5 Best Strategies To Prepare For The UPSC Interview In 2020

The UPSC examination is one of the most prestigious as well as difficult examinations in India. More than five lakh candidates struggle to pass this test for the mere eight hundred to one thousand seats. The whole process involves three stages. The first and the second are all about books, education, knowledge, and the way you present your understanding of the papers. The last stage is Personal Interview. It is a face-to-face conversational test where you need to combine your knowledge with your presence of mind. It isn’t easy to describe the particulars of the interview process. Here are a few tricks that may prove helpful to tackle it.

Personality development: Sitting for an interview with the UPSC panel is different from attending an interview at a private company. The UPSC board says that selection is more of a ‘personality test’ than a regular interview. The interview panel won’t test your general knowledge or anything else that you specialize in. With the IAS Prelims Test Series, you can crack the first round, but for the interview, you need to develop your personality. The interviewers will see whether you possess the personality traits that an IAS officer should have.

1. Being mentally alert: Once you pass the IAS Prelims Test Series, you should be able to crack the real exam. However, it won’t develop your mental alertness. The questions you face during the interview may seem absurd and weird. In reality, the panel tries to test your mental alertness and common sense. You should train yourself to keep an eye out for everything happening around you.

1. Social customs and behavior: If you are reading this topic from the beginning, then you know that passing the interview round depends on your characteristics. Another excellent way to hone your personality is to inculcate refined social etiquettes. The Indian Administrative Service is an elite department of India. You will be representing your nation if you succeed. That is why learning social etiquettes are a must.

1. Be a listener: There is a fine line that separates ‘hearing’ from ‘listening.’ If you answer questions just by hearing them, then there are high chances of you giving a wrong answer. You need to teach yourself to ‘listen’ to the queries placed before you by the interview panel. When you listen, you understand the meaning of the question asked. It will help you find the appropriate answer.

1. General intelligence: Again, you must understand the difference between ‘general knowledge’ and ‘practical intelligence.’ You won’t face any questions that will test your knowledge. The panel will converse with you and try to find out whether you have common sense or not. There is a saying, "common sense is the most uncommon thing in the world." If you are logical, then you won’t have any problem during the interview round.

To conclude

As an IAS aspirant, you should acknowledge the fact that an interview panel comprises experts with years of experience to boast. They have seen everything during their tenure. You won’t be able to bluff your way out of questions. If you make half-hearted attempts to answer their questions, then you can’t make it. Therefore, you should make originality your lifelong companion.