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Alka Sirohi on 19th May / 40 mins BTech + MBA + 11 yrs work ex + Pub Ad
She was in no mood to take me( read: award me good marks ) ! Stress interview ! She commented that I seem to be a restive person and when I politely asked for reason she said I changed two jobs in 10 yrs !! She followed up saying what is the guarantee I will stick with civil services ! Then she asked about my high salary and sudden interest in civil services !
She was dismissive of all answers I gave and all of a sudden said "ok ! Thanks !" And that's how my interview ended !
I was never rude nor entered into any argument with her !
Since that day I am kinda worried and concerned that she will award me poor marks , even 2 digits !
same credentials ..same board....same reaction from chairman ..... so same situation ..only thing idifferent is person n interview date
Date: 27th May 2014 Board: Alka Sirohi Madam Background: Mech Engg, working in NTPC It was very nice day, it is pleasant view of UPSC Dholpur House and my table number was 22, all 5 other aspirants are very friendly and we became instant friends, it helped me alot in that stressful time My turn came,Ravi ji aap aayeeye", by hearing this my heart started beating with jet speed. I was waiting outside Alka madam's room, it was peak of my stress, with this stress I entered the room. First one minute was like disastrous for me, I was not under control, words are not flowing at all, Like this it began.... Chairman: Well Ravi, you are working in NTPC, what is your nature of work their? Me: Madam, it is operation Ch: Tell me what is flue gas? Me: Madam it is gas which comes out of a power plant, like CO2,NOx, SOx, Ch: What are these? Me: hmmmm.... (words are not coming out ) Ch: Components of Nitrogen, Components of Sulpher. Ok , what else? Me: Madam, Particulate matter and Hydro carbons Ch: Tell me, how ESP works? Me: (I forgot the name "Corona Effect", tried to recollect but couldnt...but explained how it works) Madam, flue gas will be charged and there will be anode and cathode plated which observes the charged particles thereby by rapping mechanism the collected material fallen down, Ch: What are different types of coal? Me: Madam, Anthracite, Bituminious, Lignite, Peat Ch: Which is best one? Me: Madam, it is Anthracite Ch: We are not producing Anthracite , right? then where are getting it? Me: Madam from Australia, South Africa, Indonesia M1: Well Ravi, your hobby is "Teaching", tell me what are better qualities in your opinion? Me: Sir I want to quote one example, in my childhood, one of govt principal who motivated my parents and other village people to join their wards into school. So, sir I think qualities of good teacher is one who motivates students and teaches that will reach all students equally irrespective of their IQ M1: What is 360 degree approach? Me: Sir, it is giving information and taking feedback.. M1: are sure?, or it is knowing all, in different areas/views? Me: Sir, I think it is giving information and taking feedback because it completes a circle. M1: What is A-A Latitude in map of Earth? Me: Sorry sir I do not know. M2: So Ravi, tell me about clean technologies in India? Me: Sir, I think Solar has great potential because India being a tropical country there we have great potential for harnessing solar energy and also solar PV cost are falling down. M2: What is other mechanism other than solar PV? Me: Sir, it is solar thermal M2: What is its mechanism? Me: sir, like in coal power plant we use coal to heat water, in solar thermal we use concentrated solar energy to get water heated, we use solar tower where thousands of mirrors reflecting on a single point and intensifies solar energy which is used to heat water M2: what are other clean technlogies? Me: sir, wind....(nterrupted in between, which states produces wind energy? ), Sir it is KA, TN, MH, GJ,AP (which state has got highest production?), Sir it is KA (No it is TN) Thank you sir M2: What else clean technologies? Me: Biomass, Tidal, geothermal.. M2: tell me prerequisites for tidal enrgy Me: sir, it is shape of land mass, like in Gulf of Khambat , it has highest potential (interuppted: another pre requisite?) sir...... M2: it is hight of wave.... Dont u think Nuclear is clean enrgy? Me: sir, disposing nuclear waste is toughest task M2: what , not we are emiting pollution from power plant? Me: sir, if we can manage nuclear waste then nuclear power will become clean energy M3: what do u do other than blogging and teaching? Me: sir, i go to movies and play cricket, but sir since im preparing while working i find very less time for these activities? M3: why do u want to join civil services? Me: sir, in my village, people look at collector if they get any problem with great respect, that motivated me (every one laughed here...) M3: What are 3 challenges before India... ( i asked permission to have some time to answer, which madam granted) Me: sir, it is internal security (maoist), energy security, urbanisation and revival of economy. M3: Are they interlinked? Me: yes sir. M3: How? Me:sir, India is poor at natural resouses like oil and gas and we import from western countries, if some geopolitical crisis arise and supply stopped then we at risk. If we plan our cities such that rooftop solar energy and roof top water harvesting implemented then it might reduce our conventional energy use If economy is revived and growth led to development then problem of maoist can also be addressed as root cause of maoism is lack of development M3: what is AP model in handling Naxalism? Me: sir, it is 3 prong policy, Development, Security and Intelligence building. AP has special forces grehounds which are well trained in local terrain, AP's intelligence is strongest next to our central intelligence and AP's naxalite rehabilitation policies are nicely implented, and development also taken place M4: what is "raman effect"? Me: Sir, it is scattering of light by liquid, as ocean are blue not because sky is blue but water reflects blue light back, (but M4 was not satisfied with my answer) M4: why raman got Nobel? Me: sir im not sure but i think he got for this raman effect phenomenon (he told becoz of spectrum, which i didnt get what is he trying to tell) Ch: one last question, what is difference between Supercharger and turbochager? Me: madam, in turbocharger exhaust is used to suck more air in, while in supercharger it is driven by engine itself Ch: if u want to tell the difference in one word what is it? Me: thinking, (madam tried to help me ) Ch: what is enthalpy? Me: madam, it is u+PV.. (every one laughed here) Ch: your interview is over you may go (I was not willing to get up, dont know how time has passed is just happend without my consent, but for last question which madam trying to help me out the difference between turbocharger and supercharger is in turbocharger it ethalpy which drives, this strcuk to my mind when i jus opened door for exit) Overall board was very much cordial, Alka madam was so kind and she has been helping me out, though it began with great stess
Ok! here is my transcript! had to fight bouts of laziness to type it out!! I-)
Never ending Rendezvous with UPSC contd!
Board: Shri A.P.Singh Background: IRS CM Shri A.P.Singh, Retd IPS, and ex CBI Director seemed to me a very fine gentleman. He was calm, composed, unhurried and wore a pleasant personality. It was difficult to read his reactions throughout the first round of the interview.
CM: Aaiye Me: (with a big genuine smile ) Good Morning sir! Good morning Sirs ! CM: you are XXX? Me: yes Sir(still standing) CM: please sit down Me: sat. smiled. Thanked. CM: so you are from Muzaffarnagar…hmmm.. it’s a very rich district I suppose(looking at M1) and then looked at me. Me: (smile) Sir, M has the highest agricultural GDP in the state. CM: so what is that crop that makes it so? Me: Sir, Sugarcane CM: so tell me the pricing mechanism of sugar Me: (Pause, thinking, smiling) Sir, for sugar, the centre decides a fair remunerative price. Over and above it the states announce a state administered price. CM: hmm.. so what is the problem of the sugar mills there? Me: Sir, the above pricing mechanism cuts down the profits of the mills and this has resulted in many of them becoming sick mills. Further, there is a concept of catchment area for every sugar mill. Because of this there is only a certain designated area from which a mill can source its raw material. This affects the competition and hence the input cost of the raw material. Also Sir, there is quota system imposed by the government which hampers the profit margin. CM: What is this quota system? Me: Sir, the mills are required to keep a quota of the sugar produced by them for distribution in PDS. CM: Now is this quota acquired at PDS price or FRP? Me: (thinking) (Smiling),Sorry Sir, am not aware of this !
CM points to M1 M1 was a gentleman in his 60s. Fair, handsome and with long silver hair. M1: XXX, tell me , of the total revenue collected by the centre how much percentage is shared with the states? Me: (pause and smiled) Sir, am sorry, I am unable to re collect. M1: hmm..Ok tell me.. one major industrialist is in jail…why is he in jail? Me: (pause) Sir, Mr. Subroroto Roy is in jail for contempt of court. M1: Do you know about the sahara case? Tell me.. Me: Sir, Sahara group through its subsidiaries raised money from the public for a certain stated purpose in their offer letter. However, they did not use the money for it. SEBI questioned the group for violation of its norms and then directed them to return the money to the shareholders. Sahara however stated that they could not trace all the shareholders and hence could not return the money. Later when SC directed Mr. Roy to appear in this case before him, he flouted the directions on two occasions. (M1 seemed satisfied) M1: (nodded) Why is that one industrialist is in jail and another big industrialist is watching IPL?( he must have asked this in relation to an search action by my dept which brought financial irregularities of UB group to light) Me: (was thinking whether to answer this or dodge!!)Smiled and said, Sir, I am unaware of the facts of the case of Mr. Mallya and hence I will not be in a position to comment M1: Never mind
Handed over to M2 M2 was a short stout man and seemed that was sitting there only to grill me !! M2: So XXX, u visit restaurants? Me: yes sir (Obviously! :P you don’t??!!) M2: see, when we receive a bill there is service charge and service tax on the bill.what are these? What is the difference? Me: (was taken aback! Man ! am from IT not Service tax!!) Smiled. Sir, am from the direct taxes not the indirect taxes (pause). Sir service charge is more of a tip in nature while the service tax is charged on the total bill!(Phew) M2: haan.thik hai. Of tell me why is there a cess? Me: (WTF??!) Sir, the purpose of a cess is to fufill a specific financial objective… M2: ok. See there is a cess on diesel. Why is it there? Me: (paused) Sir, am sorry I donot know. M2: think and tell me! (seriously ?fromwhere??!) Me: Sir, I am unaware of it. M2: take a guess Me: Sir, please correct me if am wrong( smiled). Sir, it is to prevent dieselization of the economy. M2: dieselization ! NO! it is for building roads! Me: Smiled( with a mute- I told you I don’t know) Thank you Sir M2: Ok, have you heard of golden quadrilateral? Me: answered M2: Have you heard of some corridors? Me: sir, DMIC… M2: no , some other ones.. Me: Answered M2: tell me their points of origin and end points Me: answered M2: ok now a days there is a new method by which roads and such projects are built. What is it? Me: Sir, PPP M2: what is it? What its philosophy? Me: Sir, it is Public private partnership. It envisages a synergy between the strengths of both public and private sectors to deliver goods and services M2: hmm. Ok..pointed to M3
I turned to M3 on my right, but the devil spoke again! M2 asked CM’s permission to ask more!
M2: you have very interesting hobbies. (Vocabulary building and quote collection) You tell me one word and one new quote which you have learnt recently! Me: Sir,I will tell the quote first! Smiled .Sir, If you haven’t yet discovered something you would die for you have not started living! M2: Smiled (lol finally!) acha if I say if you haven’t yet discovered something worth crying for…then?? Me: (ahem!! Heights!!) Smiled and said, Sir, Why cry if you can achieve it ! M2: acha tell me the word Me: Sir, this word is Xanthippe. Spelt it and told them with a sheepish smile that it meant an ill tempered woman.(purposely looked at all members) They all smiled including the chairman (Indian men! phew!) M2: ok ! Now I will give you a word. Tell me the meaning of Uxorious. Me: (thinking and smiling) Sir, by etymology should be regarding sexes, so it has to do with men and women, Sir, I think it means a hen pecked husband! M2: not hen pecked exactly but an over loving husband. Me: Thank you sir. M2: ok tell me the meaning of APYXXXXOUS ( I never got the full word) Me: (pretending to be working on etymology!) Sir, sorry am unable to work its etymology. M2: never mind and then smiled and passed on to M3
M3 was from north east India and spoke very feebly
M3: tell me about the relation between industrialization and taxation. How do you give incentives through taxes. Me: Sir in the Income tax Act (henceforth ITA) there are specific sections which benefit setting up industries in backward areas under Section 80. Apart from that we have specific provisions relating to SEZs which promote exports. M3: (nodded) You spoke about problems of sugar mills. What do you think can be done? Me: Sir, I think integrated mills is the solution, a model where all the by-products like bagasse and molasses are used to produce electricity and paper. This will create a new revenue stream, will help to meet a part of the mills’ own electricity requirements and will also help earn carbon credits! M3: Ok, India is very often compared to China in manufacturing. What are we doing to boost our manufacturing? Me: Sir, We have a concerted policy in place to boost manufacturing in india. Told him about NMP, NIMZs, targets under them, then Skill development Mission. Ended with need for improving ease of doing business index, labour and land acquisition reforms. M3: (visibly satisfied) Ok XXX, if we make you the secretary of a state, what will you do for education? Me: Sir, first I will tell you what is wrong and then will tell you what I propose to do. Let me start with the very basic. Sir ASER report says more than half of our school students cant read or ad numbers. We have built school but we don’t have teachers there so, we have this problem of teacher absenteeism. Now why is it there? Somewhere Sir, it has to do with economic motivation. So, Sir, two things come to mind. First, innovative use of e-learninig and tele- education so that students get involved in the learning process. Second, taking care of the economic motivation by spending more on education. It should be close to 4-5% of our GDP if we intend to tap our demographic dividend! Then let me come to college level. There is a gap between the demand of the industry and what universities provide. Sir, we need to create an ecosystem which bridges this gap. Then Sir, comes the problems at post graduation level. Sir, we don’t have facilities for research in India this results in the problem of brain drain. We need to create R&D facilities and work towards an innovation ecosystem with the help of private. M3 nodded in the affirmative and passed on to M4
M4 was a reaction-less guy. His eyes were of dead man!
M4: So you are based in Pondicherry. Tell me there is place near Pondicherry which is very famous. Me: Sir, Auroville M4: Tel me the philosophy behind setting up Auroville Me: Sir, it was set up as an experimental township, to promote educational and spiritual research and as a place where people of all nations and races can live together in harmony and peace rising above the petty human desires. M4: There is a matrumandir there. Me; ji Sir, It is a divinely beautiful place for meditation! M4: There is crystal ball inside matrumandir. What is its specialty? Me: Sir, It is lit by sunrays and not from any artificial source of light. M4: tell me about Direct Tax Code Me: Sir, it a concerted policy of our department to rationalize tax rates and maximize tax base and focus on voluntary compliance.DTC is a major step towards that. First, under DTC we are bringing all the major direct taxes under one act. So we have a singular act for income tax, wealth tax etc. Then Sir, the present act has close to 700 sections while DTC has simplified them to just close to 350 sections. Further Sir, the language has been simplified. Simple language means less discretion and hence less corruption! Simple language also means less misinterpretation and hence less litigation and hence more revenue. Further (looking at every body), Sir, how many of us here have read the Income tax Act?? Very few. In that case, what is Income tax act for the common man? It is the return form which he files! Sir, DTC has been so simplified that its provisions can now be easily translated into the form which one files while filing his Income tax returns. M4: (He nodded while I answered) Tell me about BTT ! Me: (paused and smiled) Sir, a Pune based group called Arthakranti has proposed this idea. Sir, I feel it is a radical idea which merits consideration but I fear Sir, it is not the right time for its implementation. (snacks arrive and I stop! M4 and CM tell me to continue with my answer)In short, BTT proposal is about withdrawal of all taxes and levying a common banking transaction tax on every credit transaction in the bank account. They also propose removal of high denomination currency and treating cash transactions above Rs. 2000 as invalid. Sir, but can we think of implementing this when only 40% of our country is banked and majority of the transactions still happen in cash? Also Sir, what stops people from withdrawing money from the banks and dealing only in cash? So sir given the economic scenario of our country at present, it will give rise to implementation issues!
CM took over again
CM: XXX, you talked of e-education.Do you know a Salman Khan (smiled) apart from the actor? Me: (smiled) and after a pause said..Sir, at present I can think of only one Salman Khan. He is Additional Director Vigilance in Mumbai ! (all have a laugh) CM: ok. Your hobby is learning new words. Tell me one which has been recently added to the dictionary! Me: thinking CM: think! think! it has got to do with photography! Me: selfie, Sir CM smiled and said: your interview is over
I got up and took two steps.
CM: XXX, please come here. I want to ask you one more thing! ( I was like, NOT AGAIN!) Me : (sat down) ji Sir CM: when did you get selected? Me: Sir in 2010. I secured XXX but had opted for irs after ias. CM: Hmm. Why didn’t you appear again? Me: Sir, I appeared again in 2011, but my rank slipped to xxx, so I stayed in IRS Me : ( CM looking at me and smiling! ) Sir, Becoming an IAS is my ambition and I hope I get it this time CM: smiled and said. Ok you can go !
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Comments
Board: Alka Sirohi Madam
Background: Mech Engg, working in NTPC
It was very nice day, it is pleasant view of UPSC Dholpur House and my table number was 22, all 5 other aspirants are very friendly and we became instant friends, it helped me alot in that stressful time
My turn came,Ravi ji aap aayeeye", by hearing this my heart started beating with jet speed. I was waiting outside Alka madam's room, it was peak of my stress, with this stress I entered the room. First one minute was like disastrous for me, I was not under control, words are not flowing at all, Like this it began....
Chairman: Well Ravi, you are working in NTPC, what is your nature of work their?
Me: Madam, it is operation
Ch: Tell me what is flue gas?
Me: Madam it is gas which comes out of a power plant, like CO2,NOx, SOx,
Ch: What are these?
Me: hmmmm.... (words are not coming out )
Ch: Components of Nitrogen, Components of Sulpher. Ok , what else?
Me: Madam, Particulate matter and Hydro carbons
Ch: Tell me, how ESP works?
Me: (I forgot the name "Corona Effect", tried to recollect but couldnt...but explained how it works) Madam, flue gas will be charged and there will be anode and cathode plated which observes the charged particles thereby by rapping mechanism the collected material fallen down,
Ch: What are different types of coal?
Me: Madam, Anthracite, Bituminious, Lignite, Peat
Ch: Which is best one?
Me: Madam, it is Anthracite
Ch: We are not producing Anthracite , right? then where are getting it?
Me: Madam from Australia, South Africa, Indonesia
M1: Well Ravi, your hobby is "Teaching", tell me what are better qualities in your opinion?
Me: Sir I want to quote one example, in my childhood, one of govt principal who motivated my parents and other village people to join their wards into school.
So, sir I think qualities of good teacher is one who motivates students and teaches that will reach all students equally irrespective of their IQ
M1: What is 360 degree approach?
Me: Sir, it is giving information and taking feedback..
M1: are sure?, or it is knowing all, in different areas/views?
Me: Sir, I think it is giving information and taking feedback because it completes a circle.
M1: What is A-A Latitude in map of Earth?
Me: Sorry sir I do not know.
M2: So Ravi, tell me about clean technologies in India?
Me: Sir, I think Solar has great potential because India being a tropical country there we have great potential for harnessing solar energy and also solar PV cost are falling down.
M2: What is other mechanism other than solar PV?
Me: Sir, it is solar thermal
M2: What is its mechanism?
Me: sir, like in coal power plant we use coal to heat water, in solar thermal we use concentrated solar energy to get water heated, we use solar tower where thousands of mirrors reflecting on a single point and intensifies solar energy which is used to heat water
M2: what are other clean technlogies?
Me: sir, wind....(nterrupted in between, which states produces wind energy? ), Sir it is KA, TN, MH, GJ,AP (which state has got highest production?), Sir it is KA (No it is TN) Thank you sir
M2: What else clean technologies?
Me: Biomass, Tidal, geothermal..
M2: tell me prerequisites for tidal enrgy
Me: sir, it is shape of land mass, like in Gulf of Khambat , it has highest potential (interuppted: another pre requisite?) sir......
M2: it is hight of wave.... Dont u think Nuclear is clean enrgy?
Me: sir, disposing nuclear waste is toughest task
M2: what , not we are emiting pollution from power plant?
Me: sir, if we can manage nuclear waste then nuclear power will become clean energy
M3: what do u do other than blogging and teaching?
Me: sir, i go to movies and play cricket, but sir since im preparing while working i find very less time for these activities?
M3: why do u want to join civil services?
Me: sir, in my village, people look at collector if they get any problem with great respect, that motivated me (every one laughed here...)
M3: What are 3 challenges before India... ( i asked permission to have some time to answer, which madam granted)
Me: sir, it is internal security (maoist), energy security, urbanisation and revival of economy.
M3: Are they interlinked?
Me: yes sir.
M3: How?
Me:sir, India is poor at natural resouses like oil and gas and we import from western countries, if some geopolitical crisis arise and supply stopped then we at risk. If we plan our cities such that rooftop solar energy and roof top water harvesting implemented then it might reduce our conventional energy use
If economy is revived and growth led to development then problem of maoist can also be addressed as root cause of maoism is lack of development
M3: what is AP model in handling Naxalism?
Me: sir, it is 3 prong policy, Development, Security and Intelligence building. AP has special forces grehounds which are well trained in local terrain, AP's intelligence is strongest next to our central intelligence and AP's naxalite rehabilitation policies are nicely implented, and development also taken place
M4: what is "raman effect"?
Me: Sir, it is scattering of light by liquid, as ocean are blue not because sky is blue but water reflects blue light back, (but M4 was not satisfied with my answer)
M4: why raman got Nobel?
Me: sir im not sure but i think he got for this raman effect phenomenon (he told becoz of spectrum, which i didnt get what is he trying to tell)
Ch: one last question, what is difference between Supercharger and turbochager?
Me: madam, in turbocharger exhaust is used to suck more air in, while in supercharger it is driven by engine itself
Ch: if u want to tell the difference in one word what is it?
Me: thinking, (madam tried to help me )
Ch: what is enthalpy?
Me: madam, it is u+PV.. (every one laughed here)
Ch: your interview is over you may go
(I was not willing to get up, dont know how time has passed is just happend without my consent, but for last question which madam trying to help me out the difference between turbocharger and supercharger is in turbocharger it ethalpy which drives, this strcuk to my mind when i jus opened door for exit)
Overall board was very much cordial, Alka madam was so kind and she has been helping me out, though it began with great stess
Never ending Rendezvous with UPSC contd!
Board: Shri A.P.Singh
Background: IRS
CM Shri A.P.Singh, Retd IPS, and ex CBI Director seemed to me a very fine gentleman. He was calm, composed, unhurried and wore a pleasant personality. It was difficult to read his reactions throughout the first round of the interview.
CM: Aaiye
Me: (with a big genuine smile ) Good Morning sir! Good morning Sirs !
CM: you are XXX?
Me: yes Sir(still standing)
CM: please sit down
Me: sat. smiled. Thanked.
CM: so you are from Muzaffarnagar…hmmm.. it’s a very rich district I suppose(looking at M1) and then looked at me.
Me: (smile) Sir, M has the highest agricultural GDP in the state.
CM: so what is that crop that makes it so?
Me: Sir, Sugarcane
CM: so tell me the pricing mechanism of sugar
Me: (Pause, thinking, smiling) Sir, for sugar, the centre decides a fair remunerative price. Over and above it the states announce a state administered price.
CM: hmm.. so what is the problem of the sugar mills there?
Me: Sir, the above pricing mechanism cuts down the profits of the mills and this has resulted in many of them becoming sick mills. Further, there is a concept of catchment area for every sugar mill. Because of this there is only a certain designated area from which a mill can source its raw material. This affects the competition and hence the input cost of the raw material. Also Sir, there is quota system imposed by the government which hampers the profit margin.
CM: What is this quota system?
Me: Sir, the mills are required to keep a quota of the sugar produced by them for distribution in PDS.
CM: Now is this quota acquired at PDS price or FRP?
Me: (thinking) (Smiling),Sorry Sir, am not aware of this !
CM points to M1
M1 was a gentleman in his 60s. Fair, handsome and with long silver hair.
M1: XXX, tell me , of the total revenue collected by the centre how much percentage is shared with the states?
Me: (pause and smiled) Sir, am sorry, I am unable to re collect.
M1: hmm..Ok tell me.. one major industrialist is in jail…why is he in jail?
Me: (pause) Sir, Mr. Subroroto Roy is in jail for contempt of court.
M1: Do you know about the sahara case? Tell me..
Me: Sir, Sahara group through its subsidiaries raised money from the public for a certain stated purpose in their offer letter. However, they did not use the money for it. SEBI questioned the group for violation of its norms and then directed them to return the money to the shareholders. Sahara however stated that they could not trace all the shareholders and hence could not return the money. Later when SC directed Mr. Roy to appear in this case before him, he flouted the directions on two occasions. (M1 seemed satisfied)
M1: (nodded) Why is that one industrialist is in jail and another big industrialist is watching IPL?( he must have asked this in relation to an search action by my dept which brought financial irregularities of UB group to light)
Me: (was thinking whether to answer this or dodge!!)Smiled and said, Sir, I am unaware of the facts of the case of Mr. Mallya and hence I will not be in a position to comment
M1: Never mind
Handed over to M2
M2 was a short stout man and seemed that was sitting there only to grill me !!
M2: So XXX, u visit restaurants?
Me: yes sir (Obviously! :P you don’t??!!)
M2: see, when we receive a bill there is service charge and service tax on the bill.what are these? What is the difference?
Me: (was taken aback! Man ! am from IT not Service tax!!) Smiled. Sir, am from the direct taxes not the indirect taxes (pause). Sir service charge is more of a tip in nature while the service tax is charged on the total bill!(Phew)
M2: haan.thik hai. Of tell me why is there a cess?
Me: (WTF??!) Sir, the purpose of a cess is to fufill a specific financial objective…
M2: ok. See there is a cess on diesel. Why is it there?
Me: (paused) Sir, am sorry I donot know.
M2: think and tell me! (seriously ?fromwhere??!)
Me: Sir, I am unaware of it.
M2: take a guess
Me: Sir, please correct me if am wrong( smiled). Sir, it is to prevent dieselization of the economy.
M2: dieselization ! NO! it is for building roads!
Me: Smiled( with a mute- I told you I don’t know) Thank you Sir
M2: Ok, have you heard of golden quadrilateral?
Me: answered
M2: Have you heard of some corridors?
Me: sir, DMIC…
M2: no , some other ones..
Me: Answered
M2: tell me their points of origin and end points
Me: answered
M2: ok now a days there is a new method by which roads and such projects are built. What is it?
Me: Sir, PPP
M2: what is it? What its philosophy?
Me: Sir, it is Public private partnership. It envisages a synergy between the strengths of both public and private sectors to deliver goods and services
M2: hmm. Ok..pointed to M3
I turned to M3 on my right, but the devil spoke again!
M2 asked CM’s permission to ask more!
M2: you have very interesting hobbies. (Vocabulary building and quote collection) You tell me one word and one new quote which you have learnt recently!
Me: Sir,I will tell the quote first! Smiled .Sir, If you haven’t yet discovered something you would die for you have not started living!
M2: Smiled (lol finally!) acha if I say if you haven’t yet discovered something worth crying for…then??
Me: (ahem!! Heights!!) Smiled and said, Sir, Why cry if you can achieve it !
M2: acha tell me the word
Me: Sir, this word is Xanthippe. Spelt it and told them with a sheepish smile that it meant an ill tempered woman.(purposely looked at all members)
They all smiled including the chairman (Indian men! phew!)
M2: ok ! Now I will give you a word. Tell me the meaning of Uxorious.
Me: (thinking and smiling) Sir, by etymology should be regarding sexes, so it has to do with men and women, Sir, I think it means a hen pecked husband!
M2: not hen pecked exactly but an over loving husband.
Me: Thank you sir.
M2: ok tell me the meaning of APYXXXXOUS ( I never got the full word)
Me: (pretending to be working on etymology!) Sir, sorry am unable to work its etymology.
M2: never mind and then smiled and passed on to M3
M3: tell me about the relation between industrialization and taxation. How do you give incentives through taxes.
Me: Sir in the Income tax Act (henceforth ITA) there are specific sections which benefit setting up industries in backward areas under Section 80. Apart from that we have specific provisions relating to SEZs which promote exports.
M3: (nodded) You spoke about problems of sugar mills. What do you think can be done?
Me: Sir, I think integrated mills is the solution, a model where all the by-products like bagasse and molasses are used to produce electricity and paper. This will create a new revenue stream, will help to meet a part of the mills’ own electricity requirements and will also help earn carbon credits!
M3: Ok, India is very often compared to China in manufacturing. What are we doing to boost our manufacturing?
Me: Sir, We have a concerted policy in place to boost manufacturing in india. Told him about NMP, NIMZs, targets under them, then Skill development Mission. Ended with need for improving ease of doing business index, labour and land acquisition reforms.
M3: (visibly satisfied) Ok XXX, if we make you the secretary of a state, what will you do for education?
Me: Sir, first I will tell you what is wrong and then will tell you what I propose to do. Let me start with the very basic. Sir ASER report says more than half of our school students cant read or ad numbers. We have built school but we don’t have teachers there so, we have this problem of teacher absenteeism. Now why is it there? Somewhere Sir, it has to do with economic motivation. So, Sir, two things come to mind. First, innovative use of e-learninig and tele- education so that students get involved in the learning process. Second, taking care of the economic motivation by spending more on education. It should be close to 4-5% of our GDP if we intend to tap our demographic dividend! Then let me come to college level. There is a gap between the demand of the industry and what universities provide. Sir, we need to create an ecosystem which bridges this gap. Then Sir, comes the problems at post graduation level. Sir, we don’t have facilities for research in India this results in the problem of brain drain. We need to create R&D facilities and work towards an innovation ecosystem with the help of private.
M3 nodded in the affirmative and passed on to M4
M4 was a reaction-less guy. His eyes were of dead man!
M4: So you are based in Pondicherry. Tell me there is place near Pondicherry which is very famous.
Me: Sir, Auroville
M4: Tel me the philosophy behind setting up Auroville
Me: Sir, it was set up as an experimental township, to promote educational and spiritual research and as a place where people of all nations and races can live together in harmony and peace rising above the petty human desires.
M4: There is a matrumandir there.
Me; ji Sir, It is a divinely beautiful place for meditation!
M4: There is crystal ball inside matrumandir. What is its specialty?
Me: Sir, It is lit by sunrays and not from any artificial source of light.
M4: tell me about Direct Tax Code
Me: Sir, it a concerted policy of our department to rationalize tax rates and maximize tax base and focus on voluntary compliance.DTC is a major step towards that. First, under DTC we are bringing all the major direct taxes under one act. So we have a singular act for income tax, wealth tax etc. Then Sir, the present act has close to 700 sections while DTC has simplified them to just close to 350 sections. Further Sir, the language has been simplified. Simple language means less discretion and hence less corruption! Simple language also means less misinterpretation and hence less litigation and hence more revenue. Further (looking at every body), Sir, how many of us here have read the Income tax Act?? Very few. In that case, what is Income tax act for the common man? It is the return form which he files! Sir, DTC has been so simplified that its provisions can now be easily translated into the form which one files while filing his Income tax returns.
M4: (He nodded while I answered) Tell me about BTT !
Me: (paused and smiled) Sir, a Pune based group called Arthakranti has proposed this idea. Sir, I feel it is a radical idea which merits consideration but I fear Sir, it is not the right time for its implementation. (snacks arrive and I stop! M4 and CM tell me to continue with my answer)In short, BTT proposal is about withdrawal of all taxes and levying a common banking transaction tax on every credit transaction in the bank account. They also propose removal of high denomination currency and treating cash transactions above Rs. 2000 as invalid. Sir, but can we think of implementing this when only 40% of our country is banked and majority of the transactions still happen in cash? Also Sir, what stops people from withdrawing money from the banks and dealing only in cash? So sir given the economic scenario of our country at present, it will give rise to implementation issues!
CM took over again
CM: XXX, you talked of e-education.Do you know a Salman Khan (smiled) apart from the actor?
Me: (smiled) and after a pause said..Sir, at present I can think of only one Salman Khan. He is Additional Director Vigilance in Mumbai ! (all have a laugh)
CM: ok. Your hobby is learning new words. Tell me one which has been recently added to the dictionary!
Me: thinking
CM: think! think! it has got to do with photography!
Me: selfie, Sir
CM smiled and said: your interview is over
I got up and took two steps.
CM: XXX, please come here. I want to ask you one more thing! ( I was like, NOT AGAIN!)
Me : (sat down) ji Sir
CM: when did you get selected?
Me: Sir in 2010. I secured XXX but had opted for irs after ias.
CM: Hmm. Why didn’t you appear again?
Me: Sir, I appeared again in 2011, but my rank slipped to xxx, so I stayed in IRS
Me : ( CM looking at me and smiling! ) Sir, Becoming an IAS is my ambition and I hope I get it this time
CM: smiled and said. Ok you can go !
The new word was probably "selfie"?