https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

UPSC CSE Interview Is Not a Test of Knowledge But of Personality, Says IPS Officer

Dr. Vaibhav Saxena advises aspirants to be balanced in their views and personality to crack the interview He is an IPS officer of 2017 batch, currently serving as SP Ernakulam Rural in Kerala He says that being true, humble and rational is the only way to crack the UPSC CSE interview
Indian Masterminds Stories

Preparing for and then cracking UPSC CSE is not an easy journey. It demands utmost dedication and immense patience. And, when someone cracks this exam after completing MBBS, their success is even more commendable.

A doctor in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, decided to leave his flourishing career to attempt the toughest exam in the country. It took him three attempts to crack the exam finally in UPSC CSE 2015. He is IPS officer Dr. Vaibhav Saxena, who is currently serving as SP Ernakulam Rural in Kerala.

In conversation with Indian Masterminds, the IPS officer talked about his UPSC journey and gave important tips on how to crack the interview.

ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN CIVIL SERVICES

The decision to quit the medical profession was not sudden. Dr. Saxena comes from a family of doctors. His father retired as Chief Medical Officer and, incidentally, it was he who motivated his son to try for civil services.

As for Dr. Krishna, he believes that, while as a doctor he could serve society, as a civil servant, he has more power and opportunity to make changes.

Giving an example, he said, “When a pregnant lady comes to me with an iron deficiency problem, as a doctor, I will just give the supplement. Whereas as a civil servant, I can be part of the policy which ensures that she gets the tablets daily. ‘Aasha’ does that. Even if I am in police, I still get the opportunity to be part of good governance.”

NEITHER BE OVERCONFIDENT NOR TIMID

He started his UPSC preparation in 2012 and gave his first attempt in 2013. He cracked prelims in both his first and second attempt in 2013 and 2014 but could reach the interview only in his third attempt in 2015. It was his first UPSC CSE interview and he received good marks which helped in his final selection. He shared some important tips to excel in the interview round.

According to him, excess of anything is harmful. When facing the interview board, the candidate should not look too timid or scared, or over confident.

“You have worked hard and cleared your mains. Why would you be scared? You have to face the board with confidence, but don’t be over-confident also. UPSC is trying to find a balanced person in every way. So, prepare yourself accordingly,” Dr. Saxena advised.

YOUR LIFE IS NOT AT STAKE

Sometimes a candidate requires two to three attempts to reach the interview. If they fail in that, they will have to start again. These thoughts can create anxiety in the mind of any aspirant.

However, Dr. Saxena advises the aspirants to be free of such thoughts, as all these burdens can affect their performance. He said, “Don’t even think that it is your last chance and your life is at stake. It is an opportunity provided to you because of your capability. If you are capable, life won’t stop throwing chances at you. Face the interview with only positive thoughts and enthusiasm.”

FEEL FREE TO SAY SORRY

He further emphasized that the interview is not conducted to test a candidate’s knowledge but to judge their personality. “So, in case you don’t know any answer, feel free to say sorry. Also, don’t lose confidence or hope if you were not able to answer 2-3 questions. Wait for that one question which you can answer properly and up to the satisfaction of the board,” he said. Speaking from his own experience, he said that he couldn’t answer 30-40 % of the questions in the interview. He had gone back to his medical profession, and, henceforth, he was not in touch with current affairs. But, that did not matter.

“In the end, they won’t be counting how many answers you have given or not. What they will judge is if your personality has any red flags. Also, you can lead your interview. Try to make it interactive and establish a conversation with the board members,” he said.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEWERS

Apart from this, Dr. Saxena advises aspirants to be attentive during the interview and listen to the panelists carefully. He had taken Anthropology as his optional for UPSC CSE and one member had asked him the exact definition of the subject. He took his time to recall but still could not find any definition. So, he said sorry. Then he was asked to explain Anthropology. And he could do that.

“It was my optional, so I should know that. But, then they had asked for the exact definition and I didn’t know that. When I came outside and checked, I found that there is no exact definition. So, it went in favour of me that instead of beating around the bush, I said I don’t know the exact definition,” said the officer.

ABOUT HOBBIES

He also advises to not be afraid about mentioning hobbies. However, he cautions about not writing anything just to sound cool. “You don’t have be an encyclopedia when it comes to hobby. I had written table-tennis as my hobby. They asked me about the length of the table. I humbly told them that I play it for refreshment and so I don’t have knowledge about the length and breadth of the table,” he shared, giving another example of what to do and what not to do during the interview, to sail through without any hiccups.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT