How to Prepare for the UPSC / IAS Interview?

The UPSC entrance examination in India is conducted in three stages. Hence, after the objective test (Preliminary Exam) and the written test (main exam), a personality test or interview is conducted for the UPSC aspirants. This final stage of the IAS entrance examination is very complex and only a few individuals are able to crack it. Hence, it is essential to Prepare UPSC/IAS Interview properly. In this blog post, we will have a detailed look at the different tips that you need to follow to ensure a successful interview. So, read on!

The Best Tips for Aspirants Preparing for the UPSC Interview Round

Here are some of the most excellent tips that you must follow if you want to crack the UPSC interview:

1. Understand Yourself

When appearing for the UPSC interview round, knowing yourself and understanding your personality is important. From preferences and ideologies to your hobbies, there are so many layers that form the total personality of any human being, including you. And having a better idea of all these aspects and many more will prove to be very helpful for you.

2.    Don’t Be Overconfident

Having ample confidence is a very good thing and adds to your excellence. However, the moment you become overconfident, you will appear arrogant and give off a negative vibe to the interviewers’ panel. Moreover, the IAS interview round is not at all easy. You will be tested on so many levels without you even knowing it. Hence, you mustn’t be overconfident because it will prevent you from overpreparing.

Also Read: Best Books to Prepare for UPSC Civil Services Exam

3. Learn to Answer Honestly

You must’ve heard endless times since childhood that honesty is the best policy. But did you know that this is also applicable to your UPSC exam’s interview session? If you lie to the interviewers for any reason (including trying to impress them), they will catch it from your body language and other traits. Hence, you should be honest when answering any question.

4. Start Practicing Early

To crack the IAS interview round, overnight preparation is not the right way. You need to start practicing answering the questions asked by the panel. Make sure to start doing this as soon as possible. As a result, your chance of performing better at the interview will also increase.

5. Review Your DAF (Detailed Application Form)

The members of the interview panel will have access to your Detailed Application Form or DAF during the interview. Then, they will ask questions related to your DAF. It is considered a very bad idea to create a blunder when you are being asked about yourself. Therefore, you must review and remember the details mentioned in your DAF very thoroughly before your interview.

6. Enhance Your Answering Skills

You should be able to answer the questions in the UPSC interview very clearly. Just being correct and having lots of knowledge is not enough. You should be able to present your answers in an immaculate manner during your interview. Hence, you need to focus on improving your answering skills as well as speaking skills.

Also Read: First IAS Institute Best Coaching for IAS Exam Preparation

7. Be Aware About Current Events

You also need to have abundant knowledge about the current events occurring around you. You should especially be aware of the events in your city and state. This includes information about the happenings in the country as well, especially in the past three years. Of course, having ample awareness about your surroundings and your nation is not enough. You may also be required to share your opinions on specific events during your UPSC interview.

8. Give Clear and Direct Answers

When you are answering a question during your IAS interview exam, stop trying to beat around the bush. Refrain from giving any vague or generalized answers to the interviewers. Be strictly clear and give direct answers to the questions. This will give you a better shot at clearing the interview round.

Some Additional Tips for the UPSC Interview Day

Of course, following the tips mentioned in the sections above is essential for your UPSC interview examination. However, there are some other things that you need to keep in mind in order to create a positive impression in the minds of your interviewers on the day of the exam. What are these? Let’s find out!

Also Read: 10 Best IAS Coaching Institutes in Delhi

1. Dress Neatly

As an interviewee for the UPSC entrance exam interview stage, it is also important for you to dress appropriately. Your outfit should be simple and sober and ironed properly as well. Usually, males are recommended to wear formal outfits, including trousers in a darker shade whereas the shirt should be a subtle color. On the contrary, females should opt for plain sarees or churidars with a kurta. Whatever you decide to wear, make sure that you will feel comfortable in it. The interview round of one of the toughest competitive examinations in the country will be scary and make you anxious and nervous. In this situation, one aspect you can fully control is the comfort of your clothes.

2. Be Well-Groomed

Just dressing well is not enough; you also need to be properly groomed for the day of the interview. If you are a male candidate, make sure that you get a haircut done a few days before your scheduled interview. On the day of the interview, you must comb your hair neatly. As a female, make a decent hairdo without any flashy accessories. Furthermore, make sure that you are smelling pleasant yet decent. The goal is to ensure that your body odor isn’t bad, not to showcase your perfume collection.

3. Punctuality is Important

Make sure to reach the interview center well before the allotted time. Punctuality is one of the most essential traits of a respected IAS officer. One of the chances you get to display this is on the day of the interview for UPSC aspirants.

Also Read: List of Services in UPSC (Detailed Guide)

4. Have a Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude has helped millions of people achieve their goals successfully. This is also applicable to your UPSC interview preparation and on the day of the interview. When you are positive, you will be less nervous. And in the absence of nervousness and fear, your performance will improve to a great degree.

5. Actively Listen to the Questions

It is never a good idea to hurry when attempting to give the answers to the interviewer’s question. You should first wait for them to complete their question. Make sure to patiently listen to the details they are mentioning when asking the question. If you need clarification on something, feel free to ask them about the same. Once you have correctly listened to the question, then you can go ahead and answer politely and confidently.

Also Read: IAS vs IPS (Which is Better??)

Conclusion on Prepare UPSC / IAS Interview

There are numerous tips that many people will give you when you are appearing for the UPSC interview process. In this blog, we have listed the most effective ones that will help you prepare for the UPSC interview. In addition, it is important to ensure that you are trying your best to understand the true objective of your interviewer. This will put you in a better state to give satisfactory answers to their questions.

So, why wait? Begin your UPSC interview preparation today while keeping the suggestions mentioned in this blog in mind. If you still think that you need help and professional guidance, it is always a good idea to join a good coaching institute that will help you with the preparation!

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