Interview Transcript 
Date: 23/02/2019 

Slot: Evening, Last to Go 

 

Pre-Interview 
● Actual interviews are on first come first served basis.  

● Waiting time: 20 min x (your serial-1) + (aap waqt se kitna pehle aayenge)  

● If food is on your mind, sorry. No in house canteen.However, if you ask well, chaai 
biskoot will be given!  

● If you are nervous, there is a hotel with a party scene nearby. Give the DJ an 
advance list of your favorite numbers. Pro-tip.  

● They will check all your degrees and papers. Advisable to carry original and 
photocopy of:  

○ 10th class certificate, self attested.  

○ Degree certificates, along with mark sheets.  

○ PRC.  

 
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○ Passport sized Photos.  

● Due to some magic, the staff becomes so friendly, you want to say main tere 
qurbaan!  

● The actual interview takes place in a conference room. You sit on an elliptical 
table. Chairman and you occupy the opposite ends of the semi-major axis of this 
ellipse.  

● Ellipse and you and Chairman 

○  

● Overall, a friendly board.  

Interviewee Background​:  
1. BTech in ECE. Supplementary qualifications in Tech Entrepreneurship, Green 
Economy.  
2. Work Experience: Yes 
3. Extra Curriculars: Inclined.  
4. Optionals: Philosophy and History.  

Sawal-Jawaab 
● Chairman: Introduce yourself.  
○ Talked of my education, work and extra-curriculars.  
○ Focus was to give the panel enough talking points as the members don't 
have your DAF. Only Chair does.  
● Chairman: What is green economy?  
○ Explained.  
● Chairman: Why did you not join CISF?  
○ Explained 

 
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● Chairman: Asked about my UPSC record.  
○ Answered.  
● Member one: Is it possible to make fool proof digital systems?  
○ Argued cryptographic systems are a function of algorithm, complexity of 
algo, and computational power available. Using RSA as an example, 
explained how no cryptographic system is truly foolproof.  
● Member two: Which decade is the decade of de-colonization in India?  
○ 1950’s 
● Member three: If you were to write an autobiographical book today, what would 
you title it?  
○ Shade and Sunshine.And explained the logic.  
● Member four: Give a draft plan for a sustainable Handloom sector using 
principles of green economy.  
○ Focussed on production chain, and manufacture. Was cut short. He 
suggested that I must tackle issue of weavers too. I said I was about to 
move on to it. However, next member’s question followed.  
● Member 5: Draft a report on state of Indian Economy as on date.  
○ Took the sectoral approach, delved on fiscal and monetary policy 
challenges in an election year. Concluded with growth prospects.  
● Member 6: How sustainable is sustainability?  
○ Talked of inter-generational equity and how economic processes are 
inherently un-sustainable. So, sustainability is not sustainable unless 
innovation comes in. Gave an example. Spoke from Sapiens. I don't 
remember how but somehow ended up talking of colonizing Mars.  
● Member 7: Conditions that lead to Revolt of 1857. 
○ Explained.  
● Member 8: Difference between hard and soft skills.  
○ Explained with an example of a doctor whose hard skills are his medicinal 
qualifications and soft skills are his value system such as empathy, 
accessibility. .  
● Member 3: Where have you prepared for the interview?  
○ Friends’ feedback and have a mentor.  
● Member 3: In your assessment, how was your interview today, shade or 
sunshine?  
○ Said, hopefully sunshine.  

 
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​End of Interview 
 

My 0.2$ 
● 9 interviewers and 25 minutes make it a shallow, tangential exercise.   
● The questions were exclusively from DAF.  
● If the interview panel were condensed to 5 people, interview would be 
holistic, thought provoking and far more enjoyable.  

PS: This is all I have to say on the interview. No DMs please.