UPSC Interview Questions 2023

Personality Test of the selected candidates is likely to commence from 30th January 2023 to 10th March 2023. It will be held in the Office of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069.

After written test, Interview is the final round which tests the personality, suitability of the candidate. So it is very important to start preparing for the interview along with the written test. Candidates should remember that the interview is not a test for checking the specialized knowledge, the idea is to observe the social traits of the candidate and his/her personality and its suitability to a career in the civil services.

The Personality test will be scored on the basis of the following factors:

• Mental alertness
• Critical powers of assimilation
• Clear and logical exposition
• Social traits
• Interest and knowledge of current affairs
• Balance of judgment
• Variety and depth of interest
• Ability for social cohesion
• Leadership skills
• Intellectual and moral integrity

Common Questions and Assessment

The UPSC panel members can ask questions related to the detailed application form of the candidates. The questions can be on the candidate’s place of birth, interest, issues related to their home state, current national issues, and more. For example, if a candidate is from Chattisgarh or Odisha, questions could be asked a question related to tribal problems. If a candidate is from Jodhpur, a member can ask, What is Jodhpur famous for? What is the name of the Palace in Jodhpur? During the questions, the panel tries assesses whether the candidate answers like an Indian national or with a regional mindset. Hobbies and areas of interests also play an important role during interview. If the candidate's hobby is gardening. Then, questions related to soil, vegetables, herbs can be asked. Besides, questions related to the professions of the candidates could also be posed. For example, if the candidate happens to be an economics professor, he/she could be asked about International economics/ economy of the country. While the candidate answer the questions, the members of the panel observe how the candidate responds to each question.

Situation Questions

Panel also creates questions based on certain situations. For example, they may give a situation like earth quake, floods and ask the candidate to respond to it in the role of a district collector. Members might also ask tricky questions in order to evaluate mental alertness and the ability to think logically.

List of probable questions

• Why do you want to join the civil services?
• Why to join the civil services if you can do well by doing social work.
• Why you want to join civil services and not Politics?
• Why do you want to join civil service even though the salary is limited ?
• Explain why you chose IAS as your first preference?
• What is your ambition in life?
• You have opted for arts subjects when you are an engineer. Why did you choose that subject?
• What is special about your date of birth? Any important event took place that year?
• What does your name mean? Any famous personality or god that is associated with that name?
• Would you like to change your name?

Expected Topics for interview at UPSC in 2023

1. Abrogation of Article 370
2. National Register for Citizens (NRC)
3. Plastic Pollution –Elimination of Single-Use plastics
4. Chennai Connect- Mamallapuram Summit
5. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
6. Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (Amended in 2019)
7. National Investigation Agency Act (Amendment in 2019)
8. US-China Trade dispute
9. India’s aspirations for a $5 trillion economy by 2024
10. Ban on e-Cigarettes
11. Balakot Air Strikes
12. Chandrayaan-2 Mission
13. Kurds in Syria and US
14. Withdrawal of US Forces from Afghanistan
15. National Medical Commission Bill
16. Protests in Hong Kong
17. Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC Bank) Crisis
18. Citizenship (Amendment )Bill, 2016
19. Fire in the Amazon Forests
20. Rafale jets for the IAF
21. Transfer of RBI Surplus Funds to Government
22. Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022
23. Sedition Law in India
24. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
25. Population Control in India
26. Reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections
27. NBFC Crisis
28. Electoral Bonds
29. Zero Budget Natural Farming
30. 5G Technology in India
31. Data localisation norms
32. Mob Lynching
33. Chief of Defense Staff (CDS)
34. Dam Safety Bill, 2019
35. Lateral Entry in Government
36. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation
37. Slump in the Automobile sector
38. Privatisation of Air India
39. Issues in the Telecom Sector
40. India-US and India-Russia relations
41. Water Crisis in Indian cities
42. Air pollution in Indian cities
43. Brexit and India
44. Naga Settlement
45. Flood risks in cities
46. India-Iran bilateral relations
47. Indian Diaspora
48. Keezhadi excavations and implications
49. Pepsico v/s Potato farmers
50. Anti-Defection Law
51. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome deaths in Bihar

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