31+ IAS Interview Questions

With a variety of questions being asked, each IAS interview is distinct. They could be challenging, straightforward, overly factual, analytical, or complex. Although that question is not particularly difficult, I do mean it is hard, so you must put in some effort to provide a good response. Before responding, it could be necessary to identify any important issues that are at play. Additionally, the question may have been posed with a specific perspective and aim; but, if you are able to identify it, I am confident that you will be able to respond in the manner that was intended. In order to avoid answering in a hasty manner, attempt to understand the question\’s main points instead. With that, you might be able to answer the question appropriately.

Let us look at some of the examples of interview questions below.

1. I want to know how Krishna inspired Arjuna because I know that your passions include inspiring others and Indian mythology.
   (In the UPSC interview, questions on your hobbies may be asked; thus, be ready with factual information, analytical skills, and the ability to handle any practical inquiries.)

2. How are terrorism, militancy, fundamentalism, and insurgency different in a subtle way?
(These questions may be asked to assess your conceptual clarity, and frequently, this comes as a surprise. So there\’s no need to be alarmed; simply hesitate before responding carefully.)

3. You attended IIT Roorkee as a student. Can you explain me IIT Roorkee\’s history?
(You ought to be familiar with the history of your college, school, etc. It looks horrible if you don\’t know the answers to these questions.

4. One thing you reveal to me why did it take printing 400 years to spread from China to Europe?
(Such UPSC interview questions are designed to make you feel uneasy, which will push you outside of your comfort zone and make you anxious; it is less important that you know the answer than how you react to it.

5. What is the difference between invention, innovation, and discovery?

6. Explain the difference between Arbitration and Adjudication?

7. If I offer you 50 lakh rupees, what will you do?
(These are open-ended IAS interview questions, so feel free to respond on any line, but be careful to speak firmly. With these funds, it would be great if you could promote some sort of public good. However, try not to use money in a way that is selfish. With this query, you have the opportunity to display your inner goodness. Don\’t let that chance pass you by.)

8. When I appoint you as Prime Minister for the day, what will you do?
(There is a set trap in these hard UPSC interview questions. Your response must be based solely on real life, not on the fictional existence depicted in Bollywood films. Answer honestly and in accordance with the democratic system we currently have, not with a revolutionary undertone.)

9. Do you think it is morally acceptable for celebrities to promote fairness creams?
(When answering interview questions about moral matters, strive to adopt a moral stance and support it with reasonable arguments.)

10. What do you see India looking like in 2030? How do you do it?
(One of those interview questions to demonstrate your capacity for critical thought and for leadership. It is possible to express any number of provocative concepts in such inquiries. Try to limit your discussion to a select few areas (such as population control, infrastructure, employment, health, education, sports, and the demographic dividend).

11. What are your top 3 traits that will help you succeed as a civil servant?
(From the perspective of the UPSC interview, these questions are crucial and could significantly affect the final grade. It is important to have such materials on hand so that you may speak with confidence and support your arguments with specific examples (where applicable).

12. Consider yourself the district\’s district magistrate. You are being tossed around by two politicians, an MLA and an MP, for political purposes. How will you proceed?

13. What would you do if you were the Collector or Superintendent of Police in Ajmer, Rajasthan, following the bombing of the city?
(The interviewers may ask you some contextual questions to gauge your level of awareness. So, in order to succeed in the IAS interview, you must have a rational and forward-thinking mentality.)

14. Do you believe that a person\’s IQ alone is sufficient to judge them, despite your excellent grades?

15. Why do we spend so much money on ISRO missions while there is so much poverty here? Do you believe that making such significant investments in the space technology sector makes sense?

16. What specifically do you intend to do in life now that you have worked for one of the large foreign corporations, followed by IRTS, and then IRS? Would you halt at IAS?
(You should use these interview questions to your advantage by responding in a way that reflects favorably on you.)

17. Let\’s talk sports. You\’ve participated in a lot of athletic activities (I said Sure Sir). What do you think about India\’s sporting situation right now? Weakness in winning medals on an international level. How do you feel about it?
(A potential interview question from a sportsperson is, \”Aside from specific details of your sport, are there any general questions you can prepare?”)

18. How are you going to address the Naxal Problem?
(Candidates from Naxal-affected areas are frequently asked this question; you should be fully informed of the situation on the ground, the government\’s actions, and what else has to be done to eradicate the problem.)

21. When you become foreign secretary, how would you handle Pakistan and China?
(Your capacity for cognition and decision-making will be tested by such role-playing questions. Neither an ideal nor a whole realist stance should be your default setting. But in light of the current situation and the events at hand, try to remain realistic. Maintaining the highest national interest must be the first concern for a foreign secretary, yet panchasheel ideals may also be adhered to. The prosperity of the populations of the two countries, the advancement of shared interests, and regional friendships may all support your choice.)

19. You participate in sports. You attended a sports academy. You\’ve been routinely participating in sports. Tell us what the issues in Indian sports are, in your opinion.
(IAS interviewers may pose comparable questions to candidates with a sporting background.)

20. Even though you are an engineer, you choose to take art courses at the UPSC. Why did you select that topic?

22. Which energy sources, including coal, have the greatest promise over the next ten years? (When responding to such open-ended interview questions, try to be creative.)

23. Tell Us Something about Yourself. Or Give a Brief Introduction about Yourself.

24. In the event that you are appointed to the IAS. Which branch of the ministry would you most like to join? Why?

25. Do you believe that a person\’s IQ alone is sufficient to judge them, despite your excellent grades?

26. Why do you want to work in the civil service when you could succeed by working in social work?
(Your response must be considerate and appropriate in every way.)

27. Why is Lata Mangeshkar, rather than artists like Asha Bhosle and Shreya Ghosal, referred to as the queen of melody?

28. Due to the relatively low pay, why do you want to work for the government?
(This is a really challenging and perplexing question. There is no definitive, specific answer to this particular question. Each person will have a different opinion on the answer to this topic. No two candidates will provide the same response. However, you might respond to this query by citing your service to the country, the authority, and prestige that come with your position, your position of leadership, multiple assignments, etc.)

29. What motivates you to join IPS?
(Such IAS interview questions are frequently asked early on, and trust me when I say that your response has the power to make or destroy your interview by establishing the tone. Be well-prepared and have a powerful response ready)

30. Give me a comprehensive overview of the nation where you were raised; I don\’t know anything about it.
(A very broad question, you must provide a concise, all-encompassing description. To convey oneself, strive to be more specific and utilise more keywords.)

31. How much effort did you put into your UPSC preparation last year?
(You must include advancements that can be characterized as good self-improvements, as well as demonstrate your interest in learning by identifying extracurricular activities.)

32. You wish to apply for IAS. You must have studied up on the service\’s history. Tell me how you perceive the IAS now compared to 30 years ago. What changes have occurred over such a long period of time?
(These inquiries are designed to gauge your knowledge of the service you are considering joining.)

33. What makes the day you were born unique? Any significant events occurred in that year? 
(You must provide the historical context for that date as well as any other unique information in your response to this question.)

34. Where do you want to see yourself in the next five years?
(Don\’t forget that you are there to connect with that organisation; your plans need to be organized so that you can do so for a long time and demonstrate your dedication to the interview.)

35. How can an uncooked egg be dropped on concrete without breaking?
(The purpose of this question is to gauge the candidate\’s level of mental awareness.)

36. What is India\’s national anthem? What is our national anthem?
(This is a simple general knowledge question, yet many candidates misunderstand the national song \”Jana Gana Mana\” and provide the incorrect response.)

37. How should a person assess themselves before opting to pursue a career in civil services?
(This is the ideal path for you if you have a strong desire to serve and find fulfillment in non-financial rewards.)

38. Give me an overview of your positive and bad traits. 
(Honesty and integrity are equally crucial to an IAS officer\’s success as are academic knowledge and quirky mental acuity, which together make up the fundamentals of the position. The IAS interview panel typically asks this question to gauge how forthcoming you are with them while also understanding your strengths and limitations. It is important for applicants to remember that the IAS interview panel is made up of highly qualified subject matter experts. Be sincere with them, therefore.)

There is no cap on how many IAS interview questions can be provided here. But in my opinion, each UPSC interview is a distinct experience with little to no overlap. You may look over the transcripts of other applicants, but your own experience would be quite distinct. Even when questions are the same, there are numerous ways they might be answered. So trust me when I say that the interview is never about the questions posed but rather about how you could respond to them at a specific time. Even while it may have appeared that a particular candidate was asked more difficult questions, they could nevertheless have received a higher score than the one who was offered the simpler questions. In the UPSC interview, your interpersonal skills will be extremely important.