IAS Interview Process

The prime reason behind conducting the interview round is to analyse the candidates’ soft skills, critical thinking ability, awareness, personality and ability and confidence to answer the questions. UPSC Interview round is not basically an interview but a discussion between UPSC Board and the candidates. Unquestionably, similar to every other phase, even the interview phase is a hard drive to bargain but the candidates with adequate knowledge, understanding and confidence might crack the interview successfully.

Here are a few requisite pointers for the UPSC IAS Interview:

• It is a prerequisite for the candidates to arrive at the assigned venue prior to that of the given timing. The aspirants will be organised in a queue by the UPSC Supervisors and after this, a preliminary verification round begins in which the candidates’ interview call letter and their names on the lists are cross-checked. Similar to every other government entrance examination, the applicants need to carry a government verified Identity Card (I-Card).
• After the applicants are verified and all set to enter, they are then expected to hand over their belongings such as bags, mobile phones and every other item that would be asked to.
• Another verification round takes place at the entrance hall wherein the candidates’ documents such as educational, caste certificates, etc get verified. Students generally do not come across any difficulty but even if they do, the supervisors are more than ready to assist.
• Apart from all this, tea is also arranged for the candidates along with something to eat and newspapers. During this time, the candidates have to fill in a basic information questionnaire given by the supervisors.
• All the candidates are then segregated into panels viz. Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3 and so on. The candidates are allocated their respective panels along with the sequence that they need to follow. The panel chairperson name is not disclosed and the students are expected to enter as a third individual in every panel.
• As stated prior, the candidates are grouped according to their panel and the aspirants who get allocated to the panel no. 1,2,3,4 are grouped together and the applicants who get allocated with no. 5 are out of town candidates and are handed out a form to fill in order to reimburse the travelling cost (refund would be provided for a 2nd class train journey).
• The entire interview generally lasts for 20 minutes however a few candidates have reported a longer interview time up to 40 minutes. Each panel comprises 5 to 6 aspirants.
• After the assigned numbers to the candidates are called out with their names, they shall enter the interview room turning in the rest of their belongings such as documents and pens. The chairperson begins with the interview immediately.
• The first interview session of the day is scheduled at 8:45 am and the second is at 10:15 am. There are high chances that candidates may be asked to wait and hence it’s not recommended to go sleep-deprived or starved.

To clear the interview one of the most crucial aspects is to be calm and confident, these two abilities can be a catalyst for the applicants to crack their interviews. Needless to say, knowledge and prowess to answer a maximum of questions are also counted.

Check out What IAS Stands For here.

What types of Questions are asked in an IAS Interview?

In a UPSC interview, four different types of questions were regularly asked of candidates. 

These consist of:

• Questions regarding profile
• Questions regarding recent occurrences
• Questions related to a Situational Analysis
• Questions related to Individual’s Behaviour

Questions based on Profile

• These are standard inquiries from your Detailed Application Form (DAF), and they may pertain to your name’s importance, your educational history, your professional experience, your motivation for applying to the Civil Services, etc.
• You might also be questioned by the panel about your interests and hobbies.
• Self-reflection is the main guideline to follow when getting ready for these kinds of inquiries!
• Try to avoid giving a false impression of oneself because it can backfire.
• Given that they are so broad, it is advisable to prepare for these questions beforehand.

Questions based on Current Affairs

• If you want to work in government, you must now be current with happenings!
• And you ought to have a reasonable point of view on that.
• When answering, neutrality must be upheld.
• When responding to these inquiries, try to be as fair and polite as you can.
• Being politically acceptable and avoiding bias are essential.

Questions based on Situational Analysis

• Situational questions are also where the panel judges you the most, despite the fact that they can be challenging.
• It’s crucial to demonstrate your crisis-management prowess while maintaining a good attitude as a result.
• Prior to the interview, prepare a general line of thinking because it will assist you respond to these UPSC interview questions.

Questions related to Individual’s Behaviour

• These are meant to determine whether you are a worrier or if you can keep your composure under pressure.

Read the article on How to prepare for UPSC General Studies Paper 2 - Preparation Strategy!

Qualities assessed during the UPSC Interview

A strong fascination of depth and diversity

• Candidates having knowledge outside of academia are favoured by the UPSC.
• They want people that are multifaceted and have a range of interests.
• Candidates are questioned about their extracurricular interests and hobbies.
• These non-academic subject areas are where some interview questions originate.
• In doing so, the candidate’s breadth of interests and depth of knowledge related to those interests are better understood by the UPSC.

Mental acuity

• Since you will be running the country's government in your capacity as public servants, mental acuity is expected.
• The board members might ask the candidates some difficult questions.
• It’s crucial to keep on topic and speak directly to the main issue when answering these inquiries. 

A rational defence and explanation

• The candidates must clearly and succinctly express their positions on the issues up for discussion.
• They must have sound justifications.
• If you merely reiterated someone else’s viewpoint without using deliberative thinking to create your own judgement, the board members won’t think highly of you.
• Therefore, examination and thought are crucial to achieving vision clarity and logical consistency in your remarks.

Impartiality in making decisions

• Candidates should avoid taking positions while outlining their understanding of a particular issue.
• When talking about gender equality, one might want to steer clear of both a stridently patriarchal and conservative viewpoint and a radical feminist one.
• Finding a midway ground is ideal.
• The UPSC board values candidates for public service positions who exhibit such judgmental balance.

Strong critical integration

• The interviewers may do this by asking about significant recent events involving the candidate.
• A candidate ought to be able to articulate the stances of all important parties.
• If you do this, you will come across as someone who can understand all points of view.

Leadership and social cohesiveness abilities

• A candidate must exhibit optimism and the ability to mediate disputes between opposing parties.
• He ought to be viewed as someone who can help people communicate with one another.
• He should present himself as a neutral observer of the political landscape and an objective communicator.

Both scholarly and moral integrity

• The candidate should project a morally upright persona that will gain the support of the broader people.
• For instance, one can be asked to reply to hypothetical morally challenging scenarios that administrators would encounter frequently in their area of work.

Read the article on the Preparation strategy for GS Mains Paper 1!

Guidelines for the UPSC IAS Interview

UPSC interview is the ultimate stage of the whole examination process and is generally meant to analyse candidates’ personalities. Listed below are a few guidelines stated by the conducting body:

• A four-day-old RTPCR Report is mandatory for candidates to appear for the interview.
• Another prerequisite is to cover the face and wear a face mask.
• Candidates who possess symptoms such as cough, fever, cold, sore throat, shortness of breath would not be permitted to appear for the examination.
• The candidates who will attend the UPSC PT ‘To and Fro Airfare’ will be reimbursed to the candidates.
• The candidates can download the e-summon letters from the UPSC Official Website.
• Approximately 30 minutes long, the UPSC interview process is worth 275 out of a possible 2025 marks in the final list.

However, during these troubled pandemic times, the UPSC ensures a safe and sound process for the candidates appearing for the examination.

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