The Civil Services exam Interview or Personality Test is held at the UPSC office in Delhi. The length of the interview is not fixed, but the longer it lasts, the better the chances of getting a good score.

The IAS interview is the final stage of the IAS examination process. This determines whether or not you will be hired. No matter how well you performed in the preliminary or main examinations, this is a new chapter in which you must demonstrate your potential in order to achieve your goal of becoming an IAS officer.

The UPSC interview is one of the most difficult in history. The UPSC interview is worth 275 points, and the members of the UPSC boards are primarily interested in your personality. They ask various questions on various topics to assess your mental alertness, clarity of mind, logical thinking ability, ability to lead, the balance of judgment, intellect, moral senses, and so on.

IAS Interview Questions

The UPSC interview questions are designed to assess candidates’ mental acuity, general awareness, social etiquette, and overall personality. 

The questions in the IAS interview are not designed to test only theoretical knowledge, so instead of cramming, candidates should concentrate on their soft skills.

The IAS interview questions that Civil Service candidates face follow a similar pattern. Let’s take a look at some of the major types of questions asked in the IAS interview and how candidates can prepare for them.

• In relation to your name, any famous person with a similar or identical name or surname
• Why do you want to be a civil servant as a career?
• The order in which you choose your services can also raise concerns.
• What are your hobbies, why do you pursue such a hobby, questions about your hobby, and so on? Candidates must remember the information they filled out in the detailed application form, particularly their hobbies and what they mention on their biodata, as questions about why they pursue such a hobby will be asked.
• Candidates should also do some research on their date of birth because questions about it may be asked. The majority of UPSC Interview Questions are heavily influenced by what a candidate has filled out on the form, such as their subjects, hobbies, service preferences, and so on. As a result, rather than complete subject knowledge, a candidate should view the interview as a test of logic, presentation, and awareness.
• Questions about your academic institution and its programmes. If you studied at an IIM or IIT, you may be asked about brain drain or high salaries; if you attended IGNOU, you may be asked about Indira Gandhi, among other things.
• Question based on your educational background. If you have an MBBS or an economic background, you may be asked how you intend to apply your specific knowledge in the civil services. Don’t you think you could better serve your country if you stayed a doctor and treated poor patients, or if you joined the civil service?
• If you have work experience, you may be asked questions about your job. For example, if the candidate is a doctor, the board may inquire about any ongoing health issues. If the candidate has an economic background, the board may question him or her about the current economic situation. The board may also question the candidate on how they intend to apply their knowledge of the current profession in the civil service. As a result, it is critical to gain knowledge about the field of work, whether in the past or in the present.
• The primary area from which questions can be asked is General Studies, which comprises the four papers of the Mains examination. It includes current affairs topics from recent days as well as policy analysis such as “Note Ban,” “Surgical Strike,” and so on. So make a list of topics and thoroughly prepare to answer them verbally.
• Maintaining a command of current events is critical for the interview because questions can be asked about any current event and they want to gauge the candidate’s opinion. As a result, candidates must be knowledgeable about current events and provide logical responses to the interviewers’ questions.
• You should be prepared to answer questions about your electives, especially if they are not from the discipline in which you graduated. If you changed your optional subject in the next attempt, you may be prepared to answer why you did so.
• In addition, there may be situational questions. You will be given a situation and asked what response you will make in that situation. For example, if terrorists attack a region, what actions can you take as a collector or person in charge of that charge? As a result, in order to face the IAS Interview, the candidate should develop the ability to analyse a situation from a different perspective.

Qualities Tested in the Personality Test

The Personality Test is designed to assess a candidate’s personality fit for being a competent administrator. The candidate is evaluated on intelligence, attentiveness, judgement balance, and human qualities such as honesty, integrity, and leadership.

The UPSC Committee has listed the qualities that should be rated in the personality test. They are as follows

• Expression clarity.
• Understanding of narrative and argument.
• Ability to reason.
• Understanding of various points of view.
• Concern and awareness of socioeconomic issues
• The breadth and depth of interests and personal characteristics relevant to interpersonal interaction.

The questions asked by the board during the personality test/interview may vary depending on the candidate’s choice of subjects and why they want to join the civil services. As a result, while preparing for the IAS interview, a candidate should thoroughly refine their personality and polish up their career.