What is the most unexpected question that was asked to you in UPSC interview ?
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Ans-There were few. Unexpected and interesting.
Well, I have appeared in 4 UPSC interviews and cleared two.
1. So in my 2016 interview, one member suddenly said, “ Akash, I am going to ask you a blunt question. Do you think Donald Trump is insane?”
I was mildly surprised at the language and while I agreed with the idea ;-) , I knew I could't just put it like that so what I did?I started smiling from cheek to cheek and controlled my mild laughter. Just couldn't help it man!You see, these kind of questions are easiest to answer. So I answered it to his satisfaction.
2.The same member commented that I was wearing a beautiful tie.Just the moment I said thank you, he fired another question, “ Can you tell me about origin of tie?”
No, Nope, Nada, Nothing. I said sorry sir, I was not aware.
But that wasn't interesting thing. Right after this, the Chairman, Shri Vinay Mittal quipped, “ Aboutthat, why are you wearing a tie? It's so hot outside.” While saying this he almost hung on the side of the chair in effort to point his finger outside to emphasize that see, it's sooo hot there! It was month of April, so he was right.
I couldn't control my smile again and explained that as today was an important and formal occasion for me, I wanted to dress accordingly. He seemed satisfied.Score-179. Which is a good score for UPSC. And I got selected.
3.Again, fast forward to 2018 interview.
This time, as I was undergoing training for IRS and couldn't get any time to study for interview….not even one hour. So I was pretty sure there was no point going to interview as I would certainly get screwed.
IAS Interview & Personality Development, [7/31/2021 6:44 PM]
So at one point the Chairman, Shri A. S. Bhonsale sir asks me, “Why are you not wearing a tie?”
Me, remembering my last interview, “to wear or not to wear, that is the question.”
Again smiling, I replied, “ Sir I am not very comfortable with tie. When I wear one, my whole attention is focused here (pointing towards my throat). And I didn't want that to happen today”
Chair-, “Whole world except you is wearing a tie.”
“Yes sir, I saw that on my table only”
Chair-, “Did you wear one in your IRS-wala interview?” ( Referring to ealier one in which I got selected)
Me, (time to lie) , “No, Sir.”
Chair-, “Bandhni ati hai? (Do you know how to tie the knot?)
Me, (candidly and smiling), “Sir, ek knot ati hai.” (I know just one knot).
Chair, (he too smiling, almost laughing), “ Mujhe to wo bhi nahi ati. Dusro se bandhwata hu, wahi pahnta hu.” (I don't know even one knot. Someone else does it for my and i just wear.) Well, I was just curious, nothing serious”.
Score- 201. Highest score this year was 206. Got selected again.
Moral of the story- Don't fret. Be calm and composed. Tie or no tie, suit or no suit, sky blue or any other color shirt- these things don't matter at all. I have never worn any conventional shirt, pant to any of my interviews and have scored well.A lot of coaching institute will push you for such totally irrelevant things. Don't fall for them. All that matters is a little knowledge, your communication skills, your pleasant presence and honesty.
Be honest. If you don't know the answer, say it, don't bluff. If you partially know the answer, say it, don't guess. There is no right or wrong answers to most of the question. You just have to be honest about what and why you have one particular answer.
There is a reason UPSC officially calls it personality test and not interview. It does exactly that, testing your personality, not knowledge.
Now one question,👇
why I lied about tie when I myself am saying that we should be honest in interview ?
I lied because it was not a serious/significant question. It was just trivial conversation. I had already stated that tie makes me uncomfortable. If I had replies in affirmative to that question, it would have lead to other questions as to why I wore tie then, why not now etc etc. I just wanted this conversation to get over.
Lying in this scenario could be compared to situation when some random person asks you how you are and you say you are fine, even if you are not. It's not lying per se, it's just convenient. Because you don't really want to talk about what's going on in you life. It's not being dishonest.
What I meant by being honest in UPSC interview was that you should present your opinion truthfully. Of you don't know something, be honest, say sorry and move on to next question. Don't try to bluff.
Similarly, if you have a flaw/gap in your DAF(consider it like résumé), don't make stories around it. Simply admit it and explain the reason. It will be fine. But if you are dishonest regarding these things, chances are they will know and you could
Via:- Akshat sir(IPS,2019batch)