Civil service interview details

Interview Test for Indian Civil Service jobs:

The concluding stage of selection in the Indian Civil Service job is the interview which is conducted in April/May every year. The purpose of the interview is to review the suitability of the candidate for a profession in public service. It is an evaluation of not only the intellectual qualities but also social character and awareness of current affairs. Some of the qualities judged are: mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, logical exposition, and balance of judgments, variety and depth of interest, social cohesion, leadership and above all, intellectual and moral integrity. There are cases where students clear the preliminary and the mains but fail at the last stage. The secret is to start for preparations for the interview along with the written test. To be successful in the interview, candidates should take an intellectual interest not only in areas of their subjects, but also in what is happening around them, both within and outside their country. They should be aware of modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should stimulate the inquisitiveness of well educated youth. That is why it is most important to read magazines and newspapers, watch television programmes on current affairs and learn to organize thoughts the way the participants do.

Build up the habit of debating and discussing issues with friends or parents. Develop interests and hobbies so that you are able to answer convincingly understand the current affairs and the issues behind the events. Remember that the interview is not a cross examination but a natural but purposeful conversation. It is an opportunity to reveal the mental qualities of a candidate.

The interview is not a test of specific knowledge, as that has already been tested in written examination. The idea is to see the societal traits of a person and his personality as suited to a career in the Civil Services. If a person gives the impression of being a bookworm, the chances of his selection are reduced. The candidate must exhibit an intelligent interest in events happening around him so that he appears to be a complete personality.

Tips to improve your performance at the UPSC Interview

There are usually 5 members at the board with the Chairperson seated at the center. Enter confidently and greet the Chairperson, who will probably welcome you, and pleasingly nod at other members. Wait till you are asked to sit. Have a positive body language.

Intelligent listing is the mantra, and for this maintaining eye contact is very important. You should not glare but all the same appear attentive and do not glance at other members; it can be very distracting for the interviewer. However if some other member asks you anything, look at that member and answer and turn back to the first - this is what we do in normal attentive listening.

Do not fidget or throw your hands around, or shake your head. Less amount of movement does not mean you should sit unnaturally stiff. Your posture should be attentive and relaxed at the same time. Do not crouch/bend forward or place your hands on the table.

Cut your answer short to the required patience shown by the member talking to you. They usually like to talk more, so listen carefully and think for a few seconds before you start answering the question. This will show that you are organizing your thoughts in mind before starting to speak.

Leave some room for difference in opinion. Do take a stand, but do not look adamant or unwilling to appreciate the board's opinion.

Use couple of words from the question while answering any question. It shows you have listened to the question carefully. But at the same time limit the use the technical jargon.

Listen very carefully. Come to the central issue of the enquiry immediately. Wild guessing or speculation is a complete no no. Answer questions clearly and confidently.

Do not start evaluating your performance while still in the interview. Even if you have committed mistakes in the beginning, do not think that you have already lost the game. They are looking for warm, sensitive respectful and attentive youngsters. They know you are good or you would not have come so far.

Talk humbly about your achievements and hobbies. You may have mentioned some hobbies in the form without serious background in them, but before the interview it would be useful to pick up some basic info on the hobby.

Say less to convey more. Try not getting into long winded explanations and answer to the point. Less is more these days as per the minimalist creed. Argue logically and generalize correctly. Do not try to read too much between the lines.

Remember, while answering any question, what is easy to see is easy to miss. We often tend to miss the obvious and go for some non-crucial aspect of the subject.

Get up to leave only when the chairperson asks you to, not because you think everyone has asked a question. Similarly, even if someone has not asked a question and the chairperson asks you to leave then please leave. Some members do not ask questions at all, due to various reasons like limited time.

Before leaving politely thank the chairperson and nod at the others politely. Avoid saying "Have a good day sir". A "Thank you Sir/Madam" is enough.

Things To Be Avoided at the UPSC Interview

Maintain a cheerful temperament. Now and then you can appear serious; but most of the time keep smiling or look cheerful and composed. One caution here: if the board laughs, you should only smile. It is only when you maintain some amount of distance that the board begins to wonder about the depth of your personality.

Don't make hasty or sweeping generalizations.

Don't give long introductions. Come straight to the heart of the matter.

Show human concern whenever possible in your answers.

Avoid the expression, 'I am sorry.'

Avoid conversational clichés, like: 'as you know', 'that's correct', 'of course', 'indeed', 'obviously', etc.

Avoid technical jargon. However, if a member continues to probe you in any technical field, you can use technical expressions.

You should be logically consistent and analyze things rationally while talking. You are supposed to defend what you say, but with due respect to the views of the board. Stop trying to defend an answer if it becomes difficult to do so logically and fairly.

Important Note for coming Indian Civil Service examination:

Aspirants for the Indian civil services jobs will face a different pattern of examination from next year as the government has approved a proposal to introduce an aptitude test in place of the existing preliminary examination to shortlist candidates for the main exam.

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Eligibility Conditions for Indian Civil Service jobs:

Academic Eligibility for Indian Civil Service:

The candidate applying for the post of Indian Civil Service job must possess a degree from an Indian University or an educational institution deemed as a University or possesses an equivalent qualification. Those in the final year of a degree course can also appear in the Preliminary Examination.

Other Eligibility Criteria for Indian Civil Service:

For Indian Administrative Services and the Indian Police Service, it is compulsory that the candidate must be a citizen of India.

For the other services, a candidate must be either:

A citizen of India, or

A subject of Nepal, or

A subject of Bhutan

a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanent settlement in India, or

a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanent settlement in India.

Age limit for Indian Civil Service job:

Following are the age criteria for candidate applying for the Civil Service post:

He must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have crossed the age of 30 years as on 1st August, 2010, i.e. he must have been born not before 2nd August, 1980 and not later than 1st August, 1989.

The upper age limit approved above will be relaxable:

upto a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.

upto a maximum of three years years if a candidate belongs to Other Backward Classes who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.

upto a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from the 1st January, 1980 to the 31st day of December, 1989.

upto a maximum of three years in the case of Defence Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof.

upto a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August, 2010 and have been released (i) on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st August, 2010) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (ii) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or (iii) on invalidment.

upto a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years Military Service as on 1st August, 2010 and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three month's notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.
upto a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons.

Important Notes:

Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes who are also covered under any other clauses of para 3(ii) (b) above, viz. those coming under the category of Ex-servicemen, persons domiciled in the State of J & K, blind, deaf-mute and orthopedically handicapped etc. will be eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both the categories.

The term ex-servicemen will apply to the persons who are defined as ex-servicemen in the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979, as amended from time to time.

The age concession under para 3(ii) (b) (v) and (vi) will not be admissible to Ex-Servicemen and Commissioned Officers including ECOs/SSCOs who are released on own request.

Notwithstanding the provision of age-relaxation under para 3(ii) (b) (vii) above, a physically disabled candidate will be considered to be eligible for appointment only if he/she (after such physical examination as the Government or appointing authority, as the case may be, may prescribe) is found to satisfy the requirements of physical and medical standards for the concerned Services/posts to be allocated to the physically disabled candidates by the Government.

Save as provided above the age limits prescribed can in no case be relaxed.

The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University, which extract must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate.

These certificates are required to be submitted only at the time of applying for the Civil Services (Main) Examination.

No other document relating to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, service records and the like will be accepted.

The expression Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate in this part of the instruction includes the alternative certificates mentioned above.

Candidates should note that only the Date of Birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of applications will be accepted by the Commission and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.

Candidates should also note that once a Date of Birth has been claimed by them and entered in the records of the Commission for the purpose of admission to an Examination, no change will be allowed subsequently (or at any other Examination of the Commission) on any grounds whatsoever.

The candidate should exercise due care while entering their date of birth in column 8 of the application form for the Preliminary Examination. If on verification at any subsequent stage, any variation is found in their date of birth from the one entered in their matriculation or equivalent Examination certificate, disciplinary action will be taken against them by the commission under the Rules.

Minimum Educational Qualification for the post of Indian Civil Service:

The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University Under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.

Important Note:

Candidates who have appeared at an examination the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the results as also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination. All candidates who are declared qualified by the Commission for taking the Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite examination with their application for the Main Examination failing which such candidates will not be admitted to the Main Examination. The applications for the main examination will be called sometime in the month of July/August, 2010.

In exceptional cases the Union Public Service Commission may treat a candidate who has not any of the foregoing qualifications as a qualified candidate provided that he has passed examination conducted by the other Institutions, the standard of which in the opinion of the Commission justifies his admission to the examination.

Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications which are recognised by Government as equivalent to professional and technical degree would also be eligible for admission to the examination.

Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S. or any other Medical Examination but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, will be provisionally admitted to the Examination provided they submit along with their application a copy of certificate from the concerned authority of the University/Institution that they had passed the requisite final professional medical examination. In such cases, the candidates will be required to produce at the time of their interview original Degree or a certificate from the concerned competent authority of the University/Institution that they had completed all requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the Degree.

Steps for the application of Indian Civil Service jobs:

The UPSC have created an application form which is common for almost all their examinations. These forms are processed on computerized machines. This application form can be obtained from the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices throughout the country by cash payment of Rs. 20/- (Rupees twenty only).

Following documents are provided along with the form: an Information Brochure containing general instructions for filling up the form, an acknowledgement card and an envelope for sending the application Form.

Important Note:

This form can be used only once for each examination. Candidates must use the form supplied with the Information Brochure only and they should in no case use photocopy / reproduction / unauthorized printed copy of the Form. Since this form is electronically scanned, due care should be taken to fill up the application form, correctly. While filling up the application form, please refer to detailed instructions given in the Notice.

Do’s and Don’ts while filling the application form for Indian Civil Service post:

DO’s

Before submitting the filled in application form for Indian Civil Service, ensure

That you have purchased the Indian Civil Service Application Form from the Post Office only.

That you have correctly indicated the name and year of the examination for which you are applying.

That you have filled all the relevant columns correctly.

To change responses, if required, you have erased darkened circles completely.

That you have pasted your photograph firmly at the space provided

That you have pasted firmly the CRF Stamp (if applicable). You should paste only one CRF Stamp of requisite denomination and get it cancelled from the Post Office of purchase.

That you have mentioned correctly the Commission’s Notice No. and date as published in the Employment News/Rozgar Samachar.

That you have signed the Declaration and mentioned the date and place of mailing the Form.

That you are using the pre-addressed envelope supplied to mail the Application form and Acknowledgement Card. No other documents or copies of certificates or self-addressed envelopes are required to be sent along with the Application Form.

That you have read the relevant examination rules and instructions before filling up the form.

That you have noted down separately and kept for record and future reference the eight digit form number printed under the bar-code and entered the same correctly in the acknowledgement card.

Also do ensure that you dispatched the form for the post of Indian Civil Service sufficiently in advance to ensure that it reaches the Commission office before the prescribed closing date.

DON’TS

Don't use the photocopy of the Application Form.

Don't make any stray marks on the Form.

Don't staple, pin, mutilate, scribble, tear, or wet the Form.

Don't send enclosures (like certificates, etc.) with your form. Only acknowledgement card is necessary, if application is sent by post.

Number of attempts for the examination of Indian Civil Service jobs:

Every candidate applying for the post of Indian Civil Services, who is otherwise eligible, can attempt the examination four times.

Remember, this restriction is not applicable for the candidates who belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.

Number of attempts for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, who are otherwise eligible, shall be seven.

Important Note:

An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be deemed to be an attempt at the examination.
If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, he shall be deemed to have made an attempt at the examination.

Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination will count as an attempt.

Restrictions on applying for the Indian Civil Service post:

A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlier examination and continues to be a member of that service will not be eligible to compete at this Indian Civil Service examination.

In case such a candidate is appointed to the IAS/IFS after the Preliminary Examination of Civil Services Examination, 2010 is over and he/she continues to be a member of that service, he/she shall not be eligible to appear in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2010 notwithstanding his/her having qualified in the Preliminary Examination, 2010.

Also provided that if such a candidate is appointed to IAS/IFS after the commencement of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2010 but before the result thereof and continues to be a member of that service, he/she shall not be considered for appointment to any service/post on the basis of the result of this examination viz. Civil Services Examination, 2010.

Physical criteria for Indian Civil Service post:

Candidates applying for the post of Indian Civil Service job must be physically fit and healthy according to physical standards for admission to Indian Civil Services Examination. 2010 as per guidelines given in Appendix-III of Rules for Examination published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 2nd Jan, 2010.
For being considered against the vacancies reserved for the candidates, the physically disabled persons should have disability of forty per cent (40%) or more.  However, such candidates shall be required to meet one or more of the following physical requirements/abilities which may be necessary for performing the duties in the concerned Service:-

CODE                                                     PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

F                                                  1. Work performed by manipulating (with Fingers).
PP                                                2. Work performed by pulling and pushing
L                                                  3. Work performed by lifting.
KC                                               4.  Work performed by kneeling and Crouching.
B                                                 5. Work performed by bending.
S                                                 6. Work performed by sitting (on bench or chair)
ST                                               7. Work performed by standing.
W                                                8. Work performed by walking.
SE                                               9. Work performed by seeing.
H                                                10.Work performed by hearing/speaking.
RW                                            11.Work performed by reading and writing.

The functional classification in their case shall be, one or more of the following, consistent with the requirements of the concerned Services

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION

CODE                                                     FUNCTIONS

BL                                      1.Both legs affected but not arms.
BA                                     2.Both arms affected 
(a) impaired reach 
(b) weakness of grip.
BLA                                  3.Both legs and both arms affected.
OL                                    4.One leg affected (R or L)
(a) impaired reach
(b) weakness of grip
(c) ataxic
OA                                   5.One arm affected (R or L)
(a) impaired reach
(b) weakness of grip
(c) ataxic
BH                                6.Stiff back and hips (cannot sit or stoop)
MW                               7.Muscular Weakness and limited physical endurance
B                                  8.The blind
PB                                9.Partial blind