UPSC civil services examination is one of the toughest examinations, and it is one of the ways to get into prestigious positions under the government of India. Lakhs of aspirants sit for this examination, but only a few qualify.
Some renowned UPSC coaching classes provide a comprehensive guide for the preparation for this exam. Moreover, this exam is conducted in three phases, i.e., prelims, Mains, and interviews.
Every stage is equally important to crack this examination. This blog will only discuss interview stages and provide some essential tips and tricks to ace the interview.
Interview Stage
It is the final stage and carries a weightage of 275 marks.
There are various types of questions asked in UPSC interviews which are as follows:-
Profile
The questions related to the profile are asked in the initial stage or when the candidate enters the interview room. In this section, the UPSC interview panel asked about the candidate’s name, educational background, hobbies, interests, professional background, etc.
Current Affairs
Current affairs are one of the crucial parts of the UPSC examination. Understanding society’s problems and solving them is the primary purpose of a civil servant.
So, by asking questions about current affairs, the UPSC panel confirms whether a candidate is aware of current issues and what perspective and approach they have regarding that particular problem.
Situational Questions
Situational questions are common in UPSC interviews. The Board of interviewers asks these questions to check whether a candidate can deal with a situation or not or not.
There will be many instances when you have to deal with many situations within society after becoming a civil servant.
Behavioral Questions
The Board of interviewers asks behavioral questions to check problem-solving skills and know about a candidate’s abilities, personality, and approach to challenges.
Also, the candidate can choose the UPSC coaching institute to give mock interviews to get the highlights of which type of questions will be asked.
Key Tips to Ace the Interview at UPSC
Start Preparing Early
As the stage of the interview carries a weightage of 275 marks, it is better to prepare for the interview from early preparation rather than prepping at the last minute.
When you start preparing early, unknowingly, you make up your mind to clear the interview. Subconsciously, your opinion and perception become positive towards the exam, and the chances of cracking the interview increase.
Newspaper Reading Habit
Newspapers are one of the crucial elements in UPSC preparation. So, reading a newspaper has many benefits, such as providing various perspectives and making awareness of current events of national and international importance.
Furthermore, it adds value to Mains’s answer writing. Especially for the candidates who are in the final stage, it becomes crucial for them to know about current affairs.
Joining any good UPSC preparation coaching for current affairs is one of the great ways to prepare for current affairs.
Be Aware of Graduation Syllabus
It may happen that the interview panel asks questions related to your graduation subjects to check your awareness and knowledge regarding your core subjects. Furthermore, keep yourself aware of the latest trends in your field.
It will help change the direction of your interview as more questions will be aligned according to your interest.
Comprehensively Study your Optional Subjects
The optional subject carries the weightage of 500 marks, so there is a higher possibility that the panel may ask questions from the optional subject to check the knowledge.
So, ensure whatever subject you are choosing as your optional should be easily understood and information easily available. Besides that, you can also go for Online UPSC classes for the optional subject.
Learn Communication Skills
Communication skills are essential to correctly convey what you are saying. Below given, there are some key points to improve the communication skills
- Read the newspaper and then explain the particular news to yourself
- After completion of any topic, try to explain it yourself or anybody else who can listen to you
- Have a group discussion with like-minded people; it will boat your confidence and communication skills simultaneously
Have a Balanced Opinion
It is required to be unbiased because after becoming a civil servant, you have to solve social issues. So try to balance your explanation, especially in political and social issues. The explanation for a particular topic is also essential.
Correct Body Language
How you present yourself in public is one of the main facets of civil services. Your gestures and body posture speak a lot about you, and all these things may create the first impression on the interview panel.
So, it is better to improve your body language and not let your anxiety show on your face. Stay calm and relax. Just focus; it will be an extraordinary moment when you reach the interview stage.
Dress Properly and Have a Presence of Mind
The dressing is one of the essential parts of the interview. So be well-dressed. Keep your code formal, and wear the attire that makes your look more presentable.
The presence of mind is equally required to understand what the interviewer panel is asking and what they want to listen to.
Wrapping Up!
There is nothing much to fear about the UPSC interview. Do thorough and timely preparation, and it will boost your confidence. Stay calm and honest.
You can also give mock interviews at any renowned UPSC civil services coaching to check your performance.
FAQ
- What if I can’t clear the UPSC interview?
After the results, the unsuccessful UPSC aspirants can take a break to regain their confidence and motivation before starting over. To ace the test the next time, the candidate can reconsider their approaches and put more effort into them.
- How to say I don’t know in the UPSC interview?
During interviews the committee may ask questions that you don’t know. In such situations, acknowledging that you don’t know the answer is better than messing things up. Be polite and say you are currently not aware of the answer but you will surely learn it after the interview.
- What is considered a good score in a UPSC interview ?
A score anywhere between 65% to 75% is considered as a good score in the UPSC interview. It is very tough to score more than 75% in the interview and candidates rarely cross that benchmark. The purpose of the interview is to ensure whether the candidate is suitable for the career in civil services or not.
- Does UPSC ask repeated questions?
The short answer is yes, UPSC does repeat questions but is limited to certain topics. As we’ve observed during the past ten years, questions on history, economics, and history, as well as Indian politics, came up frequently.