The UPSC Civil Service examination is one of the most challenging exams in India, and the UPSC Interview round is considered the final piece in the jigsaw. It carries 225 marks of 2025, which is the combined total of Mains and Interview score of an individual.
The main motto of conducting the interview is to understand the potential of a particular candidate and to know whether that person is suitable for civil services or not. The panel members will not be there to test your knowledge but would rather focus on how you react when asked and how calm and composed you are during the whole interview.
UPSC Interview Tips
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Start Preparing Early
As soon as you finish your UPSC Main exam, rather than waiting for the results, begin the interview preparations. Begin the preparation with self-analysis, find out those angles of your personality that need improvement, and work on that.
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Be Yourself
Bring out your best self in front of the panel. Maintain a positive attitude and be confident while speaking. At any point, if you don’t know the answer to a particular question, don’t beat around the bush, be honest and admit it.
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Work on Communication Skills
Start working on your communication skills. This does not mean that you have to be a great orator, but your language should be decent enough to present your point of view and be very clear and precise about it.
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Read your Detailed Application Form(DFA)
Read your Detailed Application Form(DFA) several times before the interview. During the Interview, every panel member will have a copy of your DAF, and they can ask anything like hobbies, your topic of interest, subjects in graduation, etc. Be spontaneous with your answers, and do not take time thinking about the answer, as these are all personal questions.
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Current Affairs
Stay updated about current affairs. It is generally observed that candidates stop worrying about current affairs after the UPSC Main exam, which is a grave mistake. So, keep reading the newspapers and stay updated about the things going around in the world. You can also join a coaching institute for current affairs preparation. The Thought Tree is one of the best UPSC coaching in Jaipur that trains aspirants to clear UPSC in the first attempt.
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Be Honest
Present your true self before the interviewer. Please don’t act or lie in front of them to impress them because every panel member has vast experience and knowledge. They can easily differentiate whenever you are bluffing or speaking the truth.
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Proper Body Language
Body language is also an important aspect based on which the panel judges you. Be calm, sit in a relaxed and attentive posture, do not fidget(shaking your heads, legs, etc.), maintain eye contact with everyone present, and use gestures properly.
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Be Calm and Composed
Maintain calm and composed behaviour. The interviewer might ask you some tricky and challenging questions but do not panic, take time and think wisely before answering any question. This is one of the most important UPSC Interview Tips.
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Properly Dress Up
The first impression is the best, so dress up neatly. Try to wear light-colour formal clothes. If you wear something else then also it’s ok, but you should be neat and presentable.
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Mock Interviews
Enroll yourself in mock interviews. Try to attend at least 5 to 6 mock interviews before your UPSC interview because this will give you an idea about the areas you need to improve. The interviewers will provide you with essential tips and insights which will help you improve your performance.
Read More: Stress Management Tips for IELTS Preparing Students
FAQs
- Is UPSC Interview difficult?
The interview is as difficult as the Mains and Prelims examination. If you have made it through both these examinations, you have a great chance of cracking the interview. The only change is that focus was on your knowledge in the examination, but the spotlight will be on your personality during the interview.
Candidates generally take too much stress and panic, and these two are the biggest enemies for you in an interview. But if you overcome these emotions, then things will be a lot easier for you.
Be yourself and don’t act because if you do, you will be caught somehow or the other, and then things might get complicated. Maintain a positive attitude and be confident in whatever you are saying to the panel. Follow the above mentioned UPSC Interview Tips.
- Can I lie in the UPSC interview?
It is totally up to you if you want to lie or tell the truth. But it is often advised to be true in front of the interviewers as the panel of interviewers are no newbies. They have a lot of experience doing these things, and so there are high chances that they will catch your bluff.
It is not necessary to answer all the questions; if you don’t know the answer to a specific question, tell them that you are unaware of it, and if you have a guess, take permission and say it, but don’t bluff. There are very few candidates who answer all the questions correctly.
- What happens if I fail the UPSC interview?
Appearing for the UPSC interview is an outstanding achievement. The journey to that destination is long and full of hurdles. So, even if you do not qualify for the interview, do not worry there are quite several opportunities waiting for your way.
It is observed that some candidates, even after failing the interview, get placed in some government sectors. The UPSC recommends that the various government offices hire the candidate. As they have already gone through the different screening processes before the interview. Even the private sector companies have a keen interest in hiring such personnel.
- Who takes the UPSC interview?
The UPSC interview board is usually a 5-member panel that includes the board chairman. Except for the chairman, the other 4 members are invited by UPSC, and these 4 members are experts in their respective fields. So, be humble and polite and better not act too smart in front of them. The interviews of all the candidates are taken by 6-7 such boards simultaneously.
- Will my chances to qualify for the interview diminish if I am not fluent in English?
No, the language is not given such significant priority. The UPSC also realizes that language shouldn’t act as a barrier to the knowledge each candidate possesses. Many choices are given to the candidates regarding the language selection in which the interview is conducted. But it is important to notify them beforehand so that they can arrange for a suitable translator.
So, focus on whatever you will speak and not on which language you will say. This interview is being conducted to test your knowledge and personality and not to find the best orator.
