https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Tips for Civil Services Interview From A Maestro 

Indian Masterminds Stories

Every stage of the three-tier UPSC Civil Services Exam is difficult with interview often deciding the rank, cadre and the service one gets. That’s why one should be fully prepared for this opportunity. Here are some tips for the interview by someone who himself aced this strange. 

IPS officer Vikas Vaibhav who is currently serving as IG, Homeguards and Fire Services, Bihar has shared his tips which can be helpful for those facing the interview. Mr Vikas Vaibhav got AIR 60 in UPSC CSE 2002 and before that cleared Indian Forest Service and Engineering Services Examination as well.  

OWN EXPERIENCE 

In an conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer said, “Selected candidates should realise that the interview call is the result of a lot of systematic hard work and perseverance. You have got the ‘Call’ because you deserved it but you must always remember that the moment is transitory in nature as the fight for being selected by the UPSC is still continuing.”

He got the interview call in 2003. It was a moment of joy for him. He had already been selected for the IFS. He gave his best shot for the interview. 

Mr. Vikas Vaibhav has started the noble initiative of inspiring Bihar by tapping into the ancient roots

EVERY MARKS COUNTS 

Mr. Vaibhav secured 225 out of 300 in the interview. This score is considered quite high. When the results came, he realised that he didn’t get good marks in his one optional that was Mathematics and if his performance was not good in the interview he might not have been bagged AIR 60.  

“The difference of marks may vary from 60 to 240 or even more between candidates who have scored similarly in the written examination. Had I scored anything less than 225 in the interview,  I would not have attained the rank which got me the Bihar (Home) Cadre of the IPS. You can thus, see how every mark you score in the Interview can become important”, adds the IG. 

WHAT TO KNOW 

The first step of preparing for the UPSC CSE interview is to know yourself and your resume well. The summary of the application form is available with every member of the board and they may start with questions from your personal data and then gradually test your views on national and other issues as the discussions evolve. 

He says, “ You must be seen to be interested in the activities that you pursue and have a good knowledge about them. Basically you should give the impression of a down-to-earth but well-read person with good and positive interests, so as to suggest that your selection into the civil services would serve as a boon.”

Besides this you should know your home state and the development works that are being carried out there very well.  Questions can be asked about them so one should be well prepared. 

Mr. Vaibhav advise candidates yo be their real self. He says, “ You don’t have to pretend. You are not being tested for your literary or oratorical skills. You must be able to present your views/thoughts in a clear manner with proper reasoning and logic. Good communication skills always help, but they are not everything you need to score on. You cannot act street smart and get good marks”. He also said that candidates should not pretend to know things that they don’t as they are not expected that. 

 BALANCED VIEWS 

Being optimistic is very important and helpful to get through the interview round. According to the officer,  the answers that you give on issues of concern would be appreciated more if you have an air of optimism in it. The recruiters don’t want to get people with negative mindsets. They want people who can deal with various challenges that our democratic system is facing, with a positive and sincere mindset. 

Apart from all this, being balanced in views is also crucial for the interview. The interviewer should not see you as politically aligned in any way. You must learn the best way to positively express your views without the listener taking any offence as all your views should be very transparent, logical and totally free from any political bias. Your views should be based more on academic interests and passions. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT